Tag: Psalms

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Lit and simple grit.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭105‬-‭106‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I love this idea of grit being a major factor of success in many pursuits. Wikipedia writes, “Grit is a positive, non-cognitive trait based on an individual’s perseverance of effort combined with the passion for a particular long-term goal or end state (a powerful motivation to achieve an objective). This perseverance of effort promotes the overcoming of obstacles or challenges that lie on the path to accomplishment and serves as a driving force in achievement realization.” I believe this determination was a necessary quality in my education, both in a B.A. and M.A. And, now I have come to realize how important grit is in my relationships, with God first and also with others.

You can hear this in the Psalmist words, “I’ve promised,” and “I will.” It is said that this Psalm was called the “Manual of devotion” by Ezra. Using God’s word as a constant guide, not just as a moral map, but also as a manual of love, understanding God’s most intimate thoughts. The Psalmist writes one of the most beloved phrases for us to visually understand how to navigate the darkness of our existence – God’s word is a light to guide us and safely keep us on the narrow path.

Prayer

Dad,
How often do I look for some kind of illumination when I feel I am stumbling along in darkness? To think of grabbing a lamp, a torch (as the brits say) or flashlight is so simple when the power goes out. I am so thankful to not just pick up your Word in emergencies but with determination and grit, to regularly store up verses like this one that guide me. Committing it to memory helps me gain quick access to your powerful and living word! I too promise and will obey your decrees!

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innocence illuminated

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭3‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​David writes this Psalm as if he knows what he’s talking about. His confidence is in his own experience from the past – delighting in the Lord.

There are a thousand words I could reach for and dozens of emotions to match each morning that I open my eyes and begin to think about my day. Except for Christmas, the first day vacationing in Tahoe or just a solid day off – I don’t think this word or attitude of delight rises out of my brain with the sun. David learned this delight from years of disappointment and despair.

I am currently listening to an audio book by John Mark Comer called, Live No Lies. He writes that the number one weapon the devil (slanderer) uses is lies and deceit. It’s even more fascinating that we WANT to believe these lies, thinking they will get us what we want without God. Like we can do what we want or get what we want on our own, avoiding God and creating our own version of truth (which is a lie itself).

These words that David wrote – trust, delight, desire and commit are all words of an intimate relationship with the Lord. Being still and patient in God’s presence is a gift. I often want to think, and worse, other people push me to think, that I can control, fix, or make humans do what is right! I cannot. These are things that require me to wait for God to act. God can move, change or flip the human heart. Even the evil schemes of the wicked are used and positioned for His plans and ultimately His glory.

When I worry I am behaving like those who don’t trust, those who scheme to manipulate others and God himself. I would rather wait so my innocence radiates and justice shines because God IS AT WORK, not me.

Prayer

Dad,
Really, all I want is for you to be honored and glorified in and through my life. Of course that does not happen if I continue to control, manipulate or scheme to try to make YOU or others do my own will. You shine brightly when your will is done on earth as it is in heaven. Your ways are accomplished through me. Then, and only then, can I be innocent and just in my pursuit of your plans. May it be said of me that I do trust, do delight and desire you with all my heart.

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God chats.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Most may think of prayer as a request line. I get it. We’re needy people with some kind of calamity happening somewhere all-the-time. Daniel or Ezra (the scribe) reminds us that prayer is far more than a vending machine or even a confessional booth. The Psalmist records these moments of intimacy, writing “my heart has heard you say.”

As I have grown in my faith, my relationship with God has drastically changed. I slowly spend time in His Word, listening, not rushed, like I’m cramming for a test. Even as I feel the sun or the wind on my face, I am reminded of Him. I hear birds singing and I remember that birds only sing when safe. I recognize that I can do the same, because I am safe in His presence.

Now, whether I hear the sweet whispers inviting me to come or I just grab a few moments and let Him know what I am feeling or how grateful I am for His love. I either answer like the Psalmist, “Lord, I am coming,” or announce to Him, “Lord, here I come.” It is such a sweet conversation when there’s no real agenda. It has to be very much like Adam who walked with God in the cool of the evening. Prayer can take me back (or even forward) to Eden, when innocence and wonder fill our days.

Walking with my grandgirls as toddlers, I remember their curiousness and questions that stopped us every few steps. I was just happy to be with them, watching them grow in their understanding of this world. It is interesting to think that prayer, chats with God, may come to a point that we are conversing more than giving or receiving. That I just want to spend time with God and without needing anything but Him in those moments. I see those moments, those days ahead and I am excited to say, “Lord, I am coming.”

Prayer

Dad,
I think that spending time with you in your Word has brought an anchor to my restless soul, a place of calm delight. A place to not just be challenged, but cherished by the Holy Spirit. I’ve enjoyed these moments and it has allowed me to take time to remember to just talk over things with you. Sure, much of it is handing over the mundane mire of minutia happening far too often. However, it is also a time of opening up, softening up my soul to just chat about anything and everything with you. For this, I am thankful.

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Fretting follicles.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. For troubles surround me— too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭40‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

According to Blue Letter Bible, Psalm 40 was among Psalms collected and inserted in the songbook towards the end of David’s life. I don’t think David was being comedic here in his analogies, but I am a visual reader. Words and phrases bring pictures into my head.

As I read this Psalm, most likely written as David is approaching retirement, and put here as more of a reflective thought, I can’t help but see piles of sin outside the royal palace stacked up against the walls like a snow drift from a massive winter storm. And, if that’s not a enough, he then compares his sin to the number of hairs, albeit fleeting, on his head.

Look it up! The average black or brown headed person has about 100,000 hairs and blondes have 150,000. Do blondes need more for some reason? 100k of sins. How am I supposed to tally up all my sins throughout the years. Is there an app to track that? At first I thought, “oh, I’ve sinned way more than the number of hairs on my skull.” But 100K? No, I’m not going to do the math for you.

Let’s just agree we can all PILE up a lot of sin in a lifetime. And managing those sins can be quite the undertaking. In yesterday’s devo I wrote about Hebrews advice, “don’t count up or manage your sin,” look to the Savior who gracefully paid off our debt and just be grateful. I realize that here in Psalm 40, David was still under the law and the crushing guilt of all the awful things he had done. So his plea is understandable. Today, I don’t want to or have to count sin-snowflakes piled up or fretting follicles and the debt I’ve amassed. God’s tender mercies are still active and effective!

Prayer

Dad,
I may be running out of hairs on my head, but I am not running low on sin! I am glad I do not need to obsess over sins in my past. And when I confess and come clean with you about my current selfishness and self determined will, you forgive me and toss my sins in opposite directions, far from you and me. I am still thrilled to look at piles of mercy rather than piles of mistakes, mountains of grace verses molehills of guilt.

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Answering to ultimate power

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies! Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O Lord? You are entirely faithful. You rule the oceans. You subdue their storm-tossed waves. You crushed the great sea monster. You scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; everything in the world is yours—you created it all.” Psalms‬ ‭89‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Psalmist writes these broad strokes of power and huge overarching themes of ultimate control over all things – heaven and earth. This Psalm is written while Israel is parked in a 70 year timeout under Babylon’s rule. Daniel is the main character during this time, and even though he could have written this tribute to God it’s more likely that Ezra, the scribe wrote it.

I live close enough to the Pacific Ocean to enjoy parking along the cliffs of Big Corona and sitting on benches overlooking the expansive sea. It is breathtaking to watch the waves constantly, consistently crash on the shore and the reflective sunlight to dance on the endless vista to the horizon.

The ocean is so vast it’s intimidating. Every seaman story tells of its dangerous and untamable nature. No serious captain or crew underestimate its power and often merciless mysteries. That is why it so poetically appropriate for the Psalmist to declare God’s strength and dominion over the waters that cover 71 percent of the Earth’s surface and hold about 96 percent of all Earth’s water. As humans we all basically live on an island!

The Psalm says, “You rule the oceans.” I am impressed with God’s power, we all should be. All heavens and earth are His. How can God, with this much power not only be concerned but involved and in love with US? How can God with this much power and control not be feared, respected and obeyed? How can this mighty, ocean-ruling God put up with so many who mock, profane and arrogantly ignore Him as creator of all things? It’s shockingly unbelievable! Why doesn’t God just instantly zap every mouthy, foul fool into oblivion?

Because He made us, and has determined to love us. His enduring mercy and patience is utterly, unconditionally FOR us! However, time, like all created things, has an end. There will come a time when everything wraps up and concludes this existence. Every human is given time and every opportunity possible to remind us of God’s existence and His plan for our redemption, our rescue. Many have decided, with full recognition of God’s plan, to go at life and eternity their own way – which we know is simply death, then the moment of accountability. If you have rejected THE most powerful and most loving force in the universe? God will ask why and you will answer.

Prayer

Dad,
When I stand on the shores of the Pacific Ocean and look out to the unending vastness of the sea, I feel so feebly small. I also get just how powerful and as the Psalmist wrote, MIGHTY you really are. You tame the tides and control the storms, yet with our human hearts your greatest power is not force or constraint, but love and freedom. I am overwhelmed, undone, as Isaiah wrote, with your mercy. I will recognize your power and submit to your everlasting love.

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A prayer for every leader.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son. Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly. May the mountains yield prosperity for all, and may the hills be fruitful. Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors. May they fear you as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains in the sky. Yes, forever!” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭72‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Solomon writes this Psalm as he is given the reigns of ruling Israel from his father David. And as a man of wisdom, he requests everything necessary to lead a nation.

This prayer/Psalm should be the guiding words for any leader, at every level of authority over their charge. Help the leader, ruler, king, mayor, governor or president or pastor judge well! Let the poor be treated fairly. Let there be prosperity for all. Help them to defend the poor, rescue the orphan and needy children.

People WANT this kind of ruler, NEED this kind of ruler. Someone who leads in such a way that lightens the load of their care. Where folks echo back, YES – “May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass, like the showers that water the earth. May all the godly flourish during his reign. May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.”

Our leaders, at every level, should commit this simple prayer to memory and understand, they are not in office or role for self advancement, fame or fortune.

I completely believe that all leaders, sacred and secular should have this Psalm placarded to their heart. Our governance, even as Pastors and Church leaders may not have the autonomous authority like a king, but we should lead with this kind of heart. I love Solomon’s conclusive line, “May they fear you as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains in the sky.” Amen.

Prayer

Dad,
Oh that we could have leaders and rulers in every sector of our country not only pray this prayer, but live it out as well. Wouldn’t this solve a lot of our struggles and issues of trust and confidence. I know that many of our “rulers” are not godly, but every single one of them from Washington DC to our local city councils are in positions of power because you put them there or at least allowed them to rule. When the Apostle Paul reminds Timothy to pray for all those who have authority over us, this is what I pray for them! Lord, hear our prayer.

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I can shine brighter than a rock!

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Praise the Lord from the earth, you creatures of the ocean depths, fire and hail, snow and clouds, wind and weather that obey him, mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all livestock, small scurrying animals and birds, kings of the earth and all people, rulers and judges of the earth, young men and young women, old men and children.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭148‬:‭7‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

And, ​everything means every thing. The Psalmist captures the height, breadth and width of all that should give our creator what is do – PRAISE.

The Hebrew word for praise, hal·lū put together with the name of God, yah is where we get hallelujah. Interestingly enough, the Hebrew root word for praise (hallu) is halal: shine. Doesn’t that remind us of something to do with light? God made light, but God is also light. Jesus said he was the light of the world!

We as human beings are all light-bearers, or we are supposed to be. The Psalmist goes wild with extravagant words describing how EVERYTHING that God created should reflect light and SHINE or praise Him. All creatures, all elements, all the parts that make up the earth itself and especially those who govern it. All kings, rulers, judges, young and old adults and children – all human existence should reflect, should praise God because He is worthy of it. The only reason we exist is to reflect His light, His glory on the earth. If nature itself could speak, it would shout God’s name in gratefulness. If animals could talk, they would sing songs to the greatness of their creator. It would be wild to discover that whales, dolphins, birds and hyenas aren’t just communicating to each other, but also praising their creator! All creatures big and small, all creation singing, shouting, reflecting God’s glory, His light in thanks. The Psalmist set the declaration in 148:5, “Let every created thing give praise to the Lord, for he issued his command, and they came into being.”

How odd it is that every thing instinctively knows God and has no problem giving Him what is due, yet humans struggle. Humans struggle precisely because God breathed himself, His image – imago dei, into our souls. We struggle because God gave us a free will, a choice to know Him, choose Him, even a choice to praise and reflect Him. We are supposedly the smartest of all creation. We are given so much more, above all that was created, yet we can choose a fake, a lie to believe and love another. Such a dilemma, such a sad story.

While all the earth dances and sings and praises the creator, we pout and brood, curse and complain like a dramatic, moody toddler on Christmas morning. I will not let the earth out praise God for me! With every breath, with every ounce of strength and will, I declare, I am determined to reflect and shine for Him.

Prayer

Dad,
I don’t want a whale, a monkey, bird, rock or tree praising You, shining, reflecting Your glory better than me! I mean, it’s sounds a little competitive, but I want to be better at praising You not worse than other parts of creation. You’ve given me more than words to sing and speak. You’ve give me a grand imagination to draw, paint, build and act out my praise to you. And I can make an instrument out of almost anything! Every creative expression I can think of is at my disposal to shine for you. And, I want to use all of them to reflect Your glory.

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Quick to “clip in” and anchor my hope.

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭42‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Some have been able to witness this beautifully simple moment as a deer timidly approaches a stream for a drink of water. I’ve only been able to see it on some nature show with a videographer capturing the moment while the narrator, maybe Morgan Freeman or Dylan Dreyer does the voiceover. The deer makes it’s way to water knowing that it’s a tenuousness moment. The deer has to, wants to drink but it’s enemy also knows it’s the best time to catch its prey while the deer is distracted. It’s likely that David watched this kind of scene many times in his life – he was practically born and raised as a nature boy, living life in the hill country of Judah.

David repeats a thought about his life and where he stands with God watching, controlling everything that happens around him. He speaks to his own soul and asks, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?” These are amazing questions to ask ourselves when things get dark and difficult. Yeah! Why, exactly, am I down? What is it? Can I name it? The answer will likely come to us if we take some time to stop and have a conversation with our soul and with God!

David doesn’t write the answer in the text, but we know from history there was a lot going on in his life. A quick search on www.blueletterbible.org will show that David was running and hiding again, this time from his own son Absalom (his third son). If your a parent, it’s not too hard to imagine one of your adult kids coming after you to kill you and take their inheritance – especially if that inheritance is the kingdom of Israel. So one answer his soul might kick back to him is, “yeah your sad… because your kid is trying to kill you!” Legit, right?

David follows up his question with more than just an answer from his soul, he writes, “I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you— even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar.” Whoa. David flips his thoughts to a far more reliable and powerful outcome in his situation – his HOPE in God. Hope is not a wish or a squishy, wispy fantasy. Hope is a carabiner, a stick-clip, attached to a climbing anchor that saves your life should you fail and fall. And that anchor is imbedded in the rock, THE ROCK, in our case. David’s psalm teaches us that when we feel we are starting to free fall in our feelings of despair, hope clipped into the anchor then catches us. No matter what my soul answers back when I ask (and asking is the best way to get some kind of clarity) “why am I so sad?” I must be quick to clip my hope into the anchor and let God catch me.

Prayer

Dad,
David’s response, at least how it was written, was almost immediate. Maybe there was a pause, a moment or two as he reflected on the questions he asked his soul. I’m trying to be faster at realizing that my feelings, along with my crazy thoughts are running away, dragging me to horrible outcomes. I just want to catch my soul at the earliest possible moment and force it to answer – “why are you discouraged?” If I can catch my soul before it spins and my mind runs, maybe I have a moment to listen to the answer and then securely “clip in” my hope to the Rock of my salvation! Sounds like a plan – I just need to get better at it.

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Happy King, happy kingdom?

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“How the king rejoices in your strength, O Lord! He shouts with joy because you give him victory. For you have given him his heart’s desire; you have withheld nothing he requested.” Psalms‬ ‭21‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There is a common phrase and understanding in many households, especially back in the day, “If momma ain’t happy, no one is happy.” If you go further back in time, way back, you’ll find the original concept, “if the king ain’t happy, no one is happy.”

Psalm 21 is a song of thanksgiving. It focuses on King David at a time in his life when things were going well. The interesting point to this imagery of a king is this, the king is often credited with being an example of the moral state of a kingdom in the Old Testament.

The Psalms were all written to be a foreshadowing of the coming messiah. And in the messiah’s arrival would come a final season of peace, prosperity and justice for all the wrongs done to Israel. The messiah was definitely projected to be the inevitable, invincible conqueror! So when Jesus showed up as a baby and did everything contrary to any Jewish leader before him, the Jews were naturally suspicious. What kind of conqueror lays down his life, seemingly ending his rule and reign. And Jesus had no heirs! What kind of leader was this?

I wonder if this Psalm 21 characteristic turns out to be true in leaders today? When a leader is happy, the followers are happy. When a leader ain’t happy… well we’ve all seen plenty examples of this on a global and local stage. My take away isn’t exactly about a king or a momma. As a leader, a shepherd, a servant I see the absolute necessity in guarding and protecting my own heart to more or less stay in a place of calm, you could call it a “guarded gratefulness.” There is a lot of chatter and situations that can cause a perpetual state of unhappiness and I end up seething AND seeding a whole batch of angry, frustrated and divided crops of unfruitful and unfulfilled trees! A king, a momma or a leader needs to find a place of perspective and peace to not perpetuate the “ain’t no one happy” culture in their kingdom, home or organization.

Prayer

Dad,
I try and try and try to remember these concepts and work hard to not take the bait to become bitter. It is so very hard. My mind triggers my emotions and they just ramp up faster than I can coral them back into place. I need to seek and ask far more questions before flying off into unrealistic scenarios that end with poor behavior or words that can not easily be retracted or rescinded. Help me seek you first before I fire up the whole emergency response mechanism in my head. Thank you for your grace and mercy when I blow it.

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Enemies and snares oh my.

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart! We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free! Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalms‬ ‭124‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Certainly in ancient times the world was a delicate balance of violence seeking peace or peace just in the edge of violence. In my world and in these times, I do not face a neighboring country or people who want to tear us apart and enslave us. That doesn’t mean it isn’t happening around the globe. I’m fact it is for many countries and people groups. It may be the norm!

Who are my enemies that present a real and present danger? At one point, about five years ago, I had one. Yeah, just one I could identify, but with the help of God I was able to escape with just my ego and bank account bruised. These enemies, David wrote about were very real and persistently trying to kill him. I do not have anyone trying to hunt me down and kill me.

The only enemies I can identify are more spiritual in nature. One is certainly Satan himself, the deceiver, liar and very real threat. The other one is sadly my own mind. I struggle with what Daniel Amen calls, ANTS – automatic negative thoughts (brainmd.com). Just an overwhelming sense that there is always more to be done and I’m not skilled enough to do it all. After going through a series called “Content,” and focusing on the word “enough” instead of “more,” I’m realizing that God has ALWAYS been good to me and that He is enough in my cravings for more, but also I am simply “enough” in who He made me to be! I can only be me and can only do me. To keep those healthy boundaries, I have to remind people around me, “I am not you,” in other words, I can’t approach problems or fix them like someone else. And, “I can’t be great at everything!”

Life and leadership sometimes feels like it moves too fast for me to process what is happening, in real time, around me. And when I’m overwhelmed I just freeze up! I shut down. I get stuck. So between the devil lying, manipulating and just mucking up my life along with my own brain betrayal, telling me I can’t do certain things well – the snares are set and I step right into both of them.

David’s war-cry declaration is just as valid now as it was for him in ancient times – Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!!! The snare is broken and we can escape.

Prayer

Dad,
I desperately need your help to reframe all that is going on in my life and in our world. I need to see and feel your perspective, your plan, your will and desire. With expectations piling up around me and having to address old fears of failure, my own social delays and pure lack of leadership experience – I need you and cannot accomplish eternal things without your Spirit. Break the snares and traps set to stop me. Free me to be who you created me to be and do the work you called me to accomplish. I am yours, always and forever.