Psalm 121: 5-8  “The LORD watches over you–the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.  The LORD will keep you from all harm–he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (NIV)

These verses conclude this uplifting Psalm by giving us a picture of our God as Protector.  He will be at our right hand, near to us, day and night.  He will watch over our life now and forevermore.  Knowing that God is my protector and is with me 24/7, shouldn’t that give me courage, hope and assurance that I can live each day by His power?   Here is a New Testament passage that gives similar hope and assurance:

Hebrews 13:5-8  Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you;  never will I forsake you.”  So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?” Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you.  Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (NIV)

Praise God today that He is a promise keeper.  He will never leave me nor forsake me and I will be with Him for eternity.  God is unchanging and we can be assured that what He says He will do.  Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, as he who promised is faithful.”  He does not change His mind.  Hebrews 13:8  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”   Be encouraged and assured today.

Confident in His assurances,

Linda

 

Psalm 34:1-7  I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.  (NIV)

Wow!  Can that be said of you?  I know I have difficulty with praising God in all circumstances.  I’m working on it as James 1:2 says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of you faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  Living a life filled with praise and joy takes focus upon the Lord!

My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.  Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.

I love it that you are joining me each day during Lent to rejoice in the Lord and exalt His name.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he save him out of all his troubles.

David let’s us see his true thankfulness to God.  God answered his prayers, delivered him, gave him a glow in faith and saved him out of his troubles.  Do you need rescuing today?  God is able and willing to do for you what he did for David.  You just need to seek God and call upon Him.  He will hear you.

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

God loves us so much he sends his angels to watch out for us by camping around, surrounding us.  Place your fear, devotion, reverence and love in God today so you can feel His arms encircling you.  Praise Him as you await His deliverance.

I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.  Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.  I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he save him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.             Psalm 34:1-7 

Feeling circled by His love,

Linda

Well, we’ve made it to our second day of rest in this Lenten season.  How are you doing?  Are you faithfully keeping the promises you made to God when you started on Ash Wednesday?  If you have faltered, do not lose hope.  Begin again.  One of my favorite verses always encourages me and I hope it does you too.   Lamentations 3:21-23  “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:  The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;  his mercies never come to an end;  they are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness.” (ESV)

Begin again today with an attitude of humility and thankfulness.  Read this psalm with joy and thanksgiving in your heart!

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the LORD all the earth!Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God!  It is he who made us, and we are the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!  For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.  (ESV)

Have a blessed Sunday rejoicing and worshipping the Lord!,

Linda

 

Psalm 121: 1-4  I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from?  My help comes form the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.  He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;  indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. (NIV)

This Psalm is one of the ‘psalms of ascents’.  These were psalms that were sung at temple festivals and was also possibly referring to the stairs leading up to the temple.  Today these psalms are beautiful reminders of God’s grace, mercy and care for us.

The first thing I notice is that the psalmist directs us to lift up our eyes and think about where our help in life comes from.  He has decided that his help comes from Creator God who in His omnipotent power made the heavens and the earth.  What power could be greater than one who could create all that we know and see?  He assures us that God does not sleep on the job or rest in caring for us.  He points to his omnipresence with assurance that His protection is both night and day (24/7).   He even states that God cares about us and minds whether we stumble.

We have many New Testament references to confirm the Psalmists words and claims.  Hebrews 3:4 says “Every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. (God is creator.)   Jesus tells us in Matthew 19:26 “with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (God is omnipotent.)  Jesus said in Matthew 28:20b “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”.  2Timothy 1:14 “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you–guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” (God is omnipresent.)

What about you?  Does God have preeminence in your life?  Do you claim Him as Creator?  Is He present in all parts of your week and with you each day?  Call upon Him.  As we were reminded yesterday in James 4:8a  “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.”  Do it today and you will be encouraged when you lift your eyes heavenward.  God is there, seek Him today.

Lifting my eyes heavenward,

Linda

Psalm 32:8-11 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.  Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with a bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.  Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”

God’s character revealed to me:  He instructs and teaches me his ways, He counsels and watches over me, He constantly loves those who follow Him, He brings joy and gladness into my life and desires to live in my heart.

David knew that God would teach him what he needed to know and he would benefit from it as long as he was willing.  God warned him not to be like a mule or a horse that needed to be lead around.  We need only to be willing to listen and go where God leads to totally benefit from His teaching, love, counsel, protection and guidance.  God is omnipresent and promises constant availability to those who love and trust in Him.

Does that describe you?  Do you allow your rebellious nature (we all have it) to take control so that you miss out on God’s intended blessings and guidance?  Letting go and letting God lead, guide, protect, counsel and love us is a life long process.  Will you join David today and praise God for His steadfast love and trustworthiness?   Let God hear your shouts of praise in words and maybe songs today as you lift you voice to Him in joy!

Shouting with you, Praises to our Lord!,

Linda

Psalm 32: 6-7  “Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters they shall not reach him.  You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

David is speaking to God but also his fellow Israelites.  He is cautioning them to seek God and not provoke him.  Isaiah has similar words in Isaiah 55:6, “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near”.  James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.”   We determine if God is going to be vibrant and alive in our lives.  He has given us free will and the choice is ours to seek Him or not.  He is always there, unchanging and accessible to us.   We are the ones who vacillate and change our position in relation to God.  James, Isaiah and David want to remind us that God is there and we need to draw near to Him.

David gives good reasons to draw near to God.  He tells us that God is a refuge or hiding place for us spiritually and emotionally.   He says that God will preserve us and keep us from trouble, and He reminds us that God is our source of deliverance.  Do you find yourself drawing nearer to God as you mediate on God’s word and seek Him?  God wants to walk with us each day not just in times of trouble or distress.  Draw near and walk with Him today!

Seeking to walk nearer to Him,

Linda

Young Jordan River in the northern area of Dan.

 

Psalm 32:3-5  For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.   Selah   I acknowledged my sins to you, and I did not cover my iniquity;  I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.  Selah  (ESV)

The Psalmist, David, is describing how he felt when he did not confess his sins and tried to keep them from God.  He felt like he was wasting away, groaning all day.  He was like a plant withering in the dry, hot summer heat.  The only solution he found to this oppression from sin was to confess his iniquities (sins) and  seek God’s forgiveness.    We know that David was forgiven as God tells us in Numbers 14:18a “The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty,”  (ESV)  and in the New Testament 1John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (ESV)    David experienced God’s love and forgiveness, but still had to accept the consequences his sin caused.  Read more about David in 2Samuel 11 and 12.

Do you have sin that is weighing upon your mind and holding you captive?  Confess it today and feel the freedom of forgiveness in Christ.  God desires that we live lives that are free and unfettered by sin, open to his love and mercy.   Take Jesus’ words to heart today from John 8:34-36,  “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.  The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be fee indeed.”   Be free today in Christ!

Living freely and forgiven in Christ,

Linda

Psalm 32:1-2  Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.  (ESV)

David begins this beautiful Psalm with a description of the state of mind of the forgiven man.  The forgiven man is blessed by God, his sins are covered by God, his slate is clean in God’s eyes and he is living a life pleasing to God that is truthful and honest.  Does this describe you?  Do you feel blessed by God knowing you have eternal salvation and hope in Him?  Do you truly believe God has forgiven your sins?  Have you accepted His forgiveness and newness of life?  Are you endeavoring to live a life pleasing to God?

Paul quotes from this Psalm in Romans 4:6-8 and gives us a hint of the reasons for David’s joy, “just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart form works; Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the LORD will not count his sin.”   David is reveling in God’s forgiveness and imparted righteousness.    He is accepting his forgiven state with joy.  Can you put your worries and troubles aside and focus on God’s goodness, mercy, forgiveness and love today?  Taking the focus off yourself and placing it on God will bring you joy and contentment.  Thinking of God’s imputed righteousness to us through Christ will bring you a sense of thankfulness and peace.

Living by God’s blessings,

Linda

Psalm  103: 11-12  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.  (NIV)

How far is the east from the west?  They will never meet and are always an infinite distance from each other.  When I picture this distance, I see that God has removed my sins from me forever.  They are gone never to return.

How high are the heavens above the earth?  This is another picture of an infinite distance that shows how much God loves me and desires that I fear Him.  Fear means to have reverence, respect, awe and worship for Him.

Both of these word pictures show me that God loves me with a fierce and unending love and desires to forgive me.  What then is keeping me from His love and forgiveness?  1John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”    John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”    Is anything keeping you from God’s love and forgiveness today?  Are you bound up with pride or consumed with hopelessness?  James 4:8a promises “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.”   Do it today and be free from guilt and sin.  Walk towards Easter with forgiveness and hope in your heart.

Walking the road to forgiveness and hope,

Linda

 

Psalm 103:8-10  “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.  He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. (NIV)

As we enter this Lenten season, we are consciously mindful of our sinfulness and state of unworthiness.  These verses point us to God’s mercy and grace, longsuffering patience and immeasurable love.   Accuse means to find fault with or blame.  God does not always see us as failures and His anger is not eternal towards us.  In His grace, He does not give us the punishment our sins deserve or does He keep count of our mounting sins.  In His grace and mercy, though the love of Christ, God wipes our slate clean and forgive us for eternity.

How can God love me so much?   That much love is incomprehensible and worthy of my praise and adoration.  Without Christ, my fate would be eternal death for my sins.  Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Thank Him today.

Prayer:  Lord, how can I ever thank you enough for sending Jesus to die for my sins.  You loved me so much and wanted me to spend eternity with you that you sent Jesus to die in my place.  Thank you for my eternal salvation and the cleansing power of Christ’s blood.  Thank you Jesus that I am forgiven and made whole through your work on the cross.  Amen.

Blessings as you stand by God’s grace today,

Linda