Psalm 145:1 I will extol You, my God and King, and bless Your name forever and ever.
What struck me as I read these verses this morning was the fact that I am not being as faithful with this task, blessing my Savior’s name forever and ever, as I should. I praise Him, certainly, but I must admit that I’m awfully quick to grumble when circumstances are not ideal. And the truth of the matter is that He never promised to make my life perfect. He simply promised to be with me. Always. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 145:2 Every day I will bless You and praise Your name forever and ever.
As I reflect over my life, the sunny days and the stormy trails, I know, unshakably, that He has been with me. Always. And those dark times, where I couldn’t even discern which way was up, He was holding me, guiding me, protecting me. Through those times, particularly, He’s drawn me closer to His heart. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 145:8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder of Your presence with me always. Help me to live Psalm 145:1-2 in a way that has not been possible before. Help me to praise You, to bless Your name, always—in the sunshine and the storm, on the summit and in the valley, when I’m soaring and when I’m slogging. I know You are with me always. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
Psalm 145:21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD.
Have a blessed day.
At work in my mess…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 127:1a Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain.
Last night I finished a memoir, entitled Fractured not Broken, about a woman who was paralyzed from the neck down in a horrible accident involving a drunk driver. She was only 19 at the time, athletic, intelligent, with her whole life ahead of her. The memoir chronicled her journey, her recovery, her struggles, her faith. The novel was a beautiful testimony of how God was working in her life, even through horror and hardships. It was incredibly inspiring.
Psalm 127:1b …Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
This morning my caustic inner critic is at work again, wondering who I think I am sharing my mundane life, my prosaic struggles through these daily reflections. My story doesn’t hold a candle to the inspiring memoir, but here’s what my inner critic needs to understand: I am a deeply, fiercely loved child of God. I am also infinitely human, flawed, and fallible. I try to be transparent, to share my struggles and missteps, to share my precious Savior, so that others may see Him at work in my mess and find hope in the middle of their own mess. My Jesus is strong enough, good enough, merciful enough to use me to glorify Him if I let Him. Thank You, Jesus.
1 Cor 2:1 And so it was with me….When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the inspiring memoir I just finished. Thank You that You can use even me, even my ordinary story, to shine Your light if I allow. Thank You that You are present in the middle of my mess, that You can and do draw me closer to You through my missteps and adversity. Help me to seek You, to praise You, always. Help others to look at me and see only Your goodness, Your mercy, Your love. Draw me closer. Amen.
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.
Have a blessed day.
Life’s surprises…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 139:16 …all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Life is often full of surprises, a fact which the planner in me does not appreciate. Life’s surprises aren’t always fun, either. My planner nature has much to do, I think, with wanting to be prepared for anything, with NOT wanting to be surprised. But that’s not how life works. And because I know my precious Savior holds me securely in the palm of His hand, I need to find a way to be ok with the uncertainty of life.
Jer 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I don’t know what life holds for me, but I know the One who does. I don’t love unplanned, unpleasant surprises, but nothing is a surprise to my Savior. He can work all things, ALL of them, for my good and His glory, if I allow Him. Thank You, Jesus.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You hold me together, no matter the storms or struggles of life. Help me, Lord, to trust in You—Your goodness, Your grace, Your mercy—no matter what life has in store. Thank You for Your willingness and ability to take all things, even life’s unpleasant surprises, and use them to draw me closer to You. Amen.
Col 2:6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him….
Have a blessed day.
What’s the point? (devo reflection)
Psalm 107:4 Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle.
For reasons I can’t quite identify, I felt very unsettled yesterday, very “wilderness-y,” very “what’s the point”. I am NOT a fan of those feelings, but it reinforced something I’ve known for a very long time—life is not about stuff. Nothing physical I accumulate on this earth means anything in the long run because some day Jesus is going to call me home to heaven, and all my physical stuff will stay on earth.
Psalm 107:6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.
Given that reality, it underscores the fact that the point of my time on earth is not about what I can gain materially. So what’s the point? What do I want to leave as my legacy when my time here is over? For me, in order for it to be meaningful, to give my life direction that keeps me out of the wilderness, it has to be about my precious Savior, about shining His light and pointing others to Him.
Psalm 107:8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder. Thank You for always making a way in my wilderness, for giving my life meaning and purpose. Thank You for the reminder that material things are not what’s important in life. Help me to live a life that glorifies You, that shines Your light. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 107:9 For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
Have a blessed day.
Devotion to Him…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 147:10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor His delight in the legs of the warrior….
Yesterday’s idea of an ounce more devotion than fear is still resonating deeply for me, still rattling around in my mind. Our culture is steeped in a love and respect, almost reverence at times, for strength, skill, beauty, cunning. To the victor—the bravest, strongest, surest, swiftest—goes the spoils.
Psalm 147:11 …He takes pleasure in those who honor Him, in those who trust in His constant love.
Except that like so many things, God flips that notion on its head. He rejects the outward trappings, He isn’t swayed by the things others revere. He looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). He celebrates devotion to Him, faith in Him over fear, action in His name in spite of overwhelming odds.
Psalm 44:3a They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory….
Lord, Thank You for this day, this scripture, the continued strength I find in Your reminder to choose You over fear, worry, weariness. Help me to continue to walk the path You set before me, even when I am afraid, even when I am worried, even when I am so very weary. Help me, even when I struggle, to choose You, to keep pushing, keep striving, in Your strength and Your will. Thank You for looking at my heart, which loves You so deeply, and not at my outward appearances, which don’t always add up in this world. Be my strength. Always. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 44:3b …It was Your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from Your face that helped them, for You loved them.
Have a blessed day.
Keep taking the next step…. (devo reflection)
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Max Lucado’s daily devotional, which is one I read during my morning study, today contained this gem about the disciples: “…they were an ounce more devoted than they were afraid….” That idea, an ounce more devotion than fear, resonates deeply with me. I can never be fearless. My penchant for worry, which often manifests itself as fear, is so strong, but I CAN be more devoted than afraid, even if just by an ounce.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
God can take what seems to me a paltry thing, one more ounce of devotion, of faith, than fear, and use it in great ways. I don’t have to muster enough faith to conquer the mountain in my path, just enough to take the next step and the next and the next. God will multiply that faith, He will fuse it with His strength, and He will use it to accomplish His will. I’ve just got to muster enough faith, enough devotion, to keep moving forward.
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this crucial reminder. The perfectionist in me wants to do everything You call me to exactly right, which often leads to worries, doubts, fears, and inaction. Help me to remember that what You want is for me to choose faith in You over all my fears. Help me, in every situation—worry, fear, weariness—to be an ounce more devoted, to keep taking the next step in Your name and Your power. Give me strength, Lord, to keep moving forward in You and for You. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Have a blessed day.
Strength to the weary…. (devo reflection)
Matt 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
This morning finds me weary, worn down, physically and emotionally exhausted. It is a frustrating place to be, one I find myself in far more often than I would prefer, but I know what I need to do—take it to the feet of my precious Savior. Lay down my burdens. Seek His renewal, His peace, His strength. Help me, Jesus.
Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
He has set a task before me, one that He uniquely created me to fulfill. I know He has called me, and I know that He will give me strength in my weakness IF I will allow, IF I will humble myself and allow Him to work through me. Help me, Jesus. I cannot do this by myself, and You aren’t asking me too. Infuse me with Your strength.
Isaiah 40:31 …those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Lord, Thank You for this day, this scripture, this reminder that You don’t expect me to do it all in my own strength. Thank You for the reminder that when I am weary, weak, worn out, exhausted, You are my place of refuge, rest, renewal. Help me to find peace, strength, and renewal in You so that I can do what You have called me to do in this life. Help me to shine Your light. Amen.
Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Have a blessed day.
Constant sustaining power…. (devo reflection)
Col 1:17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
In the commentary for Col 1:17 this morning, I came across the following gem: “In this clause is attributed to our Lord, not only the creative act, but also the constant sustaining power….” This truth, that God is my center, that He holds me together, is not new, but it has me absolutely captivated this morning. I will not fall apart, no matter the situation, because He is holding me together. Thank You, Jesus!
Psalm 139:13 You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
When I reach out to people who are struggling, I always tell them that God is holding them in the palm of His hand. I mean it sincerely. But not only does He hold us, protect us, shelter and nurture us in the palm of His hand, He also holds our very being together. We won’t fall apart because He is sustaining us, holding us together. Thank You, Jesus!
Psalm 139:14 I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your love, which holds our very core together. I am a worrier, Lord, prone to fretting and anxious thoughts. Thank You for the surety that You are at my center, that You hold me together. Always. Thank You for Your constant sustaining power and for Your fierce and abiding love. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 139:15 My frame was not hidden from You….
Have a blessed day.
God is my strength…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 18:1 I love You, LORD, my strength.
My reading this morning took me to Psalms and this beautiful passage. I think Psalm 18:1 is the embodiment of both “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13) and “My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). The verse, to me, seems a celebration of the fact that God is my strength and that I recognize and embrace that fact.
Psalm 18:2a The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer….
This verse puts me in mind of Rocky Face Park and the Vertical Mile Challenge, which has what at times feels like an interminable section straight up the side of a mountainous rock. While it takes determination and perseverance to traverse it, the rock itself is utterly solid, immovable, impenetrable. The images in this verse—my rock, my fortress, my deliverer—speak to the strength and safety that I find in my Savior. Even when the world feels like it is falling apart, I am safe in His arms. He’s got me. He’s holding me, shielding me, protecting me. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 18:2b …my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder that You are my strength and my refuge. Thank You for holding me, always, especially in the midst of the chaos and storms of life. Thank You for being my strength, especially when my strength is gone. Thank You for preparing a place for me, for going before me, for never leaving me. Thank You for my rock-solid faith, for the assurance that I can always depend on You. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 18:2c …my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Have a blessed day.
External trappings…. (devo reflection)
1 Peter 3:3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.
Sometimes I think we might all be better off if we could not see others before we interacted with them. We make so many snap judgements based on appearance alone. I wonder, if we spent time just talking, listening, without seeing and judging, would we be able to more clearly see into the heart? Would we be less likely to be tripped up by external trappings?
1 Peter 3:4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
These two verses from 1 Peter are specifically aimed at women, but I think the idea behind them transcends gender. God doesn’t want us so caught up in physical appearance that we neglect the heart. Sadly, so much of our culture seems focused solely on appearance and in such a destructive way—You aren’t pretty enough, skinny enough. You aren’t handsome enough, muscular enough. Jesus, Help us.
Psalm 139:14 I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that it’s what’s on the inside that is most important. Help us not to get caught up in external trappings. Help us not to make snap judgments. Help us to see each other through Your eyes. Help us to recognize the internal beauty that can only come from You. Draw us closer. Amen.
Eph 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.
Have a blessed day.