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.
To praise You…. (devo reflection)
Leviticus 9:4 “‘…For today the LORD will appear to you.’”
Lord, This is the day that You have made. Help me to rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24) Help me to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and to run with perseverance the race marked out for me. (Hebrews 12:1)
Leviticus 9:23 … and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people.
Lord, Your love is better than life. Help me never to lose sight of that fact. Let my lips glorify Your name always. (Psalm 63:3) I want to praise Your name as long as I live, to lift up Your name in praise. (Psalm 63:4) I cling to You because I know Your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:8)
Leviticus 9:24a Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the alter…
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this opportunity to spend time with You, to praise You. Thank You for loving me so deeply, for writing my name in the palm of Your hand (Isaiah 49:16), for making a way in my wilderness, even when I cannot yet perceive it (Isaiah 43:19). Thank You, Lord, for Your love, Your grace, Your mercy, Your hope. Draw me closer. Amen.
Leviticus 9:24b … And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.
Have a great day.
Making a way…. (devo reflection)
Exodus 14:13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today….”
One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness….” I cling to this verse especially when, like the Israelites in Exodus 14, I cannot conceive of a way forward.
Exodus 14:14 “The LORD will fight for you; you need only be still.” (NIV)
As strong as my faith is, I still struggle in so many areas, but I am learning to trust God to make a way where I see no possible way. I am learning to trust that even as I realize I cannot make way own way forward, He is already at work, even if I cannot yet perceive it. This belief is a gift, and I cling to it, especially during difficult times.
Exodus 14:14 “The LORD Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” (NLT)
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for making a way, even when I can’t yet perceive it. Thank You for the hope that comes from my faith. It is beyond frightening when we come to a “stuck place,” no seeming way forward or back. Help us to remember that in those times as always, You are right beside us, fighting for us, making a way. All You need in those moments is for us to be still and know that You are God (Psalm 46:10). Draw us closer. Amen.
Exodus 14:31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in Him….
Have a blessed day.