Psalm 109:1-5
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Be not silent, O God of my praise! For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues. They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause. In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love.Give me the strength, O Lord, to keep my eyes focused on You in the face of my adversaries and challenges. Teach me to give myself to prayer continuously; teach me to live according to Your goodness, not according to the lies of the evil one.
Psalm 119:97
Oh how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.Is not this a wonderful and worthwhile goal? To become so filled with Your word, to have Your Law so engraved on my heart that it is the spark that initiates and the light that guides every thought, every action, every action, every word of my day. Then and only then will I truly be able to say, "I have the mind of Christ."
Psalm 119:91
By Your appointment they stand this day, for all things are Your servants.Lord, I fight against accepting that inclusive "all" for how can evil things be Your servants. So much of my resistance is that I still have far more than a shred of self that insists on dominating my mind and thoughts; I fight against accepting that You are God and I am not.
But You are the LORD, God Almighty, the Son of the Living God, the Holy Spirit, I am Your servant. "All things work together for good for those that love You." I am Your servant, help me, Holy Spirit to accept "all."
Psalm 119:89-90
Forever, O LORD, Your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You have established the earth, and it stands fast.The earth stands fast, even in the onslaught of a hurricane. Or man's destructive nature. Your creation endures and displays Your might, grace and love.
Lord, be with us today as we seek to set aside the everyday routine and focus our souls, our hearts, our minds, our strength on Your beauty and grace.
Psalm 108:10-13
Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? Have You not rejected us, O God? You do not go out, O God, with our armies. Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! With God we shall do valiantly; it is He who will tread down our foes.Lord, rise up and lead Your people into battle against the forces of evil. Revive Your Church to lay siege against the gates of Hell. Fill us with Your zeal and fervor to carry the message of grace and mercy, the Good News of the Kingdom into the darkest corners of our towns and villages. Help us to grasp that Ambassador of Reconciliation is an active position with great responsibilities for advancing the Kingdom, not a sinecure.
Psalm 108:2-4
Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your steadfast love is great above the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.If my life is to be the harp, then I need to begin each day by giving thanks and praising Your name. How can I not do so? How can I hold back praising Your steadfast love and faithfulness? Only if I do not fully accept the totality of Your love for me, if I am holding some part of me back from You, if I have not surrendered and submitted to Your Lordship.
Let Your praises be ever in my mouth, a two-edged sword in my hands.
Psalm 108:2-4
Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your steadfast love is great above the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.If my life is to be the harp, then I need to begin each day by giving thanks and praising Your name. How can I not do so? How can I hold back praising Your steadfast love and faithfulness? Only if I do not fully accept the totality of Your love for me, if I am holding some part of me back from You, if I have not surrendered and submitted to Your Lordship.
Let Your praises be ever in my mouth, a two-edged sword in my hands.
Psalm 108:1
A Song. A Psalm of David. My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being!I think, Lord, I need to rephrase this a bit for it is as my heart grows in steadfastness towards You that I am moved to making melodies of praise to You. With all my being, -- every aspect of my life as an exquisitely tuned harp, skillfully playing a song of praise to You.
Psalm 119:81-82
My soul longs for Your salvation; I hope in Your word. My eyes long for Your promise; I ask, "When will You comfort me?"
He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20) Oh, Lord, I want to cry out and beg for the answer, "When is soon?" Give me the patience to trust and obey, to work as an ambassador of Your reconciliation while I wait for soon to be now.
Psalm 107:33-43
He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants. He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water. And there He lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in; they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield. By His blessing they multiply greatly, and He does not let their livestock diminish. When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow, He pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes; but He raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks. The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth. Whoever is wise, let Him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.
It is amazing, Lord, how Your goodness and love are reflected day by day in so many ways. When I learn to wait upon You, take my needs and concerns to You; then You lead, direct and provide.
Psalm 107:23-32
Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; they saw the deeds of the LORD, His wondrous works in the deep. For He commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and He brought them to their desired haven. Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! Let them extol Him in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders.Lord, I lift up family, friends and neighbors who are still fighting against You, refusing to accept Your offer of refuge and release from all the turmoil of life without You. Bless them, Lord, draw them into Your bosom, Your haven of rest and safety.
Psalm 107:17-22
Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He sent out His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of His deeds in songs of joy!Lord, thank You for the transformations that You have worked in me, for the love and mercy that have erased not only the sin but the love of sin from my life. And You continue to work through Your Holy Spirit to bring me into conformity with Your will and purpose.
Psalm 107:10-16
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. So He bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! For He shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.Thank You, my Lord, for You lifted me out of the morass that my sin had cast me into; You washed me and are making me presentable; You are leading me along the path of Kingdom living; You provide for my every need and protect me from the bonds of sin and destruction.
Now, Lord, use me to bring that same message of hope and release to my family and neighbors. It is part of the praise of obedience that I should be one of Your messengers of grace.
Psalm 107:4-9
Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.Amazing, my Lord, how You satisfy and provide. You truly lead me beside still waters, even in the midst of turmoil and strife. Your peace is like a great river flowing over me, feeding and nourishing me with stillness and joy. O, Lord that You would bring this same peace to my family, my children and grandchildren.
Psalm 107:1-3
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.Lord, You gathered me in from the Slough of Self-Sufficiency; redeemed me out of the mess and mire that I had created for myself out of my pride and stubbornness. Praise You, Lord; thank You, Lord; You are Love and Light.
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."
I have called you
to be my ambassador,
diligently seeking needs
where the blessings
I have given you can
serve My Kingdom.
Psalm 106:44-48
Nevertheless, He looked upon their distress, when He heard their cry. For their sake He remembered His covenant, and relented according to the abundance of His steadfast love. He caused them to be pitied by all those who held them captive. Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name and glory in Your praise. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise the LORD!Lord, Your covenant is from everlasting to everlasting. So incomprehensible to me that You are so gracious and forgiving. You relent and bring me back into Your loving arms time after time. Teach me, my Lord, to forgive those against whom I find reason to be offended as You do with me.
Psalm 106:40-43
Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against His people, and He abhorred His heritage; He gave them into the hand of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them. Their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their power. Many times He delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes and were brought low through their iniquity. Lord, how often must You deliver me from the consequences of my rash actions and disobedience? How often must I be reminded that You use even my disobedience to instruct and draw me closer to You?
Praise You, my Lord and Savior for Your faithfulness and love.
Psalm 106:34-39
They did not destroy the peoples, as the LORD commanded them, but they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did. They served their idols, which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood. Thus they became unclean by their acts, and played the whore in their deeds.Lord, where am I still entangled with the mores of this culture; where do I accept their ways rather than seeking Your ways? Some is deliberate, convict me of my willfulness, but some is an unawareness of the offense, teach me and convict me of my ignorance. Show me where the world is my guide and my arbiter of right and wrong; move the Holy Spirit into those places in my heart to set it right in Your eyes.
Psalm 106:32-33
They angered him at the waters of Meribah, and it went ill with Moses on their account, for they made his spirit bitter, and he spoke rashly with his lips.Lord, how often am I a Moses, allowing others to make me bitter and speaking rashly against them? Forgive me, release me from this sin, transform me into a man of peace and well reasoned, appropriate words. Give me Understanding and Your Wisdom so that they are what proceeds from my mouth, not my knowledge and thoughts.
Psalm 106:28-31
Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead; they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them. Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stayed. And that was counted to him as righteousness from generation to generation forever.How many times each day, Lord, do I yoke myself to a Baal, accepting the practices and judgments of this world to guide my own life? Where do I anger You and offend Your righteousness by my unwillingness to stand for Your precepts?
Lord, You have brought a Phinehas into my life, a man of God to stand and demand that I obey You rather than man. Give me the heart to listen and repent. And, Lord, give me the perception and grace to be a Phinehas to others, if and when You direct, but not in my own strength and wisdom but in Yours.
Psalm 106:24-27
Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in His promise. They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the LORD. Therefore He raised His hand and swore to them that He would make them fall in the wilderness, and would make their offspring fall among the nations, scattering them among the lands.Lord, where do I fail to rely on Your promise? Where do I let doubt and fear set in and begin to be the dominators of my life? Is there a spirit of complacency that drive me? Am I satisfied that I am being a good little Jack Horner? Root these out, Lord, cleanse and continue to make me suitable for the ministry You have set out for me. Let me not fail You, my Lord and Master.
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."Speak Truth, always,
in love and kindness,
build one another,
give them honor.
Seek My Wisdom to
enable winsome speech.
Psalm 106:19-23
They made a calf in Horeb and worshiped a metal image. They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. Therefore He said He would destroy them-- had not Moses, His chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away His wrath from destroying them.Lord, You are that Stander in the Breach, foretold by Moses, to turn away the righteous wrath of the LORD from me; You stand between me and the consequence of sin; You are the one who bore the punishment that is rightfully mine; You are the Lamb of God. Praise You, my Lord Jesus the Christ.
I continue to plead that You will cause Your Holy Spirit to exercise my conscience, making me aware of those idols that I still hunger after, to remove those afflictions from me, and to fill me with the glory of Your presence.
Psalm 106:13-18
But they soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel. But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert; He gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them. When men in the camp were jealous of Moses and Aaron, the holy one of the LORD, the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram. Fire also broke out in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.Lord, am I jealous of others and their gifts? Is this part of the problem that causes me to rebel against authority? Is some or all of my criticism of the leadership of the local churches fueled by jealously rather than sound application of Your word?
I come to You seeking revelation and transformation. Remove any spirit of jealously and replace it with Your spirit of love and servanthood.
Psalm 106:8-12
Yet He saved them for His name's sake, that He might make known His mighty power. He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and He led them through the deep as through a desert. So He saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy. And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left. Then they believed His words; they sang His praise.Lord, there are so many ways that Your glory is evident in my life. And so many that I don't even recognize or acknowledge. Red Sea crossings and the repelling of foes are easy to see, but when it is all the normal events of my life that flow smoothly; I forget to acknowledge that it is through Your hand, overseeing ALL things, that is responsible for a life well lived.
Psalm 106:6-7
Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness. Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider Your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of Your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.Lord, I am a work in process, an uncompleted disciple, still consumed with pride and lack of humility, still wrestling with an unwillingness to serve when called. Lord, strip me of my pride, even the pride that is a result of answering Your call. Help me, Lord, for there is no power within that is capable of transforming me save the power of Your Holy Spirit. Make me fit for the Kingdom.
Psalm 106:4-5
Remember me, O LORD, when You show favor to Your people; help me when You save them, that I may look upon the prosperity of Your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, that I may glory with Your inheritance.Lord, I need understanding of Your plan for my life, not the broad scope, but the small details for today. I need to see that next steps that I am to take, with the willingness to take those steps without comprehending the big picture; knowing that I am in Your hands. Help me, Lord, to have that complete faith in Your goodness that will enable me to go as You send me. As Abram was sent and went, so must I go and do! But only as You direct and lead!
Psalm 106:4-5
Remember me, O LORD, when You show favor to Your people; help me when You save them, that I may look upon the prosperity of Your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, that I may glory with Your inheritance.Lord, I need understanding of Your plan for my life, not the broad scope, but the small details for today. I need to see that next steps that I am to take, with the willingness to take those steps without comprehending the big picture; knowing that I am in Your hands. Help me, Lord, to have that complete faith in Your goodness that will enable me to go as You send me. As Abram was sent and went, so must I go and do! But only as You direct and lead!
Psalm 106:1-3
Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD, or declare all His praise? Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!Lord, the irresistible force -- Your love, the immovable object -- Your goodness; working together in harmony to restore wholeness to Your creation. And using me to be an agent of reconciliation by seeking justice and bringing righteousness to all. In this, I declare that You are the Almighty One and I offer praise to your Holy Name.
Exodus 20:1-2, 15
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 steal."Your treasure is in heaven
where neither moth
nor rust destroys.
Therefore tend to other's
treasures with respect
and loving care.
