Songs of Praise: Psalm 73

Let's continue in our reading with Psalm 73.
(Click on the link to read the song for today.)

It's Monday, and I can't help but think of the potential a week holds. Potential for good and evil, to hurt and be hurt. An entire week looms before us, and I wonder: Are you facing enemies? Do you wonder why the wicked seem to prosper and go about life without a care in the world?

The writer of this psalm doesn't appear to be much different than us.

This is what the wicked are like -- always free of care,

they go on amassing wealth.

Psalm 73:12

It's easy to dwell on... makes us bitter at its worst. The psalmist must have known this too. Because in the midst of the complaining something shifts.

Yet I am always with you;

you hold me by my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel,

and afterward you will take me into glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you?

And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever.

Those who are far from you will perish;

you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

But as for me, it is good to be near God.

I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;

I will tell of all your deeds.

Psalm 73:23-28

There are times life gets us down, times when facing another week seems overwhelming. These are the times we need a shift, a shift of focus. The writer shifts his focus to his relationship with God and by the end, he is ready to tell the world.

What about you? What might happen if you shift your focus to God and tell the world?

I'll tell you what can happen. Somebody somewhere will experience Jesus for the first time through the words we tell. So let's get busy, let's go! The whole wide world is waiting...

Lord, remind me over and over of Your perfect justice

and of Your steadfast love.

I want to be near You, to know You as my refuge.

I don't want to dwell on those who seem to be

free from the consequences of sin.

Fill me with Your love for them.

Bless me with faith-full words to tell others

about You and Your love.

Songs of Praise: Psalm 72

Let's praise God in the reading of Psalm 72. 

[Click on the link to read the verses.]

I read right down to the end of this psalm, and the final verse reads:

This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.

Psalm 72:20

Did you notice the last words we hear from David? Go back, reread them. What did you notice?

David's last psalm is a song of blessing and prayer. He praises the one true God, he prays for land, people, and king.

May his name endure forever;

may it continue as long as the sun.

Then all nations will be blessed through him,

and they will call him blessed.

Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,

who alone does marvelous deeds.

Praise be to his glorious name forever;

may the whole earth be filled with his glory.

Amen and Amen.

Psalm 72:17-29

Sing your own song of blessing this day. Give praise and thanks to the One True God. Ask for blessing, pray for others. Tell others of the great and marvelous deeds God has done for you. 

 Father God, open my eyes to see all the infinite ways to praise You. Turn my heart toward others to pray for them as You do.

Songs of Praise: Psalm 70-71

Read today's songs by clicking on the link: Psalm 70-71

As for me, I will always have hope;    I will praise you more and more.

Psalm 71:14 

We must never, no never, lose hope. The psalmist understood this and so should we. You've seen someone lose all hope. When the light seems to be gone from their eyes and joy is only a memory.

 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:11-12

Romans reminds us to be joyful in hope. Not hope in the world, or money, or some earthly idol. Don't place your hope in never-lasting things.

This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

1 Timothy 4:9-10

Believers are called to hope, encouraged to hope, even instructed to hope. For hope is the stuff faith is made of.

Where have you placed your hope lately? Is it something that will last, something that will continue long after you are gone? If not, maybe it is time to place your hope in the Everlasting God.

Lord, today I choose to hope in You.

Songs of Praise: Psalm 69

Click on the link to read our song for today: Psalm 69

Save me, O God!
    For the waters have come up to my neck.
Psalm 69:1

Are you up to your neck in something? Cry out to Him... Save me!

I sink in deep mire,
    where there is no foothold...
 Psalm 69:2

Are you sinking deep, feet covered in the muck and mire of life? Cry out to Him... Lift me out of this place!

More in number than the hairs of my head

are those who hate me without cause;

mighty are those who would destroy me,

those who attack me with lies.

Psalm 69:4

Feeling attacked like you are all alone on the journey? Cry out to Him... Show me you are here!

The Lord knows our sin, our guilt, and shame. We are no different than the writer of this song. Life gets us down, leaves us feeling lost. But we're not. God will never leave us to drown or sink or walk this road alone. Not when we cry out to Him. Not when we turn our hearts to the One who revives and redeems.

Father God, I trust in Your promise

to never leave or forsake those who belong to You.

Thank You for hearing me when I call.

Thank You for answering me in Your perfect time.

Songs of Praise: Psalm 68

We continue to praise Him with songs in Psalm 68: The Message.
Read today's psalm in the version of the Bible you have handy, then click on the link to read it in The Message.

The Message is not really a translation like the New International Version or the English Standard Version. It is a paraphrase, and sometimes reading it can shed light, or inspire in new ways. As I read Psalm 68 in The Message the names of God filled me with hope and joy. 

Consider the names the psalmist calls God in these verses:

Father of orphans

Champion of widows

Sovereign God... Lord... Savior

God-for-Us

God-Who-Saves-Us

King... High God

Sky-Rider

High God of Israel

Reread them. Maybe once more. Which name will you call Him today? Do these names inspire you to make a list of your own? Go ahead, write them down. Relish the joy of calling on the name of the Lord.

Praise Him, tell Him how great He is, using the names which speak most directly to your heart today.

Songs of Praise: Psalm 66-67

Psalm 66-67
Read the psalms as your own today. Click the link above or open your Bible.

Shout for joy to God all the earth; sing the glory of his name;

give to him glorious praise!

Psalm 66:1-2

God alone is worthy of praise and glory.

He is an awesome God who does no wrong.

The psalmist notes God's grand deliverance of His people, turning a sea into dry land. His song even calls for praise of the God who tested and tried them with affliction, purifying them like silver.

This God deserves our praise and blessing.

Do you see His glorious deeds at work in your life? through deliverance? through affliction?

Bless Him today by praising Him for all the wonders He's worked for you. If you can't think of any, ask Him to reveal them.

He is an awesome God!

Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip.

Psalm 66:8-9

Songs of Praise: Psalm 65

Psalm 65
Click the link above to read today's psalm.

Your ways overflow with plenty. 

Psalm 65:11 HCSB

Overflow... more than needed... abundance.

David’s song reminds us of every good thing that comes from God. Abundant rain preparing the earth to grow crops and feed livestock, pastures clothed with flocks, and the valleys covered with grain. 

Everywhere we look, mountains, seas, forests, pastures, farms, plants, trees, sun, moon, rain. Nature reveals God's creation, power, and provision, giving us more than we need or deserve.

David talked about overflowing in Psalm 23: 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalm 23:5 HCSB

Here God offers protection in such proportions that David is overwhelmed.

Bottom line. God’s love, protection, and provision are more than enough. So enormous that a cup cannot hold it all. It fills the cup, runs over the top, into and over the rim of the saucer and out on to the table, dripping on the floor. The blessing of too much!

So, what’s our plan? What do we do with too much? stuff? money? time? love?

Hey, we could give some away! What a concept. Clean out that closet, donate to a charity or help build a ramp into someone's house, spend time with someone, anyone. All perfect ways to show love.

So what do you say?  Let’s remember whose we are and what we are to be about, here in this spot where He planted us, go do something. Now. Go. Share the overflow!

Lord, You are so generous, yet I often live in fear of scarcity.

Open my eyes and heart to Your abundant grace and provision.

Bless me with the faith to be as generous as You.

Songs of Praise: Psalm 63-64

Psalm 63-64
Open up the Word to read the songs. Either click the link above or turn the pages of your Bible.

Samuel, at God’s command, went searching for the person God wanted for king. The people chose Saul, using their own techniques and understanding. But God, looking at the heart, chose David. This put David in a very precarious position. Chosen by God and yet pursued by Saul. 

Here we find David in the very dry and barren desert looking beyond his plight, looking instead to God’s power and glory and steadfast love. Instead of bemoaning his circumstances... homeless... hiding... wandering... he remembered to praise God, to worship Him and lift up his hands in prayer.

“My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”

Psalm 63:8 ESV

How much are we like David?

All of us who have chosen to follow Jesus, have been crowned by God as His child. We have become a royal priesthood in our new life with the King of Kings. But Satan refuses to acknowledge this fact and is in hot pursuit to destroy that which God has chosen. Satan also has followers who, through their own knowledge and understanding, have become his army of enemies against us.

What are we to do? What a challenging question. Satan is real and he is tricky. He will try his best to change our focus. Get us thinking our problems are too big for God to handle, or maybe God doesn’t seem to be listening, so maybe He really doesn’t care or have our backs. 

We must be on guard at all times. What does that look like? David provides the answer. Never take your eyes off God. As stated before: Remember to praise God, to worship Him and lift up your hands in prayer. Say, “My soul clings to You, Your right hand upholds me.”

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ -- eternal and glorious plans they are! -- will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes he does.

1Peter 5:8-11 MSG

Father God, I'm so grateful You get the last word!

Bless me with the faith to stay alert and on guard against the enemy

until You return. Amen.

Songs of Praise: Psalm 61-62

Psalm 61-62
Be sure to read His words before the words below. Open your Bible or click the reference above to read on BibleGateway.com.

God, hear my cry; pay attention to my prayer.

I call to You from the ends of the earth

when my heart is without strength.

Psalm 61:1-2 HCSB

Here sits the psalmist at "the ends of the earth,” experiencing the very worst of despair. One author translates this verse: “from the bowel of this fractured world, I cry out my fears and longings” (Psalms Now by Leslie F. Brandt).

This is pitiful. And yet... most often... it is finally when there is no more down... that we are forced to look up. 

Sitting at the bottom we think: This can't be all there is Lord. I need a little light. Actually, I need hope in something beyond these circumstances surrounding me. Then, in looking up, there is not only a ray of sunshine but the vision of a powerful Savior. God.

God who is a:

• Fortress: any place of exceptional security; stronghold (Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary).
• Rock: a mass of stone in stability, firmness, or dependability (Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary).
• High: A lofty place or region (Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary).

What a picture has been painted for us. What a reversal of place and attitude.

Now we see an impregnable Fortress, so high it offers security. We can see the enemy before he reaches us and are distanced from the enemy on a Rock, a place of unwavering stability. And that would be God's unfailing love.

Can you see it? Have you got it pictured in your mind? Could you call it up, through prayer, when troubles rock your world, when the pit is hard and gloomy? Can you visualize yourself in a safer place?

God has promised to be there and walk with us through our troubles if we want Him there, if we call out to Him.

So for now, until heaven calls my name, well... I’ll be at the Fort, come join me.

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.

Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Psalm 62:1-2 NIV

Father God, may I always look up and find shelter in Your unfailing love.

Songs of Praise: Psalm 59-60

Psalm 59-60
Click the link above to read the songs of praise.

Life is unfair. People are mean. We feel helpless and powerless because we are overwhelmed. Basically, sin is in full force in our world.

Try as we might, we don't have the ability to do anything about it. Sure, we can live our lives as examples of Christ's love and do our best to abide by His laws and precepts. But many times, people just don't care. They are bound to their path and want to do things their way, not even considering God, or for that matter another person.

Though all around us many seem to have lost their heads, we must keep to what we know in our heads and hearts. Don't be fooled by their carelessness and callousness, thinking God isn't watching. He is and He wants to know where our loyalty lies.

So where can we turn for judgment and righteousness? God. He is watching. He will judge in His time. Those who are faithful will be shown as good servants. And the evil ones will also be shown and judged accordingly.

Serving God is often hard and backbreaking. We will be asked to endure much, just as the psalmist did. And how will we do it? Check out this picture.

How did that flower get there? It was a seed that planted roots and was watered by God to make it grow.

Our job then is to maintain a close relationship with Jesus our Savior. To keep Him at the forefront of our minds at all times, so we are not defeated or swayed. To remember His power and strength is beyond measure and He will redeem us at just the right time.

So, get planted in His Word... make strong roots... don't be swayed... stay the course...

Allow God to grow you into a beautiful flower for His glory! It just might inspire others to glorify Him too.

In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me.

He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies.

Psalm 59:10 NLT

Lord, You alone can make me grow when I choose to plant myself in Your Word. May I bring You glory with my life, so triumph over my enemies might be through turning their hearts toward You.

Songs of Praise: Psalm 57-58

Psalm 57-58
Read today's songs of praise in your Bible or online by clicking the reference above.

I am surrounded by fierce lions
    who greedily devour human prey—
whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows,
    and whose tongues cut like swords.

Psalm 57:4

Thoughts of Daniel in the lion’s den come to mind. Read Daniel 6:10-24.

What an awesome, inspiring story. Daniel, doing nothing wrong, is accused of worshiping God and not the king. There was a temporary law imposed concerning the worship of anyone other than the king of Daniel's exile. It included a death sentence.

His enemies made sure the king knew what Daniel was doing. And the king had no choice but to throw Daniel to the lions. I’m sure Daniel and David had similar thoughts concerning the lions... fierce, greedy to devour human prey, with big and dangerous teeth that cut like swords. 

The king waited during the night, unable to eat or sleep wondering if Daniel's God could, or would, deliver him from the den. And, yes, when the cave was opened in the morning, Daniel was alive. Then the king sent Daniel's enemies to the lions.

Two very similar stories. The enemies hate and scheme and try to destroy but though it might not happen instantly, God, in His timing, saves the faithful.

What a great lesson for us. Yes, we too have problems and sometimes enemies. Yes, we will have to wait patiently on the Lord and His timing. Yes, it’s often uncomfortable and not accomplished as quickly as we would like. But the bottom line is, it’s all about trusting in God.

And again the warning, God will rescue the faithful and woe to the foolish.

Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens!

May your glory shine over all the earth.

My enemies have set a trap for me.

I am weary from distress.

They have dug a deep pit in my path,

but they themselves have fallen into it.

Psalm 57:5-6

Lord, be exalted in my life through praise and thanks,

even in the midst of attack. Remind me, faithfulness to You

always pays off, and the unfaithful come to an end.

Songs of Praise: Psalm 55-56

Psalm 55-56
Click the reference above to read on BibleGateway.com.

Have you been in a bookstore lately? If you have, have you noticed how many books are on the subject of peace? Or to rephrase: How to escape without actually leaving the premises.

Yep. There is a lot of angst in our lives. People want stuff from us and we want stuff for ourselves. I’m not talking about possessions but time, attention, security, safety, kindness, compassion... the list goes on. It’s easy to become overwhelmed, which, to be truthful, makes escape look pretty appealing.

Oh, that I had wings like a dove then I would fly away and rest!

Psalm 55:6 NLT

We hear David's desire to fly away, Oh if only I were a dove, I could fly away and REST! I could escape this wild storm of hatred. 

But, he knew flying away was a pipe dream and instead set his sight on the one true source of salvation: God. David's reliance on God won out. He asked God for help knowing he was helpless on his own to change the hearts of his enemies, especially a close friend who betrayed him.

So what does it mean for us on a day when we want to escape to the beach, take a book and leave our cell phones behind along with all those people and troubles?

Basically this, it’s OK to dream but, the reality is we need to give it to God. Go to him for wise counsel and comfort. Know these times of trial will pass. Trust, in all things, God is in control.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

Matthew 11:28-30

Lord, I am so grateful, that in times when I am ready to throw in the towel and just give up, I can turn to You for peace in my soul, knowing that following You is my deepest desire and I will trust You to help me through any situation. Amen.

Songs of Praise: Psalm 53-54

Psalm 53-54
Give Him praise as you read His Word today. Open it up with the link above.

Fools: People who reject or ignore God. They are corrupt and their actions are evil.

Fools annoy us, frustrate us, hurt us, and try to make out that they are the smart ones and we are so idiotic as to need a crutch to lean on. They say our faith is a sham and they question our integrity.

David certainly had his hands full of them. Saul chasing him in the desert and his children fighting for his throne. He knows God holds the future of the fool and it isn’t a good one. In fact, he asks God to hurry up and triumph over them.

Do as you promised and put an end to them.

Psalm 54:5 NLT

He was expressing his true feelings, the whole maddening wave of emotions. Come on God... vindicate me.

Surely we feel those emotions today when we have been wronged. Frustration, anger, sometimes hate for the way we have been treated.

How then do we handle enemies? What do our eyes see when we look at them? Can we bring ourselves to pity them for their misunderstanding of the truth and the judgment they will receive one day?

Jesus gave us a plan of action, one that shows compassion. It also reminds us we too were once lost, unbelieving, in need of a Savior, and the forgiveness He brings.

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Matthew 5:44-48 NIV

Our response then, to the “fools,” the evil, the unbelievers, should be to show truth in love through our words and actions. We need to pray for them, petition God to soften their hearts, and ask Him to use us to help them find the path of the wise, those who put their trust in God.

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”

1 Peter 3:15 NIV

We can do this in the hope of making an enemy a friend, a fellow Believer, and saving them from the punishment they will one day receive from God.

Father God, teach me, grow me, to love the fools who reject You.

Use me to love them as You do and be a light to lead them to You.

Songs of Praise: Psalm 51-52

Psalm 51-52
Read the psalms in your Bible or online by clicking the reference above.

When my son was a teenager, he once told me he thought God was a cosmic wet blanket. I guess, meaning he believed God didn’t want him to have fun. Yeah, you know those pesky Ten Commandments. On the surface they seem harsh but in reality they allow us to live and prosper and enjoy life. Especially the one that says: Thou shalt not kill... It keeps you out of jail, which by the way, would not be fun.

Wisdom was not a buzz word for my son during those years, but thankfully age helped. And of course life lessons and growing in his faith.

Thank goodness God has unfailing love and compassion and when we ask for wisdom he doesn’t withhold it from us.

If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent you asking.

James 1:5 NLT

And why do we need wisdom? So we can grow in righteousness, in recognition of our sinful being and our need for God to purify us, to bring us closer to Him, to understand our relationship with Him better. 

This psalm offers something to dwell on today and every day as we thank God for His ability to redeem our lives.

The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit.

A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise.

Psalm 51:17 NLT

 Father God, I'm so grateful for Your mercy and compassion.

Thank You for receiving my broken sin-tired spirit.

Songs of Praise: Psalm 50

Psalm 50
Read today's song of praise by opening up the link above or your Bible.

What I want instead is your true thanks to God;

I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High. 

Psalm 50:14 NLT

In the Old Testament, the sacrifice for sin for God's people was provided by an animal: a sheep, a bull or a bird. Jesus changed that by becoming the perfect sacrifice, shedding His blood on our behalf.

That makes things different for us... or does it?

As is human nature, people get caught up in the ritual and forget its meaning. Imagine an Old Testament Jew at the temple bringing his sacrifice, he thinks: "Yes, I paid for the animal; yes, I waited in line for the priest to slaughter it and pronounce me clean. But all the while I was hungry and thinking about lunch... sorry. It’s just we do this every year and it’s only a necessary routine, right? Something God requires."

It brings to mind two rituals we have in the church today. Tithing and the Lord's Supper.

• Tithing: God doesn’t need our money. He owns a thousand cattle on a thousand hills. What he wants from us is a sacrificial gift that expresses our grateful, thankful, overwhelmed-by-His-love heart.
• Communion: We hear the words, we say the prayer, we come forward to partake of the bread and wine. A ritual... a reminder... of the over-the-top sacrifice made for us. But, are we really listening and absorbing the text? Do we understand what God has truly done for us? Are we drifting into "same-old-same-old" and thinking where we are going for lunch after church? Or is there true worship in this sacrament?

But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.

Psalm 50:23 NLT

Take a moment to consider how your actions regarding tithing and communion reflect your heart, your gratitude to God for all He has done for you... for us.

O Lord, forgive me for every time my worship was disconnected from my heart. Convict me. Stir afresh a fire in my soul for what You've done for me.

Songs of Praise: Psalm 49

Psalm 49
Click the Scripture reference above to read online.

I went for a walk this morning. Lovely day, temperate and full of sunshine. I began to notice how my eyes were constantly moving and assessing my progress. Sometimes I watched the road checking for things I might trip over or maybe a snake lurking in the grass. Sometimes I watched the view ahead making sure no cars were coming or noticing a beautiful scene off to the side, the sun shining on the lake. But seldom did I look up. Seems like everything I need to see is right in front of me and I kind of take the sky for granted. Yep... it's blue.

What the psalmist tells us today, reminds us we can easily get caught up in just seeing what's in front of us in life, in the day to day pressures to succeed, make money, earn human fame and prestige. We gauge ourselves by others' standards instead of God's standards, thinking wealth and fame are going to bring us to the happiness we are missing. So we huff and puff. Walk a little faster. Push harder. Sweat a little more. Because more is what it's all about.

This psalm hits hard. A real jolt straight to the heart of the matter. A reminder of where we need to focus our lives and our attention. It's a call to consider the bigger picture, the best picture, the one God wants us to see and to have.

What does eternity mean to you? How does your answer to that and your faith in God cause you to consider your actions, choices, way of living, purpose and desires while you are yet alive on planet Earth? Where is your focus?

It's a pretty weighty question and a decision must be made. Every one of us will die and stand before God. We need to look up and focus on what is really important.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

-- Helen H. Lemmel, 1922

Lord Jesus, keep me caught up in You and not in the things of this world.

Songs of Praise: Psalm 47-48

Our songs of praise continue with Psalm 47-48.
Click on the link to read the Scripture.

After you've read the Scripture from the link above, take a moment to read it in another version of the Bible. Here is a link to The Message version: Psalm 47-48 The Message.

Now, read it again, but this time out loud. It may feel a bit different... even a little challenging. If you're feeling a bit silly, whisper it, or go outside where no one can hear.

I'm so thankful for the writers who poured their heart and souls out in the book we call Psalms. What courage it must have taken to create songs to be sung in worship. It seems so personal. We may not be song writers, or even good singers, but we can be good at praise. It will take practice to move praise from our thoughts to our lips, but let's determine to praise God anew this weekend.

Practice praising God by choosing one of His attributes. Then look up the definition to get a clearer picture of who He is. Pray a prayer of praise, tell Him how great He is according to the attribute you looked up and what you learned about Him.

Lord, I praise You because You are ___________________.

Because You are ______________________

I can ____________________ You.

Songs of Praise: Psalm 45-46

Read the songs of praise by clicking on this link: Psalm 45-46

All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.

    In many-colored robes she is led to the king,
    with her virgin companions following behind her.
 With joy and gladness they are led along
    as they enter the palace of the king.

Psalm 45: 13-15

Do you know? Have you heard? There is a bride being prepared for Christ our King. She too will be found in a glorious heavenly chamber clothed with robes interwoven with gold. Joy and gladness will fill the palace of our King when the bride is finally ready for the wedding feast.

“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
    the Almighty reigns.
 Let us rejoice and exult
    and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
    and his Bride has made herself ready;
 it was granted her to clothe herself
    with fine linen, bright and pure”—
Rev. 19:6-8

Who is this bride, the one being made ready for Jesus? The church, that's who. The church is the bride being made ready. So let me ask you...

What are you doing to be made ready?

Lord Jesus, make me ready...

Songs of Praise: Psalm 44

Psalm 44
Open up today's Word by clicking the link above or opening up your Bible.

All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you,

and we have not been false to your covenant.

Psalm 44:17

Sometimes, great trials and difficulties come crashing into our lives and we have no idea why. We believe we've been faithful to God, worshiping on Sundays, active in church, yet sometimes disaster blindsides us.

It's confusing. We expect God's blessing, but in the middle of crisis it seems totally absent.

I think of Job and all he endured. God described Job as His most upright and blameless servant, yet He allowed Satan to wreak havoc in his life (Job 1:6-19). The psalmist tells the same kind of story. He's confused by the oppression of the enemy. He even goes so far as to tell God to Wake up! as if He ever falls asleep on the job.

There is more behind the affliction than God forgetting His people. It is essential to our faith to remember who God is. He is always good, always purposeful, always just, always loving in everything He allows. It's impossible for Him to be any other way.

The Word tells us God uses affliction in the lives of His people to purify their hearts.

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;

I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.

Isaiah 48:10 ESV

We may see ourselves as faith-full, but as the psalmist pointed out, God knows the secrets of our hearts, and there is ALWAYS room for improvement. There are sins and unbelief we don't recognize in our lives until our feet are held to the fire and our hearts put to the test. Job's affliction led him to a deeper intimacy and understanding of God. He went from merely hearing about God to seeing God for himself (Job 42:5).

The psalmist began by saying their knowledge of God was hearsay, but God is now giving them an opportunity to test their faith to the point of seeing Him, knowing Him, in the midst of their affliction.

Paul quotes a verse of this psalm in his letter to the Romans, which confirms this idea:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35-39 ESV

The purpose of the refining fire of affliction is to grow our faith, to come to the point where we know with confidence that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

How do you view God when your life comes crashing down on you?

Do you blame Him?

Do you wonder what you've done wrong?

Do you begin to doubt His existence?

Do you press hard into Him?

He loves you. He will never leave you or forsake you. But He will not leave you as you are and He will not allow you to deceive yourself.

The next time things go terribly wrong, remember His love. Remind yourself He wants to reveal what's hidden in your heart that keeps you from drawing closer to Him, from seeing Him. He doesn't want you to just know about His love for you secondhand, through hearsay. He wants you to see it, experience it, for yourself.

Yes, it can be confusing when your world is rocked by grief. But know His love for you is steadfast and immovable.

Father God, have I only heard about You? or have I seen You?

I want to know You intimately. In the midst of devastating confusion,

bless me with the faith to see and know Your love for me.

Songs of Praise: Psalms 42-43

Read today's songs: Psalms 42-43
Click the link above to read online at BibleGateway.com.

As a deer pants for flowing streams,

so pants my soul for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

Psalm 42:1-2 ESV

David knew, that like a deer thirsting for life-giving water, his thirst was for a life-giving God. He was dismayed, disheartened, depressed. His enemies surrounded him and taunted him. And these things caused him to be sidetracked, his focus turned from God to his troubles. (Surely this never happens to us). 

Driven by an urging as strong as the need for water to a dehydrated body, he knew, in his mind, heart, and soul what he needed, what he had to have, would only come from God. He calls it deep calling to deep. A magnificent God calling to the depths of David’s heart. No shallow understanding of his God and Lord would work for him. In other words, he desired to do whatever it took to be closer to God.

Reminds me of the ocean. You can stand in a foot of water at the shore and see sand and maybe a crab or two. Or you can put on fins and a snorkel and swim out where it's deeper and explore and see things you never imagined existed. 

Can you imagine the things you would find out about God by going deeper in His Word? How would it impact your perception of the issues you face today?

David found comfort in the things he knew and the things he discovered about God.

This song by Steven Curtis Chapman, speaks to our fears being overridden by our desire to go deeper. Here are the lyrics.

"Dive"

The long awaited rains

Have fallen hard upon the thirsty ground

And carved their way to where

The wild and rushing river can be found

And like the rain

I have been carried here to where the river flows, yeah

My heart is racing and my knees are weak

As I walk to the edge

I know there is no turning back

Once my feet have left the ledge

And in the rush I hear a voice

That's telling me it's time to take the leap of faith

So here I go

There is a supernatural power

In this mighty river's flow

It can bring the dead to life

And it can fill an empty soul

And give a heart the only thing

Worth living and worth dying for, yeah

But we will never know the awesome power

Of the grace of God

Until we let ourselves get swept away

Into this holy flood

So if you'll take my hand

We'll close our eyes and count to three

And take the leap of faith

Come on let's go

I'm diving in, I'm going deep, In over my head I want to be

Caught in the rush, tossed in the flow, in over my head I want to go

The river's deep, the river's wide, the river's water is alive

So sink or swim, I'm diving in, yeah”

So ... One, two, three... Come dive in with me... let's go!

Get deep and explore the Scriptures -- the living, life-giving, Word of God.

Lord, bless me with a deep thirst for You.

Drive me to dive deep into Your Word.

Fill me with the life-giving peace of Your Spirit.

[Sing along with Stephen Curtis Chapman with the YouTube video below. Email subscribers click here to view on YouTube or the post title to view on Going in Faith at FUMC.]

Songs of Praise: Psalm 40-41

Today's songs of praise: Psalm 40-41
Click the link to read online or open up your Bible.

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and mire.

He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.

He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see what he has done and be amazed.

They will put their trust in the Lord.

Psalm 40:1-3 NLT

Waiting. Something we all do. As a child we wait for Christmas morning, as a new parent we wait the nine months to see and hold that new baby, we wait on jobs, on medical tests, the list is endless. Some things are easier to wait on than others, but on the whole, waiting can be quite a challenge.

David tells us he waited patiently for the Lord to help him. Patiently... hmm... how did he do that?

First he remembered how the Lord helped him already: He heard my cry and lifted me out of the pit of despair.

Then he listed God's gracious qualities. His wonderful deeds, His plans for us, His justice, His faithfulness and His saving power.

Then he remembered who he was, piled up sins and lost courage.

It's all a matter of perspective. Seeing ourselves for who we are. Seeing God as who He is. And, deciding:

• Will you patiently wait, trusting God to work things out for you?
• Will you remember how he has worked things out for your good in the past?
• Will you turn to him, pray, cry out in praise, saying you are my Helper and Savior, and trust Him to make the waiting easier?

 So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.

Isaiah 30:18  NLT

Heavenly Father, it is so hard to want things resolved right now and to realize I am not in control. Help me to search for You as David did and recognize that I can trust in your timing but more importantly, I can trust You. Thank You for David, Your servant, as he teaches me this lesson this day. Amen.