Category: Psalm

Psalm 132:1 LORD, remember David and all his self-denial.

What does it mean to find a place for God in my life? How do I make space for Him? What’s His role, His importance in my life? What is He asking me to do for Him? With Him? In Him?

Psalm 132:2 He swore an oath to the LORD, he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:

All of these questions come to mind as I ponder this psalm. They are good questions, questions which could and should be pondered daily. How do I become more mindful of these questions so that they can draw me closer to Him each day?

Psalm 132:3-4 “I will not enter my house or go to my bed, I will allow no sleep to my eyelids….”

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for laying these important questions on my heart. Help me to be mindful of them, more mindful of You, in everything that I do. Draw me closer. Amen.

Psalm 132:5 “…till I find a place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 131:1a My heart is not proud, LORD, my eyes are not haughty….

I remember the first time I heard and understood the expression “God is outside of my feelings.” I came across the idea in two separate songs one summer and something just clicked. Whether I am angry, outraged, bitter, afraid, etc, God is bigger, He is greater, He is more sovereign, He is outside of my feelings and my situation.

Psalm 131:1b …I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.

So where does my control come into the equation, and isn’t it really God who is in control? The answer is that I get to choose to give in to my feelings or to cling to and trust my God, who is sovereign and merciful. While this revelation is wonderful, it is one I still struggle with—putting aside MY feelings of worry, fear, bitterness, letting go of MY need to control. That last one is huge for me, and it still frustrates me to no end. I DO trust God. I DO love God. But I choose to try to retain control, which is utterly ridiculous.

Psalm 131:2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.

Precious Savior, I love You. I trust You. I do. Help me to let go of my insane need to feel in control. Thank You that You are outside of my feelings, that You see the bigger picture. Help me to walk my faith more closely, to hand over the reigns to You more quickly and to leave them in Your hands. I love You. I trust You. Thank You. Amen.

Psalm 131:3 Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope. (NIV)

Lord, I love the trust and expectation in this verse. It is not a question of IF You are coming but WHEN. There is a hope and a certainty in this verse that resonates with me. When I am struggling, Lord, help me to reach out to You and to wait expectantly for You.

Psalm 130:5 I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on Him. I have put my hope in His word. (ESV)

Lord, I still struggle with this desire to be self-sufficient, and while self-sufficiency can be a beautiful gift, if You are not my ultimate foundation, that self-sufficiency becomes an obstacle to You. I don’t want anything to keep me from You, Lord. Help me to be aware of the tendency and to submit myself to You.

Psalm 130:5 With all my heart, I am waiting, LORD, for You! I trust Your promises. (CEV)

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for this time with You each day. Help me, every morning, to lay my plans, my doubts and fears, my hopes before You and to wait patiently on You. Draw me closer. Amen.

Psalm 130:5 I wait eagerly for the LORD’s help, and in His word I trust. (GNT)

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 129:1 “They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,” let Israel say….

Commentary illuminated an important point to me about Psalm 129: Israel is looking back at all that she has survived and is using the LORD’s presence during those difficult times as a source of hope and encouragement for the future. 

Psalm 129:2 “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me.”

There is much we can learn form this idea. A quick look at anyone’s past will reveal sorrows and heartaches, difficulties endured. But in each instance, God is there with us, holding us, encouraging us, strengthening us, giving us the courage to put one foot in front of the other, even when we can’t clearly see the next step. All those times He’s been with us. And He’s still with us, right by our side. He will not abandon us. He will not forsake us. Thank You, Jesus.

Psalm 129:4 “But the LORD is righteous; He has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.”

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the hope that comes from You, for the encouragement that can be found in remembering all You have helped us endure and overcome. Help us, when the going gets tough, to cling to Your hope and Your presence. Draw us closer. Amen.

Psalm 129:5 “May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.”

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 128:1 Blessed are all those who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to Him.

Psalm 128 brought to mind the parable of the prodigal son. Psalm 128 seems to be the Old Testament understanding of God: fear Him and be blessed. Don’t and be cursed. The prodigal son seems to be the New Testament, new covenant understanding of God. 

Psalm 128:2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.

One side of that understanding is that of the prodigal son: even when we mess up royally, once we have come to our senses, God is there waiting for us to come home. The other side is that of the brother who never left home, the one who lost sight of the fact that he never lost access to God, never turned his back and shut himself off, and that uninterrupted access is a true blessing.

Psalm 128:3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the understanding that we can return to You when we lose our way but also for the understanding that staying in Your will is an even richer blessing because that connection with You is always present. Help us to draw closer to You always. Amen.

Psalm 128:4 Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the LORD.

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 127:1a Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain….

Today’s scripture touches on a theme I discussed on Wednesday with Psalm 125: self reliance leads to anxiety and worry. If I am at the center of everything I do, I will never lose that nagging sense of worry that plagues me. Only by letting go of control and letting God take the lead can I ever find peace. 

Psalm 127:1b …Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

The question for me then becomes how? How do I let go of this insidious need to be in control? How do I get out of God’s way so that I can escape this incessant anxiety and live in His peace? Perhaps I am getting closer to an answer with my daily reading, prayer, and devotionals. Perhaps this strong need to be in control is so that I can continually humble myself before my Maker, submitting myself to Him, thus drawing me closer daily, keeping me hyper aware of my need for Him.

Psalm 127:2a In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat….

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for these things that You have laid on my heart. I do not want to rely on myself, LORD. Help me to humble myself before You daily, to lay my burdens at Your feet, and to leave them in Your capable hands. Draw me closer. Amen.

Psalm 127:2b …for He grants sleep to those He loves.

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 125:1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

I struggle with verses like today’s verse 1. I *do* trust in the LORD; however, I feel like I am often shaken. I know that the issue is within me. I know that fear and doubt are the roots of the shaking. It frustrates me no end that at this point in my life I haven’t learned to fully get out of my own way, stop trying to depend on myself, and trust in God without any doubts at all.

Psalm 125:2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people both now and forevermore.

I think, though, what I am struggling with is a faith in ME problem instead of a faith in GOD problem. Perhaps my fear and doubt are because I don’t think *I* can do all things. I can’t. Ever. God can. If I put my trust in myself, I will be shaken every time. Jesus, Help me.

Psalm 125:4 LORD, do good to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the things You have laid on my heart this morning. I don’t want to put my faith and trust in myself, Lord. Help me, always, to put my total faith and trust in You alone. Draw me closer. Amen.

Psalm 125:5 But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers.

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 124:1 If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel say….

There is great comfort in having people who love and care for us, whom we can turn to to share our burdens, but I have found as I get older that instead of venting to others, which I’m still guilty of doing, I try to take things to God.

Psalm 124:2 …If the LORD had not been on our side when people attacked us….

When I vent, I often get more wound up, angrier. It is only when I take it to God that I can begin to work through it, begin the process of laying it at His feet, of trying to put it there and leave it there—something I still struggle with—because I know that giving it to Him is the only way that I can find peace.

Psalm 124:6 Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for Your love and protection, for Your desire for me to bring all my burdens to You and leave them there. Help me never to forget that help and peace reside solely in You. Draw me closer. Amen.

Psalm 124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 123:1 I lift up my eyes to You, to You who sit enthroned in heaven. (NIV)

We have a wonderful park where I live that used to be a quarry. One of the paths goes over lots of rocky terrain, meaning there are few trees to impede the view. It is always a breathtaking lesson in perspective when I take this hike. I start in the woods, where all I can see are rocks and trees, but as I climb, I pretty quickly get above the tree line so that each time I turn to focus on the view, it is wider and more substantial.

Psalm 123:1 To You I have raised my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens! (NASB 1995)

Life can be a lot like that, at least for me. The day-to-day is like the beginning of the hike—all you can see is what’s right in front of you, and those things loom large. But when we raise our eyes to heaven, when we focus on God, every time we look, the view gets a little more expansive, it is a little easier to put our troubles into better overall perspective. 

Psalm 123:1 LORD, I look up to You, up to heaven, where You rule. (GNT)

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You that You, Creator of the universe, care so deeply about each one of us. Help us, especially in times of trouble, to focus our eyes on You instead of on the problems in our path. Draw us closer. Amen.

Psalm 123:1 I look up to You, to the one who sits enthroned in heaven. (GWT)

Have a blessed day.