In A Cave, But Confident. (Based on Psalm 57)

Psalm 57 – Day 2

I ask You to show me favor, O God,

Please show me favor.

I have put my life in Your hands for protection,

Not this cave in which I'm hiding.

All my hope, trust and confidence is in You.

And I will keep putting myhope, trust and confidence in You

Until You have caused all this trouble to pass me by.

I cry out to the Most High God!

To You, God, who alone can bring a fitting conclusion to the affairs of my life.

You simply have to say the word from heaven,

And I am saved from being plucked off by those who would destroy me,

From all who are out to crush me.

You speak and Your mercy and truth replace all the hatred and lies.

I feel like a man who is surrounded by hungry lions,

They are burning with the desire to consume me.

But they're really men with literal spears and arrows,

And whose words against me pierce like a sharp sword.

So I ask You to rise up, O God! From Your place in the highest heavens,

Rise up and let Your glory fill the earth!

My path is surrounded by traps,

I have to walk bent over so that I don't fall into one of them.

They've even dug a pit just for me,

But instead they've fallen into it themselves!

My heart is ready for anything, O God,

My heart is ready for anything!

Which is why I can offer You praise even now.

I am excited! I get up early and lift up Your praise in song!

I will praise You along with all those who believe in You,

But I will also praise in front of those who don't.

Your unfailing love knows no limits,

And Your faithfulness to me is boundless.

So I ask You to rise up, O God! From Your place in the highest heavens,

Rise up and let Your glory fill the earth!

A Heart For God.

Psalm 57 – Day 1

"My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises!" – Psalm 57:7 NLT

David is hiding out in a cave in the middle of the wilderness. He is running from crazy King Saul who has set a bounty on his head, and is out to see David's memory wiped from the face of the earth. In looking back at his circumstances, David crafts a song to tell others what he has learned about his God through the midst of it all. He pens the lyrics to a hymn of praise that chronicles the goodness of God in the midst of the difficulties of life. David is being chased. He is being hounded. His very life is in danger. He is surrounded by enemies and facing unbelievable opposition. Yet he has been anointed king by the prophet Samuel and appointed as the next king by God Himself. So he cries out to God to bring about what He has promised. "I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill His purpose for me" (Psalm 57:2 NLT). All the way back when Samuel had anointed him, David had heard the Lord say, "This is the one; anoint him" (1 Samuel 16:12 NLT). Then Samuel had poured the oil onto David's head and God poured His Spirit into David's heart. In doing so, God was promising David that he would one day be the king of Israel. Yes, Saul was still on the throne and David was hiding out in a cave in the wilderness, but in spite of those circumstances, God was going to keep His promise. David was confident in that. In Psalm 56, written based on David's experience when he fled from Saul and sought refuge among the Philistines (a plan that didn't work out too well for him), David learned to trust in God's promise. He wrote, "This I know: God is on my side!" (Psalm 56:9 NLT).

David can sing God's praises because He had learned to trust God's promises. He didn't wait until God had completely fulfilled them all and he was on the throne of Israel. No, David sang God's praises from the depths of a cave in the middle of the wilderness, years before he ever put a crown on his head or set foot in the city of Jerusalem. David sang of God's love and faithfulness in anticipation of God's future fulfillment of His promises. We can praise Him now for what He is going to do later, because God always comes through. He is good on His word. David cried out to God knowing that He would send help from heaven to rescue him. In due time, God would do what He had promised to do. And He still works the same way today. We can trust Him because He is trustworthy.

Father, may I be able to say, "My heart is confident in you, my heart is confident." And may I be able to say it long before You've proven it true. May I praise You based on Your reputation for faithfulness, not just because You've proven it. Amen

Learning To Trust God By Failing To Trust God.(Based on Psalm 56)

Psalm 56 – Day 2

Graciously extend Your favor to me, O God,

For it seems like everybody is so busy trying to destroy me, they're breathless.

Every day it's like they're fighting to squeeze the life out of me.

Their attempts to crush me are a daily occurrence,

And their numbers seem to be increasing.

But when those times come that cause me to fear,

I will put my trust and confidence in You.

I will end up offering praise to You because of all Your promises to me.

In the past I have learned to put my trust and confidence in You,

So why in the world would I fear anything that men might do to me in the future?

At those times, they try to influence what I say by what they do, Planning nothing but evil to do to me. They hide their intent to harm me, watching my every move, waiting for a chance to destroy my soul. Are they going to get away with all the trouble they cause me? Let them experience the anger on Your face, O God, Cut them down to size!

You have an accurate head count of every time I aimlessly wandered,

And You've recorded them on Your ledger.

You've also collected the tears I cried at those moments in a bottle.

And I know that the next time I have to cry out to You,

You'll turn my enemies back, because You're my God!

I will end up praising You because You are God and You do what You say You'll do,

You are Jehovah and You always do what You say You'll do,

I have put my confidence and trust in You before God,

So there's no reason I should fear what man might do to me now.

You've always kept Your promises, God,

So I will repay You with praises!

On more than one occasion You have snatched my life from the brink of death,

Keeping me from falling and allowing me to live life on this side of the grave!

Nobody Knows The Troubles I've Seen.

Psalm 56 – Day 1

"You keep track of all my sorrows.You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." – Psalm 56:8 NLT

Sometimes I'm up And sometimes I'm down Yes, Lord, you know sometimes I'm almost to the ground Oh, yes, Lord, still Nobody knows the trouble I've seen Nobody knows but Jesus Nobody knows the trouble I've seen Glory, Hallelujah

While those familiar lyrics were made famous by Louis Armstrong, they could be the anthem of every believer who has ever lived. We all face troubles of all kinds. Some are physical, others financial. Some of our troubles are self-induced, while others come at us unexpectedly and undeservedly. Some of our troubles are short-term, while others hang around us for years at a time, even for our entire lifetimes. But as the lyrics state so well, even when everybody else is oblivious to our troubles, Jesus knows. He is well aware of every circumstance going on in our lives. David found comfort in his troubles because he knew that God knew. And he knew that "God is on my side" (Psalm 56:9 NLT). In the midst of trouble, David put his hope and trust in the Lord. "I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?" (Psalm 56:11 NLT). But before we place David on a pedestal and elevate him to sainthood, let's remind ourselves that this Psalm was written AFTER he ran away from King Saul and fled to his arch enemies, the Philistines, for protection. That's not exactly trusting in God, is it? He didn't run to God, he ran to King Achish. At every level this does not appear to be a bright move on David's part. Early in his career David had made a name for himself by killing the Philistine champion, Goliath, in a one-on-one battle. The Philistines had never forgotten or forgiven David. On top of that, David had built his reputation on being a might warrior. In fact, there was already a song about David with lyrics that said, "Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!" (1 Samuel 18:7 NLT). And many of those David had slain were Philistines. So on earth did David run to the Philistines for protection? We're not told, but we can guess that David hoped they would see him as some kind of secret weapon and when they discovered he and King Saul were at odds, they would assume they could use him against the Israelites. But when David arrived in the Philistine territory, the reception he received was less than welcoming. They immediately recognized him and were ready to kill him. So David was forced to feign insanity, and had to act like he had completely lost his mind. Not willing to kill a lunatic, they allow him to leave.

It is after David got out of this sticky situation that he wrote, "you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping" (Psalm 56:13 NLT). David realized after the fact, that God had protected him even when David had refused to turn to God for protection. It wasn't his great acting ability that saved his life, but God. David had learned a valuable lesson: "But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you" (Psalm 56:3 NLT). Troubles were going to come. Trials were just around the corner. David was always going to have Sauls in his life. But he had learned that he could trust God. God knew his troubles, and God had a solution. David didn't have to fear Saul, Achish, the Philistines or any other man. He simply had to trust the promises of God.

Father, sometimes I'm up and sometimes I'm down, but You are always right there with me, fully aware of my situation and ready to take care of me in the midst of them. You know what is going on. You are aware and I can trust You to help me at all times. Amen

A Friend Indeed. (Based on Psalm 55)

Psalm 55 – Day 2

Hear me when I pray, O God.

Don't disappear when I cry to You for help!

Listen closely and answer quickly.

I wander around in a state of anxiety, disturbed and distracted,

All because of what my enemies say about me,

And the pressure put on me by the ungodly.

They rock my world with misfortune,

And attack me out of anger.

My heart aches within me and I fear for my life.

I'm so scared I shake,

In fact, my whole body shudders.

So I end up screaming, "If only I had wings like a dove,

Then I could fly away and find a place to rest."

I would hurry up and get away from all the storms of life.

Confuse their words and make what they say impossible to understand,

For I see that it all produces violence and contention.

They act like guard patrolling the walls of a city,

While nothing but trouble takes place inside.

The whole place is filled with evil desire,

Oppression and deceit are found on every street.

But in my case, it wasn't an enemy who ended up scorning me.

I could have handled that.

It wasn't someone who hated me and tried to oppress me.

If that was the case, I could have just hidden from him.

But no, it was you, a close friend and acquaintance,

Someone just like me. We shared a close, intimate relationship,

And even enjoyed a mutual love for God.

As for the others, may their lives end in death,

May their actions end them up in hell,

Because their entire lives are filled with evil.

But as for me, I will call on God,

And He will save me. I will pray from morning to evening,

And He will hear my voice.

It doesn't matter how many are against me,

Because God will deliver my life from the battle.

The very God who has reigned for eternity will hear me and put them to shame.

Their lives never change because they have no fear of God.

Even my former friend breaks his promises and turns on me.

He said all the right things, but all the while he was out to harm me.

His words were slick, covering up his real intention – my destruction.

But you can roll all your burdens onto the Lord,

And He will sustain you. He will never let down those who are godly.

But God will bring about the destruction of the ungodly.

Their lives will come to a quick end,

They will end up with half the normal life expectancy. But I will trust in You, God.

Don't Run Away. Run To God.

Psalm 55 – Day 1

"Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. – Psalm 55:22 NLT

My wife has a phrase she tends to use when things are not going well. She'll say, "I wish we could go to an island." When those words come out of her mouth, she is expressing the same thing David did when he said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness. How quickly I would escape – far from this wild storm of hatred" (Psalm 55:6-8 NLT). Both David and my wife occasionally find themselves in situations that cause them to want to run away and hide. My wife pictures a secluded island, far from the cares and troubles that confront her. For David, it was the wilderness of Judea, outside the walls of Jerusalem. Which I find interesting, because the wilderness is David spent so many years hiding from the paid assassins of King Saul. You would think that the wilderness is the last place David would want to go, but those barren, rocky hills had become a place of refuge, peace, and protection for him. It was in the wilderness that he found rest, safety, and a sense of well-being. Life as the king living within the crowded walls of Jerusalem was anything but easy. There was intrigue, infighting, money issues, family quarrels, government concerns, and the constant threat of war because of all of Israel's enemies. Then there was the pressure of being king and shepherd over the people of God. David was under a tremendous amount of pressure. On top of that, he had had one of his closest friends turn on him. David says, "It is not an enemy who taunts me – I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me – I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you – my equal, my companion and close friend" (Psalm 55:12-13 NLT). We aren't told what happened between David and this unnamed individual, but it must have been bad. It is so bad that David wants to run away and hide. Much like he did when his son, Absalom, stole the hearts of the people. Rather than face his son and protect his throne, David ran away. And now he was tempted to do so again. Running is always an attractive option. Some of us run away from problems literally, while others of us do it somewhat figuratively. We may run to busyness, drowning our problems in preoccupation with something else. We may run to drugs or alcohol, attempting to cloud our perception that the problem even exists. We may run to some form of entertainment, hoping to distract our minds off of the issue at hand. Or we may run from our problems by attempting to ignore them altogether. But whatever tactic we take, running from our problems rarely ever works, and it never really makes them go away. And David knew that.

So instead of running, or flying away, David ran to God. He called and God and asked Him to do what only God can do – provide rescue and relief. David knew from experience that "God, who has ruled forever, will hear me and humble them" (Psalm 55:19 NLT). As bad as things might have been, David knew that God was fully capable of handling his problems, his enemies, his clash with his former friend, and anything else that came up in his life. His advice? "Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall" (Psalm 55:22 NLT). Running away may provide distance from our problems, but it never provides resolution. Only God can do that. We can confidently face whatever comes our way by taking it to the Lord and giving it over to Him. Don't run away. Run to Him. He is where we will find peace, safety, rescue, and resolution to our problems.

Father, I am not sure why I don't run to You more often and more readily. You have never failed me or let me down in the last, but I still find myself running away rather than running to You. When faced with problems, I long for escape, when what I should long for is You. You alone can help me. You alone can rescue me. You alone are the answer to every problem that confronts me. Amen

The Heart of a Fool. (Based on Psalm 53)

Psalms 53-54 – Day 2

The Heart of a Fool. (Based on Psalm 53)

It takes a real fool to try and convince themselves, "There is no God!"

Which is why they end up all twisted, doing nothing but evil,

And never doing anything that is good in God's eyes.

It's like God is looking down on men from His place in heaven,

In an attempt to see if anybody gets it, if anybody has a desire to seek Him.

But they've all left Him long ago.

Every one of them is corrupt morally and spiritually.

Not a single, solitary one of them does what God considers good.

Are these individuals who consume God's people like bread completely unaware?

Is it that they don't know Me that they refuse to call on Me?

They don't fear God now, but one day they will.

God will one day destroy them all, leaving them completely disappointed,

Because He will reject them in the end.

But I long for salvation to come from the Lord.

I look forward to the day when He restores His people.

When He does, everyone, including me, will shout with joy.

The Hope of a Believer. (Based on Psalm 54)

Save me God, in keeping with Your righteous reputation.

Use Your incredible power to vindicate me.

Hear me when I pray to You,

Listen to what I have to say.

People I don't even know have taken a stand against me,

Terrible people are out for my life.

These are people who have no place for God in their lives.

But You are my helper,

And You show up through those who support me.

You'll pay back my enemies, giving them what they deserve.

Which is why I worship You freely and gladly,

I praise You because Your good reputation has been proven in my life.

You have always provided a way out of all my troubles,

And allowed me to view my enemies from Your perspective.

Bad Times. Good God.

Psalms 53-54 – Day 1

"God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!" – Psalm 53:2-3 NLT

According to God, the world is full of fools – those individuals who act and live as if there is no God. Even those who claim to know Him act as if He either doesn't care about what they do or He is too powerless to do anything about it. Then there are those who just refuse to believe in Him altogether. These people "are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!" (Psalm 53:1 NLT). This is not a very promising assessment on the character or condition of mankind. It leaves little doubt, at least from God's perspective, that man is inherently wicked and in open rebellion against Him. Yet God is still reaching out to man, offering mercy and forgiveness. He will ultimately be forced to punish all those who refuse to accept His offer of new life through His Son, but until then, He keeps providing opportunities for them to repent and return to Him.

And while the world is a less-than-ideal place, full of people obsessed with their own agendas, consumed by their own importance, and controlled by their own sin natures, David gives us a glimpse of God's goodness as he reminds us that God is always there for us even in the midst of all the evil that surrounds us. "But God is my helper. The Lord keeps me alive!" (Psalm 54:4 NLT). David appeals to God's power and places himself at God's mercy to rescue him from his enemies. Those who care nothing at all for God are making David's life miserable. But David knows he can call out to God, and not only will God hear him, He will answer. David has seen the goodness of God time and time again in his life, delivering him from troubles and trials, rescuing him from every conceivable kind of predicament. And while he is a firm believer that "no one does good, not a single one," David knows that God can and does do good for those who love Him. And David's response is to offer God praise and gratitude. He says, "I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you" – not something required or coerced, but of his own free will. "I will praise your name, O Lord, for it it good" (Psalm 54:6 NLT). God's name, which is really addressing His reputation or fame, is nothing but good. All that God does is good, even when He has to deal with those who are bad. God is righteous and right, always doing what is the right thing to do. He never does wrong. He is just in all His actions towards men. He never punishes unjustly or unfairly. He is good. And it doesn't matter whether men reject Him, ignore Him, or attempt to deny He even exists. God remains good even when things appear bad.

Father, we live in a world that is sick and dying. It is filled with people who refuse to love and serve You. Many refuse to even believe in You. And yet, You remain good. You continue to make the sun shine on all men, showering them with Your common grace. You make the crops grow, the rain to fall, and the air breathable. You constantly offer the free gift of grace available through Your Son. And You care for Your own, providing them with a listening ear and a powerful hand to rescue and restore them. You are indeed a good God. Amen

Misplaced Trust. (Based on Psalm 52)

Psalm 52 – Day 2

Why do you boast about all the wrong you've done, oh mighty man?

God's mercy and love will outlast you.

Your tongue is like a sharp razor, planning evil and working deception.

You love evil more than good and prefer telling lies instead of the truth.

You love to destroy others with your words and deceitful lies.

But God has everlasting destruction planned for you,

He is going to grab you and rip you right out of your comfortable home,

He will pull you up by the roots – removing your life altogether.

Those who are righteous in conduct and character will watch it happen,

They will be in awe of God and laugh at you.

"Look how this mighty man refused to find his strength in God,

Instead he sought safety in the abundance of his wealth,

And grew confident and strong through his pursuit of evil."

But as for me, I am like a flourishing olive tree in God's house,

I have permanently put my trust in His love and mercy.

I will continually give thanks to Him for He has made it possible.

I will expectantly wait on Him, based on His reputation,

For His people have found Him to be good all the time.

Good By God's Standard.

Psalm 52 – Day 1

"Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God. They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness." – Psalm 52:7 NLT

Doeg the Edomite had done a good thing. At least he thought so. He had done exactly what the king of Israel had commanded him to do and he knew it was going to win him favor in the king's eyes. The fact that he had personally killed 85 priests of God along with all their family members didn't seem to bother him. The fact that the members of King Saul's personal bodyguard had each refused to kill the Lord's priests didn't seem to concern him either. When King Saul turned to Doeg and presented him with the opportunity to prove his loyalty, he stepped up to the challenge. It all began when David was forced to run away from Saul in order to preserve his life. King Saul was out to kill him, because he was jealous of David's fame and feared that he was going to take his place as king of Israel. He had already tried to kill David with his own hands, so David was forced to flee for his life. One of the first places David went was to the town of Nob to see Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech gave David food and the sword of Goliath, which had been kept there ever since David had killed the Philistine champion in battle. Little did David know that Doeg the Edomite, one of King Saul's chief herdsmen, was there in Nob and saw the whole exchange between David and Ahimelech. He went back to Saul and reported that the priest had aided and abetted David, a fugitive from justice.

As a result of Doeg's news, King Saul commanded the slaughter of all 85 of the priests of God living in Nob, along with their families. When Saul's bodyguard refused to do Saul's bidding, Doeg, the herdsmen, was given a chance to improve his station in life by proving his loyalty and displaying his bravery to the king. And evidently, according to David, Doeg the Edomite even bragged about his brave "exploits" against the unarmed priests of God, trying to present himself as a mighty warrior. He had a knack for blowing the whole affair out of proportion, expanding the story with fanciful lies designed to justify his actions and boost his fame. David accused him of being "an expert at telling lies" (Psalm 52:3). David saw Doeg for what he really was: a man who loved evil more than good. He was a man who tried to distort reality by making evil appear as if it was good. At the end of the day, Doeg the Edomite cared more about himself than he did about God. He didn't fear God or desire to do good. He was obsessed with his own well-being and self-gratification. No doubt Saul rewarded him well for his "brave" handling of the whole affair.

While David was a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), Doeg was a man after Saul's own heart. Like Saul, he wasn't interested in doing what God wanted done. He was a selfish, self-centered man who longed to make a name for himself. His destruction of God's priests was probably well rewarded by Saul. More than likely, he was raised from chief herdsman to warrior status. He got a promotion out of the whole thing, a raise, and the praise of the king. But David warned Doeg about the reality of his situation. God was going to repay Doeg in full for what he had done. David says, “Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God. They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness” (Psalm 52:7 NLT). David sarcastically refers to Doeg as a "mighty warrior" and accuses him of trusting his new-found wealth instead of God. He had become addicted to his fame and fortune and become increasingly more wicked, looking for additional opportunities to pad his resume and expand his wealth.

But those who do "good" that is not based on God's standards will never win in the end. They may receive rewards and recognition in this life, but they will always get what they really deserve when all is said and done. David preferred to trust in God. Rather than take matters into his own hands and do what appeared to be good by the world's standards, he would do only what God would have him do. On two different occasions, David had the opportunity to murder King Saul, and had he done so, he could have put an end to his fugitive lifestyle. Even David's companions encouraged him to kill Saul, seeing it as an opportunity provided by God Himself. But David refused, knowing that God had not given him permission to kill the king. He knew that God would take care of King Saul in His own time and according to His own terms. David would simply trust God. And God came through. Eventually, God eliminated Saul and elevated David to the throne. David trusted and God provided. Which is why David could say, "I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God’s unfailing love. I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people" (Psalm 52:8-9 NLT).

Doeg trusted in himself. David trusted in God. Doeg was out for himself. David was out for God. Doeg looked successful, but would eventually fail. At one time David appeared abandoned by God and was an apparent failure in the world's eyes. But He trusted God and was rewarded by Him for his faithfulness. David did good according to God's standards and enjoyed true success. Doeg did good according to the world's standards and failed in the end. We aren't told what happened to Doeg the Edomite, but we can rest assured that God repaid him in full for what he had done – either in this life or in the next. David knew that God would deal with Doeg justly. "But God will strike you down once and for all. He will pull you from your home and uproot you from the land of the living" (Psalm 52:5 NLT). David trusted God.

Father, this world is constantly tempting us to live according to its standards. It wants us to do good on its terms, but You call us to trust You and to live according to Your standards. Keep reminding us Lord that Your way is the not only the best way, it is the only way. Your will trumps our will every time. Doing what is right in our own eyes or according to the world's standards is never a profitable path to take. Amen

What I Do and What God Does. (Based on Psalm 51)

Psalm 51 – Day 2

As a result of what I know about your inexhaustible love,

I ask you to be gracious to me and show me favor, Lord.

Because of what I know about your abundant mercy,

I ask you to wipe out all traces of my sin against You.

I need You to wash away my depravity repeatedly and thoroughly,

And cleanse me completely from my sinfulness.

I can't escape the disturbing realization that I am in rebellion against You.

Yes, it's You and You alone against whom I have sinned,

And my evil actions have been done right in front of Your face.

You've seen it all, so You have every right to speak up,

And any judgment you pronounce against me will be just.

I've been a sinner since the day I was born,

In fact, my sinful condition started at the point of conception.

Everyone needs to recognize that it's truth and faithfulness You desire,

And it's in the inner recesses of a man's life that you look for them.

It's in that place where no one else can see that You make Your wisdom known.

I need You to purify me from my sin so that I can be truly clean,

I need You to wash me so that the darkness of my sin becomes whiter than white.

Let me experience the joy and gladness that come with forgiveness,

Make me like a man whose bones were all broken, but is now able to dance!

Turn away from looking at my sins, Wipe out the very memory of them.

Shape within me a new heart,

And give me a new spirit that is ready to serve You.

Don't let my sin expel me from Your presence,

And don't remove the presence of Your Spirit from my life.

Let me experience the joy again that comes with Your salvation,

And give me the capacity to willingly and gladly obey You.

Then my life will be an open lesson for other sinners to learn the life You recommend.

As a result, they will return to You as well.

Strip off the blood that stains me, O God of my salvation,

And I will sing the praises of Your righteousness.

Give me a reason to open my mouth and shout Your praises!

It's not the sacrifices I make for You that bring You pleasure, Lord.

Those are not the things that please You, or else that's what I would give You.

The kind of sacrifice You want begins with a broken spirit.

You won't look down on a heart that's truly broken and crushed.

Make Your people Your delight and do good to them,

Restore them.

Then the sacrifices they make will please You because they will be righteous,

Everything they do will bring you pleasure and joy.

Grace That Is Greater.

Psalm 51 – Day 1

"Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me – now let me rejoice."– Psalm 51:7-8 NLT

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured, There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Grace that is greater than all our sin. What a marvelous, almost impossible truth for us to comprehend. That God could love us so much that He would be willing to extend us grace in spite our consistent struggle with sin. David knew this truth first-hand. Here in Psalm 51 we have the aftermath of his sin with Bathsheba. Here is the man known as the man after God's own heart and the anointed king of Israel, wrestling with the guilt and conviction of his affair with this woman and his premeditated murder of her husband in order that he might have her as his own. This is a sin of the first degree. It is something that shocks even the most hard-core agnostic or atheist. These kinds of things are just not done in civilized society. But here is the leader of God's chosen people confessing his guilt and willingly accepting God just judgment. "Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just" (Psalm 51:4 NLT).

David knew he was guilty, but he also knew that God was ready and willing to forgive his sin and restore him to a right relationship with Himself. David also knew that God was the only one who could restore him. So he cries out to God for mercy. He appeals to God's unfailing love. He asks God to show him compassion. He begs God to blot our the stain of his sin, wash him clean from his guilt, and purify him from his sin. He knows only God can make him clean. Only God can restore his joy. Only God can give him a new heart. Only God can give him back the joy associated with salvation. Only God can give him the ability to obey. The key to David's appeal to God was his understanding that God was looking for true repentance that comes from a heart that is grieved over its treatment of God and His Word. David knew that his sin was ultimately against God, not Bathsheba or Uriah, her husband. And David knew that God was looking for godly sorrow in David's heart. Paul refers to this kind of sorrow in his letter to the Corinthian church. "For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death" (1 Corinthians 7:9-10 NLT).

The sacrifice God wanted from David had little to do with lambs and goats, blood and offerings. But it had everything to do with a broken and contrite heart. A heart that is broken and crushed because it understands that it has offended a holy, yet loving and merciful God. God wanted sacrifices offered in the right spirit, with the right kind of heart behind them. David's sin was against God and that sin needed to bother him as much as it did God. And it did. So David came to God in sorrow, repentance, openness, honesty, and complete reliance on God to restore him. And he had every confidence that God would. Because David's God is a gracious, kind, loving, and merciful God. David's God was a forgiving God. His grace was greater than all of David's sins – from the smallest to the biggest. David's sins of adultery and murder rank high on our ranking of transgressions against God, and yet God was willing to extend mercy, grace and forgiveness even for these two hideous sins against His holiness. God's grace really is greater than all our sins. Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within; grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin.

Father, thank You that Your grace truly is greater than my sin. And because of Your grace I can receive forgiveness, cleansing complete restoration, joy and the constant awareness of Your love. Amen

Have Mercy! (Based on Psalm 41)

Psalm 41 – Day 2

Happy is the man who carefully considers the weak and powerless.

God delivers them in the midst of their bad times.

He continually watches over them and sustains their lives.

He leads them in the right way to go as they walk this earth,

And refuses to deliver them over to their enemies.

He comforts them when they are sick in bed,

And returns them to health.

That's why I prayed, "Have mercy on me. Heal my soul, cleanse me from sin."

I am surrounded by those who say malicious things about me.

They ask, "When will God destroy him and destroy his reputation?"

If they come to see me, anything they say to me is worthless,

Their hearts are full of worthless thoughts about me,

And when they leave my presence, they share them with others.

They secretly judge me and assume the worst about me.

"His situation is due to wickedness," they say.

"He'll never recover from this one."

Even the man I considered my friend, the one I trusted,

And shared life with, has turned on me.

So Lord, I ask You to show me mercy,

Lift me up, restore me, and that will put an end to them.

This will let me know that You take delight in me,

Because You won't allow them to shout in victory over me.

You keep me whole and complete, allowing me to stand in Your presence,

I bless and adore You Lord, the God of Israel, forever and ever.

Amen and Amen.

Lifting Up Those Who Are Down.

Psalm 41 – Day 1

"Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble."– Psalm 41:1 NLT

At first glance, this Psalm seems a bit disjointed. He starts out talking about the poor and how God blesses those who show them kindness. The next thing David is confessing his sin and crying out for mercy because of the apparent consequences of that sin. His problem seems to have nothing to do with poverty or need, but is due to his own willful sin. But if you look closer at the word translated "poor" in verse one, you find out that it can also be translated "one who is low or weak." It is from a root word that means "something hanging low." It refers to something or someone languishing, being weak or powerless. So David is not necessarily talking about poverty as it relates to finances, but he is talking about spiritual and emotional poverty, and he is speaking from experience.

David is suffering because of sin. He has confessed that sin to God, but he is still experiencing the consequences of whatever it is he has done. He has close acquaintances who come to visit him in his pain and suffering, but who gossip about him when they leave and wish him nothing but ill-will. They look at his condition and, rather than encourage him, they try to figure out what it is is wrong with him, why he has done to deserve something so bad, and debate when he is going to die. David knows he has done nothing to deserve this kind of treatment from his friends. If you recall, back in Psalm 35, David said that when his enemies were sick, he grieved for them. He even prayed and fasted for them, feeling sadness for their condition, "as though they were my friends or family" (Psalm 35:14 NLT). But now that David is down and out, his "friends" have become his enemies. So David is left to seek mercy from God.

But what a reminder to those of us who claim to be Christ-followers that we are to have the same heart He had. We are to love like He loved. Jesus said of Himself, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come" (Luke 4:18-19 NLT). We are to carry on that ministry to the down and out today. The Proverbs of Solomon remind us that our words carry weight. They are powerful and can accomplish good or bring about evil in the lives of others. "The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain" (Proverbs 10:11). "The words of the godly encourage many" (Proverbs 10:21). Solomon also warns that "with their words, the godless destroy their friends" (Proverbs 11:9). "Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing" (Proverbs 12:18).

We are the hands, the feet, and the mouthpieces for Christ here on this earth. We are to have a heart for the lowly and all those who are languishing, whether it is because of their own sin or the sinful condition of the world in which we live. There are those who are languishing in financial poverty, but there are also those who are suffering in emotional and spiritual poverty. We are to bring them words of encouragement and healing. We are to show them mercy and grace. We are to love them with both words and actions. David knew that to do so was a rewarding experience. To do so was to live a life that was pleasing to God. God rewards those who care for and encourage the down and out. He repays them in kind. He "rescues them when they are in trouble" (Psalm 41:1 NLT).

Father, give me a heart for the down and out. Help me to see them all around me. It is easy to see the financially poor, but the spiritually and emotionally impoverished are all around me and they tend to hide their condition well. Don't let me be like David's friends, who because of their treatment of him in his time of need, were no better than enemies to him. May I be a true friend to those in need, providing words of encouragement and actions that back up what I say. Amen

Something Worth Talking About. (Based on Psalm 40)

Psalm 40 – Day 2

I expectantly waited on God,

And hearing my cry for help, He turned toward me.

He brought me up out of dark place,

Where I was stuck, and unable to free myself.

But He put me back on solid ground,

And gave me a firm path for my feet.

He put a new song in my mouth,

A song of thanksgiving to our God.

For many who hear it, it will result in a reverence for God,

Causing them to trust Him more.

Happy is the man who refuses to follow the way of the proud,

Or turns aside to believe their lies,

But instead puts his trust in God.

All the wonderful things You've done for us God are too great to count,

I couldn't even begin to tell about all the plans You have arranged for us,

Sacrifices and offerings are not what You want from us.

I can hear You clearly now,

And burnt offerings and sin offerings are not what You are asking for.

Then I said, "I come before You because of what is written in Your word,

I find joy in doing what You want me to do,

Because Your law is written on my heart.

I have talked about Your righteousness to large crowds,

And You know I didn't hold anything back, Lord.

I didn't keep what I know of Your righteousness to myself,

But I have openly talked about Your faithfulness and salvation.

I didn't try to hide news of Your mercy and truth from anyone.

So I ask You not to withhold Your compassion from me, Lord.

Let Your mercy and truth continually guard and preserve me,

Because I find myself surrounded by all kinds of bad things,

The guilt of my sins has overtaken me, I can't even see clearly any more.

The number of my sins seems greater than the hairs on my head,

And I have lost all hope.

I beg You Lord to find it in Your heart to save me,

I need You to hurry up and help me.

Let those who would want to harm me be sorely disappointed.

Let those who wish me ill-will be turned aside in humiliation.

Let their shouts of joy over my demise be turned to devastation.

But let all of us who seek our security in You find joy and gladness.

May all of us who love Your salvation be able to say repeatedly,

"The Lord is great!" Yet here I am, poor and needy, and the Lord takes notice of me,

He is my help and source of deliverance.

So don't hesitate for a second Lord! Act now!

The Best Advertising Is A Satisfied Customer.

Psalm 40 – Day 1

"I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness."– Psalm 40:10NLT

When was the last time you told someone else what God has done for you? And I'm not talking about sharing about how you came to Christ when you were seven or eight. I'm talking about telling others about how God is active in your life accomplishing things that only He could do. David starts out this Psalm talking about a time in the not-so-distant past when he found himself patiently waiting on God to help him. And then he says, "he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God" (Psalm 40:1-3 NLT). David was singing God's praises for what He had done in his life. And the result of David's public relations campaign for God? "Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord" (Psalm 4):3b NLT).

I am convinced that many more people would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ if the followers of Christ had more to say about Him. If we had more to share about what God has done in our lives lately and how Christ is transforming our lives daily, it would give our claims regarding the value of salvation credibility. At this point, so many unbelievers are asking those of us who claim to be followers of Christ and believers in God, "What has He done for you lately?" And if they asked you that question, what would your answer be? What would you tell them? David said, "I have told all your people about your justice. I have not been afraid to speak out, as you, O Lord, well know" (Psalm 40:9 NLT). Then he goes on to say, "I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness" (Psalm 40:10 NLT).

David knew first-hand what it was like to have God intervene in his life and rescue him from trouble, forgive him of sin, provide him with victory, heal him from sickness, and restore him to a right relationship with Himself. David knew that a relationship with God was not all about doing things for God to somehow keep Him satisfied and earn brownie points with Him. "You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings" David told God (Psalm 40:6 NLT). No, God wants His followers to take joy in doing His will because they have experienced His faithful, unconditional love and want to express their gratitude through obedience and submission to His will for their lives – because they know He loves them and has their best interests in store. In fact, David said about God, "Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them" (Psalm 40:5 NLT). David had a lot to say about God because God was an active and vital part of his life. Can the same thing be said of us? If we tried to recite all the wonderful things He has done for us lately, would we run out of time before we ran out of list? David called on God because he expected God to act. David waited on God because he was confident God would respond. David told others about God because he had plenty of stories of God's faithfulness to tell. He said, "May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, 'The Lord is great!'" (Psalm 40:16b NLT). Maybe we have little to say about God because we so seldom turn to God for help and place on Him all our hope. "Oh, the joys of those who trust in the Lord" (Psalm 40:4a NLT).

Father, the problem is not that You are silent in my life, it is that I don't recognize and appreciate Your activity. I don't see it, so I don't acknowledge it. You are working all the time on my behalf, but I tend to be blind to it. I also don't turn to You enough in times of trouble and trust You for deliverance. I try to solve all my own problems. In doing so, I rob You of glory and deny myself the opportunity to see Your power on display in my life. I want to be a greater witness for You by being more satisfied by You. I want to sing Your praises more and tell everyone I meet of all Your wonderful acts. Amen

Life From An Eternal Perspective. (Based on Psalm 39)

Psalm 39 – Day 2

I said to myself, "I'm going to be careful about how I live my life.

When I'm around the ungodly, I'm going to watch what I say, so that I don't end up sinning."

But even when I kept my mouth shut, not even saying anything good,

I found myself getting stirred up inside.

The more I thought about it, the angrier I got,

Until I couldn't take it anymore, and the words spewed out.

"Lord, help me comprehend that my life has an end,

That the number of days that I'm going to live are nothing to You.

At best, my life is like a vapor from Your perspective.

The importance we put on our lives is empty and vain."

We waste our time getting upset,

Worrying about all the money we have accumulated

Because we don't even know who will spend it when we're gone.

So where do I put my hope? I put all my expectations in You.

I ask You to deliver me from living a life of rebellion against You.

Don't let my life be a joke to people who live like fools.

There was a time in my life when I kept my mouth shut

Because You were doing a number on me.

I ask that You remove Your hand of discipline,

Because I am totally spent.

Your punishment disciplines mankind for sin,

You destroy their self-centered self-absorption

Like a moth destroys a beautiful garment.

We're all just a fleeting vapor, here one day, gone the next.

So listen to my prayer, Lord! Hear my cry for help!

Don't be at peace about my tears!

I am a temporary inhabitant here,

A stranger living in a strange land where I don't belong,

Just like my fathers before me.

Take notice of me, smile on me,

Before my life finally comes to an end.

Hope In The Heat.

Psalm 39 – Day 1

"And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you."– Psalm 39:7 NLT

David is going through some kind of difficulty. He is under a great deal of pressure and believes that what he is suffering is from the hand of God and due to sin in his life. He is upset and frustrated about it, but has chosen not to complain about his circumstances in the hearing of men – especially the ungodly. He knows that to do so would cast aspersions upon God's grace and goodness. So he just remains silent. But that doesn't stop the emotional turmoil taking place inside his head and heart. He says, "the turmoil within me grew worse. The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words" (Psalm 39:2-3 NLT). When David did finally speak up, he chose to take it directly to the Lord. He expressed his thoughts to the one who could do something about it. But instead of complaining, David asked God for perspective. He asks God to "remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered – how fleeting my life is" (Psalm 39:4 NLT). David was asking God to help him keep his life in the proper perspective, never forgetting that eternity is our future, not this temporary condition we call life. In God's grand scheme, our lives are but a breath, a fleeting moment on the eternal timeline. Yet we put all our emphasis on the here and now and forget about the hereafter. We spend all our time rushing around attempting to accomplish things that only end in insignificance. We work hard to accumulate wealth and then end up having to leave it behind when we go. You can see where David's son, Solomon, got the perspective on life he shared in the book of Ecclesiastes: "I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned" (Ecclesiastes 2:18 NLT). Solomon also shared David's perspective on wealth. "Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless – like chasing the wind (Ecclesiastes 4:4 NLT).

But David had decided a long time before he wrote this Psalm to place his hope and trust in God. He had placed his life in God's hands. In fact, he owed his life to God. Without God, David would still be shepherding sheep instead of shepherding the people of Israel. Whatever David was going through, he knew that ultimately it had to pass through the hands of God to get to him. He says, "I am silent before you; I won't say a word, for my punishment is from you" (Psalm 39:9 NLT). David viewed his condition as God ordained and therefore he took his problem to the source. He believed that his punishment was due to sin in his life and knew that only God could forgive his sin and relieve his suffering. In verse 8 David asks God to "pluck him out of" his sin, to deliver him from his own transgressions. He knows that only God can bring relief from the pain he is suffering. So he asks God to hear his cries, to restore his joy, and to give him relief in order that he might spend whatever days he has on this planet in a right relationship with Him. And isn't that what this is all about? It isn't the accumulation of toys and the gaining of fame. It isn't about comfort and ease, earning and spending, competing and winning. It is about the joy of a right relationship with God. Money can't buy that. When we are not right with God, nothing is right. And nothing can make it right, but getting right with Him.

Father, what a wonderful reminder that life is all about living for You and with You. The pain and suffering we experience is nothing more than a reminder of our dependence upon and need for You. Keep me focused on You and nothing else. May I desire a right relationship with You more than anything else in the world. Amen

Conviction, Confession and Comfort. (Based on Psalm 38)

Psalm 38 – Day 2

Lord, I beg you not to correct me in anger,

Or discipline me when You're furious with me.

Your arrows of punishment have struck hard and deep,

And I can feel Your hands pressing down on me.

I'm literally sick because of the effects of Your anger on me.

But it all because of the guilt of my own sin.

I'm literally drowning in guilt, It's all too much for me to handle.

My wounds make me offensive,

All because of my own foolishness.

My sin has left me bowed down in brokenness,

I spend my whole day in mourning.

I am humiliated and it is affecting my health.

I am numb and emotionally crushed,

My heart groans in pain and sadness.

But Lord, You know what I long for,

My groans are not hidden from You.

My heart longs, my strength fades,

And any ability to view life with hope diminishes daily.

Everybody avoids me like a had the plague,

Even my own family. But not my enemies,

They continue to lay traps for me,

Devising ways to do me harm,

Spending their entire days making plans to do me in.

But I might as well be deaf and dumb,

I can't hear what they're saying or speak up in my own defense.

I simply choose to ignore them and say nothing.

Because I am waiting on You God.

I know You are going to answer me.

I have prayed to You for deliverance,

Because otherwise my enemies will win,

And they will gloat over me in victory.

I am ready to give up because my pain is constant.

So I acknowledge my own guilt,

And I am anxious about the effects of my sin.

My enemies are alive and strong,

And their numbers seem to grow daily.

When I do them good, they return the favor with evil,

They can't stand what I stand for.

So I beg You not to forget about me, O Lord!

Hurry up and bring me salvation!

Sin, Sorrow and Confession.

Psalm 38 – Day 1

"But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done."– Psalm 38:18 NLT

We are not told what David's sin was, but he clearly articulates what he believes to be the ramifications for that sin. David is suffering greatly both physically and emotionally. He sees his circumstances as directly related to his sin and as a rebuke from God. Crying out to God he says, "Because of your anger, my whole body is sick; my health is broken because of my sins. My guilt overwhelms me – it is a burden to heavy to bear" (Psalm 38:3-4 NLT). David clearly understands the concept that sin has consequences and that God, because He is just, must punish sin. There is discipline involved when sins are committed. As children of God we are not allowed to sin freely and without consequence. If we belong to God, our sin produces guilt. His Spirit convicts us of our sin and produces within us those same feelings that David had. He speaks of God's rebuke and discipline. He uses words like crushing, broken, grief, crushed, anguish and pain. And he attributes it all "because of my foolish sins" (Psalms 38:5 NLT).

Speaking of this conviction of sin, C. H. Spurgeon states, "God's law applied by the Spirit to the conviction of the soul of sin, wounds deeply and rankles long; it is an arrow not lightly to be brushed out by careless mirthfulness, or to be extracted by the flattering hand of self righteousness." David was not going to be able to escape the loving discipline of God by simply finding something to distract him. He could avoid it for a time, but his sin, unconfessed, would continue to haunt him, leaving him longing for relief. Conviction is designed to lead to confession. Conviction ignored will only lead to continued sorrow. It will eat away at you from the inside out. That's why confession is so important. It is the anecdote for conviction, guilt and shame. John reminds us, "But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness" (1 John 1:9 NLT). In Psalm 38, the word that David uses that is translated "confess" in the New Living Translation is actually the Hebrew word for "tell or declare." He says that he avows, acknowledges or confesses the sins for which he has been convicted. He gets them out in the open with God. The truth is, God already knows what David has done, and is only waiting for David to acknowledge his guilt before God. He must agree with God that what he has done is wrong and simply admit it openly. Spurgeon says that this process of confession is therapeutic and healing."Open confession is good for the soul. When sorrow leads to hearty and penitent acknowledgment of sin it is blessed sorrow, a thing to thank God for most devoutly. I will be sorry for my sin. My confession will be salted with briny tears. It is well not so much to bewail our sorrows as to denounce the sins which lie at the root of them. To be sorry for sin is no atonement for it, but it is the right spirit in which to repair to Jesus, who is the reconciliation and the Saviour. A man is near to the end of his trouble when he comes to an end with his sins."

But an important part of confession is sorrow. David says, "I am deeply sorry for what I have done." Confession without sorrow is simply regret or remorse. You may regret your sins because it has produced pain and discipline, but that is not true confession. Confession as a means to escape coming punishment is not enough. There must be sorrow for the sin we have committed and not just sorrow for the discipline we are enduring. A child my say he's sorrow for something he has done, but it may be motivated by a desire to escape further punishment. It may have nothing to do with a sorrow over having offended his parents. The same can be true with us. In his letter to the Corinthian church, Paul talks about a letter he had had to send addressing a sin they were struggling with. He says, "I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death" (2 Corinthians 7:8-10 NLT). The kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. David was deeply sorry for his sins. He confesses it to God and asks Him to forgive and restore him. He knows that only God can bring the physical, emotional and spiritual healing he needs. He cries out to God, "Do not abandon me, O Lord. Do not stand at a distance, my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord may savior" (Psalm 38:21-22 NLT).

Father, they say confession is good for the soul. And nothing could be more true than when it comes to sin in the life of the believer. When we sin, the Spirit convicts our soul and creates in us a holy discontentment and discomfort. Like David, we grow increasingly unhappy with our condition, feeling guilt and shame for what we have done. But You are simply using that conviction to lead us to confession, in order that You might forgive and restore us. Give us an increasing hatred for sin and a willingness to acknowledge its presence in our lives as soon as it shows up. Help us respond quickly to the Spirit's prompting and confess our sin with godly sorrow because we have offended You, our heavenly Father and holy God. Amen