Eyes on God…. (devo reflection)

1 Samuel 21:2 David answered Ahimelek the priest, “The king sent me on a mission and said to me. ‘No one is to know anything about the mission I am sending you on.’ As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place.
David is lying. Granted, he is afraid of Saul and running for his life; however, I’d wager that he was at least a smidge afraid when he faced Goliath, so why is it different now? The answer is quite simple: When he faces Goliath, he knows he is with God, on God’s side. Now he is just afraid, and in his fear, he does not seek God. He seeks to save his own skin. Understandable, but not ideal for a man after God’s own heart.
1 Samuel 21:8 David asked Ahimelek, “Don’t you have a spear or a sword here? I haven’t brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king’s mission was urgent.”
Fortunately, David does eventually get his eyes back on God. Commentary directs me to Psalm 56, which is attributed to David when he is captured in Gath. Verse 1 shows his returning: “Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit.” He’s still afraid, but he’s got his eyes on God again. And in Psalm 34, attributed to David when he feigns being a madman, David writes: “I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears” (verse 4), and “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (verse 18).
1 Samuel 21:10 That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for understanding that our human tendency to fear makes us lose our focus. When we take our eyes off of You, You could cast us off completely, leaving us on our own. Thank You for Your grace and mercy, which allow us a path back to You. Always. Help us to stay focused on You. No matter what. Amen.
1 Samuel 21:13 So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman….

Have a blessed day.

You, God, are my fortress…. (devo reflection)

1 Samuel 19:11a Saul sent men to David’s house to watch it and to kill him in the morning….
There is a lot going on in this chapter. It’s a veritable roller coaster ride of events, and David has every right to feel like the coaster is chasing him around the tracks. Yet commentary tells me that in the middle of all this madness, as Saul’s men are waiting outside David’s house to kill him, as David’s wife helps him escape through a window, this is when David composes Psalm 59.
1 Samuel 19:11b …But Michal, David’s wife, warned him….
“You are my strength, I watch for You; You, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely” (Psalm 59:9-10). “But I will sing of Your strength, in the morning I will sing of Your love; for You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble” (Psalm 59:16). “You are my strength, I sing praise to You; You, God, are my fortress, my God in whom I can rely” (Psalm 59:17).
1 Samuel 19:11c … “If you don’t run for your life tonight, tomorrow you’ll be killed.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the faithful example of David: hunted and chased from his home, he had every right to be angry and bitter, yet he turned to You in trust and praise. Help me to develop a faith as strong, help me to be a woman after Your own heart. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Samuel 19:12 So Michal let David down through a window, and he fled and escaped.
Have a blessed day.

Songs of Praise…. (devo reflection)

Judges 5:1 On that day Deborah and Barack son of Abinoam sang this song….
Judges 5 is a song about the events  of Judges 4. It made me think of young children, who can break out in song, often made-up song about their experiences, at the slightest provocation. It also made me think about what it might be like if, instead of thanking God in spoken prayer, what if I broke out in songs of praise? 
Psalm 98:2 Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done marvelous things!…
It definitely brings a smile to my face to imagine what my songs of praise might be. And even though my singing voice is not the best, I know God would appreciate my joyful noise. Even though my songs of praise are in my head, my mental songs definitely bring a childlike sense of appreciation and creativity to my prayer life.
Psalm 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this invitation to sing my praise to You. Thank You for recognizing my joyful noise for the praise that it is. Help me to praise You always and in all ways. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 96:1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Have a blessed day.

A place of refuge…. (devo reflection)

Joshua 20:1-2 Then the LORD said to Joshua: “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge….”
The title of chapter 20 is Cities of Refuge, and that title brings images of great peace. Google defines refuge as “a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble,” and while the chapter itself is talking about very specific refuge for unintended killing, commentary talks about Jesus as our refuge in a much broader sense.
Joshua 20:3 “…so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection….”
We all feel uncomfortable in our own skin sometimes. We all find ourselves in need of shelter, a place where we are accepted as we are, where we are loved, where we can catch our breath. Perhaps that is another way we can be the hands and feet of Jesus in this world, by being a place of refuge for others who are struggling.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder and encouragement to be a shelter, a place of refuge, in Your name. For those who are struggling, help us to show love, acceptance, and encouragement. Help us to let others know they are not alone as they catch their breath. Help us to embody Your love and grace for all who need it. Draw us closer. Amen.
Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge….
Have a blessed day.

The need for humility…. (devo reflection)

Joshua 8:1a Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged….”
It must have been humbling to be personally encouraged by the LORD after a resounding defeat that was your own doing. But the LORD tells us that “…as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). Still, my tendency is to wallow in my failure instead of ponying up the humility to say, “I messed this up big time, Lord, and I’m sorry.”
Joshua 8:1b “…Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai….”
Joshua 7 dealt with getting right with God. By Joshua 8, God has turned the page. He encourages Joshua for the battle and victory ahead. If God can separate us from our sins in that manner, it seems even more selfish and sinful for us to cling to our own shortcomings instead of humbly confessing. Help me, Jesus.
Joshua 8:1c “For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder to humble ourselves before You when we stumble, to get right with You, then to move forward instead of castigating ourselves for our failures and shortcomings. Help us to humble ourselves before You, so that we can receive Your mercy and grace. Draw us closer. Amen.
Joshua 8:2 “You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and it’s king, except you will carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves….”
Have a blessed day.

Our refuge…. (devo reflection)

Deut 19:2-3 …then set aside for yourselves three cities…so that a person who kills someone may flee for refuge to one of these cities.
Of course it was the commentary that helped me see the connection between the cities of refuge and Jesus this morning. I was being incredibly literal as I read today’s text. But Jesus IS our refuge and strength, and I am eternally grateful for that fact.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
The crucial difference between the cities of refuge and Jesus, again brought to my attention by commentary this morning, is that the cities were only refuge for the innocent. Jesus is a refuge for all of us, no matter our circumstances.
Psalm 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.

Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your steadfast love and presence. Thank You that You are our refuge and strength, no matter what we’ve done or what we face. Thank You for providing refuge and strength when life overwhelms us. Draw us closer. Amen.
1 Peter 5:7 …casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.
Have a blessed day.

Rejoice in the LORD…. (devo reflection)

Deut 12:12 And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God….
If God never did anything else for me save sacrifice His only Son so that I could be restored to a right relationship with Him, I would still have reason to praise His name for the rest of my life. But I am so deeply human, so often driven by my fickle feelings that I don’t always, maybe don’t often, praise Him as I should, as He deserves.
1 Thess 5:16 Rejoice at all times….
But God doesn’t want empty praise.  He wants praise that overflows from a thankful, grateful, devoted heart, even when it’s hard. And, y’all, sometimes life is so hard—global pandemic, freak accident or illness, death of loved one—hard. A friend once related a story about her aunt. I don’t remember all the details, but she had dealt with sickness and death of several family members, and when she was told of yet another death, her response was, “God has been so good to me.” THAT is praise from a grateful heart.
Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder to rejoice always in You. Thank You for the example of my friend’s aunt, who rejoiced in Your blessings, even in the midst of her loss. Help us to rejoice in You always, even when it’s difficult. Thank You for Your abiding love. Draw us closer. Amen.
Psalm 33:1 Rejoice in the LORD….
Have a blessed day.

With us in this fight…. (devo reflection)

Deut 9:1 Hear, Israel: You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you….
The first sentence of commentary on today’s verse says, “God was leading Israel into something too big for them. It was a challenge they could only meet if they trusted in God.” These lines immediately brought to mind this global pandemic that we are experiencing. It is too big for us. It is a challenge we can meet only if we trust in God.
Deut 9:3a But be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes ahead of you like a devouring fire….
But I’m left wondering how I can trust in God during this in a way that will make any difference, that will have an impact. Psalm 118:24 immediately sprang to mind when I asked that question: “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it,” followed quickly by Luke 10:26: “‘Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Deut 9:3b …He will destroy them; He will subdue them before you….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for speaking to my heart this morning. We are in the midst of an incredibly frightening global pandemic. This situation is way too big for us. Thank You for Your reminders to rejoice always and to love You and love others. I don’t know how these things will make a difference in this fight, but I trust that You do. Help us not to underestimate the power of rejoicing, of loving, of trusting in You. Thank You for being with us in this fight. Draw us closer. Amen.
Deut 9:3c …And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you.
Have a blessed day.

As for me, I will always have hope…. (devo reflection)

Numbers 25:3 So Israel yoked themselves to Baal of Peor. And the LORD’s anger burned against them.
In light of the last couple of chapters where God keeps Balaam from cursing the Israelites, I find this chapter fascinating because the Israelites, God’s chosen people, curse themselves by their behavior. God loves the Israelites. He chose them. But He doesn’t protect them from themselves, and He makes them face the consequences of their actions. He doesn’t shield them from that. 
Numbers 25:4 The LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of these people, kill them, and expose them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the LORD’s fierce anger may turn away from Israel.”
Not only does He allow the Israelites to suffer because of their actions, he also rewards the Israelites because of the faith of one man, Phinehas, because of his zealousness for God’s honor and his actions in light of that zealousness.
Numbers 25:11 “Phinehas…has turned my anger away from the Israelites. Since he was as zealous for my honor among them as I am, I did not put an end to them in my zeal.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder that our actions are important. In this unprecedented time, help us to strive first and foremost to honor You in our words and our actions. Help us to live faithfully Psalm 71:14: “As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.” Draw us closer. Amen.
Numbers 25:12 “Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him.
Have a blessed day. 

Following Your lead…. (devo reflection)

Leviticus 25:23 “‘The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is Mine and you reside in My land as foreigners and strangers.’”
My church has been going through a visioning process for almost a year. A group of parishioners, made up of folks of varying ages in varying Sunday school classes and going to different worship services, are trying to ascertain where the LORD is leading us to be sure that we are serving as His hands and feet in our community.
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to Him.
Today’s scripture reminds me why this visioning process is so important—it’s not our church. It’s His. They are not our missions and programs. They are His. And if we are truly trying to be His hands and feet in this world, it’s important to be sure we are going where He leads us, which involves prayer and reflection on what we are doing and what He is asking of us.
1 Corinthians 10:26 For “the earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder that this world and everything in it are Yours. Thank You for allowing us to be Your stewards and for the reminder that as such, we need to be prayerful that we are following Your lead. Continue to guide us through this process. Help us to do Your will. Amen.
1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor for everything in heaven and earth is Yours.
Have a blessed day.