Patiently, Expectantly Waiting.

Psalm 62 – Day 1

"Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken." – Psalm 62:5-6 NLT

For most of us, waiting on God is viewed as some kind of punishment or penance we must pay for our bad behavior. We view it as if God is somehow holding out on us, making us sweat and suffer as He delays giving us what we want in order to teach us a lesson. But that perspective is based on a faulty view of God. He is not some petty deity using His power maliciously or malevolently in order to get out of us what He wants from us. He is a loving, patient, merciful God whose actions are always driven by His care and concern for us. For if God was withholding from us what we needed, just in order to punish us or teach us a lesson, what kind of God would He be? Jesus pointed this out when He said, “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him" (Matthew 7:9-11 NLT). Does that mean we always get what we ask for or that it comes exactly when we expect it? Of course not. God is still God. He is all-knowing and aware of things that are beyond our ability to comprehend. He has a "big picture view" of things that we don't have. He is not bound by space and time, but knows the future as well as He knows the past or present. He is not even limited by our decisions or bad choices. He is in control at all times. At no point is God ever up in heaven wringing His hands in disbelief because He was somehow caught off guard by the events or circumstances surrounding our lives.

So David says, "I want quietly before God, for my victory comes from Him" (Psalm 62:1 NLT). I love how The Message paraphrases that verse: "God, the one and only – I'll wait as long as he says. Everything I need comes from him, so why not?" I'll wait as long as he says. Why? Because He knows best and He has my best in mind. He is my hope and salvation. He is my help and source of healing. He has a plan for my life that is perfect and complete. So David reminds us, "O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge" (Psalm 62:8 NLT). Trust in him at all times. Not just in the good times, but at all times. Even when things seem to be going poorly. Even when it appears as if He is nowhere to be found. Even when everything is going against you and everyone seems to be deserting you. Waiting quietly and trust Him. It is in those moments of waiting and trusting that we truly come to know who He really is. It is in quietly waiting that He reminds us of His love and then rewards us with His perfect answer at the perfect time. What we need is NOT the answer we're hoping for, but the God who provides the answer. We need to know Him better. We need to trust Him more. We need to patiently wait and eagerly anticipate an answer because we know the character of our God. His love never fails.

Father, thank You for the moments of waiting that come into my life on a regular basis. Thank You for teaching me to rely on You and not the world around me. May I continue to learn to wait patiently and expectantly on You because I believe You have my best in mind, in spite of what I see happening around me. Amen

I Cry To You. (Based on Psalm 61)

Psalm 61 – Day 2

O God, I ask you to not only hear my cry, but to respond.

Please pay attention to what I am praying.

When I find myself in extreme circumstances, I will call out to You,

When my heart is overcome by the darkness, and I begin to despair,

Lead me back to the safety of Your greatness,

Where I will find refuge and protection,

Above all my circumstances, exalted above my situations.

For You have always proven to be a shelter for me,

A tower of strength and safety from the enemy.

I will seek refuge in Your presence forever,

I will hide under the protection of Your wings.

You have heard what I have promised,

And You have promised to give me an inheritance

Along with all those who love You and fear You.

Let the king live a long time and impact many generations.

He will live in obediently in Your presence,

All I ask is that You watch over Him with Your mercy and truth.

As a result, I will sing praises forever regarding Your reputation,

And I will do what I have promised every day I am alive.

Overwhelmed, But Never Overlooked.

Psalm 61 – Day 1

"From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety." – Psalm 61:2 NLT

David is under tremendous pressure. He is feeling completely overwhelmed by his circumstances. The Hebrew word he uses to describe the condition of his heart means, "to be wrapped in darkness, to languish, to faint." He is in a dark moment of the soul, a time when all looks hopeless and he is feeling helpless. But what does he do at that moment? Does he give up? No, he looks up. He calls out. He cries out to God. "O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer!" (Psalm 60:1 NLT). He takes the darkness of his situation to the one true source that can shed some light on his condition. He longs for safety and security – a place where his enemies can't reach him and he can enjoy peace from all the turmoil. David knew that his only hope was to be found in God. Keep in mind, this man was a highly successful warrior, a powerful king, and a man who was not afraid to strap on the sword and fight his way out of difficult circumstances. But in this case, he knew that God was his only hope. As he has done so many times before in other Psalms, David appeals to God's unfailing love and faithfulness. He asks God to extend his life and prolong his kingdom, so that he can continue to praise and serve Him. David doesn't just want long life in order to enjoy all the things that life has to offer. He wants to be able to continue his life of service to God, keeping his vows and praising Him for all that He has done.

But the truth is, we often beg God to save us in order that we might continue a life that is focused on US, not Him. We long for God to rescue us from our difficult circumstances, not so that we might serve Him more, but just so that we might enjoy life on our own terms. Whatever the circumstances were in David's life, he more than likely was not able to worship in the Tabernacle. He was not able to offer sacrifices to God. He was isolated from the presence of God's glory that dwelt in the inner recesses of the Tabernacle. He longed to return home and worship God. He wanted to see his life preserved, so that He might praise God more. What is your motivation for calling on God? Why do you want Him to save you? Is it in order that You might see His power on display and so that you might worship Him? Or is it simply so that you might get back to enjoying life and escaping the inconvenient circumstances in which you find yourself? David's focus was on God. Yes, he wanted God to rescue and preserve him, but only so that he might spend his life serving and praising God.

Father, how often I beg You to save me when my only motivation is to get back to life as usual. My focus is not on You, but me. I simply want to enjoy life, not Your presence. Give me a new perspective. Give me a heart like David's that desires long life so that I might have more time to serve and praise You. Amen

We Will Do Mighty Things. (Based on Psalm 60)

Psalm 60 – Day 2

O God, our sin stinks so bad You can hardly stand to be around us,

So You have ended up scattering us in Your anger.

I ask that You would restore us.

Even the earth seems to shake and tremble before You,

You split it open, and only You can restore it.

You have allowed your people to go through difficult times,

It has left us unstable and staggering like we're drunk on wine.

But for those who fear You, You have given a banner to display,

That contains the truths of Your promises.

You will deliver those You love,

I beg You to save us by the power of Your hand.

You have spoken from Your throne,

"I will triumph! I will plunder Shechem!

I will portion out the Valley of Succoth as I see fit!

Gilead and Manasseh belong to Me!

Ephraim is like my helmet and Judah my scepter.

Moab will be like a pot where I do my dirty laundry,

Edom will feel the heel of my boot,

And I will triumph over Philistia."

But I can't help but ask You, O God,

Who will make it possible for us to enter a fortified city?

Who will lead us into Edom?

It has to be You, but it appears that You have rejected us,

And that You no longer go out with our armies.

I beg You to give us help against our enemies,

Because any help we receive from man is useless.

But You make us like a mighty army,

You make it possible for us to experience victory over our enemies.

With God's Help.

Psalm 60 – Day 1

"With God's help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes." – Psalm 60:12 NLT

I can't imagine what it was like to have been king of the nation of Israel. While I'm sure the job had its perks, it also came with a significant number of headaches. Ruling any nation is difficult, but trying to lead a people group who happened to be the hand-picked possession of God Himself was no easy task. First, you had God for your employer. Forget about Congress, your cabinet, or even your constituents. At the end of the day, every action you took was being carefully critiqued by none other than God. Now that's pressure. On top of that you had the unenviable task of trying to lead a people who greatly disliked being led. Leading the nation of Israel was like, as the phrase goes, trying to herd cats – nearly impossible. By God's own opinion, these people were inherently stiff-necked, stubborn, rebellious, and had foreheads of iron. In other words, they were obstinate. And as the king of Israel you were free to make up your own rules as you went along. You were obligated to enforce the laws of God. Of course, some of Israel's kings ignored that part and suffered the consequences. But for David, obeying God was a high priority and maintaining His laws, decrees and commands was job one.

Then there was the problem of Israel's enemies, and there were a lot of them. This little land was literally surrounded on all sides by nations intent on their destruction. Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Aramaens, Edomites, Jebusites, and just about every other nation that existed at that time – both large and small. They all had it in for Israel and they were a constant threat to Israel's existence. As king, David had to constantly be prepared to defend the kingdom, but also the reputation of God. And even though David was "a man after God's own heart," things didn't always go his way. He didn't always win every battle. His exploits didn't always meet with success. And this Psalm was written with one of those times in mind. David opens up the Psalm describing what was an apparent defeat at the hands of his enemies. They had broken through his defenses. They had driven Israel back in defeat. And because David was so strongly dependent on God, he couldn't help but wonder if all this was some kind of punishment from His hand. He viewed this latest military setback as coming from God. So he appealed to God for mercy. He begged God to rescue the nation from the hands of their enemies. "Now rescue your beloved people. Answer and save us by your power" (Psalm 60:5 NLT). David was a powerful warrior and a highly successful king, but he knew where his strength came from – God. One of David's greatest fears was that God might ever reject him and remove His favor from him. He even asks God, "Have you rejected us, O God? Will you no longer march with our armies?" (Psalm 60:11 NLT). David knew the ramifications if that were ever to happen. He knew that their existence was solely based on the favor and power of God, not him. Without God, David was nothing, and he knew it. Without God, the nation of Israel was nothing, and David understood that sobering fact as well. So he calls out to God, "Oh, please help us against our enemies, for all human help is useless" (Psalm 60:11 NLT). David knew what we need to know. Without God's help, we are helpless and hopeless. We are His people. He is our King. It is He who protects us, provides for us, gives us victory, keeps us safe, and meets all our needs. It is to Him we should turn in both the good times and the bad times. All human help is useless. Placing our hope in anyone or anything other than God will always prove dangerous and highly disappointing. We may win the battle, but we will end up losing the war. But David knew that "with God's help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes" (Psalm 60:12 NLT). Even this powerful king knew that he was nothing without the help of his all-powerful God.

Father, how ludicrous it is to think that I can somehow save myself. How silly for me to imagine that I can somehow come up with a plan to save myself from all the enemies I face every day. Without You I am nothing. I have no strength without You. I have no wisdom apart from You. I have no future unless You provide it. I have no hope other than You. But with Your help I will do mighty things! Amen

Then The Whole World Will Know. (Based on Psalm 59)

Psalm 59 – Day 2

Snatch me out of trouble, O God.

Pull me right out of the middle of those who would destroy me.

Set me in a safe, hard-to-get-to place where they can't reach me.

Snatch me away from those who do evil and shed blood.

They hide out, waiting to do me in.

They are strong and have it in for me,

Yet I have done nothing wrong to deserve this treatment.

They are in a hurry and determined to get me, in spite of my innocence.

So I turn to You, the God of all the armies of heaven,

I turn to You, the God of the armies of Israel,

Go into action, deal with the wicked and show no mercy.

They're like wild dogs, returning at night,

Snarling, growling, and prowling the streets in packs.

They can't keep down what they've eaten,

They spew forth all kinds of vile things,

Their words cut like a sharp sword.

They mock You, acting as if You can't hear what they're saying.

But You will have the last laugh, O God,

You will be the one doing the mocking in the end.

I will wait on You, because You have the power to do something about my situation.

You have the strength to defend me when others can't or won't.

Because of Your mercy, You will confront them,

You will allow me to stand over them in triumph.

I don't ask You to eliminate them completely,

Because then we would just forget we ever had a problem.

No, I ask You to knock them down a notch or two.

Deal with them because of the sin they commit with their words,

And because of the pride that is exposed by what comes out of their mouths.

They curse and lie constantly, so wipe them out completely!

Exterminate them completely in Your righteous anger.

Prove to them that You are on the throne and in complete control.

They're like wild dogs, returning at night,

Snarling, growling, and prowling the streets in packs,

But let them go to bed hungry and disappointed.

Let them wander in search of food, but all in vain.

But I am going to wake up singing Your praises!

I will sing about Your mercy in the morning,

For You have been like a fortress and a place of refuge,

Every time I have faced any kind of adversity.

You are my strength, so I sing Your praises

And thank You for Your unfailing love and constant protection.

Unchanging Love. Incomparable Power.

Psalm 59 – Day 1

"You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my fortress. In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me. He will let me look down in triumph on my enemies." – Psalm 59:9-10 NLT

I've had bad days, but I've never had someone who was out to kill me (at least that I know of). I've never been hunted down like a wild animal or had armed mercenaries lying in wait outside my home, just waiting for me to show up so they could take me out. But David had, and he wrote this Psalm because of it. David knew what it meant to be hated, harassed, hounded, and hunted. He had experienced what it means to fear for your life. Every time he woke up he knew it would be another day filled with more of the same thing. But he also knew something that I too easily forget. He knew that God was with him, for him, and would rescue him – no matter what he faced that day. Which is why he could say, "But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress" (Psalm 59:16 NLT). David had experienced the unfailing love of God on previous occasions, so he knew that he could trust God to show up no matter what he faced that day. David knew that God loved him and that love never failed. While his own friends had turned their backs on him, David's God was faithful and true. He would never let David down. "In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me" (Psalm 59:10 NLT).

But not only was God unfailing in his love and unwavering in His support for David, He was incomparable in power. In other words, God loved David, and that love was backed up by a strength that could protect David from anything and everything he faced. Love alone is not enough to prevent calamity from happening to someone who is dear to us. Many have had to watch helplessly as their loved ones died right before their eyes. Soldiers have had to watch, powerless to help, as their comrades died on the battlefield. Love for their brothers was strong, but incapable of preventing their death. But God's love for us is backed by a power that is just as limitless. He not only loves us, but is capable of protecting, rescuing, and saving us. His power to save us is motivated by His desire to save us. He rescues us because He loves us. He saves us not just because He can, but because His love demands it.

David knew about God's love because he had experienced God's love. But it was more than some kind of sentimental, sappy kind of love. It was love expressed in power, exhibited in strength, and proven in acts of divine intervention. David knew he was love because he was still alive – in spite of all those who wanted him dead. His next breath was a reminder of God's love. Seeing the sun come up in the morning was an opportunity to thank God for His love and deliverance. David's problems still existed. His enemies were still there. But David knew that God would see him through the day, because God loved him, and that love was backed by power.

Father, how easy it is to forget that You love me – unceasingly. Somehow I know You are all powerful. But I sometimes doubt that You love me enough to make that power available to me each and every day. I fail to recognize that the very fact that I am alive is proof of Your power and Your love for me. Without Your sustaining power and unfailing love, I would cease to exist. You give me the strength I need to make it through the day. You lovingly sustain me, helping me make my way through the trials of life. May I learn to sing Your praises each and every morning, grateful for another day to serve You and watch You work in my life. Amen

Our Just God. (Based on Psalm 58)

Psalm 58 – Day 2

How can you people really talk about justice,

When it seems to be the last thing we hear in your judgments?

Do you judge fairly and rightly? Far from it!

Your decisions are driven by wicked hearts.

You dispense violence rather than justice on the earth.

These people departed from truth and righteousness the minute they're born.

They wander from God's path at birth, speaking lies instead of truth.

The poison they spread is as deadly as that of a snake,

Incapable of listening to reason, they strike out with deadly accuracy.

They are like a cobra that the snake charmer can't control.

His wisdom and skills are wasted on them.

De-fang them, O God! Remove the power of their words.

Break off their teeth so they can no use their mouths to destroy others.

Let them disappear like raging waters that eventually run out.

Let them wither like grass that is here today and gone tomorrow.

May they go the way of the snail, that dries up when the heat comes.

Like a premature baby, may their lives be short-lived.

In the time it takes to light kindling under a cooking pot,

God will sweep them all away in His burning anger.

Those who are righteous and love justice will rejoice,

When they see God enact vengeance on the unjust.

They will have to wade through the blood of the wicked when God is done.

The only conclusion anyone will be able to reach is,

"The life of righteousness bears fruit in the end,

Because God will eventually judge between the righteous and the wicked."

Justice For The Unjust.

Psalm 58 – Day 1

"Then at last everyone will say, 'There truly is a reward for those who live for God; surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.'" – Psalm 58:11 NLT

There are times when injustice seems to be everywhere. We read the newspaper or watch TV and are appalled at what we read and see. The innocent suffer at the hands of the wicked. The weak fall prey to the strong. Bigger nations take advantage of smaller ones. And nobody seems capable of doing anything about it. Governments posture and promote plans to bring about justice, but there efforts make little or no dent in the situation. Oftentimes, those very same governments are perpetrating acts of injustice of their own. As David put it, violence continues to spread through the land. Nobody seems to even know what the word justice really means anymore. Except God. Even though David felt as if justice was a lost cause in his day, he knew he could appeal to God because He is just and righteous. God not only sees all the injustice going on, He can do something about it. Even though David felt impotent to do anything about "these wicked people" who "spit venom like deadly snakes," he knew that God was more than powerful enough to deal with it all. So he turns to God. In his frustration, David asks God to do to these people exactly what he would do if he could. His request is graphic and less-than-compassionate. David pulls no punches. He asks God to wipe these people off the face of the earth. At first blush, a reading of David's request to God might disturb us. It comes across as so violent and unloving. But it also reveals David's hatred of injustice. He can't stand to see the unjust go unpunished, because he understands that they are in direct opposition to his God. He refuses to tolerate or grow accustomed to injustice, just because he is powerless to do anything about it. But too often we do just that. We grow callous about it all because there appears to be nothing we can do. We read the stories of injustice going on in the world and we turn a deaf ear and a blind eye. We tend to ignore what we feel like we can't impact. We know injustice is taking place, but because we feel powerless to do anything about it, we slowly learn to tolerate it – as long as it's not happening to us. But David was a man after God's own heart. He loved what God loved and hated what God hated. So David hated injustice and he appealed to the only one who could do anything about it. He asked God to act. He cried out to God to bring justice because God is just.

And here's what David was counting on: God will act. God will judge. God will bring justice. "Surely there is a God who judges justly here on the earth" (Psalm 58:11 NLT). The day is coming when justice really will prevail. God will deal with the unjust and avenge those who have suffered at their hands. When we see injustice taking place, we need to call out to God for His help. We need to ask Him what He would have us do as His hands and feet on this planet. Injustice should make us long for justice. Sin should make us long for His salvation. Wickedness should make us long for righteousness. Darkness should make us long for His light. Instead of ignoring injustice or becoming callous to its presence, we should learn to see it clearly and long to watch God remove it completely.

Father, there is injustice in the land. It is all around us and we are powerless to do anything about it. But You're not, so I ask that You intervene and that You do what only You can do. Bring justice. Protect the innocent. Establish righteousness. Remove wickedness. Send Your Son to right all wrong and avenge all injustice. So that the righteous might rejoice. Amen

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.