July 26, 2025

Sometimes God calls you into His presence in the wee hours of the morning, especially when your soul is restless. During trials, we often find ourselves in despair, and although we may have fallen asleep after a long day, our heart still recalls the events of the previous day. So, if I'm ever awakened, those days' events come rushing into my mind. When I finally give in, get out of bed, and pour out my heart in prayer, then open the scriptures, I realize how closely God is watching over me. Am I living out these scriptures to make these devotionals more heartfelt? Probably. Even Jesus lived out the scriptures written about him. When I realized that's what was happening, I broke into tears because it was then clear how close God was and how He was orchestrating the events of my life for a purpose, not only the good and happy times, but even the seemingly cruel and harsh times. 

So when I told someone that God was on my side, I was not wrong. I have no fear of name-dropping my Father; He is always with me, and yes, He is on my side. If God doesn't show up to prove it right away, they will say, "Where is your God?" The wicked may not feel His recompense now, but they will, guaranteed! 

David was away from the tabernacle and longed for the presence of God, and his enemies asked him the same question: "Where is your God?" 

My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? Psalms 42:2-3

We know that eventually David came into his kingdom and was triumphant. I expect the same for us. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning! Count on it.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalms 42:11

July 25, 2025

Have you ever dealt with someone so wicked that you wonder if they have a soul? Be grateful if you haven't. They are the most manipulative and cunning characters, and with their words, they can make you feel that they are sincere. However, behind your back, they collude with others of their same mindset to try to trap you or discredit you. When God gives you discernment into their plans, you become disappointed and overwhelmed with grief that you fell into their trap. How can they be so cruel? If they know you are a Christian, they will use that as a jab towards you to others; I've heard it said with my own ears, "How can they call themselves Christians?" That is probably one of the most hurtful things we can hear someone say, especially when you try so hard to be good to others. 

David was sick, and his enemies, whom he thought were his friends, were trying to harm him and ruin his reputation, and were hoping for his death.

Here is how he handled it, and it is a good lesson for us on how to deal with our own situation:

1. He prayed that they might be disappointed. "But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them." Psalms 41:10
2. He reassured himself that they would be disappointed because he knew God favored him. Though we are to take no pleasure in the fall of our enemies, we can take pleasure in their plans being frustrated. "By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me." Psalms 41:11
3. He depended on God to deliver him out of his enemy's hands. "And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever." Psalms 41:12

July 24, 2025

If you cannot find Jesus in the Old Testament, pray that God opens your eyes. Although it is David writing this psalm, we can imagine Jesus standing silent before his wicked accusers in the very first verse of Psalm 39. 

I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. Psalms 39:1

David gives us a prayer to pray or a song to sing to open our hearts to God when we are overtaken by those who try to ruin us. However, it is also a reminder not to complain, which is hard when God is your counselor and He knows every detail of your issues, but maybe that’s the point. We don’t need to complain because He already knows and has a plan to redeem us. I liken this to a child who sees the candy and has a fit because they want to eat it now, but they haven’t had their supper yet, so it is withheld from them until the right time. We know that God has our best interests at heart, and we trust Him; however, in moments of pressure, we often forget and lose hope. None of us is immune to such behavior when facing challenges. As strong as David was, he cried out to God with his concern, but don’t we all run to Daddy when things get tough?

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. Psalms 39:12

July 23, 2025

We know that David sinned against God when he took Bathsheba and got her pregnant. He also sinned against Uriah by taking his wife and having him sent to the front lines of war to be killed after his plot to cover it up failed. Then we must consider whether Bathsheba was a willing participant. David was the king so did she welcome his advances or was she apprehensive? We don’t know the answer because the Bible doesn’t say, but we do know that David was very remorseful of his actions and was chastised by God, because in Psalms 38, he cries out to Him in repentance. David was afflicted with bodily pain, his friends deserted him, and was mentally anguished of this grievous sin. This psalm teaches us how to repent. If you feel like you are reaping what you have sown in sin, it might be time to reach out to God in heartfelt repentance. David gives us the perfect psalm as an example of what it sounds like to grieve over our sin and cry out to God in remorse. If you don’t have the words, pray this psalm to start off and then your own words will flow out and be known by God. As a side note: you should repent daily whether you think you have sinned or not, because you might be sinning unknowingly. 

There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. Psalms 38:3-5

 

July 22, 2025

The anxiety that circumstances bring can be overwhelming. The heart and nerves feel every thought and respond by shutting us down in a state of doom and gloom. But God, in His infinite mercy, sees us and comforts us with calming words of assurance. These times are only temporary, even though they may feel long and drawn out; they are only a blip on the screen of life. Our lives are more valuable than the momentary feeling of loss. God will rise and avenge our situation, and we will feel His power surge through our veins, giving us hope. This is a wicked world, and tentacles of the evil one will even capture those we love and use them against us for his benefit, and try to discourage us from seeking the good in the Lord. What he fails to understand is that we are under the wings of the Almighty, and He will break his plans to devour us and give us a triumphant win and cast him down. Trust that God keeps His promises.

O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me. There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise. Psalms 36:10-12

July 21, 2025

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where the people you are contending with lie about you to further their own cause? This kind of situation occurs frequently, especially among Christ-followers. The enemy has designed plans against us and will use whatever means necessary to make us look bad and sully our testimony in the eyes of unbelievers, so they find us and other Christians noxious to keep those unbelievers from turning to Jesus. During David’s flight from Saul, he expressed his feelings about his situation in Psalms 35. They lied about him, and traps were laid out to capture him. However, when you are going through a season where you have those rooting against you, like David did, and are using whatever means necessary, especially with evil intentions against you, pray this psalm. I prayed this psalm during a time when we were dealing with a situation where some individuals were working against the good in us to further their own financial interests, and they were using the life of another person as leverage. The enemy turned this soul into a tool, and that tool needed to be snatched out of his hands. 

Pray this psalm when evil people have plans against you. It is so good! Here is an excerpt:

Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. Psalms 35:4-6

July 20, 2025

We should praise the Lord because we want to, but if ever there was a reason outside of His magnificence, it is because praise is powerful over the enemy’s design for our failure. 

Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Psalms 33:1

Read this verse and then think about how you can triumph over your worldly problems simply by glorifying God and giving Him the praise He desires:

The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. Psalms 33:10

Are you hearing what God is telling you in this verse? The enemy’s torment will not affect you unless you let it. Rely on God and overcome whatever the enemy throws at you through singing praises to Him. That’s not all, though; let this verse sink in:

To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Psalms 33:19

If God calls you home, nothing will stop Him, but if we are left in this world during a tormenting time, we will not die because of famine. While the world waits for the next shoe to drop, we praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy, and in turn, He will keep us alive during famine. Stop fretting over what is to come; we can count on God to pull us through even the most harsh of times. 

For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Psalms 33:21