Category Archives: Psalms

Learning To Pray Effectively, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Psalms, Suffering / Adversity, Thankfulness

You Have Turned My Mourning Into Dancing

We all face difficult times, and they do not always turn out the way we expect. We can always turn to God for help. He loves us and wants the best for us, even when we do not recognize what is best for us. Come to God for help. Trust in Him. Sing praise to Him as He answers your prayers, even if it is not in the way you wanted. He knows best.

Psalm 30

1I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up,
And have not let my enemies rejoice over me.

2O LORD my God,
I cried to You for help, and You healed me.

3O LORD, You have brought up my soul from Sheol;
You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit.

4Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.

5For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.

6Now as for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I will never be moved.”

7O LORD, by Your favor You have made my mountain to stand strong;  You hid Your face, I was dismayed.

8To You, O LORD, I called,
And to the Lord I made supplication:

9“What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your faithfulness?

10“Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me;
O LORD, be my helper.”

11You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,

12That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

God has truly been gracious to me. He has turned mourning in my life into dancing and joy more than once to be sure. Reflect for a few moments… how has God turned mourning and sadness into dancing in your life? Take time to thank Him right now. Are you in a season of suffering and mourning right now? Come to God humbly and ask for His help and trust Him in how we helps you… even if it is not exactly how you wanted.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Psalms, Strong in Our Weakness, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Worship the LORD and Give Him Glory

In good times and in times of suffering and struggles, we do well to remember the power and glory of our Lord… He sits as King of Kings forever. He is above all and has authority over all. Praise Him! Accept and celebrate the peace He offers!

Psalm 29

      1Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

      2Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name;
Worship the LORD in holy array.

      3The voice of the LORD is upon the waters;
The God of glory thunders,
The LORD is over many waters.

      4The voice of the LORD is powerful,
The voice of the LORD is majestic.

      5The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

      6He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
And Sirion like a young wild ox.

      7The voice of the LORD hews out flames of fire.

      8The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

      9The voice of the LORD makes the deer to calve
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everything says, “Glory!”

      10The LORD sat as King at the flood;
Yes, the LORD sits as King forever.

      11The LORD will give strength to His people;
The LORD will bless His people with peace.

Take comfort in trusting the Lord. He is in control. We can trust Him whether or not things are going the way we want or expect. We can find peace in Him and in no one else throughout our lives in every situation through our faith in our God!

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Hope, Learning To Pray Effectively, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Psalms

Trusting in the Unseen: David’s Unwavering Confidence in God’s Response

How often do we turn to God for help, not really confident that He will answer us? Many of the Psalms that David wrote demonstrate something much more… hope and faith that God will answer even before the answer is delivered! David prays to ask God for help and then follows up by thanking and praising God for the answer that he knows will come.

Psalm 28

A Prayer for Help, and Praise for Its Answer.

A Psalm of David.

 1To You, O LORD, I call;
My rock, do not be deaf to me,
For if You are silent to me,
I will become like those who go down to the pit.

2Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help,
When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

3Do not drag me away with the wicked
And with those who work iniquity,
Who speak peace with their neighbors,
While evil is in their hearts.

4Requite them according to their work and according to the evil of their practices;
Requite them according to the deeds of their hands;
Repay them their recompense.

5Because they do not regard the works of the LORD
Nor the deeds of His hands,
He will tear them down and not build them up.

6Blessed be the LORD,
Because He has heard the voice of my supplication.

7The LORD is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart exults,
And with my song I shall thank Him.

8The LORD is their strength,
And He is a saving defense to His anointed.

9Save Your people and bless Your inheritance;
Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.

Praise to You, God, for we know that you hear the prayers of Your people even before you answer them. I pray You would strengthen me in my faith as You did David. I pray I would come to You in prayer filled with hope and faith that You hear and will answer. Glory to God, creator of all things, who loves His people enough to listen whenever we seek Him!

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Courage / Fear, Protector / Deliverer, Psalms

Trust In God Fearlessly, No Matter What You Face

When we put our trust in people, organizations, or things of this world we will most assuredly be let down. However, do not be downhearted! Rejoice that we can learn to put our full trust in God, no matter what situation or enemy we face. We can trust Him fearlessly.

Psalm 27

A Psalm of David.

1The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?

2When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.

3Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I shall be confident.

4One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:
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 meditate in His temple.

5For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.

6And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

7Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and answer me.

8When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You,
“Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.”

9Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation!

10For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
But the LORD will take me up.

11Teach me Your way, O LORD,
And lead me in a level path
Because of my foes.

12Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.

13I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

14Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the LORD.

Developing a strong relationship with God, as David had, requires commitment to study scripture and pray on a consistent basis. We must seek Him in order to find Him. As we grow in our relationship with God, we will also learn to trust Him more and more no matter what we face. The outcome may or may not be what we ask for or expect, but we can trust God… knowing that He is in control and that we serve Him in this life and we can enjoy the hope of looking forward to spending eternity with Him after we die.

1The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Learning To Pray Effectively, Psalms, Seeking God

Examine Me, O Lord, And Try Me

For those of us who are striving to live according to God’s word, truly applying it to our lives in how we live, Psalm 26 is a wonderful prayer with which to come before our wonderful Creator.

Psalm 26

Protestation of Integrity and Prayer for Protection.

A Psalm of David.

     1Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity,
And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

      2Examine me, O LORD, and try me;
Test my mind and my heart.

      3For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
And I have walked in Your truth.

      4I do not sit with deceitful men,
Nor will I go with pretenders.

      5I hate the assembly of evildoers,
And I will not sit with the wicked.

      6I shall wash my hands in innocence,
And I will go about Your altar, O LORD,

      7That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving
And declare all Your wonders.

      8O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house
And the place where Your glory dwells.

      9Do not take my soul away along with sinners,
Nor my life with men of bloodshed,

      10In whose hands is a wicked scheme,
And whose right hand is full of bribes.

      11But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
Redeem me, and be gracious to me.

      12My foot stands on a level place;
In the congregations I shall bless the LORD.

As you pray, ask God to show you in what areas of your life and relationships you need to change to more fully submit to Him.

All Powerful / King of All, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Psalms

The Earth Is the Lord’s, and All It Contains

The earth is the Lord’s and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. Psalm 24 reminds us that all things and all people belong to God. He created all things and is the master of all things.

Psalm 24

A Psalm of David.

1The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains,
The world, and those who dwell in it.

2For He has founded it upon the seas
And established it upon the rivers.

3Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
And who may stand in His holy place?

4He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood
And has not sworn deceitfully.

5He shall receive a blessing from the LORD
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6This is the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face—even Jacob.

7Lift up your heads, O gates,
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!

8Who is the King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
The LORD mighty in battle.

9Lift up your heads, O gates,
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!

10Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
He is the King of glory.

Creation itself declares His glory.

Psalm 19:1 1The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

God reminds us that everything belongs to Him, including us and all we own! The way we spend our time and money, the way we treat people, our own motives and attitudes should all reflect God’s instruction revealed in the Bible and through the example of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Discussing a tithe can be a meaningful discussion, but God owns it all, not just a part. God holds us accountable for how we use all of our time, talent, and money, as demonstrated in the parable of the talents.

Matthew 25:14-30 

      14“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15“To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16“Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17“In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18“But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

      19“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20“The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

      22“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

      24“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

      26“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

      29“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30“Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

I encourage all of you who wish to honor God with your lives to do a simple exercise over the next week or weeks. Start today. Keep track of how you spend your time. For example… sleeping, eating, playing, shopping, watching sports, studying the Bible, praying. Compare how much time you spend doing each type of activity. Using this data, review where you spend your time. How much time do you invest in your relationship with God? Is it really a priority? or an afterthought you squeeze in when you have time. How does that make you feel? What changes should you make?

Try the same exercise in reviewing your monthly expenses. Where do you spend your money? Are you stewarding it for God? This does not mean just writing a check to a church. Often we can be better stewards than many churches if we work at it. Make sure you know how your money is being spent when you give it to someone, even in churches and ministries. Is it lost in administration cost? or actually following the commands of God? To be good stewards, we must take time to evaluate how we give as well as how we spend for ourselves. I like to put money aside every paycheck to do the Lord’s work specifically. Then when I see the chance to help others in need, I can do so easily and joyfully in Jesus’ name. I also give to support churches and ministries, but only after I fully evaluate each one.

What talents has God given you? List them out. Are you using them for God? If not, write down three ways you could do so. Which one will you pursue first?

I like to repeat this evaluation periodically, maybe once every three months at first and once a year later on after you have been doing it awhile.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Psalms

The LORD Is My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want

Psalm 23 is a beautiful commentary on our Lord and how He cares for us. We are sheep who need a good shepherd.

Psalm 23

1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

2He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

3He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

I find this Psalm brings me great peace in troubled times. I pray it comforts you as well. How glorious that we can trust completely in our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ!

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Prophecy, Prophecy, Protector / Deliverer, Psalms, Suffering / Adversity

A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise… God Is Our Deliverer

Psalm 22 at once represents the feeling all believers may experience in times of suffering and also foreshadows the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, God Himself, who became man to suffer and die for our sins and mistakes so that we could be forgiven.

For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David.

1My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.

      2O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest.

      3Yet You are holy,
O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

      4In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You delivered them.

      5To You they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not disappointed.

      6But I am a worm and not a man,
A reproach of men and despised by the people.

      7All who see me sneer at me;
They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,

      8“Commit yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”

      9Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;
You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.

      10Upon You I was cast from birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb.

      11Be not far from me, for trouble is near;
For there is none to help.

      12Many bulls have surrounded me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.

      13They open wide their mouth at me,
As a ravening and a roaring lion.

      14I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It is melted within me.

      15My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;
And You lay me in the dust of death.

      16For dogs have surrounded me;
A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet.

      17I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me;

      18They divide my garments among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots.

      19But You, O LORD, be not far off;
O You my help, hasten to my assistance.

      20Deliver my soul from the sword,
My only life from the power of the dog.

      21Save me from the lion’s mouth;
From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me.

      22I will tell of Your name to my brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.

      23You who fear the LORD, praise Him;
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.

      24For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from him;
But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.

      25From You comes my praise in the great assembly;
I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.

      26The afflicted will eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the LORD.
Let your heart live forever!

      27All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD,
And all the families of the nations will worship before You.

      28For the kingdom is the LORD’S
And He rules over the nations.

      29All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,
All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him,
Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.

      30Posterity will serve Him;
It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.

      31They will come and will declare His righteousness
To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.

All of us face suffering of various kinds in this world… including Jesus Christ, His disciples, and God’s prophets. What a wonderful way to approach it… to trust God and even praise Him in the midst of the suffering. Let us each commit ourselves to this end so as to live the way Jesus Christ lived… submitted to the Lordship of God in good times and in bad times. Let our faith not waver based on our circumstances.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Learning To Pray Effectively, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Psalms, Thankfulness

Be Glad in God’s Strength and Rejoice in His Salvation!

King David praises God for deliverance in Psalm 21. David opens up by proclaiming how even a king is dependent on God for salvation and finds joy in this! So many powerful people try to find salvation in money or earthly power… only a righteous man recognizes submission to God and reliance on His power, even when he has the power of a king. How much greater is God’s power for those of us who have eyes to see and ears to hear!

Psalm 21

     1O LORD, in Your strength the king will be glad,
And in Your salvation how greatly he will rejoice!

      2You have given him his heart’s desire,
And You have not withheld the request of his lips.

Selah.

      3For You meet him with the blessings of good things;
You set a crown of fine gold on his head.

      4He asked life of You,
You gave it to him,
Length of days forever and ever.

      5His glory is great through Your salvation,
Splendor and majesty You place upon him.

      6For You make him most blessed forever;
You make him joyful with gladness in Your presence.

      7For the king trusts in the LORD,
And through the lovingkindness of the Most High he will not be shaken.

      8Your hand will find out all your enemies;
Your right hand will find out those who hate you.

      9You will make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger;
The LORD will swallow them up in His wrath,
And fire will devour them.

      10Their offspring You will destroy from the earth,
And their descendants from among the sons of men.

      11Though they intended evil against You
And devised a plot,
They will not succeed.

      12For You will make them turn their back;
You will aim with Your bowstrings at their faces.

      13Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength;
We will sing and praise Your power.

David recognizes that even a king needs God. He is not deceived by worldly power to thinking that a king does not need God.

If this is true for a king in this world, than how much more so for the rest of us who have no such power or influence!

No matter what troubles or danger we face, God is sufficient to help us overcome it. We find true life and purpose in serving God. With God, we overcome death itself.

All we have in this world will be taken away from us… guaranteed. If not during our lives, then it is taken or lost when we die. We take nothing with us. Few things matter when we die…

  • Will we spend eternity in Heaven with God or in Hell, separated from God?
  • Have we lived for God and helped others to find genuine relationship with Him?
  • Will He tell us “Well done, good and faithful servant” or “Be gone, I knew you not”?

These are the questions that demand answers. God is gracious in that you have your entire life to prepare, but that opportunity ends when you die and few of us know when that will happen, so the matter is urgent.  Once you die it is too late to change the answers. All that is left is to accept the consequences… you will either have absolute joy or sorrow and suffering.

The good news is that each of us gets to choose! No one else chooses for us. The invitation is open to all.

God shows His love for us in this life and in the offer for eternal life through accepting Jesus as Lord. He became man, suffered, died, was buried and rose again so that we could be forgiven of the bad behaviors, thoughts, and actions in our lives and be reconciled to God. Have you turned away from your sin and asked God for forgiveness through Jesus Christ? Have you accepted Jesus as your savior?

Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Learning To Pray Effectively, Protector / Deliverer, Psalms, Strong in Our Weakness

May the Lord Answer You In the Day of Trouble

Psalm 20 provides an example of a righteous prayer for victory over enemies. I always appreciate the focus in Psalms on praising and honoring God and not just a focus on what we want.

Psalm 20

1May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!

2May He send you help from the sanctuary
And support you from Zion!

3May He remember all your meal offerings
And find your burnt offering acceptable!

4May He grant you your heart’s desires
And fulfill all your counsel!

5We will sing for joy over your victory,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners.
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

6Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.

7Some boast in chariots and some in horses,
But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.

8They have bowed down and fallen,
But we have risen and stood upright.

9Save, O Lord;
May the King answer us in the day we call.

Surely all of us have times in our lives when we are facing enemies. They may sometimes be other people who want to come against us personally, or perhaps people who dislike or persecute all Christians, and we must always remain prepared as we face our greatest enemy, Satan.

David consistently calls for joy while he prays for God’s help. He highlights victory as if it has already been achieved. It is not that God has already answered… it is because David trusts God completely. Even while he still experiences the difficult situations and still faces the enemy, David knows that God will answer.

When we come before God is prayer, asking humbly His help, let us remember to rejoice in knowing our loving Creator is in control and He hears our voice. As with David, as we petition God, let us also realize that He will answer. It may not always be how we expect, or when we expect,  but God will hear and answer righteous prayer.

To learn more about righteous prayer, study our teaching Learning to Pray Effectively.