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Psalm 68-70; Psalm 86; Psalm 101<\/strong><\/span> I always like the idea and reminder to sing to God!\u00a0 Do you sing to God at places other than church?\u00a0 Maybe in your car?\u00a0 Maybe at home with the headphones on?\u00a0 Do you \u201csing\u201d to God with the way you live your life?\u00a0 Here\u2019s verse 4 in Psalm 68 today which I love \u2013 \u201cSing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the LORD\u2013 rejoice in his presence!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 How do you sing your praises to the Lord each day?\u00a0 Is it done as passionately as this fella below?\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/p>\n Today in Psalm 68 verse 20 we read \u2013 \u201cOur God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death.\u201d<\/em> Do you believe God is a God who saves us? How did \/ does God do this saving? Do you believe that escape from death comes from God and his Son? I\u2019ve been reflecting on this \u201cdeath\u201d aspect of our fallen world a bit lately, which has been sad to reflect upon. I had an experience with a few friends very recently where I was reminded of how self-destructive we can be in our lives. I think that without Jesus we can oftentimes not know where to turn for an escape from death \u2013 we do not know where to turn from an escape from our own self destructive behaviors. My friends need Jesus. I need Jesus. The world needs Jesus. Our God is a God who saves. From God and Jesus comes escape from death. May\u00a0this season of\u00a0Easter bring us, our friends, and families closer to the God who saves!<\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 69 verse 16 today is such a true statement that maybe we need to be reminded of today \u2013 \u201cAnswer my prayers, O LORD, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Turn and take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 God does answer our prayers \u2013 perhaps not in the way we \u201cwant\u201d Him to, but always in the way that is ultimately best for us and the Kingdom.\u00a0 His unfailing love is wonderful.\u00a0 His mercy is so plentiful.\u00a0 But, yet, somehow I think I sometimes forget all of this.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 I think I forget about God\u2019s love & mercy when I am not praying to him.\u00a0 How about you?\u00a0 Are you needing a reminder today about God\u2019s unfailing love and his mercy?\u00a0 Are you praying to God for these very things?\u00a0 Will you allow God to demonstrate both his love and mercy to you today?\u00a0 Will you offer up prayers and allow God to answer in his perfect way?\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n I love Psalm 69 verse 33 today \u2013 \u201cFor the LORD hears the cries of his needy ones; he does not despise his people who are oppressed.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 God hears the cries of his needy ones.\u00a0 Perhaps the question is then, do we hear the cries of God\u2019s needy ones?\u00a0 Do we hear the cries of those starving today? Sick from lack of clean water?\u00a0 Suffering from HIV \/ AIDS?\u00a0 Spiritually poor?\u00a0 Needing a friend?\u00a0 How is the soil of our hearts if we are not <\/em>hearing these cries?\u00a0 Should we be hearing these cries?\u00a0 And if we do hear them, what then should we do?\u00a0 \u00a0Remember Jesus\u2019 words in Matthew chapter 25 verses 34-36:\u00a0 \u201c\u2018Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.\u2019\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 70 verse 4 is awesome \u2013 \u201cBut may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, \u201cGod is great!\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Indeed, I think as Christians we should be filled with joy & gladness!\u00a0 Yes, there will be tough times.\u00a0 And suffering.\u00a0 But overall, I pray that we are filled with joy and gladness.<\/span><\/p>\n Wow. Today in Psalm 86 we read an amazingly wise prayer of David to God in verse 11 \u2013 \u201cTeach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.\u201d<\/em> How do you think this verse works as a prayer? Can you imagine praying it to God? Do you want God to teach you his way? Do you want to walk in God\u2019s Truth? What does it mean to you to have an undivided heart? It is possible that your heart is now divided in some way? Will you pray to God for an undivided heart? What does it mean to fear God\u2019s name? Why would David pray to fear God\u2019s name? I read an interesting commentary on this verse saying that David is wisely praying for God to save him from his frailty within himself. Oftentimes in the Psalms we will read about David praying for God to deliver him from his enemies. In this verse David is praying for deliverance from what is within. This is a critical point to consider. I think sometimes we always look toward \u201cexternal\u201d circumstances as the cause of all of our problems. When perhaps we need to look at some \u201cinternal\u201d things going on inside of us as causes of some of our problems? And in realizing that there are some internal things that need to be fixed, perhaps we can humbly pray Psalm 86 verse 11 like David did thousands of years ago?\u00a0 \u201cTeach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.\u201d<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 101 is a great Psalm of David today! Great verses, all of them.\u00a0 I like verse 3 \u2013 \u201cI will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar.\u201d <\/em>This seems to be a bit tougher and tougher to adhere to in our modern world where pornography is getting more and more into the mainstream.\u00a0 But, it is such a beautiful and true Psalm of David for us to adhere to!\u00a0 Do you refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar?\u00a0 Do you avoid watching TV shows, reading magazines or papers, or going to see movies where you know you\u2019ll end up looking at things vile & vulgar?\u00a0 Don\u2019t get me wrong \u2013 I\u2019m not saying avoid watching all TV, reading all mags & papers or avoid all movies.\u00a0 I\u2019m just saying that there are some of these forms of media that we know in advance that what they \u201csell\u201d us will be vile and vulgar.\u00a0 Why would we \u201cbuy\u201d that garbage?\u00a0 Refuse to look at it.\u00a0 Don\u2019t give it one inch of power over you!\u00a0 (or your kids!)<\/span><\/p>\n A portion of verse 2 stood out to me today \u2013 \u201cI will lead a life of integrity in my own home.\u201d<\/em> This is powerful. How often do we have integrity outside of our home \u2013 but then not display integrity within our own home? Think this is healthy? Should we strive for leading a life of integrity within our own home? <\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings in Psalm 68 remind me of the Matt Maher song \u201cAlive Again:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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