Category: Psalm

Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

Yesterday, as I was scaling a mountain on foot (slight hyperbole), muscles screaming from the strain, sweat dripping from every pore, this verse came to my mind and out of my mouth. As I focused on the end goal of my ambitious walk, I began to praise God for everything that came to mind. 

Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

I praised Him for the breeze and the shade, for the flat mixed in with the hills, for the strength, time, and space  to push myself up the hill. As I continued in praise (it was a steep hill!), I praised Him for His presence in my life, His steadfast love and fierce mercy. It was a tough walk but an unexpectedly rich prayer time.

Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the wherewithal to praise You during tough times. Thank You for who You are and who You are to me. (If that line didn’t instantly bring a song to mind, Google it and thank me later.) Help my default to become praise—of You first and Your blessings second. Draw me closer. Always. Amen.

Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 149:1a Praise the Lord….

There’s something about the mountains and the ocean that help me zero in on God’s goodness, His majesty, His presence. It’s easy to praise Him as I watch the waves thunder to the shore or watch the mist dissipate as the sun touches the mountain tops. His glorious handiwork is everywhere I look.

Psalm 149:1b …Sing to the Lord a new song….

I think I it has to do with the nature of vacations, of resting and renewing, of seeing new things with new eyes. I want to do a better job of seeing Him in my everyday life as well. School is right around the corner. I want to take with me the feeling of peace and contentment, of recognizing God’s presence all around me, every single day.

Psalm 149:4 For the Lord takes delight in his people….

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for Your presence, so easy to see on vacation. Help me to pay closer attention to Your presence in my everyday life. I know You are with me always. Help me to see You, to recognize You. Draw me closer. Amen.

Psalm 149:9 …Praise the Lord.

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 148:3 Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him all you shining stars.

Today’s verse is incredibly nostalgic for me. I painted this verse on our nursery walls as we were preparing for our firstborn. That nursery nurtured both our babies through infancy and toddlerhood. Looking at this verse on the wall reminded me to praise Him for these beautiful blessings, even when said blessings were sick, fussy, discontent, etc. That nursery remains my favorite remodel in the entire house, and I’m thankful for its association with this verse.

Psalm 148:3 Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him all you shining stars.

I am reminded strongly of the saying, “I still remember the days I prayed for the things I have now.” This verse, this reminder of the long, frustrating, painful road to parenthood, also reminds me to be thankful and grateful for God’s blessings, even when two of those blessings, now teenagers, are plucking my last nerve. I remember when I wasn’t sure I would hold a baby in my arms, and He allowed me to nurture two precious lives into this world. Thank You, Jesus.

Psalm 148:3 Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him all you shining stars.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You that this verse brings to mind so strongly our road to parenthood. Thank You for the joys and pitfalls of parenting these precious young men and for the reminder to praise You with all creation for the journey that brought us here. Draw us all closer. Amen.

Psalm 148:3 Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him all you shining stars.

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 147:1 Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him!

Lord, Thank You for Your presence in our lives, for Your salvation, for Your love, mercy, and compassion. We don’t deserve it. We can never earn it, but You lavish these gifts on us because we are Your beloved. Help us to treat others with the same undeserved compassion, love, and mercy with which You treat us.

Psalm 148:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Lord, Loving You does not mean that we will not face hardships and heartaches. It simply means that we will not face them alone, that You will hold us through it all, drawing us closer to You. This is a gift beyond measure. Thank You.

Psalm 148:4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for Your presence, for the ability to draw closer to You. Help me to draw closer daily. Help me to shine Your Light for all to see. Thank You for the gift of You. Amen.

Psalm 148:5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 146:1 Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, my soul.

When I was first reading this verse, I was thinking of putting trust in others—my parents when I was younger, my husband once I married, etc. But when I reread these verses before writing my reflection, a different, startling slant occurred to me, and God is definitely speaking to my heart this morning.

Psalm 146:2 I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

When I put my trust in myself, that incredibly strong, often ridiculous need to be in control, I am exhibiting the same kind of misguided trust as discussed in verses 3 and 4. I am just as human as everyone else in my life, just as impermanent. If I want to have a lasting, eternal impact in this life, I cannot put my trust in myself. I must trust in God alone. Jesus, Help me.

Psalm 146:3 Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for this reminder. I praise You for making me so fiercely independent, Lord, but I recognize that it makes me think I can handle situations on my own instead of entrusting them to You. I don’t want Your plans for my life to come to nothing. Help me, Lord. Draw me closer. Amen.

Psalm 146:4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 145:8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

Lord, Thank You for Your graciousness and compassion. Thank You for being rich in love. Thank You for the commandment to love one another as You have loved us: completely, fiercely, undeservedly. 

Psalm 145:9 The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.

Lord, It is so easy to get caught up in the chaos of life, to lose sight of the things that are truly important: You, Your love, Your people. Help us, even through the chaos of the everyday, to keep our eyes, hearts, and minds focused on You.

Psalm 145:13b …The LORD is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture, for the vivid picture of who You are and how You love us. This world is hard, chaotic, materialistic, greedy, but You are the Creator of the Universe. Your light is in each of us if we will allow it to shine through. Help us to love one another, Lord, fiercely, unconditionally, beyond the hurt and the grief and the noise of this world. Draw us all closer to You. Amen.

Psalm 145:14 The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 144:1 Praise be to the LORD my Rock….

I want to focus on verses 3 and 4 because I find them so intriguing and baffling. I know why I cling to God, why He is my Rock, my stronghold, my deliverer, but why in the world does the Creator of the Universe care about me?

Psalm 144:2 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge….

Some would say He doesn’t care because our lives are so fleeting, evaporating before they begin, but I don’t believe that. I’ve held my own newborns in my arms, so small, so fragile, so full of potential and possibility. I think God must in some way feel that parental bond when He looks at us. 

Psalm 144:3 LORD, what are human beings that You care for them, mere mortals that You think of them?

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. I don’t understand why You fiercely love a mere mortal like me, but I am eternally grateful for Your love, compassion, grace, and mercy. Help me to always feel awed by Your love and care for me. Help me mirror that for others. Draw me closer. Amen.

Psalm 144:4 They are like a breath; their days are like fleeting shadows.

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 143:8a Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You….

Verse 11 of this psalm reads: “For Your name’s sake, LORD, preserve my life….” All of the verses I have chosen here are adrift without the anchor provided in verse 11. 

Psalm 143:8b …Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life.

All the verses here use the first person pronoun “me.” Bring ME word. Show ME the way. Rescue ME. Teach ME. But why? “For YOUR name’s sake.” The distinction is crucial. 

Psalm 143:9 Rescue me from my enemies, LORD, for I hide myself in You.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that this life is not about me. It is about You, for Your name’s sake. Help me to draw closer to You, to shine Your light for all to see. Help me to never lose sight of the fact that all that I do is through You, in You, and for Your name’s sake. Draw me closer. Amen.

Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Have a blessed day.