Monday
Our Master
I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
Every good thing I have comes from you.”
The godly people in the land
are my true heroes!
I take pleasure in them!
Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
or even speak the names of their gods. (Psalm 16:2-4 NLT).
There isn't any good in me outside of God. I am like each of you who are reading this. With God, I can do all things that please Him. Without Him, I'm full of corruption and evil deeds. I'm thankful I have Him in my heart, life, and mind.
I'm thankful for all my Christian friends who come alongside me to take my hand and support me when things go bad. It's just like David's Psalm here: Godly people are heroes.
Be wary of chasing after false gods like money, homes, cars, men/women, lifestyles, etc. Trouble is on the way for those who run after any of those in this broken world.
Choose to run after the one that saved us, Jesus Christ.
Dear Lord, you are my Master. Lead me and direct my path each and every day. Thank you for your Word and your hand of correction. Help me to live a more Christ-like life today than I did yesterday. It is in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Tuesday
Our Everything
I love you, Lord;
you are my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety. (Psalm 18:1-2 NLT).
From birth to death, God never leaves us. He gives us the only Way to spend an eternity in heaven with Him through following Jesus in faith. God never fails us, ever. We fail Him every day, but He never quits loving us.
Lord God, thank you for loving us. Help us to be worthy of your amazing love, mercy, and grace. Amen.
Wednesday
Heavenly Proclamation
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.
God has made a home in the heavens for the sun (Psalm 19:1-4 NLT).
If you never heard about God or His splendor, His wonderful creation proclaims His presence loudly and boldly without ever speaking a word.
Thank you, Lord God, for your never-ending proclamation of your power by revealing your handiwork from the heavens. How wonderful is it that we are loved by the Creator of all things? What a wonderful God we serve!
Lord God, we praise you and lift our hands to the heavens. We fall to our knees in worship and proclaim you are God, Creator of all things. Thank you, Lord God, for loving us, holding us, and protecting us in the palm of your hand. Amen.
Thursday
Pray With Me
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever. (Psalm 23:1-6 KJV).
I believe in praying God's Word back to Him. There is power in His words, especially when spoken aloud and prayed back to His throne.
This Psalm was penned by King David. It has been read many times over thousands of years. It is a Psalm that brings peace and comfort. It's a Psalm that shows God's love for us. It's a Psalm that shows God's strength and protection. It's a Psalm that reminds us of spending an eternity for our Lord.
During my lifetime, I believe it has been read at every funeral of all of my family members. It is a very personal and powerful Scripture for me. I hope it is the same for you.
If it is not, I suggest reading and praying this Scripture back to God every day. Dwell on each verse. Study the meaning of these words from David's times, such as, "anointest my head with oil" and "my cup runneth over." Learn the meaning of "rod and staff." There is a lot here. I challenge each of you to memorize this Psalm. It will bless you over and over again.
Dear Lord, help us to dwell on your mighty Word. Give us the desire to dig deep into the meaning of Scripture and to seek an understanding of the words and their meanings from thousands of years ago. They are powerful and often overlooked by the casual Bible reader. Lord, help us to spend more time with you each day. We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Friday
Direction, Truth & Love
Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O Lord. (Psalm 25:4-7 NLT).
What or whose path are you following?
Are you reading God's Word, His truth?
Are you feeling God's love and loving others as He loves you?
Are you forgiving those who have hurt you?
Are you being as merciful to others as God has been to you?
Those are just a few tough questions this morning.
Lord God, help us to be more like Jesus today than we were yesterday. It is in His mighty and matchless name that we pray. Amen and amen.
Saturday
Seeking & Asking
The one thing I ask of the Lord—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple. (Psalm 27:4 NLT).
Asking, seeking, living, delighting, and meditating...how much better would our lives be if we followed King David's advice?
Lord God, help us to better follow the advice in this Psalm. We thank you for your Word and praise you for your love, mercy, and grace. We pray in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Sunday
Confession & Forgiveness
Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.
Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude
Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude
Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude
The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”
Many sorrows come to the wicked,
but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure (Psalm 32:1-11 NLT)!
Praise God for His amazing love for us because He will forgive our confessed sins. The blood of Jesus washes us clean. We are purified – as pure as the white of snow.
Lord, thank you for your forgiveness and your Word who shows us the perfect pathway of life. Help us to turn to you in confession and honor you by our faithfulness to you. Father God, thank you for loving us more than we ever deserve. We praise and glorify you. Amen.
(Editor's Note: "God Has a Gift for You" is the good news that restores the broken relationship we have with God because of our sin.)
