Category: Psalms

As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.  Psalm 18:30

Truth and love are always paired in the context of the Gospel. God speaks that way and as His child, I am asked to communicate with others like this too. Truth can be brutal but when wrapped in love and kindness, it need not injure needlessly. It can instruct and encourage. But how many have claimed to be truth tellers in the name of Christ, only to do long-term damage to a child or young disciple? Even the most seasoned Christian can be brought low in an instant by reckless words spoken without grace.

The only cure for the deep pain of others’ words is to allow God to speak the truth in the context of love and tenderness.  I must be willing to disown hurtful words and no longer have them define me in any way. These injurious comments should be dealt with severely at the cross, in prayer.  What do I do with the hurtful attitude of the one who originally spoke it?  I ask God to remove the arrows of their intent.  If their comments came with anger or revenge, Jesus will deal with the spirit that came with the words and cleanse me from all their effects.

For each of us who has sustained damage from the words of another, I must isolate the words, reflect on them, examine the damage, and then talk to Jesus about it all. I must own any sinful reactions I had to their sin against me. Anger, revenge, sharp retorts, etc.. How do I heal?  Here is a prayer.

“Lord, nullify the effects of these comments under the power of Your shed blood. Take these words from my mind and my heart.  Remove the arrows that wounded my soul so deeply.   Make it as though the words had never been spoken.  I forgive the person who spoke them and give up my right to take revenge.  I put this person in Your hands for You to rule righteously.  Arise on my behalf.  Hear my prayer.  Hold me, breathe over me, kiss my heart with Your living Word and may I live in abundant life.  Lord, I stand today on Your promise.  “The Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings.”  Malachi 4:2   Because of Jesus, I pray…Amen

As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. Matthew 9:9

There has been so much discussion of late about the actual event we label ‘getting saved.’ Prayers are said by a bedside, at an altar, and the Gospel is presented as a free gift that is easy to obtain. It is confusing when some who said the prayers don’t pursue God afterwards. Perhaps their enthusiasm was evident early on but actually making Christ Lord of their lives didn’t happen. Does that mean that the prayer they prayed wasn’t real? Only God knows.

Many testify that they once trusted Christ but it wasn’t until later in life that they surrendered their heart/will to Jesus. They say that the events of salvation and lordship are two different things. I am not saying that those who prayed the prayer aren’t God’s children. I was a Christian robot until my forties even though I gave my heart to Jesus when I was seven. But what I am saying is this ~

1. Jesus didn’t separate the two events. He simply called his disciples and told them to follow – to leave everything. He made it clear that to become His disciple involved taking up a cross.
2. We must be challenged when sharing the Gospel. It is not a series of magic words that enable others to escape eternal condemnation and wrath. It is not ‘fire insurance.’ In the Gospel presentation, the person of Jesus must be front and center. He must be unveiled as One who is beautiful, as One to be treasured above all things. If anyone is going to pick up and change their life course, they must have a relationship with the One who calls them to such a sacrifice.

I really like how our daughter, Jaime, puts it as she shares Jesus with her two boys. She tells them the Gospel story and then asks the question, “Are you ready to make Jesus your King?”

If I am really humbled by Your death in my place, calling You ‘King’ will come easily on my tongue. Amen

Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.  Psalm 119:27 

I used to be immersed in a Bible-study environment.  My husband and I worked for a large Christian ministry for the first many years of our marriage.  There was a seminary on the premises as well as an adult conference facility.  The best Bible teachers, heavyweights for that time period, were frequent guests; Charles Ryrie, Vance Havner, Lehman Strauss.  The air was supercharged with excitement over who was going to be teaching next.  I was caught up in political correctness, feigning enthusiasm with the crowd.  I sat in the meetings, took notes, tried to psyche myself that what I was hearing was exciting yet, though I was certainly learning doctrine, my own soul was not affected by what I was hearing.  Did I go away and meditate on any of it?  No.  What consumed my thoughts was the need to belong to the crowd who thought it wonderful to be sitting under such excellent teaching.

David asks for God’s help in today’s scripture.  He petitions for spiritual understanding of the scriptures so that he will be able to meditate in a heartfelt way.  Understanding precedes meditation.  Truth must always be a heart thing!

That’s what was lacking for me all those years.  Because scripture had never been personalized, and without personalization – scripture remains impersonal, the scripture was nothing more than a church history course.  I had to scan many chapters to find a verse that was, at the very least, inspirational.  On a good day, it was intellectually stimulating but the impact ended there.

How can we interact with the scriptures in a way where we are changed?  How can we become passionate about God’s Word?   Here’s a primer course.  1. Set aside 15 minutes with God.  2. Ask God to open your heart.  3. Take a short passage of scripture and meditate on it as you read it slowly.  Taste it and savor it.  4. Look for your head/heart conflict.  Do you know the truth of what you’re reading and yet you have to admit that your heart disbelieves it?   5. Define your need as a result of the conflict.  “I don’t believe this in my heart because . . . ”  6. Put it all together into a prayer.  Voice your need. Affirm the truth. Pray the scripture.

The supernatural power of God’s Word is rendered powerless in my life when I have no need of it.

Lord, transformation began when you showed me my need of You.  Thank you for every single crisis that drove me to you.  Amen

I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah  Psalm 32:5

Acknowledging our sin, while God requires it to be forgiven, can be a tricky thing.  I think about Cain’s confession to the Lord after killing his brother.  The pain he expressed had more to do with what he would suffer than what God suffered.  Cain said to the LORD, “Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden.  I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”  Genesis 4:13-14  There is no thought that God’s heart was broken when Cain killed Abel for doing something holy.  What’s missing in Cain’s response to God’s curse?  A real apology!  Cain never said, “I’m sorry.”  He only considers his own skin and the ways he will faint under his punishment.

Do you know someone who expresses no remorse?  They are simply unable to recognize what their sin against another causes.  Many wives and husbands are cruel to each other.  Hurtful things are said and treacherous things are done.  When the one who feels betrayed speaks up, backs up, and expresses pain, remorse is absent.  But when the pain of consequences is felt, a token “Sorry!” is expressed.  There is an expectation that everything should be back to normal.  He, or she, fails to know the repercussions of his actions.

All throughout Israel’s history, God qualified the kinds of tears they cried.  God laid out the ground rules from the beginning.  “Obey me and you’ll be blessed.  Disobey and you’ll be led into captivity.”  They did well under the leadership of righteous kings for short periods of time.  Eventually though, they regressed and began to worship idols, throw their infants in the fire, and act disgracefully toward their God.  The consequences were felt.  God used enemies, like the Babylonians, to take His people as slaves.  In their great distress, they cried out to God to deliver them.  But God said, in essence, “You are not crying because you agree with me about your sin.  You’re crying because you hate captivity.”  Is this not like Cain?

I bring the message home to my own heart today.  How often have I said, “Father, I blew it.  I did ‘this’ and now I’ve lost what I treasured.  Forgive me.”  My apology was all about me, about what I lost.  I did not picture the face of my heartbroken Father.  Self-pity rather than remorse was expressed in my so-called apology.

Only You, LORD, can give me a true heart of repentance.  Amen

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.  Psalm 20:7”

Lord, forgive us for looking to broken cisterns for living water. As your children, we may live wanting, groaning for your kingdom to come, but we will not be crippled by uncertainty.  We will not succumb to the anxiety of second guessing our future.  Our leaders disappoint us but You rule perfectly.  Our joy and confidence is in Your Kingship.    Each of us pray this out loud today until our whole beings believe it.

You hold our family’s future in Your hands.  You hold our health in Your hands.  You hold our security in Your hands.  You hold our disappointments in Your hands.  You have our children’s names on the palm of Your hands.  You hold us all when we tremble in fear.  You’ve got us even when we’re skeptical that Your promises are true.  Increase our faith.

We bring our leaders and broken government to you in prayer and know that only You can change them.  As we wait, we give up all rights to know why we wait.  We trust Your sovereign rule in our lives.   Your plans for us are for good – to give us a future and a hope.  Praise be to You, magnificent, trustworthy, and all-powerful Jehovah.  Amen

I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me.  Psalm 119:19

High political leaders know they need ambassadors to represent them in other countries.  They look far and wide to discover the man or woman who will do the job well.  They must be well acquainted with the laws of their country, well acquainted with the wishes and strategies of the people in authority over them so that they will act successfully on their behalf.  Once chosen, there is a ‘sending’ and a mission that is unique to the country to which they’ve been called.

The ambassador leaves.  He makes his home in China, or Pakistan, or Kenya.  He does not look like anyone else nor truly live like anyone else there.  He abides by the laws of his new country but he is not a citizen.  He promotes and executes the policies of his country back home.  He speaks on behalf of the president, on behalf of the government, knowing that as he exerts his rule, his leaders back home back him up.  As long as he acts in accordance with his country’s principles, he is protected.

I am a sojourner.  Like David, I feel it.  I don’t track with the culture in which I live.  The values on earth are not in harmony with the values of heaven.  I’m an ambassador here, meant to represent my king and the laws of His kingdom.  As I rule my world with His principles, God has my back and I am protected.  I speak on behalf of God, act in His best interest, promote the laws of His kingdom.  No wonder David asks that God make his commandments known to Him.  To be in alignment with God’s precepts and live by them is to know peace and safety.  God is behind me and before me and when I’m finished representing Him here, when my time of influence has run its course, He will lead me safely home for permanent retirement in His kingdom.

My mission is clear today.  Help me rule well on your behalf.  Amen

Truth shall spring up from the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Psalm 85: 11

When the truth is questioned, do I dig my heels in because I belong to God, or am I adamant because it serves me?

I remember when Jesus’ identity was questioned.  He claimed that God was his Father.  The religious leaders were indignant, calling him a liar.  If Jesus had not been perfect, He could have easily risen up to defend himself the way we often do. “How dare you question my word!  I told you that God was my Father and I am His Son.  You apparently have no idea who you’re talking to!” Anyone other than Jesus would have been tempted to stand in the pride of his celebrity status.  This temptation would have bitten most children of men.

Jesus stood in truth because He obeyed a truth-telling God, not because by standing in truth, his identity would be validated.  His sense of self was not threatened in the least by others’ disbelief.  And, it was not strengthened by their belief.  If the masses rejected Him, His self-perception suffered no fractures.  There was no personal agenda at stake here other than his unwavering obedience to speak what God prompted Him to speak.

The truth can cause God’s children to rise up in so-called holy wars.  We call ourselves truth-tellers but our heart is disconnected from the right reason to be such.  If I speak the truth today, am I doing it because it benefits me in any way?  The real test is whether or not I am willing to be truthful when faced with potential persecution.  Motives become evident very quickly.

My own heart will continue to deceive me without the help of Your Spirit, Lord.  Amen

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.       Psalms 16:6

God never meant for me to be passive about my faith.  He has made promises but I must make them mine by walking them out.  There will be times that promises appear to be in threat so I must rise up to fight for faith.  There will be giants in my Canaan.  A life of faith does not mean a life of resting.  I must expect battles and get engaged.

Being an ambassador of God on this earth means ruling on behalf of the kingdom who commissioned me.  Though earth is not my home, I’m sent here to represent my King and bring the laws of His kingdom to earth.  This is a cooperative effort.  As I rule and do my part, God has my back.  As I stand in His promises, He fulfills them.  That’s why Moses was told to raise the rod over the Red Sea.  That’s why Joshua and the Israelites were told to march around the walls of Jericho.  They did their part and God brought the victory.

God gave Abram a blessing.  He promised him land in every direction his eyes can see and offspring greater than the sands of the sea.  But it didn’t come to pass without Abram’s involvement.  He was told to walk the length and breadth of the land – personally staking his claim.

Walking out God’s promises is to be my way of life.  When my children’s future appears to be tenuous, I get on my knees and stake my claim on God’s promises for them.  When the ministry is under spiritual attack, I go to a day of fasting and re-claim the promises surrounding my calling.  When my home is under attack; when anger, anxiety or depression swirl, when equipment begins to malfunction, when sleep is robbed, when people begin to act out without a cause, I do what Abram did.  I walk the lines of my property and sing.  I also take my “I Am” sheet with me and read it as I walk. The victory is mine as God engages with my faith walk.

Giants in the land were never there to cause me to faint.  They were there to teach me to live and fight for faith.

Too many obstacles?  I used to just abdicate.  Thank you for teaching me how to fight and for giving victory after victory.  As the stakes get higher, give me the grace to walk with more boldness.  In Jesus name, Amen 

Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.  Psalm 119:128

David doesn’t ride the fence.  There is no neutrality.  He loves truth.  He hates every false way.  He reminds me that I should show no ambivalence when it comes to good or evil either because there is no such thing as neutrality.  It’s sin or it’s not sin.  If Jesus wouldn’t do it, think it, or condone it, then it should be intolerable for me as well.

Is there something I find myself in the middle of today that seems sticky?  Perhaps if I were dealing with a stranger, I’d take a stand but because it’s a friend or family member, the waters muddy.  I know there are repercussions if I think differently from those who know me best.   To give myself a way out, I begin to rationalize.  “I shouldn’t make a big deal out of this.  It’s not like this is the end of the world if I give in.” Those thoughts signal a red flag.  The real issue is this ~ What would Jesus do if he were in my place?

What am I letting get by me today because I fear the consequences of speaking up?  If I can answer that question, and if I believe that this particular sellout falls in a harmless category, I am not thinking like Jesus.  To speak up every time I encounter sin is not the aim here.  It is to be willing to – if God nudges.  If there is a situation that causes me to shut my mouth up tight, then I fear man more than I fear God.  Psalm 118:6 comes to mind for me to internalize.  “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?”

You never ask your child to take a stand, suffer the consequences, without Your personal attention afterwards.  Just as angels came to Jesus in the wilderness to strengthen His heart, You come to me when I am isolated.  Amen