Category: Psalm

Psalm 31:1a In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;

A quick Google search defines refuge as: “a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble.” However, a refuge that is not utilized is not useful. If I am standing in the pouring rain, with thunder and lightning all around, and a refuge is inches from me but I’m not in it, that refuge is useless to me.

Psalm 31:1b …let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.

I am a worrier. I’ve admitted that before. I stress and I stew and I fret over situations. I often, figuratively, stand in the middle of the storm being lashed with rain and beaten by wind with refuge literally RIGHT THERE, yet I do not take advantage. I continue to stress and stew and fret. Jesus, Help me.

Psalm 31:2a Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue;

Precious Savior, You know I have been trying to reign in my worry habit for a long time. Thank You for loving me anyway. Thank You for helping me to see that my continuing to worry and fret is me not taking advantage of the refuge You lovingly provide for me. Forgive me. Help me. Thank You for always loving me. Amen.

Psalm 31:2b …be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 61:5 For you, God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

In verse 1 of Psalm 61, David says, “Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.” In verse 5, we see that God has listened, is listening and David knows that and will honor his vow to God just as God honors His promise to David (to hear, to listen, to be present).

Psalm 61:6 Increase the days of the king’s life, his years for many generations.

I hope I am as faithful with both my pleas to God AND my praise of Him. I hope I both call to Him AND praise His name. I’m better at it now than I used to be, but I absolutely know that there is room for improvement. It’s an area where I definitely want to do better.

Psalm 61:7 May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.

Precious Savior, Thank You for hearing my cries of distress. Thank You for listening to my prayers–the mundane and the extraordinary. Forgive me when I neglect to praise You as You deserve. Help me to do better. Always. Amen.

Psalm 61:8 Then I will ever sing in praise of your name and fulfill my vows day after day.

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 56:12a I am under vows to you, my God;

Lord, Thank You that You are with me always, even when I’m not looking, even when I can’t see. Thank You that You guide my steps and You redeem my missteps. Thank You for Your presence and protection.

Psalm 56:12b …I will present my thank offerings to you.

Father, Help me to always be mindful of Your presence. Help me to be mindful of saying “Thank You” for the many, many blessings that You surround me with daily. Thank You that You lavish me with blessings simply because I am Your deeply loved child. I am thankful beyond words for that gift.

Psalm 56:13a For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling,

Precious Savior, Help me to live this day joyfully, exactly as it comes to me. Help me to stop griping and to stop wishing and to stop waiting and to live fully into this day You have made. Thank You for walking with me. Always. Amen.

Psalm 56:13b …that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 56:9a Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help….

There are days where the opinions of others matter to me greatly. Do they like me? Do they see the hard work and effort I put into things? Do they know how much I care? As you can imagine, caring about the opinions of others is not what we should strive for in life.

Psalm 56:9b …By this I will know that God is for me.

Maybe that’s why verse 11 really resonates with me. In God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me? My default is to care about the opinions of people because they are ever present. But God is the only One who matters. He’s ever present, too, just not quite so visible.

Psalm 56:10 In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise—

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that You are ever present and that Yours is the only opinion that I ever need to be concerned about. Help me to cling to verse 11, to trust You and not be afraid. Give me strength, courage, and grace for the day ahead. Amen.

Psalm 56:11 in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 56:5 All day long they twist my words; all their schemes are for my ruin.

Again today’s scripture has me thinking about Rocky Face Park. Again it’s got me reflecting on hiking the wooded path, where trees are all you see. They are huge and ever present. But then when you start to ascend the rock face of the mountain, you realize how small the trees are in perspective, how expansive the view, how glorious our God.

Psalm 56:6 They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, hoping to take my life.

I am in a season of life where everything feels personal, where I process everything as personal, which is frustrating and ridiculous. But that anger that David expresses, that feeling that others conspire and lurk, that their schemes are for my ruin, I have to physically remind myself that that is not the case, that while the trees–the slights, the frustrations, the ridiculousness, feels huge and personal, it absolutely isn’t. I have to intentionally strive for perspective.

Psalm 56:7 Because of their wickedness do not let them escape; in your anger, God, bring the nations down.

Precious Savior, Thank You for bringing me to Psalm 56. Thank You for reminding me again and again that it’s not about me, that I should not take everything so personally, that I need to remember to keep life in perspective, to keep Your majesty and sovereignty in perspective. I’m listening. Help me. Amen.

Psalm 56:8 Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll —are they not in your record?

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 56:1 Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack.

We have a park where I live, Rocky Face, that today’s scripture brought to mind. There is a “Vertical Mile Challenge” trail that begins in the trees then goes up the side of a mountain (slight exaggeration). You go from not being able to see anything but trees to a gorgeous panoramic view that shows just what a small role those trees play in the greater landscape. That’s perspective, and it is a beautiful gift.

Psalm 56:2 My adversaries pursue me all day long; in their pride many are attacking me.

In verse 1, all David can see are the trees, the enemies. They are huge and everywhere.but as he continues to climb, to praise, he begins to get perspective. The trees, which felt like they were everywhere, were only a small part of the whole. God is the whole. When the fullness of the view, the fullness of God, opens up, it is so much easier to put the everyday of life into perspective.

Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Precious Savior, Thank You for perspective that can only come from You. Thank You for the ability to realize that just because I’m surrounded by trees doesn’t mean that’s all that’s there. Help me to put my trust in You. Help me to climb until I get perspective. Help me to hold on to You. Always. Amen.

Psalm 56:4 In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 46:10a He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

I know plenty of people who have a hard time being still. I am not one of them. My favorite place to be is curled up in my recline with a good book. However, I have realized over the years that while my body knows how to be still, my mind struggles with stillness.

Psalm 46:10b …I will be exalted among the nations,

Sometimes it is the incessant whir of anxiety. Sometimes it is intrusive thoughts that won’t let me be. Usually the specter of worry is in the middle of it all, whispering, “What if? What if? What if?” Yet God is also in the midst of it all whispering “Be still. Be still. Be still.”

Psalm 46:10c …I will be exalted in the earth.”

Precious Savior, I want to rest in Your peace, but I have such a difficult time silencing the worry and anxiety that clouds my mind. Help me to lay it all at Your feet. Help me to surround myself with Your peace. Help me to be still and know that You are God. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Psalm 46:11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 46:7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

How interesting to study Psalm 46 after Genesis 28. Jacob wasn’t a very outstanding figure way back then. His behavior was eyebrow-raising. His trust in God was conditional. And yet, in Psalm 46, we have “the God of Jacob.” To me, that shows the power, the sovereignty of God and what He can do if we allow Him to work in our lives.

Psalm 46:8 Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth.

Commentary calls Psalm 46 a “great song of confidence.” It is a reminder that God is with us, that He is our refuge and strength, He is for us, that we should not fear–not because life won’t be chaotic, but because God’s holding us securely in the palm of His hands.

Psalm 46:9a He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth.

Precious Savior, Thank You for these reminders of Your sovereignty, Your mercy, Your fierce and unending love. Thank You that You can make a way in the mess of our lives where no way exists. Thank You that You are already on the other side of every problem, every issue. Thank You that we do not need to fear because You are with us, for us, in us. Amen.

Psalm 46:9b …He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.

Have a blessed day.

Psalm 46:4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

I know that verse 5 is talking about a city; however, I love thinking about verse 5 as talking about a human. The idea that God is within us, that God will help us, is comforting and true.

Psalm 46:5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

Many translations use the wording “God is in the midst of her; she will not be moved.” Again, these translations feel comforting and empowering to me. I don’t have to be strong enough on my own. God is within me. God is in the midst of my life.  I will not fall. I will not be moved.

Psalm 46:6a Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reassurance that You are with me, that You are in the midst of all that goes on in my life. Thank You that Your grace, Your love, Your sovereignty ensures that I will not be moved from Your presence. Amen.

Psalm 46:6b … he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

Have a blessed day.