2023
Daily Devotionals Archive
“Happy Am I, for My Sins Are Gone“
I have heard my wife say so many times in testimony, “if all He ever did for me was forgive me of my sins, that is enough for me to serve and praise Him the rest of my life.” Too often, we are so quick to forget the greatest thing the Lord has ever done for us; He has forgiven us and covered our sins.
We should clear our mind of all the things we have yet to see the Lord move in within our life and focus on the greatest things He has done for us. We have even been redeemed by His blood! We are blessed indeed!
Psalm 32:1– “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”
“Unashamed Trust“
In a world that questions everything, it should come as no surprise that faith is at the top of the list. As Christians, we blush sometimes when our faith is called into question. Whether it is sickness, disease, or death that comes knocking on our door; we are faced with the decision to trust the Lord.
Let us never be ashamed to put our faith in the Lord. Do not allow the critics or the pressure of the culture cause you to balk on your faith both privately and publicly. He is worthy to be trusted and He is our only hope! May we never be ashamed of our Faith or our King!
Psalm 31:1– “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.”
“The Love of a Chastising God“
Just as an earthly father corrects his children, our Heavenly Father corrects us as His child. We have heard since we were small, “I’m only doing this because I love you.” The times we heard those words just before receiving our punishment, we had our doubts! However, no good father allows his children to go unpunished for doing things that could physically hurt them or harm them in other ways moving forward in their life.
God loves His children; when we sin and do things that cause harm to us and maybe even others, the Lord is going to correct us. Why? Because He loves His children. The Psalmist reminds us that the Lord’s anger does not endure long toward His own. He turns His favor toward us and in that favor is life.
When the Lord is correcting us, it is not fun. We do not like the chastisement of the Lord. Who would? It’s the most righteous punishment one can ever endure. There is no rebuttal or arguing with the Lord. He is right in His actions 100% of the time. David reminds us that the dreadful season of His correction is only for a night, but joy comes in the morning. I always look for that morning!
Psalm 30:5– “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
“Give Him Praise and Glory“
The great and mighty power of the Lord God Almighty is worthy of all our praise and glory! He is mighty and matchless. He alone is our Mighty God and King! David speaks of the mighty power of His voice. May we always give Him the praise that He deserves!
Psalm 29:1–11 1 Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. 2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. 7 The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire. 8 The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. 10 The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever. 11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.”
“Believing for that Better Day“
If there were no expectations at the end of our life as a Christian, this world and all its trials and tribulations would be too much to bear. However, we continue to put one foot in front of the other and enjoy the blessings of our Lord during the good times and we lean on Him ever-so intently during the bad. This we know, we believe to see the goodness of God in total fruition in the land of the living one sweet day.
Wherever we find ourselves today, whether in a season of blessing and joy, or a season of trial and tribulation; wait upon the Lord! We are to wait upon the Lord, for He will give us the strength we need to face everything life throws at us. We take hope in the fact that one day, yes, one sweet day, we shall behold the totality of God’s goodness in the land of the living!
Psalm 27:13, 14— “13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
“Simplifying the Christian Life“
Gotta go, gotta do, gotta be, and gotta keep it up! That’s the norm of most people’s life. We’re so busy with various things. Whether it is goals to meet, responsibilities to fulfill, or some sort of weird vindication in life that we are reaching for; we are busy!
David had come to a place in his life that his faith had become simplified. He had narrowed it down to one primary desire; David desired to seek after the Lord and to be in His house. Seeking after the Lord and worshipping in the Lord’s house had come to bring the most fulfillment to David. David was a busy man of great importance all of his life, but he had narrowed it all down to one primary desire. He desired to seek the Lord and dwell in the Lord’s house.
We have much to learn from this in our busy lives full of hectic schedules and many due dates. If we’d work on narrowing down our desires so much that our main desire was to seek the Lord and dwell in His house, it would prove to be of the upmost benefit to us. Fact is, failing to do so will hinder our seeking of the Lord the way we should. I pray that I begin this process today.
Psalm 27:4– “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”
“Loving His House“
There are those who cherish the house of the Lord and those who conjure up excuses for not cherishing it. There are many reasons the child of God should cherish the Lord, but Psalm 26:8 gives two important reasons.
Christians should love the house of the Lord because of who dwells there; The people of God. Our brothers and sisters in Christ dwell in the house of the Lord. These are the very people we will spend eternity with. These are the people that we share the same common bond of salvation by grace through faith with.
Secondly, the church is where honor is given to our Lord. Songs are sung, praise is given, and He speaks through His word. There is no reason for a child of God to excuse themselves from His house except for a providential hindrance. May we love and cherish gathering in the Lord’s house to fellowship with saints and our Lord.
Psalm 26:8—“8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.”
“The Preserving Effects of Integrity“
Life sometimes throws curveballs at us and we find ourselves scrambling to find a way out of certain situations. Whether we find ourselves dealing without our own self-created mess due to our poor choices, or someone else has created a mess for us; we find ourselves scrambling to fix things. In our desperate effort, we’re sometimes tempted to go about it in an ungodly way.
No matter what you are facing in life, choose Godly integrity in all your ways of handling things. Our carnal nature will always rise up within us to make choices based upon human reasoning versus biblical reasoning. Our ways of handling things from a carnal perspective will always yield us a carnal result.
May we learn to choose integrity and uprightness in life’s choices and how we live and respond to whatever we find ourselves living through. Doing so will build and preserve Godly Character.
Psalm 25:21– “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.”
“Forgetful God“
We all have things in our past that we are not proud of. If our sins from our youth were exposed for the world to see, many of us would never want to leave our home due to the shame associated with it.
David asks the Lord in prayer not to remember the sins of his youth, but instead, remember him according to his tender mercy.
As a child of God, I, like many, have many things from my past/youth that I am ashamed of. I am ashamed I was ever involved in such sin and behavior. There is something wonderful about our Savior; He does not remember our past sins! When He forgives, He forgets.
This is an attribute of God that we do not have ourselves. We can forgive but rarely forget. Our Lord is a “Forgetful God” when it comes to our sins being under the blood! When our sins are under the blood of Christ, they are gone as far as the east is from the west and He remembers them no more!
Psalm 25:7—“Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.”
“Taught by the Shepherd“
As a child of God, we have experienced the salvation of the Lord. He has rescued our life from death and destruction. There should never be any question on whether we should follow Him or adhere to His teaching.
Our desire as His child and prayer should be that He show us His way and will for us as well as teach us how to follow and walk in the path of His will and way. He is Lord God Almighty and He is to be trusted. As our Shepherd, it is always His will and way to lead us into righteousness.
Psalm 25:4, 5—“4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.”
“Ashamed of Waiting“
Faith is confusing to the world. We live in a day and age that waiting is not an option. We want what we want, and we want it now. We will go to extreme lengths to get what we want when we want it.
Often, I read back through my prayer journal of months and sometimes even years gone by; to my amazement, God has answered so many prayers from the past. As a child of God, it is so worth waiting upon the Lord. Give your cares and concerns to Him. Give Him all the impossible situations and give Him your dreams that seem so distant and very unlikely. Never be ashamed of waiting on the Lord and His provision! There is nothing to be ashamed of when God’s child patiently waits upon the Lord. Keep asking in faith and never be ashamed of waiting on God’s perfect timing!
Psalm 25:3—”Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed:”
“Ashamed of Being Ashamed“
We live in a culture that is by and large, shameless. Nothing causes people to blush. Sin is open and rampant. Unfortunately, some of this shamelessness has bled over into the church and modern-day Christianity.
Nothing should bring more shame to a believer than being ashamed of our God! He has redeemed us and set us free. In His work on the cross, He hung naked in open shame for our sins. There was no sin in Christ and yet He was made to be sin, to bridge the gap for our redemption.
David declares his confidence in God and asks that He help him not to be ashamed. May this be our prayer too; both today and every day hereafter. May we lift our head up high, not in pride, but lift it up to heaven and call upon our great God and King. If there is any place in our life that we’re ashamed of our Savior and our faith, my prayer is that we become “Ashamed of being Ashamed.”
Psalm 25:1, 2— “1 Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.”
“Access Granted“
The Psalmist asks a very important question in Psalm 24:3: “Who hall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? The Psalmist immediately answers his own questions: Vs. 4 “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted his soul up to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”
The question of the Psalmist and his answer is very troubling. The crux of both question and answer is: who can approach God? No-one! No human has clean hands and a pure heart. No human is sinless and free of guilt concerning vanity and vain pursuits. No person is free of deceit. This is where Jesus comes into the equation.
Christ has granted us access through and by His righteousness. Christ’s hands have always been clean and His heart has always been pure. Christ’s will has been in perfect alignment with the will of the Father and deceit has never been in his mouth or heart. He has granted us access by robing up in His righteousness. A Mighty Savior He is!
“Ownership“
One of the greatest truths a person can come to know is that the Lord owns everything. The air that we breathe, the ground that we walk upon, and the heavens above us. He owns it all. Ownership means power and authority.
God is not lacking in anything. He can change your life no matter what comes your way. Whether it is resources that you are lacking, certain people that you need, or any material possession; God has total ownership over the earth and all that is within. Call out to Him & share your needs and desires with Him.
Psalm 24:1—“The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”
“His Goodness is Running After Me“
Psalm 23:6– “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell
in the house of the LORD for ever.”
The Lord, our Shepherd, protects, feeds, and sustains us. All of our days as His sheep, the Lord
provides for us. When we go wayward, He pursues us. When we get hurt and scuffed up from
our disobedience, He bandages our wounds and gives us care. When we get separated from the
flock, He comes after us. He is the Good Shepherd.
All the benefits of being a child of God come down to one fundamental truth of this passage; He
who is good and He who is mercy follows us all the days of our lives. His goodness runs after us
each passing day. The ultimate fulfillment of His goodness and mercy pursuing us is Heaven.
One day, we will be forever with our Lord in His house. We will be with Him forever in the place
that He has prepared for His children. Until that first day of eternity that shall never end, His
goodness will run after us. Praise His name forever!
“Protection & Provision Amid The Enemy“
The two primary functions of a shepherd are protection and provision. Protection from the predators that lurk privily, looking into the herd to find the weakest link. The moment one looks weak & distracted; the enemy makes his move.
David gives an incredible picture of protection and provision. “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” (Psalm 23:5) He speaks of the Lord as his Shepherd, preparing a feast for him amid his enemies! What a thought, the enemy is looking on and yet David can pull a seat up to the table and eat of the Lord’s food. It seems as if the enemy can’t do anything about it either.
The oil and the cup represent the Holy Spirit of the Lord and the joy of the Lord. Our Shepherd ensures that we eat amid the enemy and that we are protected by the Holy Spirit. Having joy, even while the enemy is lurking around, is a direct benefit of belonging to the Good Shepherd. He is our “Protection and Provision Amid The Enemy.”
“The Dark Valley of Death“
Death is a reality that will make its way to every man if the Lord tarries His return. It is painful to grieve the loss of a loved one whether a friend or family. There are long nights and dreaded days that accompany the loss of those we cherish the most. This perspective comes from those who have experienced the loss of loved ones.
Then we have the perspective of the person who is traveling through the dark valley of death personally. In the Valley, you are walking in the lowest of lows. Hope was that little ray of light peeking through that is now seemingly gone. This valley leads to death. What will we ever do?
The Psalmist changes direction in whom He is talking to in Psalm 23 verse 4. Up until now, he has been speaking words of confidence to whomever shall hear/read them. Now his words are going directly to the Shepherd. He acknowledges that he is indeed walking through the valley of the shadow of death, but he does not fear. The Shepherds rod and staff comforts him.
You see, valleys open into wide-open country with endless provision. The dark valley of death for the Saint of God is merely the gateway into eternal delight in Christ our Lord. For a Christian, everything is worse than death. Death is victory for the child of God! Death is the pinnacle of faith for the child of God. Death is when our faith becomes our site. Fear no evil, God is with His sheep all the way through eternity.
Psalm 23:4—“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
“The Shepherd Leads His Sheep“
Christ leads His sheep. Unconverted men and women do not follow Christ and His righteous ways. David speaks of the Lord leading him into the paths of righteousness for His name sake. This is what the Good Shepherd does for His sheep. He leads His sheep into righteousness ways.
The unconverted man cannot even find the paths to righteousness, let alone, walk in them. The unconverted man does not look for the paths of righteousness; he couldn’t know them even if he were to see them. As Christians, the Lord leads us into the paths of righteousness because we are his and we know his voice. He leads us into the paths that we grow in His grace and that His name may receive glory.
Trust the Lord’s leadership and guidance. He knows what is best for you. His ways are right and good. They are right and good for your betterment and for His glory. Listen to the Lord and follow His voice. The Bible is the Word of God. Follow His Word into righteousness.
“God My Restorer“
There are times when life hands us a bag of rotten apples. We didn’t ask for them, we didn’t make poor choices that led to receiving them, nor is it punishment from God to correct us. It just so happens to be the part of life that is unexplainable. In these times, destruction seems to be the new norm and restoration, at best, is a faint possibility in the future.
David said in Psalm 23, “He restoreth my soul:” The worst feeling in the world is when we are perplexed within our own soul. Yes, trials and tribulations come to us in so may ways, but it’s the seasons of life that our soul is troubled seemingly beyond repair; those times are the worst. When the despair of our very soul is heavier than anything that we’re actually facing; those seasons are the worst.
David speaks hope into our soul from the reality of his experience with God. David had experienced restoration from the God of restoration who gives us grace and mercy all the days of our life. We’re to never give up nor lose confidence in the Lord. He will restore our soul. Circumstances sometimes change for the better and sometimes they do not. The one thing that will change is the despair of our soul. God will restore us and equip us for any and all things that come our way.
“Divine Drink“
Sheep are timid animals; they also need water like all animals do. Many other animals take no issue with swift and turbulent water. Some will even drink from dirty pools of water. Sheep need calm and clean water.
We, likened to sheep, can get timid and spiritually thirsty to the core of our soul at times. The Lord our Shepherd will lead us to the cool and refreshing waters for our soul. Christ Jesus is our still water. He restores and refreshes us. The Lord doesn’t want His sheep drinking stale and stagnant water. The Lord does not desire His sheep to be gripped by fear when in need of a divine drink of water. Therefore, He leads us to calm and clean water for our soul. He leads us right to Himself for a Divine Drink.
Psalm 23:2– “he leadeth me beside the still waters.”
“Divine Rest“
David speaks of our Lord and Shepherd as “making” us lie down in green pastures. Every blessing in our life is from above. The busyness of our life will cause us to look right past our blessings. Sometimes we get so full of ourselves that we need to be “made” to lie down.
The imagery that David gives us in Psalm 23 is that of the sheep that has toiled with struggle and hardship for a season; now the shepherd has led and made the sheep lie down in green pastures. There is something interesting about busy-bodied sheep; Busy-bodied sheep, looking for food and satisfaction, will not lie down until they are full and content. Hungry sheep will always wonder around.
What a lesson for us to learn. Is the reason that we are going non-stop is that we are feeding on the rubbish of life instead of God’s green pastures? As His sheep, the time will come when we are forced to realize that this world and all that it has to offer and all of its busyness will not satisfy. It is Christ alone that will fill us. May our day come that our Lord makes us to lie down in green pastures and rest in Him. He is the portion of all that we need.
Psalm 23:2– “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:”
“The Lord is Mine“
Few passages of scripture are more familiar than the twenty-third Psalm. This Psalm has been read and preached thousands of times. It has brought comfort to thousands of Christians during times of grief and loss. This Psalm is soothing to the troubled soul of the Christian.
The Lord is MY shepherd. I am thankful that I can assure others that He will be there for them and love them without end. I am thankful that the Lord is at work in the lives of brothers and sisters in Christ. I am thankful that many Christians can find comfort in Psalm 23, but there is so much more to this Psalm. There is a personal component that David reveals in this Psalm that is true for every believer.
The Lord is MY shepherd. He is MY Savior; He is MY friend; He is MY God; and He is MY everything! When no one else can understand my heart and emotions; He does! When no one else has the words to say; He does. When the stillness of the night saturates my hurting heart and soul; He is MY shepherd! Because He is mine, I shall not want! He is enough and He is mine! Praise His Holy name!
Psalm 23:1. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
“Hanging In Open Shame“
As David spoke of Himself in his time of distress, his words become the reality of the cross for Christ. Our Lord, who was the total picture and fulfillment of purity was stripped of what little bit of dignity he had left while hanging on the cross. His body was brutally beaten, blood poured from His wounds, and He hung helpless on the cross as the darling Lamb of God.
As if this scene couldn’t get any worse, the Roman soldiers stripped Him of His loin cloth and Christ hung in open shame on our behalf. The shame of hanging naked for the world to see is a picture of our naked sin. He took our place. He took our shame. Because of Christ bearing the the punishment and shame of our sins, we can lift our head and walk in the freedom that He has provided for us!
Psalm 22:18– “18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”
“Christ’s Abandonment = Our Gain“
Psalm 22:1– “ My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?”
The words of the Psalmist sound so familiar. Why? These are the very words of Christ when he cried out to God on the cross! These words uttered by David in this Psalm in a time of great distress pales in comparison to the very Christ who utters the same words from the cross.
Because Christ cried out in total abandonment on the cross, I, as His child, shall never cry out to deaf ears. I will never face abandonment by God because Christ faced it for me. I will call on the Lord and He shall hear my plea. Thank you Jesus for being separated for our sake!
“The Lord Takes Joy In Our Salvation“
Psalm 21:1– “ The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!”
The New Testament speaks of Christ’s joy. This reference to His joying speaking of the Lord’s sacrifice on the cross. Hebrews 12:2 “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
The Psalmist is speaking of the Lord’s joy in the salvation that He has provided to us. Not only did Christ go through Hell on earth to provide us victory from sin, He took great joy in doing so. I can’t comprehend how such pain and suffering in our Lord’s death could bring Him joy, but the Bible says that it did. King Jesus took joy in providing salvation for us. Let us take joy in proclaiming the goodness of God!
“Spiritual Weapons of Warfare“
Psalms 20:7–9 “7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. 9 Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.”
Christians always get into trouble when battles are fought through the flesh instead of the through the Spirit. Our carnal nature is to rise up and defend ourselves whether its an attack from someone or the enemy is using many tools in his arsenal against us.
We’re not to trust any means of physical altercation whether it’s verbal or God-forbid we physically attempt to handle conflict. We must remember the name of the Lord. He will fight our battles and our enemy(s) will be brought down as the Lord raises us up. Refrain from using your own means to defend yourself as a believer against the attacks of the enemy; look to Him and remember the name of the Lord. He is our supreme “Weapon of Warfare!”
“When We Need to be Heard“
“The Lord hears us.” For those who know the Lord, a phrase such as that has become cliché. We speak our own language of Christianese about our faith and about our lord, but how sincere are we? David speaks of the favor of God with those who are His. He does indeed hear us!
If there is ever a time that we want the Lord to hear us, it is in our day of trouble. These are days or even seasons of trouble, heartache, and sometimes even tragedy. We desperately need the Lord to hear us. David’s Psalm gives us confidence that He will. David even uses the name of one of God’s children who was anything but good most of the time. Jacob was a scoundrel, but he was God’s scoundrel. David says, “the name of the God of Jacob defend thee.” The fact that the word uses such a phrase reveals to us the Lord’s faithfulness to hear us based on His goodness and mercy. Just as Jacob was undeserving, we are too. However, we are still his and He hears us in the day of trouble. Call out to Him! He hears you and He will come to your rescue.
“Meeting the Father’s Impossible Demands“
Psalm 19:8–“ 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.”
The Lord’s Law is always right. It is never easy for us to accept, why? God’s Law is perfect and we are not. When we examine the perfect Law of the Lord, we quickly see our imperfections against it. His commands for us to obey His Law is pure and eye opening. God never lowered the standard of His Law upon man. However, He did make a way for us to meet His demanding Law. He came to us in the person of Christ and fulfilled His own demands on our behalf at Calvary.
When I see my imperfection in keeping His perfect Law, I run to Christ! He not only kept every single intricate detail of God’s demands, He has imputed His righteousness to my account. I no longer have to look at God’s Law with dreadful doubt; I now look at His Law and see the beauty of the cross and God’s Love for me. He made a way to uphold His Law and demands and still yet make a way for me. Thank you Jesus!
“The Perfection of God’s Word”
Psalm 19:7– “ 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”
God’s word instructs us. Fact is, its instruction is perfect for any and all needs or situations that life hands to us. Nothing can take a broken life going a hundred different directions and bring a calming renewal like the word of God when being lived out and applied. The word of God is His testimony. John 1:1 reveals to us that the word of God, is GOD! Applying God’s word renews our mind and gives us wisdom in areas where ignorance is plenteous. Read and apply His word every single day. Doing so will change your life!
“Speechless Praise”
Psalm 19:1–4 “1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun”
The Psalmist says that the heavens declare the glory of God and the sky reveals His handiwork! As each day passes by, his creation declares to all of mankind that there is a creator. However, this declaration is without words. It is God’s creation itself declaring the glory of God and His majestic creation. A ball of fire so hot that it keeps the earth from freezing God’s creation into extinction; it has been suspended in the heavens as the only star within our solar system. Our solar system is the tabernacle that houses the sun. Day after day, the sun declares the glory of God in speechless praise. If your praise begins to subside, look around at creation and join creation in their praise to our Triune creator!
“Living Rock”
Psalm 18:46– “The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.”
A profound peace accompanies the life of a believer when his/her mind dwells on the fact that God lives! He is the foundation of any and all hope in the lives of His children. Nothing has or ever will change the externality of the Lord God Almighty. He is our living hope and foundation. Let us praise and exalt His mighty name!
“Light for the Righteous”
There is assurance in the steps and pathway of the righteous. Those who are saved are justified and declared righteous through the finished work of Christ on the cross. However, the child of God is to strive to live righteous daily. This is done by applying God’s word to daily living.
God’s word lights our way in this dark and dreadful world. His word illuminates pathways that lead us over our obstacles. God’s word is perfect and pure. His word leads and guides us to our refuge. Thank God for the illuminating power of the Word of God!
Psalm 18:28–30 “28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. 29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. 30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.”
“Wide Open”
Serving Jesus is often viewed as a very restrictive and constrictive life. Nothing could be farther from the truth. True freedom is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ. In our sin, we are bound to our carnal nature and desires of our Adamic nature. We are servants of sin and we are constantly under sins bondage.
There is nothing more limited and constrictive than being a slave to sin and sin nature. You can only do what comes natural, and everything that comes natural, as a sinner, leads you closer to ultimate damnation. It’s a never ending circle of fire.
The Psalmist says that God brought him into a “large” place and delivered him. Once Christ has saved us, the shackles of sin are broken. The imminence of eternal death is no more. We have been set free to love, forgive, live, and pursue life like never before. Our limit is eternity, where there are no limits. God’s salvation has delivered us into a “large place.” His delight in His children is constant and refreshing! Today is a new day and our freedom in Him is wide open!
“Strong and Mighty Deliverer”
Psalm 18:17—“He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.”
The devil is too much for us! His grip is crushing and his ability to manipulate is unmatched. He is our strong enemy! Even when people become our enemy, we must always remember that the devil is the one masterminding it all. This becomes taxing upon us physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Our Lord is the strong and mighty deliverer. It is Christ alone who can deliverer us from the enemy. If you are a born-again child of God, you have been delivered from the strong enemy. Live and breathe in the freedom that is provided to us who are in Christ! Christ is the strong and mighty deliverer.
“When Darkness Fell and the Earth Shook”
Some 2000 years ago, there was a cataclysmic event that took place. The Son of the living God bore the sins of the world on a cross on Calvary’s hill. After extreme punishment endured upon His body, the Roman soldiers nailed Him to the cross by driving spikes through His hands and feet. Christ hung there in agony in final prayer to the Father; Christ hung His head and willingly died!
Darkness fell upon the earth as Christ hung there; the slain Lamb of God! A sacrifice had been offered. Christ’s body was buried in a tomb, but just as He had said, He came forth out of that tomb alive and well. Sin had been conquered, death had been defeated, and everlasting hope was finally available to all of mankind. This was the darkest day of mankind and the most earth shattering and ground shaking event to ever take place. The Psalmist gives us a peek inside these days unlike the Gospels. The Psalmist gives us a glimpse of the Almighty and the Heavens. What an incredible scene this is! Let us be thankful for His sacrifice and resurrection so that we don’t have to face the wrath of God and eternal darkness and damnation! Glory to King Jesus!
Psalm 18:7–11 “ 7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. 8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. 9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. 10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.”
“The Lord is Mine”
Psalm 18:2—“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”
In an ever-shifting world, there is one foundation that is unmovable. In a world where there is no place to hide from pain and suffering; there is one who provides an impenetrable shelter. In a world where no one can provide a way of escape from harm and hurt; there is one who delivers. His name is Jesus! Christ is our shield! If you know Christ as your Savior, He is forever yours and you are forever His.
“I Will Love the Lord”
Psalm 18:1—” I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.”
When considering the many provisions that our Lord makes for us every minute of the day, we should be moved to love Him more. The Lord is our strength. Every breath that we take, every step that we take, and every day that we live, the Lord is our strength!
When we survey how desperately helpless, we truly are, our love for the Lord will only increase. I, like David, love the Lord because He is my strength. Without Him, we are weak and frail. But with God, His strength is our strength, therefore, I will love the Lord!
“Under the Shadow of His Wings”
We take confidence in the fact God will hear our cries for help! Our Lord does not play games with our needs nor our cries for help. He hears us and listens to us intently! Our Lord showers us with kindness and mercy each day. The Psalmist asks to be hidden under the shadow of the Lord’s wings.
To be hidden under the shadow of His wings is to be hidden from the enemy! The enemy cannot steal us out from under the shadow of the Lord’s wings. He is our shelter and refuge. Rest in His protection and provision. He hears us! He listens to us! He showers us with grace and mercy! He hides us under the shadow of His wings!
Psalm 17:6—8 “6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. 7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. 8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings”
“Trusting into the Night”
Psalm 16:7– “I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.”
Trusting the Lord does not seem as difficult in the busyness of the day! We have good times and bad times all throughout the day and such, but in the stillness of the night is often when our fears tear at our soul the most.
David had learned to glorify God in quiet and dark times of the night. He glorified the very God who had given him counsel. When our mind gets the best of us as we lay ourselves down to sleep, we must remember the good counsel of His word and praise Him in the stillness of the night! Trust Him in the morning, daytime, evening, and trust Him into the Night!
“Who Is Gonna Be In Heaven”
Psalms 15–“1 LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.”
Who will dwell in the Lord’s tabernacle and in His Holy Hill the Psalmist asks? In Revelation 21:3, the Bible says “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people.” In this portion of The Revelation, we see the new heaven and the new earth and the Lord Jesus is the Tabernacle of God. Who is going to be in heaven? Only those who are righteous and holy!
The Psalmist goes on to describe the practices of those who will abide with the Lord. He describes those people as those who walk righteously, does good, speaks in truth, doesn’t backbite others, nor do they commit evil to their Neigbor. David has laid out a pattern for a Christian’s life. Sadly, we fail at these requirements sometimes. However, on that day that the Lord calls His children home, we will live forever in perfect harmony and righteousness for all of eternity. We will be made whole by the finished work of Christ in our life. We should strive to live holy and righteous every day of our life because our Heavenly Father is Holy. One day, we will live with Him forever; Holy and Righteous. Only those found in Christ is going to be in Heaven. Are you in Christ?
“A Biblical Understanding of Man”
Psalms 14:1–3 “1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
There are people who declare with intense certainty that there is no God! They attempt to convince others of their “faith” that there is no God. Then there are those who do not deny his existence but reject Him and His Holy standard for mankind. The reality of it all is this; for a man to say there is no God is foolish and has become a fool within his own heart. Man knows there is God, he just rejects Him.
Mankind has done more harm to himself and creation than anything. Man is capable of anything and is wicked to the core. None apart from Christ does good. The Psalmist says that God looked down from heaven to see if any man did seek God. He found none. There was none that did good, no, not one! This is why Jesus came to us, bled, and died! He paid our sin debt so that whosoever calls upon His name and believes upon Him, His death, and resurrection, would live. The sooner we realize that man is inherently wicked, and God alone is good and righteous, the better off we will be.
“Choosing to Praise Even While in Doubt”
There are seasons in our life when our feelings lead us to believe that the Lord is distant. Questions arise within our mind such as: “Where are you Lord?” It’s in these times that doubt leads to anxiety. Anxious feelings that you are just about to be toppled by your circumstances get overwhelming. We cannot trust our feelings because feelings are not rooted in truth. Truth is rooted in God’s word.
The Psalmist often felt these same types of feelings. He wrestled and fought with the same doubts and fears. The way that he battled them can be a valuable lesson for us to learn. He chose to praise the Lord even while in doubt and confusion. Doing so will focus our attention on the gracious and merciful track record of our Lord to us. Choose to Praise Him! He is right there with you every step of the way!
Psalm 13 “1 How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; 4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. 5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. 6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.”
“The Words of Our Lord are Sure”
Psalm 12:6–7–“6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”
Very few things can a person count on in this life. People change, relationships change, friendships change, jobs change, and just about everything else we can think of changes. One of the most unsure things in this life is the words of man. We witness people boldly saying one thing while simultaneously doing something else. We hear promises all the time only to see the promises broken. Sadly, this is the world that we live in. This takes it’s toll on us because we desire sureness.
David sings of the sureness of the words of the Lord! The purity of the Lord’s words is likened to silver tried seven times in the fire. There are no impurities. His words are pure and forever. In a world where nothing is sure and everything changes, we must go to the unchanging word of Almighty God! His word will keep us, sustain us, and give us unchanging hope and stability in this ever changing world!
“The Lord Sees”
Psalm 11:4–7– “4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. 5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. 6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.”
We must trust in the omniscience of our Lord. There is nothing that he does not know. There is nothing that He does not see. His eyes are upon the children of men at all times; both the righteous and the unrighteous. He hates all sin that man commits and He will judge all sinners! No sinner will go unaccounted for. They will stand before the Judge, Christ Jesus!
Take comfort in knowing that the Lord will make all wrongs right and He does not miss any wrongdoing. He sees all! He keeps perfect record. Child of God, be grateful today and everyday for the grace that has been shown upon you in Christ’s forgiveness. God sees Jesus’ righteousness when He beholds you! The Lord likewise sees the unrighteous deeds of the wicked, and anything less than repentance, will turn to His righteous judgement. The Lord sees all!
“The Lord is Forever King”
Psalm 10:16–18– “16 The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land. 17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: 18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.”
In this present day that we live, there are many anti-christ’s walking and talking amongst us everyday. No, they are not “The Anti-Christ;” however, they are without any doubt, anti-Christ. They oppose righteousness at all levels. They wage war against anything wholesome and good.
As a child of God, do not get down in the dumps. Jesus is Lord forever. There is coming a day when all the anti-christ foes will be no more. Christ, His Kingdom, and His citizens will rule and reign forever. As the Psalmist says: “The man of the earth will oppress no more.” Thank God, the man of heaven, Christ Jesus will reign as Lord forever!
“The Grim Reality Apart From Christ”
Psalm 9:17 “17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”
There is nothing more imminent than the death of the wicked and their ways. Just as sure as oxygen is required to breath, those that forget God shall die. Each human being to ever draw breath, whose faith is not in the Lord Jesus, is wicked. The only way to be justified and clothed in righteousness is to be found in the Lord Jesus Christ. The wicked will die a “forever death!”
All nations that forget God will die! What makes up nations? People! When nations forget God, that is, His ways, who He is, and His Righteous demands, that nation shall die. The United States of America has been on the thin threads of grace for some time. Our nation promotes, protects, and defends much wickedness. Our blessed nation is not immune to the reality of scripture’s declaration to wicked people and wicked nations. The word “hell” in Psalm 9:17 comes from the Hebrew word, “Sheol”. Sheol means grave.
What can we do about this imminent death of a nation? Go, tell your loved ones, co-workers, peers, and colleagues about the hope that is found in Christ Jesus. Share the Gospel/Good news. Good news is only perceived as such when the reality of bad news sinks in. Good news is only good news if it reaches those who need it in time. Share His gospel and the need for His gospel.
“To Know Him is to Trust Him”
Psalm 9:10 “10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”
To know the Lord is to know His faithfulness. From the very beginning of salvation, one’s trust in the Lord must be present. We believe upon the Lord for salvation because we no longer trust in ourself. The times that we feel the most distant from the Lord is when we shift our trust back to ourselves. When we seek the Lord and trust in His provision, He will never disappoint. He will never forsake those who seek Him. To know the Lord is to trust everything about Him. He will not abandon those who trust Him. Praise His name!
“Losing the Magnifying Glass”
It is easy to look around and see injustice, sins destruction, and unfairness. Creation itself cries out for restoration and redemption! We must be careful not to look at everything through the lens of a magnifying glass. A Magnifying glass magnifies only the things under its scope. It does not give the whole picture.
While living in this sin cursed world, we must realize that all the terrible things are under our magnifying glass. When seeing all the trouble through a magnifying glass, it removes our peripheral vision and far-sighted vision. There is a day coming when all wrongs will be made right and righteous judgement will be delivered by the Lord. The Lord and His righteousness will reign forever!
Psalm 9:6—7 6 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them. 7 But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. 8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.”
“Wholehearted Praise”
Psalm 9:1, 2 “1 I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.”
When considering our praise to God, we must realize that our praise will never exceed the room we allow for Him in our heart. Whatever we allow our heart to be attached to the most, there we will find our passion and adoration.
In the intro to this Davidic Psalm, He sings praise to God with his whole heart! He testifies of God’s great works within his life. His mind and heart are fixated on the goodness of God, and it causes him to be glad and rejoice in songs of praise!
If we fail to dwell on his goodness and mighty works, our hearts will be filled with something us. This is how our heart gets cluttered with things far less important than King Jesus. Empty your heart out and center it on His goodness and mighty works! You will have no choice but to sing praises unto Him! This is wholehearted praise! He is worthy!
“Man’s Significant Role”
“God our Ruler”
The magnitude of God Almighty cannot be comprehended. It’s taxing to the human mind to attempt comprehension of how great the Lord God is! David cried out “Lord, our Lord” in Psalm 8:1; In proper contextual definition of Lord in this passage, we see the name of the Lord as Adonai. Adonai means: “one who expresses power and authority.” God is Sovereign overall!
The name of the Lord in and of itself is strong and mighty. The name of our Lord does not bring unity; instead, it brings division and rebellion. Lost man wants nothing to do with our supreme Lord, Adonai. He reigns in power and majesty! He is Lord over all and this reality is determined by no man. It’s simply a reality. Whether you are located in the largest cities of America, or the most remote areas of the jungle, He is God, ruler of all!
Our Lord is not in the dark on anything that has happened, is happening, or anything that ever will happen. He knows where you are, what you are going through, and nothing squeaks by the throne of God! He is God our ruler! He’s got this!
Psalm 8:1 “1 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.”
“God Judges All”
For many, the presumption that the wicked and their evil works shall never come to an end is a constant thought and fear. The question arises within ones heart, “Does the Lord even see my attempt to live righteous?” Before we get too impressed with our righteous living, we must realize this fundamental truth; the only desire we have to live righteous is His righteousness within us. This is not a natural inclination. There is no good within us outside of the Lord.
God is consistent in both attributes of mercy and anger. God judges the righteous and He judges the wicked and the only righteous people are those who are clothed in Christ’s righteousness. God is angry with the wicked every day. Judgement will come to all men! Dr. Adrian Roger’s once said that the only difference between the sin of lost men and saved men is this: “Lost men sin on a credit card, saved men sin on a “cash only” basis.” The wicked will not get away with their evil deeds. If they fail to repent and look to Christ, they will pay the full payment for their sins. The righteous are established in Christ. We are judged too, but praise God, we are seen in Christ.
Psalm 7:9–11 “9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. 11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.”
“Lord, Have Mercy on Me”
Repentance is a work of the Holy Spirit in the life whom the Spirit is working. For a believer, there is no place more miserable than living an unrepentant life. There is no peace and our sin is constantly before us. We go to bed with it on our mind and we awake to it on our mind. Our Lord is convicting us of our sin and the lack of peace is His chastisement.
The key to finding peace in such a time is repentance. Repentance is yielding to the change of mind and direction that the Lord has called us to in our sin. The longer we resist His call to repent and turn, the longer we are in misery. In Psalms 6, we see the brokenness of God’s child in repentance. The Psalmist sees God’s anger and displeasure with his unrepentant heart and it has moved him to fearful misery. He cries out in confession and repentance. This is what every believer must do. Confess our sins and ask for forgiveness. Repent and turn towards God. He will show us mercy.
Psalm 6:1–4 “1 O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? 4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.”
“Rejoice in His Refuge”
Christ is worthy to be praised. He is worthy to be promoted among all people. He has surrounded us with His protection and covered us in His promises. Brag on Him today and each day that He blesses you with. We are to rejoice in His refuge! His eyes are always upon us. His protection is like nothing we can comprehend! We are to rejoice in His refuge! He is a wonderful God!
“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: Let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; With favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.”
Psalm 5:11-12
“The Man-Made Love of God”
One of man’s most wicked inventions is “a god” made according to his own standards and preferences. When we examine the true and living God of the Bible, we will quickly discover things about Him that we would rather not be true. After all, he is the father of everyone; right? He radiates love toward all people; right? NO! You see, man has a way of making his own god to look, sound, and be exactly how he wishes him to be. Man has also made a god with “man-made love” too.
One of the strongest passages in the Bible reveals to us that the God of the Bible, the true and Living God, loves on His terms which is derivative of His divine attributes. Man doesn’t get to determine who God loves, what God loves, or how God loves! We must have a proper understanding of how much God hates sin and wickedness. If we examine the cross of Christ, we will see God’s hatred of sin! He spared not His only son who was made to be sin that we could be made the righteousness of God. God hates sin!
Sin is not a living and breathing organism on it’s own. Sin is acts performed by men that break the demands of God. His demand is sinless perfection! You cannot see sin apart from mans part in it. This Psalm of David puts into proper perspective God’s position on wickedness and those who are evildoers. There’s no explaining this away. There’s no dismissing it. The weight of this passage should draw us to our knees in thanksgiving for the cross of Calvary and the Salvation that God has provided to us, Jesus met God’s demand for sinless perfection on the sinners behalf. May this Psalm of David give us a proper perspective of God’s position on sin and the sinner. May we never be guilty of making up our own version of God’s love. To do so is to make our own “god” to our liking and into our own image.
“For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: Neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: The LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.”
Psalm 5:4-6
“Sleeping in Anger”
Unrighteous anger is an unnecessary burden to the Christian that is never justified. If it’s never justified, then it is never ok to harbor. The Bible systematically calls us to a life of peace, love an forgiveness. Every single time that I have harbored anger for a period of time, it has done me so much harm spiritually and even physically. The stress and tension that is associated with harboring anger day after day and into the night. The pressure and tension within ones soul from harbored anger is taken to bed where we lie down to “rest.” True rest never comes when that kind of tension is bound up inside a persons soul.
David writes in Psalm 4:4 “4 Be angry and do not sin; reflect in your heart while on your bed and be silent. Selah” The idea of this verse is to let unrighteous anger go. Reflect on where your heart is before lying down in bed. In other words, don’t go to bed with anger bound up in your heart. Paul reiterates this same teaching in Ephesians 4:26, 27 “26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.” The result in living this way is opening yourself up to the devil! Seek forgiveness, seek reconciliation, and work toward restoration. Do not harbor anger during the day and take it to bed with you at night. This is a losing battle child of God! Trust Him at His word and LET IT GO!
“Our Lord of Rest and Peace”
Psalm 4:8 “8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”
The believer’s safety is in the Lord. Our rest and our peace comes from God alone. This is a direct benefit of the salvation that He has provided to His children. At the end of the day, although taxing and sometimes filled with trouble, we can lay ourselves down in the rest and peace that comes only from Him.
We can and should do everything that we can do to live a safe and productive life, but when trials and troubles come fierce against us, our best is simply not enough. We’re robbed of peace and rest if we trust in our own ability to overcome. We have a Heavenly Father who will make us to lie down and rest in Him and covers us in His peace. Trust in the God of our salvation!
“Trust During Trouble”
King David knew a thing or two about trouble. There was a time when David’s own son turned on him while seeking the power of the throne. The Bible teaches that David fled for a season during that trouble. I can’t imagine the emotion that was going through David while fleeing Absalom’s pursuit. On top of that, it was his own son. David felt desperation.
When trouble comes our way, it can be conflict with people at work, the community, and sometimes even with family. Trouble can come in the form of sickness, financial woes, and many other ways; the reality of these troubles is that they bring stress, anxiety, and unrest.
David shares his confidence in the Lord when he was in a very troubled time in his life and family. David declares his trouble and proceeds to sing aloud what his Lord means to him. He sings praises to God for hearing and answering him in his trouble. His rest comes from the Lord. No matter how bad things get, his rest is in and from the Lord! He is the same God to His children today. Call on His name and cast your burdens upon Him. You can trust God during your trouble. He will sustain you!
“LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; My glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, And he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, That have set themselves against me round about.”
Psalm 3:1-6
“Laughter From Heaven”
A Christian does not have to look far to see the many angles that the wicked take to undo, overrule, or dismiss the Laws of God. Whether it’s man’s attempt to redefine marriage and claim it as his to redefine, or mans attempt to ignore God’s assignment of gender at birth. Man has cheapened the value of life down to a view of inconvenience or choice. The long but consistent effort to destroy family rages on today. The attacks of the enemy through the unregenerate are relentless.
These attacks are nothing new. They raged against the Lord from the beginning. David speaks of this in Psalms 2 and even makes prophetic reference to King Jesus who has yet to come in flesh at the time of this Psalm. Jesus is the Anointed One spoken of.
David gives the glim future of the wicked at the hands of the Holy King of Zion, Christ Jesus. As the war against all that is Holy and Righteous rages on; laughter rings out from heaven. Holy ridiculous comes from heaven. Anger radiates from heaven against those who thwart war against God and righteousness. Payday is coming! Righteousness wins for all of eternity! God laughs at the wicked attempts to remove Him and His Law. Why? Because it is truly comical to think that man could topple our Holy God in Heaven! Trust in Christ, He is supreme and has the final say!
Psalm 2:1–6 “1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.”
“Righteous versus Un-Righteous Living”
Sometimes the question is posed, “is it worth living the Christian life?” Most often , this question is asked during seasons of difficulty. Trials and tribulations come to the righteous in ways that sometimes leave us confused and asking why.
David likens the righteous people to a tree that is planted by a stream of water. You see, a tree planted by a stream of water does not mean that storms do not come by that way nor harsh and long winters. There are still seasons of drought and harsh heat where that tree is planted. However, that tree is planted beside a place where proper water and nutrients will sustain the tree during all seasons.
The Christian that loves God’s word and practices God’s word is just like that tree. The storms come, the winters are long, and the droughts parch our dry soul, but we have a foundation and a source that the wicked do not have. We are sustained in the Lord just as the tree planted by the river.
The wicked do not have this blessing. They are like seed blowing in the wind. They will not withstand the judgement of God! It is imperative for the children of God to be rooted in His word and learn to love His word just like the tree planted by the river!
“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: But the way of the ungodly shall perish.”
Psalm 1:3-6
“The Pathway of the Righteous”
There are only two paths that any person can be on in life. The pathway of righteousness or the pathway of wickedness. There are no neutral paths. While walking in the pathway of righteousness, there are always distractions from the other pathway. There are those who give their advice on how life can and should be lived. Often, these folk from the other pathway mock and ridicule the pathway that we’re on as Christians.
As Christian’s, we cannot allow ourselves to be distracted from those who do not know Christ. They are in their lane and in no way should we be distracted by their direction or pathway. They are following signs and signals from a different headquarters. When we attempt to follow their lead and listen to their advice and or ridicule, we then become miserable.
Happiness for the Christian is found in dwelling on the Lord and His righteous ways. The Lord instructs us through His word and joy and happiness that lasts will follow. Just as no one following Interstate signs to Los Angelos will end up in Miami; no Christian taking advice from lost men will land in joy and happiness. Dear Christian, stay in your lane. Follow the instruction of the Lord. Dwell upon it at all times. Stay on the pathway of righteousness.
Psalm 1:1–2 “1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
