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Category Archives: Psalms

Psalm 138

29 Jun

Psalm 138

Give Thanks to the Lord

Of David.

138 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
    before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple
    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
    for you have exalted above all things
    your name and your word.
3 On the day I called, you answered me;
    my strength of soul you increased.

4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,
    for they have heard the words of your mouth,
5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
    for great is the glory of the Lord.
6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,
    but the haughty he knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
    and your right hand delivers me.
8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
    your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
    Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Dear God, I love the idea that part of David working out his relationship with you was through his poetry. I will be teaching tonight about How he responded to Saul’s and Jonathan’s deaths, and what did he do but write a song for others to sing? Much like I use these prayer journals to process how my mind and my spirit meld with you and get to know your Spirit, these psalms were how David worked. I was listening to a man be interviewed the other day and when he was asked about how he spends time working out his faith, he mentioned that he reads. My wife is a reader. She is a singer. She is a silent prayer. For me, the heart of mine is through these prayer journals. There are other things I do as well such as listen to sermons, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc., but the real depth is explored through these moments.

Going back to David’s psalm here, it is a reminder to just thank you. Thank you for everything you’ve done. I was talking to someone last night about a friend who cannot get beyond her self-pity. It’s so frustrating, but I know that I can really wallow in self-pity when I want to. Often, the anecdote to that is either being thankful for the things I’ve missed that I should be thankful for or just deciding to love the person who is offending me and considering whatever pain is driving their hurtful actions more than my own hurt.

Father, help me to continue to work out my faith each day. I want to know you better. I want to love you better. I want to love my neighbors better. Yesterday, could have been a day filled with self-pity, but instead you gave me gratitude. Help me to embrace that and, in my private prayers, turn loose of any pain and simply pray for those who are estranged from me.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 29, 2026 in Psalms

 

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Psalm 121

22 Jun

Psalm 121

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

1 I look up to the mountains—
    does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!

3 He will not let you stumble;
    the one who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
    never slumbers or sleeps.

5 The Lord himself watches over you!
    The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon at night.

7 The Lord keeps you from all harm
    and watches over your life.
8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
    both now and forever.

Dear God, what exactly is your role in protecting me? When do you extend your “protective shade” (verse 5) and when do you allow life to run its course in my life? What are you doing that I can’t see? I know I will have ultimate safety and live in your glorious presence beyond this current life, but what are you doing now? How do your angels come into play?

Honestly, I feel like I’m missing something when it comes to praying about angels and what they are doing around me. My wife will say a Catholic prayer to Michael the Archangel about safety. Is that appropriate? Should I be more praying to you/Jesus/Holy Spirit about assigning an angel in general? Is Michael even omnipresent so that he could hear my prayers? So many questions. I’m so ignorant.

Father, you know my heart. I want to simply live for you today. I want to do good work. I want to have constructive conversations with people–especially when there is conflict involved. Help me to follow you moment to moment. If I could pray for protection for anyone, it would start with my wife. Protect her soul, mind, heart, and body. Defend her, Father. My children and their significant others. I pray that my son and his wife would have a day that further develops what you’re doing in each of their lives. For my daughter and her boyfriend, that you would guide them clearly and intentionally on the path you have for them. Love all of them. Heal all of them. Be glorified in all of our lives. There are so many other family and non-family members on my mind. You know who they are. Oh, Father, love them beyond what my feeble prayers call on you to do. Holy Spirit, pray in a way that I’m just incapable of.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 22, 2026 in Psalms

 

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Psalm 91

21 Jun

Psalm 91

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
    nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
    though ten thousand are dying around you,
    these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
    and see how the wicked are punished.

9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
    if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
    no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
    to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
    you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
    I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
    I will be with them in trouble.
    I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
    and give them my salvation.”

Dear God, Happy Father’s Day! I don’t think I’ve ever said that to you before on Father’s Day. But you are my father. You are THE Father.

I read this psalm of orientation (as opposed to disorientation and reorientation), and I find myself being reminded in my reoriented state of just how powerful and majestic you are. Well, that’s not true. I have no idea of how majestic and powerful you are. I only have a glimpse. And even the glimpse if beyond what I can fathom. You are my God. You care for me in this life and beyond. I worship you. I know you have a lot of children who reject you, have walked away from you, and some even hate you. Then there are some who are just indifferent. If that kind of thing hurts me, I can only imagine how much it hurts you. If my love and worship can offer some balm to that hurt, not that you need anything from me, but if it can I hope it does.

Father, this is a day to appreciate fathers in our country, and it’s important because there are a lot of children who do not have fathers. They don’t have the men in their lives that they need. I pray that you will lay the needs of their children on the hearts of all fathers today. I pray that there will be repentance among the men. And I pray that there will be mercy on the part of the children, and, as necessary, their mothers. I have several situations running around in my head. Several people who have very little to no father interaction. Raise up men in the lives of these children who will be fathers to them. And for the fathers who have lost their children, give them comfort. I guess what I’m saying is, if there is pain in the heart of anyone today because it is Father’s Day, make that pain count. Use it to draw the fathers and the children closer to yourself. Closer to being like you. Let your glory, Father, shine in all the earth!

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 21, 2026 in Psalms

 

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Psalm 103

16 Jun

Psalm 103

A psalm of David.

1 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
    with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
    may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins
    and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death
    and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things.
    My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

6 The Lord gives righteousness
    and justice to all who are treated unfairly.

7 He revealed his character to Moses
    and his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
    slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 He will not constantly accuse us,
    nor remain angry forever.
10 He does not punish us for all our sins;
    he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
    is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us
    as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is like a father to his children,
    tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are;
    he remembers we are only dust.
15 Our days on earth are like grass;
    like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
16 The wind blows, and we are gone—
    as though we had never been here.
17 But the love of the Lord remains forever
    with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children
18     of those who are faithful to his covenant,
    of those who obey his commandments!

19 The Lord has made the heavens his throne;
    from there he rules over everything.

20 Praise the Lord, you angels,
    you mighty ones who carry out his plans,
    listening for each of his commands.
21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels
    who serve him and do his will!
22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created,
    everything in all his kingdom.

Let all that I am praise the Lord.

Dear God, what a beautiful psalm. It’s the kind that needs to be read out loud. I like how David is exhorting the angels to praise you, as if they don’t all of the time. I wonder what David’s understanding of angels was at the time. Honestly, I don’t have too much of an understanding of angels, but it seems like a lot of the angel visits are either in Genesis with Abraham and Jacob or in the gospels with Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. I know Raphael also shows up in Tobit.

But I digress. It is so great to just stop and worship you. To praise you. To proclaim verbally who you are. I also like the part of this that refers to the vaporous quality of our earthly lives. Like the wildflowers, we are here and then we are gone. But we do make an impact while we are here.

I don’t want to forget that, while this is a psalm of orientation, there are plenty of people I know today who are living in disorientation at this moment. You know who is on my heart and who I’m talking about. And there are several of them. I pray that you would find them in their trouble and sorrow. That you would draw them close to you through these hard times. That you would make this pain count.

Father, you are my God. I am your servant. You have work for me to do today. Help me to do it well and for your glory. Help me to carr you into my day.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 16, 2026 in Psalms

 

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Psalm 46

11 Jun

Psalm 46

For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.

1 God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
    Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude

4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
    the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
    From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,
    and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
    and the earth melts!
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude

8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
    See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
    He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
    I will be honored by every nation.
    I will be honored throughout the world.”

11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude

Dear God, I would classify this as a psalm of orientation (as opposed to Brueggemann’s classification of psalms of orientation, disorientation, and reorientation). You are in charge and I trust you. I trust in you. I have no idols. I know who you are. I worship you. My head is clear. I will be still and know that you are God. I will honor you. I will worship you. Thank yo for being here with me. Selah

It’s too bad these moments of orientation can be so fleeting. I can get afraid and look to my idols to save me. My own intellect. Money. Government. My wife. I look to them to orient me, but they are all as dependable as shifting sand. And that’s not a slam on my wife. She’s amazing. But she’s human and her life is fragile. Things could change in a moment. She can’t be my idol. And it’s not fair to her to make her my idol. She doesn’t need that kind of pressure from me.

Father, you are my refuge and strength. You are always ready to help me in times of trouble. You might not solve the problem the way I want it solved, but you will be there to love, support, and comfort me through it. You will also be there to teach me through it, not allowing the pain to be wasted. So what is the worst that can happen in earthquakes come or the mountains crash into the sea? Maybe it will simply expedite my journey to seeing you without this veil beween us. I pray for peace on this earth. End the wars. End the suffering. End the death. Help me to know what my role is in yourplan for all of that.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 11, 2026 in Psalms

 

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Psalm 56

30 May

Psalm 56

For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time the Philistines seized him in Gath. To be sung to the tune “Dove on Distant Oaks.”

1 O God, have mercy on me,
    for people are hounding me.
    My foes attack me all day long.
2 I am constantly hounded by those who slander me,
    and many are boldly attacking me.
3 But when I am afraid,
    I will put my trust in you.
4 I praise God for what he has promised.
    I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
    What can mere mortals do to me?

5 They are always twisting what I say;
    they spend their days plotting to harm me.
6 They come together to spy on me—
    watching my every step, eager to kill me.
7 Don’t let them get away with their wickedness;
    in your anger, O God, bring them down.

8 You keep track of all my sorrows.
    You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
    You have recorded each one in your book.

9 My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help.
    This I know: God is on my side!
10 I praise God for what he has promised;
    yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised.
11 I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
    What can mere mortals do to me?

12 I will fulfill my vows to you, O God,
    and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.
13 For you have rescued me from death;
    you have kept my feet from slipping.
So now I can walk in your presence, O God,
    in your life-giving light.

Dear God, would this be a psalm of disorientation or reorientation? I am grateful we get the context for it in the introduction. When did the Philistines seize David in Gath? 1 Samuel 21 after he took Goliath’s sword from Ahimelech when David was running from Saul and escaped to Gath:

10 So David escaped from Saul and went to King Achish of Gath. 11 But the officers of Achish were unhappy about his being there. “Isn’t this David, the king of the land?” they asked. “Isn’t he the one the people honor with dances, singing,

‘Saul has killed his thousands,
    and David his ten thousands’?”

12 David heard these comments and was very afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him. 13 So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard.

14 Finally, King Achish said to his men, “Must you bring me a madman? 15 We already have enough of them around here! Why should I let someone like this be my guest?”

I never read this story before and thought about the fact that they had “seized” David as they brought him to King Achish, but that’s how the introduction describes the psalm so I’ll go with that image. I can’t wait until I teach this story from 1 Samuel to the guys in Christian Men’s Life Skills in a couple of weeks. Adding this psalm will be something fun. Wow! The Bible has so many layers and hyperlinks between the texts. For an uneducated man, it feels almost impossible to get my head around them. I guess that’s kind of how it is with you. There’s just so much to you! How can any of us think we’ve cornered the market on your truth or wisdom.

This is a different topic, but I was curious about a Christian singer I used to love in the early 90s so I looked him up this morning. What I found made me sad. He seems to have gotten angrier. He was pretty dogmatic and challenging back then, but what attracted me to him was being challenged to love you more and love others more. Kind of a Keith Green vibe. But now he just seems angry and, frankly, a bit deluded. I didn’t get any fruits of the Spirit vibe from what I read about him (and I read it direclty from his personal website, so I went to the source). He released a new album in 2024. I tried listening to some of it. Even the instrumentation sounded angry. I wondered if he thought these were the kinds of songs Jesus would sing along to if he were here in the flesh today. They seemed more like the kind of thing Moses would have written in his fury toward the Israelites coming down from the mountain. And yes, there is a place for the anger Moses had, but that anger seems to have completely permeated this man. His head shots showed an intense face, not a smiling, compassionate face. His description in his about page railed against the Christian music complex, but was self-aggrandizing at the same time. It was just a sad mess that left me…well, at first it just repulsed me. Now as it has soaked in over the last couple of hours, it makes me concerned for him. I was a real fan back in 1990. I bought his CDs in a time when I couldn’t really afford CDs. I went and saw him once in concert about 40 miles from where I lived while I was still in college. I remember featuring his music in the record club I managed, even when he was past his musical prime and the things being produced were greatest hits collections.

Okay, I really went down that rabbit hole, but maybe there was purpose to it. David was teetering here, trying to figure out how to survive moment to moment and still worship you. This psalm is David calling on you for help to escape both Achish, and, presumably, Saul, and yet he is lying and deceiving Achish for his survival. Is that much different than Peter lying in the garden? I mean, yes, I know Peter was denying knowing Jesus and being a disciple while Davis was only pretending to be crazy, but still…deception to save their own skin is a common thread between them. But that’s one of the things I love about David. He sinned. He sinned A LOT. But he was seeking you as well. He was imperfectly, pitifully, but earnestly seeking you. I love that about him.

Father, I am completely imperfect. I fail. I sin. I lie. I cheat. I lust. I hate. I judge. I’ve made mistakes as a husband, father, boss, friend, and community member. I just pray that you have also found me earnest in my seeking of you and pursuit of you. And I pray for this Christian artist. His current state of heart has touched mine. I know my current faith is imperfect and people could come to me and criticize any number of things, so I don’t sit here in judgment of him. Oh, I was judging him earlier this morning, and I am sorry for that. But my current thoughts are revolving around finding a way to love him and pierce a darkness I think he’s grown comfortable in. Help me know what to do, and if there is a role you would like me to play in his life. This is the second time he’s been on my heart in the last year or so. Maybe this is you nudging me. Guide me.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 30, 2026 in 1 Samuel, Psalms

 

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“One Hundred Three” – Antioch Music – James Mark Gulley

29 May

“Psalm 103”

VERSE 1 
Father full of love 
You have not dealt with us 
according to our sins 
Father full of love 
You have shown mercy 
mercy for Your children 

For You know that we are merely 
dust in the wind 
And You know that we are weary 
from this world that we live in 

PRE-CHORUS 
But You are strong and You are mercy 
Great are You here in this place 
You are love and You're forgiving 
You've turned this world around 
by the pouring of Your grace 

CHORUS 
Bless the Lord O my soul 
Bless His holy name all the earth 
Bless the Lord O my soul 
You are worthy You are worthy 

VERSE 2 
Father full of love 
You wrap us up in grace 
crown us with compassion 
Father full of love 
You heal our sicknesses 
every single one 

BRIDGE 
You are worthy of blessing and honor 
Glory and power wisdom and thanks 

#AntiochMusic

Dear God, I started singing along with this song this morning, and I just go overwhelmed with worship for you. It was almost too much. In fact, I found myself having to throttle it back a little. Oh, how I do love you. I do need you. There are times when I get upset at myself for not praying to you more in supplication, but I think one of the reasons I struggle with intercessory prayer is that I don't necessarily think of you as this great "hander out of favors in the sky." You are God. I'm here. Yes, I need help with my family. Yes, I need help with my work. Yes, our community, state, nation, and world need help. We need you. I need you. But what I really need, above all, is relationship with you. I want to be more like David in purusing and wanting to know you, as opposed to Saul who just wanted to revere you. Yes, I revere you, but I want to know you, be known by you, and worship you. 

Father, full of love. You have not dealt with me according to my sin. Father, full of love, you have shown me mercy and mercy for all of us. You know that I am merely dust in the windn. You know I am weary from this world. But you are strong, and you are mercy. Great are you here in his room right now. You are love. You are forgiving. You turned this world around by the pouring out of your grace. Help us know how to live into that. And let me close by saying, bless the Lord, oh my soul. Bless his holy name, John. Bless the Lord, oh my soul. You are worthy, Father. You are worthy. 

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen
 
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Posted by on May 29, 2026 in Hymns and Songs, Psalms

 

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Psalm 118

12 Apr

Psalm 118

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever.

2 Let all Israel repeat:
    “His faithful love endures forever.”
3 Let Aaron’s descendants, the priests, repeat:
    “His faithful love endures forever.”
4 Let all who fear the Lord repeat:
    “His faithful love endures forever.”

5 In my distress I prayed to the Lord,
    and the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
    What can mere people do to me?
7 Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.
    I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in people.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.

10 Though hostile nations surrounded me,
    I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
11 Yes, they surrounded and attacked me,
    but I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
12 They swarmed around me like bees;
    they blazed against me like a crackling fire.
    But I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
13 My enemies did their best to kill me,
    but the Lord rescued me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
    he has given me victory.
15 Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly.
    The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
16 The strong right arm of the Lord is raised in triumph.
    The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
17 I will not die; instead, I will live
    to tell what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has punished me severely,
    but he did not let me die.

19 Open for me the gates where the righteous enter,
    and I will go in and thank the Lord.
20 These gates lead to the presence of the Lord,
    and the godly enter there.
21 I thank you for answering my prayer
    and giving me victory!

22 The stone that the builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing,
    and it is wonderful to see.
24 This is the day the Lord has made.
    We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Please, Lord, please save us.
    Please, Lord, please give us success.
26 Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
    We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God, shining upon us.
    Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you!
    You are my God, and I will exalt you!

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever.

Dear God, someone shared Psalm118:24 with me today. I was having trouble figuring out what scripture to meditate on earlier today, so I decided to read this whole psalm. Of course, it’s a good one. A classic. But I decided to focus on verse 22. “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” Verse 23 follows it and is good as well: “This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.” I don’t know if David wrote this psalm or not. It’s not labeled as such, but it seems like it could be his voice.

Of course, verse 26 echoes the words shouted at Jesus during the triumphal entry beginning Passion week: “Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” The Messiah. David’s heir.

I can see how some nations around the world right now, even though they are not Christian or even Jewish, but they do harken back to the God of Abraham, would feel like verses 10-18 fit them right now:

10 Though hostile nations surrounded me,
    I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
11 Yes, they surrounded and attacked me,
    but I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
12 They swarmed around me like bees;
    they blazed against me like a crackling fire.
    But I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
13 My enemies did their best to kill me,
    but the Lord rescued me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
    he has given me victory.
15 Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly.
    The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
16 The strong right arm of the Lord is raised in triumph.
    The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
17 I will not die; instead, I will live
    to tell what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has punished me severely,
    but he did not let me die.

We can all use verses to justify our positions and support what we want them to support. I can sin and find a verse to support what I’ve done. But I can also find encouragement when others have sinned against me. It’s tricky to know when I am the sinner, when I have been sinned against, or when both are true.

Father, right now, I know the parts of this psalm that aretrue, above all else, are the parts that acknowledge who you are. 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever…28 You are my God, and I will praise you! You are my God, and I will exalt you! 29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Give me eyes to see my sin. And yes, I do see my sin, and I am sorry for that. I regret it. It makes my heart heavy. Please forgive me. Show me your path forward. Help me to take the forgiveness I feel from you and offer it to others–even those who have wronged me the most. I will give you thanks, for your are good. Your faithful love endures forever. You are my God, and I will praise you. You are my God, and I will exalt you!

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 12, 2026 in Psalms

 

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Psalm 139:23-24

07 Mar

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
    and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Psalm 139:23-24

Dear God, is this a prayer I’m really willing to pray? You’re God, after all. I mean, if I am a criminal and have things to hide, I can hide them really creatively, invite the police in and say, “Search me,” and they likely won’t find anything. It reminds me of Casablanca when Rick hides the stolen letters of transit in Sam’s piano and then allows the police to search his place. Things can be hidden from man.

But you’re God. You know my heart better than I do. There is nothing I can hide from you. I can be obstinate and turn my own blind eye to my sin. I can distract myself and avoid you. But I can’t say these words in verses 23 and 24 of Psalm 139, mean them, and then look the other way. Verses 7-12 of this same psalm say:

7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
    I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
    if I go down to the grave, you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
    if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
    and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
    and the light around me to become night—
12     but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
    Darkness and light are the same to you.

David knew there was no hiding from you. I know that too.

So Father, I offer these words to you with as much sincerity as I can. Search me and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. Forgive my lack of faith. Forgive my selfishness. Forgive my vanity. Forgive how I judge others. Forgive how I slander. Holy Spirit, reveal to me what offends you, my Jesus, and the Father, my Triune God. Lead me along the path to be with God forever.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 7, 2026 in Psalms

 

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Psalm 84

10 Feb

Psalm 84

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.

1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
    O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
2 I long, yes, I faint with longing
    to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being, body and soul,
    I will shout joyfully to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
    and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young
at a place near your altar,
    O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
4 What joy for those who can live in your house,
    always singing your praises. Interlude

5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord,
    who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
    it will become a place of refreshing springs.
    The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
7 They will continue to grow stronger,
    and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.

8 O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.
    Listen, O God of Jacob. Interlude

9 O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!
    Show favor to the one you have anointed.

10 A single day in your courts
    is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
    than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
    He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
    from those who do what is right.
12 O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
    what joy for those who trust in you.

Dear God, I have a friend who died less than two weeks ago. I just found out yesterday. He was a complicated man who had a lot of hostility towards anything Christian. He was a good man who tried to be moral, but pain exuded from him. He was always negative. Always biting. He didn’t abide me ever talking about you, so I tried to be your presence to him while not using the explicit words. And he paid me the compliment one time of saying that he thought my faith was genuine. I think I was able to show him a Christian who loves you and loves others.

I know he grew up in a devout Christian home, but he had things about him they couldn’t accept and it pushed him away from both them and you. He was just so angry, but I couldn’t help but wonder if there wasn’t a reason for his anger. Some sort of trauma that happened to him that fueled his pain and hostility.

I had a dream last night about a visitation from you in the person of Jesus. It was a modern visitation. I don’t remember specifics, but my wife was there and two other people were there, although I don’t remember who they were. It was a very warm and comfortable visitation. Affirming. I don’t know what it means, but I’ll take it. When I woke up at about 3:00 I lie in bed a while and found myself praying for my friend. He’s gone and I don’t know how prayers for the dead work, but while I was praying I got a vision of Jesus praying for the people who were killing him while he was on the cross, asking you to forgive them for their sake and through their ignorance. Did that prayer help them? Absolve them? Did you forgive them?

Father, if it is possible to ask for forgiveness on behalf of this man, I ask that you please forgive him. I suspect at one point, even as a boy, he had a moment of accepting the role of Jesus in his life even though I feel certain some pain from the outside must have happened to him to drive him away from his family, the church, and you. Will you hold that against him, or will you understand? If my prayers make a difference for him, I pray that you forgive him. He didn’t know what he was doing. I pray that he might find his peace and dwell in your home, your courts, forever.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on February 10, 2026 in Psalms

 

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