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Psalm 61-62; Psalm 64-67<\/strong><\/span> Today we read Psalm 61, which has some powerful verses for us to meditate upon when the storms of life come crashing down upon us. This Psalm reminds us of who is indeed our true Rock \u2013 our true Refuge. Verses 1 through 5 are so powerful to meditate upon when you are going through a storm in your life \u2013 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHear my cry, O God; Today we read in Psalm 62 verse 11 \u2013 \u201cGod has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you.\u201d<\/em> This is a powerful verse \u2013 no pun intended. . .\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 Really, think about it. Where does power come from? Who gives power? Who takes it away? I think it is such a blessing when we truly understand this verse and then live it out. When we realize that we really have no power of our own. Any power \u2013 any thing \u2013 we have comes from God and God alone. And thank God for that. It\u2019s when we start believing we create or own or control power that we begin to get prideful or we\u2019ll misuse the power given to us. I think a great teaching on where power truly comes from comes from Jesus when he is before Pilate in John chapter 19 verses 10 & 11 \u2013 \u201c\u201cDo you refuse to speak to me?\u201d Pilate said. \u201cDon\u2019t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?\u201d Jesus answered, \u201cYou would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.\u201d\u201d<\/em> Where do you think your power to do anything at all comes from? Do you believe it was given to you from above? If so, how might truly realizing this change how you live your life? How might it change how you utilize the power given to you?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 64 verse 10 is beautiful \u2013 \u201cThe godly will rejoice in the LORD and find shelter in him.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you consider God a shelter for your life?\u00a0 When storms come into your life, do you find shelter in God?\u00a0 How about the Bible?\u00a0 Is the Bible a sort of shelter in your life?\u00a0 Do you find refuge in the Bible?<\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 65 has some amazing verses about nature!\u00a0 I love verse 8 \u2013 \u201cThose who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy.\u201d <\/em>When is the last time you have been inspired to shout for joy to God for the beautiful sunset he created?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Verse 7 of Psalm 65 says this \u2013 \u201cYou quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves and silenced the shouting of the nations.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 When is the last time you have stood in complete silence before God because of his beautiful Creation?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 66 verses 1 & 2 are awesome!\u00a0 \u201cShout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you tell the world about how glorious God is?\u00a0 How do you do this?\u00a0 Think these kids below might be singing & shouting joyfully to God?\u00a0 Think there is anything we might be able to learn from these kids?\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42 <\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 67 verse 2 today sounds very Great Commission-ish: \u201cMay your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere.\u201d<\/em> It\u2019s interesting to read this verse when just recently I was reading a review in my local newspaper about a book that \u201cexposes\u201d evangelical Christians. (of which I am one)\u00a0 This book really dives into how \u201csuccessful\u201d evangelical Christians are in \u201crecruiting\u201d young adults ages 20 to 35 with their ministries.\u00a0 And this book reviewer \u2013 and the book author \u2013 were very disdainful of Christianity.\u00a0 Saying it threatened secular society\u2026\u00a0 and this just made me realize that the more we do indeed make God\u2019s ways known throughout the earth \u2013 the more we introduce people to God\u2019s saving power among people everywhere \u2013 well, then the secular world will push back big time with books and reviews like the one I read.\u00a0 And the secular world will even push back in more severe ways as well.\u00a0 This makes me realize that indeed our efforts to make God\u2019s was known \u2013 God\u2019s love, grace, mercy, salvation, call to repentance \u2013 are being noticed by others.\u00a0 But hopefully more than just being noticed by others, let us pray that our Kingdom work actually introduces others to God\u2019s only son Jesus, who transforms hearts and lives for eternity!<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong>\u00a0Psalm 67:2 reminds me\u00a0the amazing song \u201cMy Redeemer Lives\u201d by Nicole C. Mullen:<\/span><\/p>\n \n
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n
\u00a0 listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
\u00a0 \u00a0 I call as my heart grows faint;
\u00a0 \u00a0 lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
\u00a0 \u00a0 a strong tower against the foe.
I long to dwell in your tent forever
\u00a0 \u00a0 and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
For you have heard my vows, O God;
\u00a0 \u00a0 you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n