Psalm 145: 17-20  The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.  The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.  He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.  The LORD watches over all who love him, but the wicked he will destroy.

Our righteous, loving God tells us in these verses to fear Him.  This fear is best translated in our lives as awe, devotion or reverence.  The result of godly ‘fear’ is rewarded by God in many ways.  These verses describe a few of those rewards:   love, His nearness, fulfilling of my desires, being heard, salvation, and being constantly watched over in love.  To receive those rewards God tells us we have to call on Him in truth.  How truthful are you in your devotion, prayers and worship of God?  Are you just going through the motions or is He real to you?  God promises in Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”    Do you believe?   Are you earnestly seeking Him?  One must believe to receive the great rewards God has promised.  Step out in faith today and call upon Him.  He will surely answer you!

Calling on our faithful God,

Linda

Psalm 145: 13b-16  The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.  The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.  The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.  You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.  (NIV)

God is so good and gracious.  He is faithful, a promise keeper, loving to all His creation, upholds all believers and provides for our nourishment.   He is open to us and fulfills the desires of all His creation.  At this season of Lent, thank Him for His gracious provision and knowledge of all our needs.  He knows our needs even before we ask.  What a great and loving God we serve.  Thank Him for his spiritual provision through His Son Jesus and remember the great sacrifice Jesus made to bring us into a complete relationship with the Father.  When I see what He has done, I know how unworthy I am.  I will praise Him today for His goodness, mercy and faithfulness.  How about you?

Lamentations 3:21-23 comes to mind “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:  The steadfast love of  the LORD never ceases;  his mercies know no end;   they are new every morning;   great is your faithfulness.  (ESV)

Loving our faithful God,

Linda

Psalm 145: 8-13a  The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.  The LORD is good to all;  he has compassion on all he has made.  All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you.  They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all men may know  of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.  Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.  (NIV)

This psalm is rich in descriptions of our LORD and His wonderful character.

God is gracious.  Psalm 84: describes this attribute this way “For the LORD God is sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”   Are you trying to walk in His grace?

God is compassionate.  Psalm 103:13 “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;”  Who can you have compassion towards today in Jesus’ name?

God is slow to anger and rich in love.  Psalm 86:15 “You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”  Do you abound in love towards others?

Considering the magnitude of God’s character we are to praise Him and bring Him glory.  His kingdom is eternal and filled with His majesty and splendor.

What will you say or do today that will bring God glory?  Who can you tell of His mighty deeds and acts done for your good?

Looking to Jesus,

Linda

Psalm 145: 1-7     I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.  Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.  Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.  One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.  They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.  They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. (NIV)

It is hard to read this psalm sitting down and in a quiet voice.  It was probably sung in the temple during worship and praise to God.  Our praise songs today often reflect the same adoration and thanksgiving to God, as He is worthy of our praises.   The psalmist says that he is thinking about all the things God has done for him in the past, meditating on them and telling the next generation- his children and grandchildren about his wonderful God.  When was the last time you spoke to your spouse, children, friends and neighbors about the greatness and goodness of God and what He has done for you?

All Israel was familiar with Deuteronomy 6:4-7 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to  be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road. when you lie down and when you get up.”   God is to be the central person in our life, and we are to proclaim what He has done for us all day long.  Will you strive to make Him a part of each moment today and tell others of His great work in your life?

Have a blessed day with your mouth wide open in praise!

Linda

 

 Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.  He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.      Amen

Have a blessed day as you seek to follow Him and worship in His house!

Linda

 

 

Psalm 23:1-3  The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.  He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.    (NIV)

This week we have been by still waters several times and received God’s love and assurance.  The 23rd Psalm is one of the most beloved passages in scripture.  The psalmist, King David, proclaims God’s character as a shepherd to His people.  With our shepherd’s care, we will not be in want, know quiet calm places, be guided in righteousness, be without fear in hard and trying times and receive His comfort and support.  What more could we want?   We have God’s assurance of eternal hope and security in Him.   Have you placed your hope and future in God’s hands?   Do you know the love and salvation He sent in Jesus?   Know Him today and be assured of eternity with Him.    Check these verses for assurance:  John 3:16, Acts 4:12,  Romans 10:9-11, 1 John 1:9.  Call on Jesus today and be saved.

Know quiet waters in Jesus today,

Linda

 

Psalm 1: 4-6  Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.  For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.  (NIV)

Today’s verses describe the fate of those who do not believe and trust in God.  Since sin is sin and God does not differentiate between ‘big and little’ sins, anyone who does not follow God, seek his deliverance and salvation through Jesus is in a state of sinfulness.  The psalmist would classify them as wicked.  He describes their fate as one being blown away, not rooted or grounded, temporal, fleeting and in a position to be judged by God for their sin.  Whereas, the righteous, those believing in God who accepted the cleansing and forgiveness ofJesus, are watched over by God.  Believers are loved and cared for by God!  What a wonderful position to be in!

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for sending Jesus to bring salvation to this hurting world.  I am thankful that I love you and am forgiven.  Thank you for the assurance that you watch over me each day.  Guide me in your ways that I may accomplish much in your name that will have eternal value.  Amen.

Living for Jesus,

Linda

 

 

Psalm 1: 1-3  Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the LORD and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.  (NIV)

One of the blessings I’ve experienced this year during Lent is that I’ve been able to spend time in the Psalms.  I hope you are feeling that way too.  This psalm contrasts the way of those that walk with God and those that don’t.   Let’s look at what it means to walk with God.  We are to avoid the counsel or advice of those that do not know God, avoid putting ourselves in ‘harms way’ by being totally associated with those that do not know God or associate with those that mock or denigrate God.  That does not sound like a place I would want to be anyway, right?  However, we often find ourselves in the midst of those who do not know and love God in our everyday lives.  Our place is in the world, witnessing and speaking for God and modeling godly behavior. We can do that in the midst of unbelievers without being sucked into their motives, goals and purposes.  This is a often a difficult walk but God does not leave us there unattended.  He promises to be with us 24/7 and guide us though His Holy Spirit.  The psalmist brings us back to how we can keep ourselves apart when we live in a sinful world.  We are to delight in God’s word and mediate on it day and night.  Then we will see fruit in our lives, live in His peace and be well rooted.  Lives that are grounded in Him show godly prosperity in both our actions and character.

May you grow strong, deeply rooted and fruitful as you meditate on God’s word,

Linda

 

 

 

 

Psalm 19: 12-13  Who can discern his errors?  Forgive my hidden faults.  Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.  Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 

14  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Where is your heart and mind today?  As we saw yesterday in Psalm 19:7-11 God’s word through His Holy Spirit can reveal to us our great sin.  As we look at our lives in the light of God’s word, we see our many hidden faults and our own willfulness.  God desires a repentant heart and will open us to His cleansing forgiveness though Jesus.   With an attitude of gratefulness and humility, we too can proclaim verse 14.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

May this verse live in your heart and be on your lips as you seek to repent and live for Him today.   He is indeed our Rock and our Redeemer!

Linda

 

 

Psalm 19: 7-11   The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.  The statues of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.  The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.  The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.  The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.  The ordinances of the LORD are sure and all together righteous.  They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.  By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

I love this psalm as David describes God’s word and its value.  Look at the names he gives for God’s word:  law, statues, precepts, commands and ordinances.  He describes the word itself as: perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, eternal, sure and righteous, more precious than gold and sweeter than honey.   God also describes the work of His word in our lives as it: revives the soul, makes wise things simple, give joy to the heart, gives light to our eyes, righteousness in our life and keeping them brings great reward.  How  do you feel about God’s word?  Is it more precious to you than gold (money), your career, your entertainment or your possessions? God designed His word to be active and living in our lives.  Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates eve to dividing soul and spirit, joint and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.   Will you allow God’s precious word to work in you heart and mind today?

Looking to God’s word,

Linda