Psalm 119:48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,

Psalm 119:48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.

I love your commandments, they speak and guide me to you, they reveal the beauty of you to me, providing a structure for me to live within.

Psalm 119:41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise;

Psalm 119:41
Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise;

I know, Lord, that your steadfast love does come to me, but I plead for the out-working of your salvation in my life. I plead for the continuation of that good work which you have begun, Lord, show me the unseeable, teach me the unknowable, let me hear the unhearable, feel the untouchable; to know you and the Father who sent you.

Psalm 65:9-13 You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it;

Psalm 65:9-13
You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it. You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.

Lord, You speak to me each day through Your righteousness, Your awesome Power and Your infinite care of the infinitesimal. You who cause the stars to birth are the cause of each molecule moving; as You cause the galaxies to move in their paths, so you cause the gentle breeze to refresh and the rains to nourish. All creation shouts for joy as it experiences the goodness of Your hand,

Psalm 65:5-8 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation,

Psalm 65:5-8
By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples, so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.

You are not a clockwork god, one who winds up his creation, sets it down and lets it run willy-nilly as it and where it wills. No, You are a God who supervises and manages His creation with loving care; a God who enjoys the beauty of what He has fashioned and is determined to restore it to its pristine beauty in spite of the spoilage wreaked by man's sin and self-will.

Psalm 65:4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts!

Psalm 65:4
Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!

Lord, You have atoned for my transgressions, You have brought me into Your courts to be near to You. It is good to dwell in Your house forever, to bask in the radiance of Your holiness and the warmth of Your glory. You choose me before I was in my mother's womb to be one of Yours, a prince of the Realm.

Psalm 65:1-3 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song. Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed.

Psalm 65:1-3 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.
Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed. O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come. When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions.

LORD, it is so amazing that before the foundation of the world, You had Your plan of salvation in place, fully worked out in all details. You knew all the facets of my sin, You knew precisely how You would provide the One who would take my place and be my substitute bearing Your wrath for my sin. You are indeed an awesome God.

Exodus 34:14 for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God

Exodus 20:1-2, 4-6
And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ... "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

(for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), Exodus 34:14

Thank You, my Lord, that Your name is Jealous. What other god could be so solicitous of his people's welfare that he would demand total obeisance and complete dedication. You know what Your people need and have made provision and it is all contained in the scope and depth of Your word. If I follow and obey, You show Your love to the generations that follow after me. Praise You for Your Love and Mercy.

Psalm 119:40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!

Psalm 119:40
Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!

To know You and Your Father, that is life -- life in Your Presence, in Your Kingdom, in the here and now and in the yet to come. A life of shalom and righteousness; a life of walking with You, communing in the cool of the evening. Draw me closer Lord, I long for the fullness of this life.

Psalm 119:37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.

Psalm 119:37
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,/ look full in his wonderful face/ and the things of earth will grow strangely dim/ in the light of his glory and grace."

So true, Lord, yet sometimes so difficult. Satan waves a subtle flag of distractions before me, sometimes just with a promise of a few moments of relaxation or with the indulgence of a bit of grumbling about a problem I'm having. And there I go, lost my focus, forgot my purpose here, off on my own path and forgetting where life truly is.

Turn my eyes, Lord, full on Your wonderful face. And teach me to keep them there!

Psalms 119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.

Psalms 119:33
Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.

Perseverance, Lord, perseverance. Teach me perseverance to follow the way of Your statutes to the very end. Teach me to keep my focus on the there and then as I walk through the here and now.

Open the eyes of my heart to the unseen riches of Your Presence in the now. I don't want to look back at the end of my life here and realize that I missed so much of the goodness that You offered to me every day.

Psalm 64:10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!

Psalm 64:10
Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!

How good it is to know that I have complete and total refuge in You, a cause for rejoicing. And one of the great blessings is to know that as I draw closer to You, as my heart is transformed more and more into Your image, I have more and more reason for exultation. Praise You, my Lord.

Psalm 64:5-9 They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, "Who can see them?"

Psalm 64:5-9
They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, "Who can see them?" They search out injustice, saying, "We have accomplished a diligent search." For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep! But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly. They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads. Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.

Lord, there are so many of us who hide behind a faithful attitude and pious demeanor when in the company of fellow professing believers but are one with the world whenever we are in the presence of non-believing friends, family and acquaintances. What a disgrace to Your name, what shame to the work of the Cross, what denial of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Bring Your Church to its knees in repentance, seeking Your forgiveness and restoration to Your presence. Lord, that those of us whom You have called to minister to Your people be faithful shepherds and true to Your message of grace and mercy.

Psalm 64:1-4 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.

Psalm 64:1-4To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers, who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows, shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear.

Preserve my life from dread. Preserve my life from the fear of what "they" can do to me, from being consumed with imaginings of the consequences of dire circumstances. Keep me focused on You and on the realization that if You are for me, who can be against me. Dread of the future cannot not be a factor in my life and through the power of Your Holy Spirit, it will not.

Exodus 20:1-3 And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

Exodus 20:1-3
And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ... "you shall have no other gods before me."

You are my God, I swear allegiance to Your Word and to the Kingdom for which it stands. One Kingdom, under You with grace and mercy for all.

Psalm 119:27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts, and I will meditate on Your wondrous works.

Psalm 119:27
Make me understand the way of Your precepts, and I will meditate on Your wondrous works.

Give me understanding of the way of your precepts, an understanding, Lord, of that beautiful coherency that a hallmark of Your law. There is no law of unintended consequences in Your law; all fits together and and each part complements all other parts. It is complete and beautiful in its completion.

Give me understanding of the way of your precepts, an understanding, Lord, of the way in which Your precepts are leading me and the the direction that You have set out for me. Help me to clearly see where my foot is to be placed today and forgive my weak faith that demands to know where my foot is to be placed tomorrow.

Psalm 119:25 My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!

Psalm 119:25

My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!

Lord, I more than cling to the dust, I wallow in the filth. Why is it that I am so resistant to give up the ways and habits that bring death and turn to Your precepts that give life? I know completely and well that pride goes before a fall, and that a fall is inevitable and will be very painful, but I cling to my pride. I cannot let go, it is a false god, but it is my god.

Release me from the bondage of pride, Lord, release me into the joy of life in the Kingdom. Release me from the filth that stands between me and You, that pollutes our relationship and give me the Abundance that is offered.

Lord, this dust that my soul clings to, tarnishes my joy. I want Joy that is burnished and gleams, reflecting Your Glory truly and completely. Give me a through dusting! I need housecleaning.

Psalm 63: 9-11 But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; they shall be given over to the power of the sword;

Psalm 63: 9-11
But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

That peace that passes all understanding is a peace without end, without discontinuity, without diminishment. Your peace grows and fills as I draw closer to You and enter into Kingdom living as my modus operandi. I rejoice in Your presence as one who is new born to the Life. Praise You, my Lord and my Master

Psalm 63:6-9 [W]hen I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

Psalm 63:6-9

[W]hen I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Utter contentment, complete joy, entire satisfaction; richness, goodness, righteousness, holiness beyond imagination. You can and do do more than be can asked or imagined by those who seek to live in Your Kingdom.

Lord, as I meditate on Your Goodness in the watches of the night and in the brightness of the day; as my heart, mind and conscience seek the knowing of your Word, fill me with that peace that passes all understanding as You fill my heart and mind with Yourself.

Psalm 63:3-5 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

Psalm 63:3-5
Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

You are kindness and goodness and holiness and mercy and grace incarnate, You are that which satisfies the hunger that cannot be satisfied, slakes the thirst that cannot be slaked and comforts the longing that cannot be comforted.

Psalm 63:1-2 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you;

Psalm 63:1-2 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

Show me Your face, Lord, bring me into the radiance of Your presence. Bring a hunger for You that cannot be satisfied; a thirst that cannot be slaked, a longing after You that knows no comfort. Let me gaze upon Your glory and power as it moves and transforms, bless me with Your presence.

Exodus 20.1-2, 17 And God spoke all these words, saying, "You shall not covet ..."

Exodus 20:1-2, 17
And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ... "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's."

Why am I so willing to covet things and stuff but so unwilling to covet relationship with You? Why do I not spend time in communion with You but spend the time dreaming of trips to exotic lands and far off places? Sometimes, reading the Scriptures seems like a chore, why do I not covet that precious time in Your word and fight against any intrusion? Why are there mornings that I rush through my prayer time so that I can read the morning papers? Help me, Lord, to learn to covet my time with You.

Psalm 62:11-12 Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.

Psalm 62:11-12
Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.

I want to hear that, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." I want to see that what I have done in my life comes out of the fire as gold and silver, not hay and stubble that was consumed. I set my sights on this end, to bring glory to You and to your Name, seeking to live in obedience to your Word.

Psalm 62:9-10 Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion;

Psalm 62:9-10
Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

Why is it, Lord, that I am so quick to seek the advice of others, even those who have not demonstrated a love for You and for Your word? What does it take for me to learn that You, operating through the Holy Spirit, is all the guidance I need? Teach me, Lord, bring me to my knees.

Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

My Lord, my Only! The only Trustworthy One, at all times and in all things. In every circumstance and in every challenge. The Source of Wisdom and Power, the Source of Grace, Mercy and Love, the Source and the Refuge.

Psalm 62:5-6 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

Psalm 62:5-6
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Lord, it is You and You alone who provide the strength to stand against the Evil One; You are the pillar of my faith and the healer of my wounds. It is to You that I must learn to turn on times of trial; I must learn to wait on Your guidance and instruction, learn to wait until You tell me to move in the direction You would have me go.

Psalm 62:3-4 How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?

Psalm 62:3-4
How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?, They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah

In this time of trials, Lord, as I watch the rotting away of the moral fiber of the nation and the church following suit, it is difficult to remember that You are in control. Forgive me for not trusting You, for not believing You when You tell me that not even a sparrow falls without Your knowledge. Teach me to trust in Your promises and to take Your word as Your Word.

Psalm 62:1-2 For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.

Psalm 62:1-2 To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

Lord, I confess, sometimes I am shaken, sometimes I am afraid to wait for You, forgetting that You are my Rock and my Salvation, the impregnable Fortress.

Exodus 20.1-2, 16 …You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Exodus 20:1-2, 16
And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ...You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

If I cannot slander or bear false witness, then sarcasm is ruled out too. "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." Colossians 4:6 No slander, no ad hominem attacks, no insults. The guiding rule is to build up rather than tear down.