September 12, 2025

It is our job to praise the Lord and reach out to Him in prayer. We are placed in a myriad of situations that demand that we acknowledge God and ask for His help. Whether we are wandering in the desert without a place to sleep, or being tossed at sea when a storm rages, we are to stay in close contact with the Father. He is our help in times of trouble. We are in such a dire situation now, not only in the United States, but around the world, where it seems the screws are tightening on the economy, and most people are barely making ends meet. If you haven’t reached out to God collectively with those of us who are praying for relief, it is high time that you begin praying today. People are struggling because their pay is staying the same while their grocery prices are going up. We are either being tossed at sea, or our mouths are parched in the desert as we wander in the heat. Speak up and let your request be known. Those who’ve been praying need your help so that God hears our cries and reacts with His help. 

He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Psalms 107:29

He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. Psalms 107:35

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. Psalms 107:31-32

September 11, 2025

In a continuation of the praises to God, David confesses Israel's mishandling of His favor. This psalm is an admission of Israel's sins as a nation and of all they did to provoke God to discipline them. David goes through an extensive list of God's mercy, in delivering them out of Egypt and them not learning how powerful God was by the miracles they saw, to Him ushering them into the promised land. Even though they were afflicted for their defiance of Him, He heard their cries and remembered His covenant with them. The list in this psalm is long and shows that, like Israel, we provoke God to anger and yet, because He loves us, He forgives. We may face the repercussions of His discipline, but like any decent parent, He is not angry forever. God gives us parameters for our own good; if we stay within those parameters, it will go much better for us. Confess, repent, and praise! God's mercy endures forever! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!

Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry: And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies. Psalms 106:44-45

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD. Psalms 106:48

September 10, 2025

How will others know that you are a part of God’s house? We who are His let it be known through our testimony all He has done for us. In Psalms 105, David offers praise and worship to God when they brought the Ark of the Covenant to Mount Zion to a tent he had made to house it. The people there offered sacrifices to God and then were fed. In his worship, David recounted the history of the people and what led to this time of worshipping the Lord. God had carefully led them through troubled times, delivering them as a people, so it was upon them to honor God for the blessing he had placed upon them. We can never give back to God or worship Him enough to cover all He has done for us, but we can certainly try, just as David did. That is why, even in our minor gatherings, we offer thankfulness and praise to God through our prayers at the beginning of those events, usually right before we eat. Some of our festivals are in honor of God and others for pleasurable camaraderie, but in all occasions, we give thanks to the Lord for His work in our lives. 

O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Psalms 105:1-3

September 9, 2025

Those of us who know our place in this world, those who follow Jesus and honor God, are the beneficiaries of His goodness. If you are not waking up to praise God, spending your day reaching out to Him, and closing your day by lifting your praise to Him, are you doing yourself a good service? Forget not His benefits! The words of Psalms 103, a psalm of David, get right to the point and offer an uplifting message that is beautiful, and cuts right to the core of your heart by showing you how amazing the God of our worship is. He renews the strength of our youth by feeding us good things, executes righteousness, is merciful and gracious, and doesn’t chide us for our sins and forgives them. What more could you want in a deity that you give yourself to? Our Creator of all things should be honored with all that is within us. Don’t forget that he remembers our frame and knows we are dust. It would be beneficial for you to dedicate as much time as possible throughout your day to honoring the One who loves you the most. If you need a reminder of the goodness of God, read through Psalms 103. David spells it out and gives us a nice list of His benefits. 

A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Psalms 103:1-2

September 8, 2025

There is a psalm written for those who are depressed, and it reaches to the depths of our sorrow and the weakness of our bodies. Though you may feel alone or even want to be alone, remember, others are also facing unimaginable challenges, even those from the past. The writer of Psalms 102 is one of those people who felt it necessary to write a word of encouragement to those who are broken. Although the saying “misery loves company” may be true for some people, I feel that most individuals struggling with unhappiness or afflictions often prefer solitude. We may indeed want to be away from people; however, when we are alone, it is then that we remember our loving God and reach out to Him with our most sincere prayers, lifting holy hands and expecting Him to pick us up and console us in His loving arms. This psalm covers several problems we may face during our time, so if you are having trouble finding the words to pray, open your Bible to this psalm. Remember, God has the answer for anything we may face, so go to Him to unload your troubles; He will help release you from the weight of your burdens. 

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily. For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth. My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread. Psalms 102:1-4

September 7, 2025

Who do you surround yourself with? It makes a difference in your well-being. David chose to put in place in his house those who were of like-mindedness. Years ago, a person close to me got in trouble with the law because their friend, whom they were with, decided that they wanted a store item without paying, which caused them both to be arrested for shoplifting, even though the person close to me hadn’t touched the item that was stolen. I’m not saying the person close to me was completely innocent; had they been, they wouldn’t have been arrested. They were both young and foolish, but both have since been redeemed. At the time, however, it seemed their lives were falling apart due to the incident. The point is to be wise about your choice of friends and the acquaintances you do business with; their character matters. We would all do well to surround ourselves with people who match our faith in Jesus, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Some people are put in our paths to reach with the gospel or show them the love of Jesus so that one day they may conclude that Jesus is King and accept his free gift of salvation. That gift cannot be stolen and can only be received.

I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. Psalms 101:2