Foundations: Psalms - Day 19

READ: Psalms 44-45

Psalm 44 is set into three distinct sections. It starts with a reminiscing section in verses 1 through 8. It is a recounting of the magnificent works of God. During this testimony we see the writers giving all the credit to God. If something good happened, God was credited. The Psalmists are saying: Look and see how great our God is!

The second section begins in verse 9 and goes through verse 16. This section is also a testimony. This testimony, however, is not a recounting of magnificent deeds but rather a reminder of the struggle they’ve suffered. Just like God got credit for the good things He did, He is also getting credit for the hard things they experienced.

The final section clarifies for us why they are suffering: simply because God allowed it. It wasn’t punishment or consequence. The Psalmist could experience such difficulty and still worship God, though. He says in verse 20 that if they had worshiped or prayed to other gods for help God would have known – even if they had done it in secret. Because God knows the secrets of their hearts (and of our hearts) they knew they would be found out. It is one thing to suffer for dishonouring God. It is quite another to suffer because somehow it is in God’s sovereign plan and we will be rewarded for our faithfulness in the midst of suffering. The testimony of God’s goodness helps carry us through the hard times we don’t understand.

Psalm 45 is a wedding song. Let’s look specifically at verse 20. This is a message to the bride, who likely was from a Gentile background and not of Jewish heritage. If we read this from the perspective of the Bride of Christ we can see a strong calling to purity within the Church. With the Church in mind, there are two specific things we can take to heart.

The first is the instruction to forget our father’s house. Our lineage of sin comes through the first Adam. As we align ourselves with Christ and are married into the Bride we leave our ‘father’s house’.  We are told to forget him. We live according to new family rules now. The marriage union one day between Christ and the Church, gives us a new family to belong to.

The second is the understanding that Christ is enthralled with His Bride just like this groom is enthralled with his bride. What a joy it will be for Christ to return to His beautiful Bride! A bride of purity and holiness. He longs to return to a bride who honours Him. As we read the description of the bride in verses 13-15 we get a glimpse of the glory of that upcoming wedding. What a day that will be!

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.   What is your testimony of God’s goodness? Take a few minutes to ask God to bring to light some of the great things He has done in your life. Take time to thank God for those things. Consider who to share your testimony with today.

2.   As we prepare for the coming of Christ, we need to separate more and more from this world and be connected to the things of Christ. Ask Jesus if there is something you are holding onto from your sinful nature He’s asking you to let go, forget, and walk away from. Is there anything you need to confess? Patterns or habits that need to change? Confess to the Lord and thank Him for grace to live according to His standards.

3.   The way the Bride of Christ clothes herself is with holiness, purity and honour to the King. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you if there is something you can add to your life (in attitude or action) that would bring honour to His name. Write it down and make a commitment in prayer to follow through.

Foundations: Psalms - Day 18

READ: Psalms 42-43

Psalm 42 is one many can relate to. The writer is thirsty and hungry for God. He compares his thirst to that of a deer panting for water. An interesting thing about deer is that they don’t drink from a stream until there is no threat to them and they feel entirely safe. It seems the Psalmist is longing not just for refreshment from God, but also safety and rest. He asks, “When can I go to meet with God?”  He talks about his tears being his food day and night, and he just wants to get away from it all. He wants to stop running and be in a place with God to receive respite from the stresses and pain of life.

The Psalmist is heavy-hearted and wrestling with difficulties. Yet he says ‘deep calls to deep’. What exactly does this mean? If we could travel to the depths of the ocean there would be a sense of quiet, calm and stability. Even if the surface of the water would be roiling with tumultuous waves the depth of the ocean would not be affected. ‘The deep’ is that same place in our souls. Sometimes God doesn’t speak to our circumstances or concerns. Rather, He calls out from the depth of Himself to the depth of who we are and our identity. Some of us hear or sense this in prayer, others in worship, and many of us when we are walking through our most traumatic days. God becomes our Rock, our stability, and even though we can’t necessarily pinpoint it, we know that the depth of our soul has been held, carried, and changed by the heart of God.

Psalm 42 and 43 almost seem like two parts of the same psalm. Psalm 42:5, 11 and Psalm 43: 5 are identical. As he struggles with his depression and discouragement, being worn out and weary, he realizes this struggle is not getting any better. So he reminds himself of truth, not once, not twice but three times in these two chapters.

This is a solid model for us to follow. When we are sinking into a pit of depression and darkness one very solid practice we can take from this passage is that of speaking truth to our own hearts and minds. As we can see in these two Psalms, we can’t just do it once. We need to remind ourselves over and over of these four things:

1. We need to deliberately put our hope in God.
2. We must remember there will come a time when we will eagerly praise God again.
3. We must recognize that although we may need help and resources to get us through the tough times, God alone is our Savior.
4. Finally, we must declare our decision to choose Him as our God.

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.   When you think about your devotional times, do they seem like a safe stream of water, a place and time where you can receive refreshment, refuge and nourishment from the Lord? If so, thank the Lord for the ways and times He has done this for you. If not, ask Him what needs to change in order to sense His safety and provision for you. Ask God for the courage to obey what He asks.

2.   Write down a time when you sensed God was carrying you, or when you could feel His presence very strongly. Take 5 minutes right now to ask the Lord to reveal Himself to your soul and to remove the distraction of your circumstances so your mind can be fully engaged with His presence and His Word. If possible, go to a quiet room where you can wait for Him on your knees. While you pray, bring to the Lord someone who is going through a time of turbulence. Ask God to share with them this sense of His presence, of deep calling to deep.

3.   Ask the Lord if there is a truth you need to be speaking to your own heart today, maybe in response to depression, a hurt, a lie you believe, or simply about who God is. Write down what He says. Pray a prayer of commitment to speak that truth and believe it all day long.

Foundations: Psalms - Day 17

READ: Psalm 39-41

The average Canadian will live 80 years, or 29,200 days. A 20 year old today may have about 22, 000 days left. Someone close to 40 is looking at only 14,600 days. Those in their 60’s may have less than 7,300 days left on this earth. Not all of us will live to be 80. For some the number of days left is very, very small. Only the Lord knows the number of days we have. Yet David teaches us to ask God to help us see the end and to consider how short our lives are in light of eternity.

David makes a very pointed statement in verse 6 of Psalm 39. We are rushing, busy, stressed, worried and everlastingly tired… for what? We hustle and bustle to make this incredibly short life better, gaining wealth and material goods and prestige. In verse 7, though, David asks God, What’s my goal in life now that I know this life is so short? Immediately we get the answer: to make things right with God; to have our sins forgiven.

Psalm 40 is a Psalm of praise from the pits when nothing is going right. David talks about a slimy pit, mud and mire, troubles without number, many sins, poverty and enemies who try to do their worst. Yet he praises God and begs for His love, truth and mercy. He focuses his mind on the truth of God’s many blessings. He remembers God is so much bigger than even the worst of our troubles combined. This is why David can sing in verse 5 that God’s wonder are uncountable! What a testimony that is – especially from the pits! This is David’s example to us, and why he can boldly praise the Lord in verse 16. David’s prayer in this Psalm is that we would declare the greatness of God, and see His goodness all the time. Even when it doesn’t seem good, we are challenged to search and find it.

Psalm 41 is sung by David out of a heart full of pain and grief. It’s bad enough to have enemies but David’s friend betrayed him. David confidently prays for his enemies and his friend to receive the justice they deserve. He prays confidently because he knows God is pleased with him. How does he know that?! No still small voice told him! Neither the wind nor the quiet. Not into his ears or through the voice of godly counsel. David says he knew God was pleased with him because He had preserved his life from the enemy. When we are faced with impossible situations and God breaks through miraculously not only do we know God did it. We can also know this: God did it for us. No wonder he sings praise to the Lord from everlasting to everlasting! Wouldn’t you?

JOURNALING & PRAYER

1.   How many days do you have left until you reach heaven (or you are blessed with death)? (80 – your age = X. Take X and multiply by 365. This will give you a rough idea.) Ask the Lord to speak to you about how you are spending your time. Are you investing your time, energy and money into eternal things or are you too focused on gaining wealth or prestige? Are you preparing yourself for heaven or busying yourself with earth? If the Lord shows you anything that might need changing, thank Him for showing you now, while there is still time!

2.   Consider a struggle you are in right now. Ask God to show you 3-5 things you can be thankful for even in the midst of a painful situation. Pray your thanks to Him!

3.   What are some ways God has spoken to you? Ask God to show you where in the past He has spoken to you but you didn’t notice because it seemed “normal”.  Thank Him for speaking to you, then ask Him to tell you 2-3 things about you that He is very pleased with. Write them down and say thank you!

Foundations: Psalms - Day 16

READ:  Psalm 37-38

Psalm 37 begins with a stark instruction: don’t be jealous of wicked people because they are going to die anyway. The rest of the chapter explains in many different ways how to live so we won’t be counted among the wicked. David has seen many wicked people fall into obscurity, gone with nothing left to mark their lives. Yet David is full of hope for those who love God and trust Him. There are so many benefits – even when faced with danger, disaster and death.

The Lord’s protection and provision are sure. However, justice plays a strong role. It’s not just about waiting out the pain, but understanding God will most definitely make it all right one day. He will pay the wicked what they deserve and the righteous will be preserved forever. Two verses that stand out are 37-38. Verse 37b says, “there is a future for the man of peace.” This future is both on earth and in heaven. Interesting to note is how David is speaking about all the blameless and all the sinners. We need to remember this. Too many times we look at chapters like this, shake our fists at heaven and ask, “Why am I going through the very same things some non-Christians are?” These two verses give us the answer.

Our perspective needs to be on our eternal future. That’s where the difference is made clear and concise. The fullness of the promises will be witnessed in eternity, and that’s the very reason we need to live according to verse 5. The truth is this: When we commit our way to God and trust in Him our eternities will be changed from death to life!

So many of us struggle with health issues. Often we run to doctors or health professionals for answers and diagnoses. Although there is absolutely nothing wrong with going to a doctor for help, David reminds us in Psalm 38 that sometimes our health issues are directly from the hand of God. He can choose many ways to discipline us. David experienced God’s discipline in the form of health problems. Some of David’s issues were open and festering wounds, searing back pain, feeling sick to his stomach, deep depression, racing heart, and overall weakness. It even sounds like he has a foggy brain and is having trouble thinking and communicating clearly. Some of us may feel like he’s writing our medical history!

David’s not at all surprised at the health struggles he’s facing. He knows he sinned. He knows God loves him. And because of that, he fully expects God to discipline him. What is his cure? To cry out to the Lord and confess his sin. Not all health issues are evidence of God’s discipline or wrath. However, what might change in our health and bodies if we asked God first about hidden sin, or sinful lifestyles and attitudes, listening carefully and obeying before going to the doctor for help?

JOURNALING & PRAYER

1.   Ask the Lord to remind you or reveal to you any times you may have been jealous of others who seem to prosper even though – or because – they were wicked. Then ask Him to give you a long list of things He has done specifically just for you. Keep adding to that list by asking Him to remind you of what He has promised for you in heaven. Pray a prayer of confession for being envious of the wicked. Pray a prayer of thanksgiving for a life of blessing both now and in the promise of all eternity.

2.   Pray Psalm 37:5 by first praying a prayer of commitment to the Lord. Then ask Him to fill you with reminders of His faithfulness so your trust in Him can grow and grow.

3.   If you are struggling with any health issue, big or small, ask the Lord if your health issue is a consequence of a sin or a discipline from Him. If it is, confess your sin to Him, then ask Him if there are any steps you need to take to follow Him into health before you see your doctor again. Make a commitment to obey Him. If you do not sense the Lord is disciplining you, thank Him for the doctors we have available to us and ask Him to give you spiritual eyes and ears to recognize His discipline if and when it comes.

Foundations: Psalms - Day 15

READ: Psalm 34-36

David wrote this Psalm just after he pretended to be insane to preserve his life (see 1 Samuel 21:10-15). David’s life, it could be said, was one of living on the edge. He was going from danger to danger, risk to risk. For one risk he might engage in battle, in the next he might be diplomatic, and according to Scripture he even went so far as to act like a madman! David had no tried-and-true battle plans, or means of escape. His strategy was to rely on the Lord. No wonder his plans were a little off-the-wall! In Psalm 34 David gives credit to God for helping him. He says he boasts in the Lord. This is because the crazy ideas are not his – they come from God. God answered him, delivered him and saved him. David has no doubt whatsoever. He knows the Lord has protected him. He also knows it is because he pursues righteousness and fears the Lord. So he teaches his followers (verse 11) to live holy lives and fear the Lord. David understands there is, and will continue to be, trouble, disaster and discouragement. Yet he has the audacity to say the Lord won’t allow even a bone to be broken. We will very likely see trouble and hurt here, but God will not allow this to define you for eternity. The deliverance God offers is not just for not, but forever!

Psalm 36 offers us an opportunity to evaluate our own hearts. The first few verses describe the wicked. It is natural to ask, “How do I compare?”  David’s first comment is there is no fear of God in the heart of the wicked. This should cause us to pull back, evaluate, and ask if we fear the Lord. The next thing David says is they think so highly of themselves they don’t even see their own sin. How many times are we caught in this trap, thinking our sin is not nearly as big as someone else’s? “At least I haven’t….” We fill in the blank with a sin someone else has committed thereby excusing ourselves of our own sin. We don’t hate our sin. We get comfortable with it, make friends with it, and don’t even notice it is the very thing that’s killing us. When David goes on to explain what this sin looks like it’s not murder, or adultery, or any of the “big” sins. It’s in what he says, unwise choices, and planning sinful behavior. It’s the heart! Yet God offers us His faithful forgiveness, time after time after time. God looks for the heart that is upright, not just the actions.

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.    Ask the Lord to reveal to you anything that has happened to you, or you have done, that is defining you today. Ask the Lord to show you how this will change in eternity if you stay committed to Him. Ask the Lord if there is something He wants to say to you today to change whether or not this continues to define you even now.

2.    Ask Jesus to reveal to you if there is a sin in your life you have excused by comparing it to someone else’s sin. Ask God why you don’t hate that sin. Confess it to Him and ask Him to give you His perspective on your sin so that you might have a righteous heart.

3.    Ask God for a very specific picture of His love toward you that will motivate you to love others today with a love that is pure, faithful and unfailing. Keep this image in mind throughout today.

Foundations: Psalms - Day 14

READ: Psalms 31-33

Although these chapters may not have been written in any specific order, they do fall in a progression we can use for ourselves today.

In Psalm 31 we see the Psalmist, David, pour out his heart to the Lord, telling him how hard life is. He talks about being consumed, and being treated poorly. There are traps set for him all around, and he feels like there is a battle every which way he turns. We sometimes feel the same way. Yet, thrown into this conversation with God are declarations of his belief in God’s goodness. His commitments to trusting God no matter what, and loving God with all his heart, keep him going in the hard times.

Psalm 32 is the testimony of David after having his sin forgiven. We know how heavy the burden of unconfessed sin is. It eats at us. It can make us physically sick. No area of our lives is untouched by unconfessed sin. When that sin is confessed, forgiven and dealt with our lives are transformed. This is the theme of Psalm 32 – the blessing of confession and forgiveness. David says his bones wasted away, he was weak and tired from his sin. However, once he confessed his sins to God he was a new man! As a matter of fact, he thinks everyone should do it! Verse 6 says “therefore let everyone pray to you”.  He goes on in verse 9 to indicate how foolish and stubborn the people are who don’t go to God. No matter how many sins, or how great the sin is, God’s unfailing love will surround the one who trusts in Him. God’s forgiveness brings life.

From a Psalm of trouble, to a Psalm of forgiveness, we now go to a Psalm of joy and thanksgiving! The first few verses of this Psalm are instructive. 1) Sing. 2) Praise the Lord. 3) Make music. 4) Sing. 5) Play skillfully. Many of us turn on the radio when we get in the car. Sometimes we sing along, but more often than not our minds turn to what’s bothering us or things we need to work out. We have iPods full of music, and access to all kinds of praise and worship songs. Yet, the truth is, even our Christian culture rarely makes a point to use music to worship on an individual level. We leave the music to the pastor at church, or the choir, or a few songs we sing (if we actually sing) on Sunday morning. Yet these verses say to sing and make music! Sing some more and play your instrument with skill… that means practice! Practice hard so we can worship better! From verse 4 on the Psalmist gives us many reasons why the Lord is worthy to be praised. He ends with a commitment of waiting for the Lord and trusting in Him.

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.   When was the last time you poured out your heart to God? Take a few minutes now to write a letter to God in your journal, or to get on your knees by your bed or chair to pour out to God all that is going on, the emotions you are feeling, and what your concerns and fears are. When your heart has been emptied before the Lord spend a few minutes listening quietly to see what Jesus wants to say to you. Write down His words in your journal.

2.   Ask the Lord to reveal any sin in your heart – either something you are aware of or has been hidden – for you to confess. Take time to confess this sin to the Lord and receive His forgiveness. Ask the Lord if there is anyone you need to confess that sin to, and if so, plan to do it as soon as possible. Say a prayer of thanks for all you have been forgiven of.

3.   Sing a song of worship to God. If you are not comfortable singing without music, turn on your favourite worship song and sing along. If this is new and you are looking for some ideas to get started, you can easily find these songs online: This is Amazing Grace by Phil Wickham, In Christ Alone by Natalie Grant, How Great Thou Art.

Optional: If music and singing is not something you are comfortable with, ask the Lord to give you an idea of how you can express your worship to Him today. Perhaps by serving someone, or working diligently on a project, or painting/drawing your worship to the Lord. Let the Lord guide you in how to express your deepest worship of Him.

Foundations: Psalms - Day 13

READ: Psalms 29-30

The title of Psalm 29 could have been: Give God Glory. Glory is not a word our culture uses much outside of church. Some might even consider it part of the “Christianese” we sometimes speak. What exactly is glory? And how do we ascribe, or give it, to God?

Glory is fame, honour, recognition, majesty, power, reputation and position. Another way to define glory might be to say it is the essence and value of someone. Throughout Scripture, and this Psalm, we are told to give God glory. God already has the highest honor, and power, and position. How do we give Him what He already has?

As we read through Psalm 29 the Psalmist shows us exactly how to give God glory. Every phrase, every verse declares the majesty and power of God. It declares who He is, what He does, and how He does it. The essence and value and power of God are seen through these verses. The Psalmist is jogging our minds and challenging us to look around and see the very presence – the glory – of God in our environment and then to acknowledge it. It is this acknowledgement, actually speaking up, about what God has done and how He rules this earth, and is in involved in our lives, that brings Him glory. We cannot change His glory, but we can give it to Him by communicating His glory to the world around us.

Psalm 30 is a song of thanksgiving. The Psalmist sings to God all He has done for Him. He is remembering what God has done for him and is thanking him again. Then, tucked away in verse 8 and 9 is another glimpse into the heart of David. So sure and confident was David that he would always give God glory and proclaim his faithfulness, we see him using that to try to convince God to let him live longer! David is saying to God, What good would it do for me to die? If I died the dust of my body won’t be able to praise you, so why not let me live so I can praise you and others will see your goodness?

We have seen David do this very thing through the last few weeks. David loves to proclaim the glory of God. It brings up a challenge for us. Are we so faithful to proclaim God’s glory, faithfulness and goodness that God might extend our lives for His benefit?

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.   Ask the Lord if you have withheld glory from Him in any way. Is there something He wants you to do about that? Confess if necessary and ask God for specific ways, times and people you can share His glory with.

2.   Spend several minutes in a prayer of thanksgiving to God for who He is and all that He does, has done and will do. Ask God to transform your heart through thanksgiving so you grow to be thankful not just for the ‘good’ things but also for the tough things.

3.   Journal briefly what some of the many things are that God has done in your life that you can declare to others and share His glory. Then pray that God would prepare your heart to open your mouth and give Him glory. Ask God what needs to change in your heart and life so your very presence on earth would be even more beneficial to God and the spreading of His glory in this place.

Foundations: Psalms - Day 12

READ: Psalm 27-28

David is the author of both Psalms. Psalm 27 shows us David’s again. We see him fluctuate between confidence in God’s provision and faithfulness, and the fact that God’s faithfulness may not look like he’d like it to.

In the first three verses David tells the Lord of his confidence in Him. He is surrounded by enemies. Things could go downhill quickly, but he sings about how the Lord will save him. Then we see the heart of David revealed in verse 4. He tells the Lord he wants to be in heaven with him if his battle isn’t won on earth. As confident as David is that God will answer His prayer, he cannot be certain the answer to the prayer will be what he’d like. He wants to be prepared for any answer God gives – including that of his own death.

He then continues to praise God for his faithfulness, and the mighty things God has and will do for him. David feels strongly that God can and will do anything for him! This is confirmed for us in verses 13-14. David is “confident of this”, that God will bless him, give him the desire of his heart, make him a victor again, and bless him with goodness, in this life. He is willing to wait until heaven if that’s what God’s plan for him is. Yet, he is confident he won’t have to wait that long.

Psalm 28 again shows us David crying out to the Lord for help. This time his enemies are not nations or armies coming up against him. This time it’s people. Neighbours. Friends. This can be the most difficult battle to fight. When people we know and care about hurt us, our hearts are damaged. When we run or fight for our lives, as David had to many times, there may be physical loss or damage. The heart, however, normally stays in tact. When our hearts are damaged it is very different.

In verse 3 we see his battle is with people who speak nicely and act like great friends or neighbours, but who hold malice in their hearts. Armies would be easier to deal with.  Yet David prays. He is confident in the Lord’s ability and willingness to help him – again. And sure enough, God comes through – again.

By verse 6 God has heard his prayer and answered him. It’s the next verse though, that’s powerful for us today. It says, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped”.  His heart trusts. Not his head, his heart. David’s trust in God is not just intellectual. His heart actually believes God will protect him. God has spoken to his heart. Sometimes we have the head belief but we can’t trust it with our hearts. This Psalm encourages us to continue praying for God to move our hearts to trust Him.

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.   Ask the Lord to speak to you about a prayer request you have now. Are you truly prepared for God to answer your prayer, but not like you’d like? Is your heart ready to receive any answer from God, or are you only going to praise Him if the answer is what you want? Ask the Lord to reveal any hidden fears or struggles in regard to trusting God fully with this prayer request.

2.   Journal any names God shows you of people who have hurt you in the past, or currently (or times when you have spoken nicely but had malice in your heart). Ask God to show you if you have forgiven or asked for forgiveness, and if not do that now.

3.   Ask God to reveal your heart to you: Do you trust God with your heart enough that you can continue to give and be vulnerable in relationships? Ask Him to bring new depth of healing and even more trust to your heart.

Foundations: Psalms - Day 11

READ: Psalms 25-26

Both of these Psalms talk about the Psalmist (David in both cases) living a blameless life. His desire is to walk with integrity. It is clear David’s hope is in God’s faithfulness to those who fear Him. He is in a tough place again. Enemies. Struggles. Life is hard and David needs to know where his safety net is. As we read through Psalm 25 we see where that safety net is. It is firmly in the faithfulness of God.

David is quite clear about the fact that God is faithful and loving. Yet he is also clear there is a part to play for individuals. Verse 3: Those who hope in the Lord (our part) will never be put to shame (God’s part).  Verse 10: God’s ways are loving and faithful (God’s part) to those who keep His commands (our part). Verse 14: The Lord confides (God’s part) in those who fear Him (our part). The Psalmist commits his way to the Lord because he longs for the kind of relationship with God in which he can be confident God will do His part. This Psalm displays the beauty of a relationship between God and man where man needs God’s help to love Him, obey Him, and even have the breath to praise Him; and where God’s gifts and promises are handed out in abundance because of man’s faithfulness. This two-part harmony is what makes a relationship with God so dynamic and powerful. You can’t have one without the other.

The confidence David has in his relationship with God is evidenced in the way he prays. He asks. He asks boldly. He tells God about his integrity! How often do we grovel before the Lord instead of walking confidently into the throne room of God secure in His forgiveness and our position as His children? He says to the Lord “turn to me”, “look at me”, “guard me”. There is no question the Lord will answer. He regularly asks the Lord to examine his heart and forgive him (verse 11). This is a man who walks in the truth of the Word of God. If God says he’s forgiven… he is. If God says He’ll do something… He will. These truths affect David’s thinking and living. Our relationship with God should be as dynamic and confident as David’s with the Lord. Is it?

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.   Like David teaches us in Psalm 25, God wants us involved in a dynamic relationship with Him so He’s given us things to do, and He reserves the much larger part for Himself. Ask the Lord if there is something you have been praying for that He can’t give you yet because He’s waiting for you to do your part. If there is, ask Him to help you do your part and commit to doing it. If not, ask Him for next steps to get closer to Him in this dynamic relationship.

2.   Ask the Lord to show you if there are any areas where you are not secure in His forgiveness of your sin, or maybe one particular sin. Ask the Holy Spirit for a verse, or thought or picture of how complete His forgiveness is toward you. Journal what He shows you.

3.   Ask God to show you if there’s something you haven’t asked Him for because you lack the confidence. Or ask Him what He wants you to ask for so you can ask in confidence. Journal how you feel about asking God for blessing or miracles. Spend time in prayer over the things He’s revealed to you.

Foundations: Psalms - Day 10

READ: Psalms 22-24

Psalm 22 follows an interesting path. It begins with the Psalmist crying out to God because he feels forsaken. He doesn’t feel like God is hearing or answering his prayers. Then in verse 4 he reminds himself, and God, that his family before him had been saved by God. He knew their story and it brought him hope. Perhaps if God did it for them, He could do it for him. In verse 6 he’s back to seeing his own weakness. From verse 9 through 11 though, he is remembering the faith he was brought up with. His identity with God has history and is not isolated in the events of the moment. The truth of the testimony of the Lord and his heritage begins to give him hope. Surely if God can do miraculous things for my fathers and grandfathers, he can do them for me!

By verse 12 he is again reciting his troubles to the Lord. He is acknowledging his neediness. In verse 19 things have changed. He’s no longer asking “God, where are you?” Instead, he’s confidently asking God for help. Why? Because the testimony of others brought him hope!

In verse 22 the Psalmist commits to testifying himself, and encouraging others to sing praises about the feats of the Lord. He sets out a challenge to tell others what God has done because others who are feeling weak, downtrodden and forsaken need to know what God has done so they can have hope for what He will do. From verse 26 till the end, the Psalmist is reminding us of the future coming when all the wrongs will be put right. He’s got an eternal perspective shaping his hope now as well.

He reminds us that everyone, one day, will kneel before the King of kings. The last two verses serve as a challenge and motivation. Future generations will be told about the Lord, people will be proclaiming God’s righteousness… not just for a year or two… but even to those generations still not born. The Psalmist has been so transformed by the truth of God through testimony he challenges us. Will the generations coming after us see the glory of the Lord through our testimony?

Psalm 23 follows this nicely as a beautiful testimony of God’s provision, protection and promise as a Shepherd. As David, the shepherd, wrote this we know he knows what he’s talking about. As he shepherded his father’s sheep faithfully, he has experienced God shepherding him. He shared this testimony so we, too, would draw close to God as our Shepherd.

Psalm 24 is an invitation to draw near to God, love Him, praise Him and experience Him. This invitation is for now, and an invitation for eternity. It ends on a question we all must ask ourselves: Who is this King of Glory?

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.   Ask God to remind you of a testimony you’ve heard that brought you hope, encouragement or conviction. Thank God for His life-changing work in the lives of others. Pray for the person who shared their testimony with you, and thank God for them.

2.   Ask God to show you things He has done in your life and record them in your journal. Ask God to show you who needs to hear your testimony – either casually in everyday conversation, or formally in a planned get-together. Ask God to give you opportunities during this next week to share with others the things He has done in your life.

3.   Ask the Lord to reveal to you whether or not you have passed on your faith through testimony to your children, grandchildren, friends, family or co-workers. Do the people closest to you know your faith story? If you have kept His glory hidden, confess that to Him and ask for courage and opportunity to share it. If you have been faithful with it, ask Him for more opportunity and the blessing of seeing fruit from your faithfulness.

Foundations: Psalms - Day 9

READ: Psalms 19-21

Psalm 19 is a personal prayer. He speaks of the ‘speech’ of the heavens. No matter where one lives or what language one speaks, the heavens clearly communicate the glory of God. He starts with a huge, universal view of God that’s for everyone. Then he moves on to praise the Law of the Lord, and the statutes in it. This brings the glory of God into a very tangible, available realm of life. His love for God’s Word, Law and teaching is clear. The Psalmist says it’s these words that bring life and sustenance. He then brings it even closer to home. He opens his heart – asking forgiveness from hidden faults – to the glory of God. This prayer began with worship of a mighty, magnificent God and ends with a personal prayer for forgiveness and submission. This is an excellent model for us, especially in those times when we don’t know what to pray.

When we pray for others many of us get stuck knowing exactly what to pray for. This is especially true when we begin to pray blessing for those who have hurt and offended us. Psalm 20 provides us with the very words to pray when we don’t have words of our own.  Praying Scripture is something we know Jesus did and we can, too. It works its way into our hearts as we pray the words, and it also affects those we pray for as God uses His Words to answer the prayer. Sure, we have to change a few words here and there, but it gives us the skeleton to start with. Reading the verse in the Bible, then praying it in our own words for our friend (or enemy) allows us to pray some of the very things God wants to do in both us and those we pray for.

Much like the previous Psalm, Psalm 21 is a prayer for someone else, in this case a leader. Here the Psalmist is thanking God for the good things He has given the king, and praying for his success. When we pray for our leaders (government, church, or work leaders), we can use this to get ideas for what and how to pray. Not all our leaders are like the one this Psalmist sings about! They don’t all rely on God and give Him glory. It is our privilege to use a prayer like this to guide our words and thoughts as we pray. When the Psalmist says, “… the king trusts in the Lord …” we might use it to pray that one day our leader might trust in the Lord. God gives us tools and equips us with His word to fulfill the calling and mandate He has given us to pray for others, especially our leaders. What a great gift this series of Psalms is as we learn to pray for ourselves, and others!

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.    Ask the Lord how He wants to speak to you today: through the magnificence of creation, through His Word, or directly to your heart. Listen to/Do what He says and write down a few words of praise for how He reveals Himself to you.

2.    Ask God for the name of someone He wants you to pray for today. Perhaps a friend, someone you need to forgive, a non-Christian friend or family member, or someone you haven’t thought about in a long time. Pray through Psalm 20 for them, adjusting the words to make sense.

3.    Ask God for a leader (can be government, church or work leader) He wants you to pray for. Listen quietly for anything specific God wants you to pray for. Pray for what He shows you, and pray Psalm 21 for them as well. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct your prayer very specifically because He knows the details of this person when you might not. Write down what He shows you and pray!

Foundations: Psalms - Day 7

READ: Psalms 15-17

Psalm 15 is a very practical Psalm. It clearly teaches what it looks like to live a holy life. It starts with a simple question: Who can live in the presence of God? The easy answer is anyone who is holy. But what does that look like? How can we know if we fit the bill?

The Psalmist lays it out for us very simply. Those who stay away from sin and do good. Those whose speech is holy. Those who despise sinners and honor God’s people. Those who keep their promises even when it hurts and handle their money according to God’s principles. Wow! He makes it clear that holiness is a whole life activity. It’s not a Sunday morning event, but a practical, day-in and day-out way of living, thinking, speaking, working and behaving.

An apt title for Psalm 16 might be ‘An Example of Humility’. The Psalmist makes it clear from the beginning that apart from Him he has nothing good. Everything good comes from God. Not only that, the Psalmist decides he will accept as good all that God gives him. He chooses to delight in the saints. He accepts God’s location for his home and the financial security He has, not as his own planning and ability, but God’s direct gift to him. He acknowledges it is the Lord who speaks to him and gives him wisdom. It seems from this passage that not only does the Lord speak to him but the Psalmist also listens for Him.  This kind of relationship of humility toward the Lord gives him security and rest. There is no drive to succeed that will burn him out. There is no fear for losing everything, because even if he does, he knows full well that eternity is full of pleasures for him. What a beautiful life his is!

Psalm 17 brings back the theme of holiness in verse 3-5. What a challenge! The Psalmist gives a challenge and invitation to God: Go ahead and test me God, but you will find nothing. How many of us would feel confident to say this to the Lord? What if we lived every moment of every day in such a way we could?!

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.   Ask God to evaluate your lifestyle and to speak to you about one area He would like you to work on. Write down what He says. Confess any sin and invite Him to give you strategies on how to move forward.

2.   Write a prayer of thankfulness for all the good things God has placed in your life. Spend time in worship and praise.

3.   Invite God into your day to speak to you as the day goes on about how you are living. Ask Him to point out areas you are growing, doing well and that need improvement. Thank Him that by the power of Christ in you, you can live in confidence, power and holiness of Christ.

Foundations: Psalms - Day 6

READ: Psalms 12-14

Psalm 12 speaks about the power of words. More specifically, those words used for deceiving, flattering and boasting. Verse one of this chapter is interesting as it states that there are no more godly people left! We know this is does not actually mean there was not a single godly person left on the earth. What this indicates is that the culture of the godly has become infected with sin - the sin of the mouth and tongue – so much that it seems like there are no godly left.

It speaks about lying, flattering, deceiving, boasting and maligning others. It’s sometimes easy to think about these sins as ‘no big deal’ if we do them. They bother us and make us angry if those words are against us. Yet in comparison to the words of the Lord (verse 6) we can see how absolutely vile they really are.

Verse 3 & 4 talks specifically about those who believe they can say what they want. They believe they are masters of their own words. Verse 7 mentions ‘those people’. ‘Those people’ are the ones whose words and lips are not pure and holy. This begs the question of us, “Is Jesus the functional Lord of our words or are we one of ‘those people’?”

Psalm 13 is a prayer many of us have prayed. We beg God to answer us, how long? We struggle though trauma, death of a loved one, depression, illness, any kind of difficult long-term situation, and we get to the same place as this Psalmist: O God, how long until I hear your voice again? How long until this pain ends? The Psalmist reminds God that if this goes too long the enemy just might win. He begs God for hope to go on. He doesn’t want to give up, but he’s afraid he won’t be able to hang on.

Somewhere between verse 4 and 5 the Lord must have given this writer a rhema (a word specifically for him at that time and place) because his hope is renewed. His trust is rebuilt. He knows God’s love toward Him is unfailing and his heart is rejoicing so fully that he can sing. This is the path of prayer for us. That we might be honest with the Lord how we feel and struggle so that He might speak to us and renew our faith and our hope.

Psalm 14:5 is a key verse. We may think we are weak because of any number of reasons. We may think we are ill-equipped to fight against those who are stronger than we are. Yet, no matter what we are up against, the Lord who is among us is stronger still. Not only is the Lord our safety and refuge, but He is also our strength. His presence with those who obey Him is a strong and mighty power. God’s presence alone is such a powerful force it changes things. His presence with us becomes our refuge.

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.   Ask the Lord to speak to you about your speech. Are your words in line with His character? Is He the Lord of your words? Confess if necessary and submit your words to His Lordship.

2.   Reflect on a struggle you are currently having. Ask the Lord for a rhema (a word, thought or picture) that will renew your trust in Him and His unfailing love and give you hope for the future again. Write a prayer of thanks for what He showed you.

3.   Think about a difficult situation you are facing right now. Ask the Lord to reveal your inner thoughts on this. Do you feel like you fighting this alone or do you sense the presence of God with you and know Him as your refuge? Confess if necessary and invite God into the battle and ask Him to be your refuge and leader.

Foundations: Psalms - Day 5

READ: Psalms 10-11

Psalm 10 deals with an issue many of us have observed: the wicked prospering. The Psalmist describes someone who is wicked yet gets what he wants; who has enough money to bless those who are as wicked as he is, and who never gets caught for his evil deeds. The writer sees the evil, and the people in the wake of it. The wicked ones don’t even pay attention to God at all except to make fun of Him, and yet everything works out for them.

How often do we feel this way? We see people who seem to have every blessing. Everything they touch turns to gold. They have a beautiful family, and great jobs, and high incomes, and health, and beauty… and it seems to never end. To top it off, they don’t give credit to God! They live like God will never hold them accountable for their actions, just like verse 13 says.

In some cases it’s not just that they don’t acknowledge God, but they are overtly against God and all He stands for. They even attack the people who love God. Psalm 11:2 talks about how they purposely shoot their arrows at the ones who are godly. They are on the attack.

The Psalmist is tired of this and begins to engage his heart with who God is. As He goes through listing the things God does and how He handles things, he is reminded of eternity and the truth that justice will win.

He reminds us that God is the helper to the fatherless. He breaks the arms of the wicked and evil men. He looks ahead to the day when everyone, even those for whom everything always goes their way, will have to give an account to God. The Psalmist isn’t looking into next week, or month or year… but to that day when God is going to ask every person to give an account, and they’ll have to answer. They’ll have give an account for every word, thought, and deed they have done.

This brings the Psalmist great hope because he trusts that God’s character and His promises are true. Psalm 11:4-6 makes it clear God’s justice is sure. He will not let evil go unpunished. There will be a reckoning.

When we look at today’s news and current events it might be easy to be discouraged. With wars and rumors of wars, government leaders in so many nations who lie to get into power so they can mismanage money and people to bring their sinful agenda into law and practice, it’s easy to be disheartened and think the evil will never end. However, these Psalms remind us God is in control. The peace and prosperity the evil ones experience now is only short-lived. God’s justice will be served. It may not be today, but their day is coming.

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.   Ask God to show you if there is a secret jealously toward those who are wicked (basically those who are not following Jesus) because of their success and prosperity. Confess and ask the Lord for a vision of His eternal justice.

2.  Meditate specifically on Psalm 11: 5a. Ask the Lord to examine your heart and show you anything within you that needs to be confessed, specifically in regards to how you treat those who do not have family, parents, or children. Is there something He wants you to do to grow in this?

3.   Ask the Lord to bring to mind someone (a person or people group) who has or is suffering because of someone else’s wickedness. Pray for the God of Justice to hear their cries and encourage them with help, safety, and a hope for eternity.

Foundations: Psalms - Day 4

READ: Psalms 8-9

What a great God we serve! Psalm 8 prompts us to open up the windows and look outside. God’s creation and majesty is available for us to see first hand.  Verse 3 invites us into the creation process to see God’s hands in the act of Creation. We see His fingers creating. The vignette juxtaposed on our minds with these words is of a magnificently large God holding the massive sun and moon between his thumb and forefinger so he can carefully put it in just the right place. As we consider how gigantic this God must be that the creation of the sun and moon are merely finger work for Him, we can understand why the psalmist would ask, “who is man that you are mindful of him?” Not only is it mind blowing that God would care so deeply for people who are like specks of dust when compared to the size of the sun, but God made these little creations (humans) to rule over the earth. Incredible!

The picture puts things in such dynamic perspective. A massively powerful God holding the sun between his fingers. Next to that sun is a tiny little planet. On that planet are people. Those are the people in charge. This makes no sense in the context of ability. It is obvious from this perspective that humans will not be able to manage this as well as God can.

So the Psalmist sings the last verse with exuberance. “O Lord, our Lord…” Lord simply means ‘the one who has authority, power and control’. The Psalmist knows this better now after seeing the magnificence and majesty of God and the smallness of humanity. To use the title ‘Lord’ is more than truthful and begins to express our humility. It is only natural that God’s name should be praised as majestic in all the earth.  This song has come full circle. From seeing God’s creation and praise for Him growing out of that, to a deep-hearted understanding of this truth on a whole new level.

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.   Reflect on nature. Ask God to bring to mind places you have seen, the night sky, or other memories you have in nature that have (or will today) inspire you to see the magnificence and majesty of God. Write out a prayer of praise to God for His amazing Creation.

2.   Considering the definition of Lord, ask God if there are any areas where He is not the Lord. Confess if necessary and ask the Lord to give you a heart that willingly submits to His majesty and sovereignty. 

3.    Pray for the church leadership and staff today. Pray they would see God’s majesty in today’s happenings and have hearts that are willingly submitted to His Lordship. Thank God His leadership of His Church, and the leaders He’s placed over you.

Foundations: Psalms - Day 3

READ: Psalms 4-7

This series of Psalms really model how we should trust in God when our circumstances don’t seem to display His goodness.

Psalm 4:4 may seem a little out of context on first reading. Yet it’s a powerful verse and a changing point for the Psalmist. The Psalm starts with a plea to God for help. We understand that. We know how desperate we can get for God’s help in our distress. We get to the point where the biggest thing we want to know is whether or not God is paying attention. We scream to the heavens, “Just show me You are listening!”

The Psalmist moves on though, as we often do, to pointing our eyes towards those who have hurt or offended us. We feel the pain others cause us so deeply it’s often all we can see.

This could get the Psalmist stuck in a cycle of self-pity, but he doesn’t stay there. That’s where verse 4 comes in. We might visualize the Psalmist suddenly sitting up straight in bed in the dark of night, a new realization hitting him. He says to himself, “Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.” From this point on the Psalmist has a different perspective. He concentrates on his own heart and not on the troublemakers.

We can take a lesson from this teaching Psalm. When we are offended or frustrated or somehow in a difficult place it seems natural to lay on our beds getting angrier and angrier. We lose sleep and replay conversations in our head of what we should have said, or what we’ll say next time. The Psalmist reminds us that even in our anger we should refrain from sinning, and instead consider our own hearts.

2 Corinthians 10:5 says “…take every thought captive to obey Christ…” It’s so easy to sin in our thoughts when we are offended or have been mistreated. The model here shows us to search our own hearts and be silent; to turn off the conversation in our head that is not honoring to God. From this point in the Psalm we see a change in his heart. He trusts in the Lord and asks the Lord to let the light of His face shine on Him. His prayer has changed from “Get me out of this distress!” to “Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord.”

Verse 7 and 8 really speak to the change that can happen when we focus on the Lord. He fills us with joy. We are able to sleep in peace. Our time of distress becomes better than the best we’ve ever experienced.

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.   What are some of the difficulties you are facing right now or have faced recently? Take a few minutes to journal a prayer asking God for help in this situation. Pray in faith knowing God wants to give you joy and peace during this time.

2.  Ask the Lord to remind you of times when you’ve not taken your thoughts captive. Confess and ask the Lord to speak to you of His forgiveness, His perspective, and to fill you with joy.

3.   Psalm 17:7 is a verse of praise and thanksgiving. Spend a few minutes listening as God reminds you of things you can be thankful for – both the good and the not-so-great – and then give Him praise for all He’s done.

Foundations: Psalms - Day 2

READ: Psalms 1-3

God’s hands-on involvement in the happenings on earth is a clear theme in these Psalms. It is clear that He is not a far-away, distant Deity, but rather a very personal God who takes interest – even passionate interest – in the details of both individuals and nations.

In Psalm 1 we learn how God interacts with people differently depending on whether or not they obey Him. He gives special attention and protection to those who make the Lord and His Word their delight. Verse 6 teaches us God “knows” or “watches over” the way of the righteous. This gives us a picture of God being closely involved. Like a parent “watches over” a child as she learns to walk, she moves obstacles out of the way, picks her up when she stumbles, then scoops her up with a whoop of joy when she finally runs. Yet, those who choose wickedness have a different experience. Instead of the hands-on, personal God of the righteous, they experience distance and ultimately, demise.

Even nations, according to Psalm 2, attract the attention of our ever-involved God. He watches and listens as nations and government leaders shake their fist at God and His ways. He laughs. He scoffs. He rebukes. He warns. God is clearly involved in the goings on of world politics!

The author of Psalm 3 actually addresses the issue right off the top in verse 2. People are saying God will not rescue him. They don’t believe God is involved enough to actually make a difference! Yet the author gives beautiful examples of how God is dynamically involved. He explains how God shields and protects him, and gives him dignity. He knows God hears him and answers his prayers. Even when things are going crazy he sleeps well because of God’s attention, and wakes up because God sustained him. God has removed his fear even with enemies on his doorstep.

This author has no doubt. He has experienced God. No one can tell him otherwise!

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.  Reflect on your experiences with God. Ask Him to bring to mind times when He has intervened in your life. Spend some time in thanksgiving for His active involvement.

2.  Ask God to show you if you have any unbelief in your heart regarding whether or not He truly longs to be involved, and is involved, in every area of your life. Confess and ask God to plant this truth deep in your heart with a word, thought or picture.

3.  Reflect on a prayer request you have that may seem impossible. Pray and ask God for a sign or sense of His involvement in this particular request. Then take a few moments to pray for it again, this time with confidence in a God who cares about the details.

Foundations: Psalms - Day 1

Foundations: The Book of Psalms 

Part 1: Psalms 1-72  |  32 Day Devotional

Whether you are in the depths of despair, in a long-term health struggle, have just received a miracle or are celebrating the joys of life, Books I and II of Psalms will meet you where you are. If you love to study the law, or sense God’s presence most when you are outside, this series of Psalms wills stretch you, grow you, and let you see how God wants to be a functional and practical part of your every day life.

Psalm 41:13 (NIV)

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.

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Introduction

The Psalms are some of the most expressive books of the Bible! As you read through the Old Testament from the beginning, you go through the books of the Law and then History. These books are factual, and let us know how God related to humanity, and how they related to others.

The Psalms, on the other hand, are 150 very emotional, completely individual and separate works demonstrating the private and public emotions and heart of a people or nation towards God. In the verses of these Psalms we’ll encounter rage, fear, depression, exceeding joy, peace, restfulness, thankfulness and so much more.

Many of the Psalms are written by David. However, there are a few written by other authors. Some of those we are completely certain of, and others we simply cannot be sure. Regardless of who authored the individual Psalm, we can see the fingerprint of God as the Divine Author as themes, and even wording, throughout the Psalms follow significantly similar threads.

Psalms, quite simply, are songs or poems. It is likely that in the original language it might have rhymed or been rhythmic. English translations lose some of that sing-song quality, however, most Bibles are formatted more like poetry making it visibly different than the narrative books of the Bible.

The Psalms have been used for centuries – and even to this day – for teaching doctrine, recounting history, offering praise and thanksgiving, as well as pleading with God for help and answers. We may even recognize songs from today’s repertoire in the words we read.

According the to the New Testament the Psalms are for our practical use among believers. Ephesians 5:19 says, “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart”.  We see a similar verse in Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

The Psalms have something for everyone! Regardless of personality, position, or purpose this book will encourage us, teach us, challenge us, and fill us with hope for the future!

JOURNALING AND PRAYER

1.   Thank the Lord for the book of Psalms that models an emotional, healthy and vibrant relationship with God. Pray that God would give you special insight into His heart and yours as you go through these devotionals.

2.   Some people have reservations about a book of the Bible with 150 chapters, doesn’t have a story-line, and can seem repetitive. Ask the Lord to reveal any hesitation you have about going into this, and to give you a promise or picture of what He wants to do in your heart as you go through it. If you have no hesitations at all, express your excitement for this journey in a prayer. (Or sing your praise to Him!)

3.   Ask the Lord to open your spiritual eyes, ears and mouth as we go through this to use what you read to encourage and teach others, just like Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16 tell us to.