Led by the Hand of God…

Read: Psalms 133-139
Marked: Psalms 139:10, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.

David, the Psalmist, understood just how connected we are to God. God knows our coming and going, even our thoughts, V2.

He knows what path we take and even when we lay down, and all our ways, V3. He knows what we are about to say before we even say it, V4. We are surrounded by Him.

It was all too wonderful for David. He realized that no matter where he was, heaven, hell, or in the sea, God was there leading him, holding him, V7-9.

This is true for all who seek to know God and follow Him according to His word. It really is too wonderful, too much to comprehend, but it is all too true.

Reaping Joy…

Read: Psalms 126-132
Marked: Psalms 126:5, Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.

Life can be hard. At times I even want to give up. But in this short verse I find comfort and strength.

Though I may be in a situation that brings tears to my eyes, God is saying, “Don’t give up. Keep sowing.”

No farmer would knowingly sow bad seed. So it stands to reason God is encouraging me to keep doing what is right, to keep sowing good seed, even when it’s hard.

I am so prone to give up quickly when I see no purpose to keep going. But it is then that I need to hunker down and keep going. And the result is that though I might sow in tears, I shall reap in joy.

Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy. I grow in faith in God through adversity, and the lessons learned help me not only overcome the next trial, but I can find real joy even in the midst of that trial.

Peacemaker or Peacebreaker?…

Read: Psalms 120-125
Marked: Psalms 120:6-7, My soul has dwelt too long With one who hates peace. I am for peace; But when I speak, they are for war.

I am living at a time when there are those calling for violence, or support for groups advocating violence, or condone violence as a means to affect change.

A Christian shouldn’t stand with them, but must be the voice of reason and peace. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” ~ Matthew 5:9

As a Christian, I must always consider my response to events from a Biblical standpoint, not an emotional one. Though I may agree with the goal of others, I must not advocate violence to achieve it.

Stop Wandering…

Read: Psalms 119
Marked: Psalms 119:10, With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!

I have read through the Bible many times, but I don’t think I’m ready yet to say this. The more I read the Bible, the more I see how applicable His word is not only to me, but the world I live in.

After years of study I am beginning to understand the importance, and truth of seeking God with my whole heart. His word is meaningless to me unless I intend to make it applicable in my life. Yet, how can I not apply it?

For blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord, V1.

The Cup of Salvation…

Read: Psalms 115-118
Marked: Psalms 116:12-13,What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the LORD.

Yes, there are real, tangible, benefits to knowing the Lord. Real peace and lovingkindness, grace and mercy, and a strong hand to lift me up when I fall down. Too many benefits to name

But the greatest benefit is salvation. Salvation, that free gift of cleansing from the sin of my past, present, and future, making me a new man in Christ through God’s grace.

When I realized just how great a gift salvation was, how could I not take up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord?

Fear that brings Delight…

Read: Psalms 108-114
Marked: Psalms 112:1, Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments.

Blessing in fear? Seems difficult to understand. But to fear the Lord is to recognize His ultimate authority, to be in reverent awe of His power.

His commandments help me understand right from wrong, good from evil, justice from injustice, helping me navigate the rigours and traps of life in this world.

Through understanding and obedience I find great delight in His commandments as I experience the effect they have on my life.

It is like having a map through difficult terrain showing me where all the dangerous spots are located. What is there not to delight in?

Be Wise and Observe…

Read: Psalms 106-107
Marked: Psalms 107:43, Whoever is wise will observe these things, And they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

The wise will observe these things. What things? Psalm 107 is a Psalm of contrast between cursed and blessed.

The cursed because of rejection of God, because of wickedness, struggle, and suffer through life. Yet, when they cry out to God in their trouble He delivers them out of their distress. This is seen throughout the Psalm.

In verse 8 we see a lament. If men would give thanks to God for His goodness and His wonderful works to men they would see that He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness. This lament is repeated three more times in verse 15, 21, and 31.

What will I be, a fool who goes on his own way? Or wise, someone who “observes these things”? Lord, help me understand your lovingkindness.

The Benefits of Faith in God…

Read: Psalms 103-105
Marked: Psalms 103:2, Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:

You may not understand how I can believe in God. There are many reasons, but like anything else worthwhile, I derive real benefit from my relationship with God.

One example, as He declares in His word, He forgives my iniquities, and heals my diseases, V3.

This doesn’t mean I don’t get sick, but a time will come when disease, pain, and suffering will come to an end.

He redeems my life from destruction and crowns me with lovingkindness and tender mercies, V4.

He satisfies my mouth with good things and renews my youth, V5. And the Lord executes righteousness and Justice on all who are oppressed, V6.

I am in good hands and am blessed. It is good to believe in the Lord.

Worship God in Holiness…

Read: Psalms 96-102
Marked: Psalms 96:9, Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.

There are many ways we can worship the Lord. We can sing, we can pray, we can raise our hands, we can even be silent before Him. Many ways.

But we can also worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. In other words, through living a pure and holy life in obedience to His word.

In Jesus, we are no longer slaves to sin, so we can, and should live rightly. God says, “Be Holy, for I am Holy.” ~ 1 Peter 1:16

He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be Holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4).

So we ought to offer our bodies a living sacrifice, Holy, acceptable to God which is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1).

A Refuge and a Fortress…

Read: Psalms 90-95
Marked: Psalms 91:2, I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

Psalm 91 is my favourite Psalm. It is filled with hope and promises of protection by God. It begins with the instruction of verse 1 to dwell and abide.

Then comes verse 2. God, my refuge and fortress. In Him will I trust. Can I say that with the same certainty?

I want to, yet, if I don’t always dwell and abide, can I really say I trust Him? Can I expect what follows in the rest of the Psalm?

Deliverance from the fowler’s snare, V3. The covering of His feathers, the refuge of His wings, protected by His truth, V4.

Freed from the fear of the terror by night, or the arrow that flies by day, pestilence, destruction, and escape from what befalls thousands of others, V5-7?

Why? Because I make the Lord my refuge and dwelling place. Evil won’t befall me nor plague come near because He has given angels to watch over me, to keep me and bear me up

Not even my foot will dash against a rock, V10-12. The lion and the cobra will be tread upon if I set my love on Him and know His name, calling on God and getting an answer, deliverance, honour, and long life.

It really doesn’t get much better than that.