October in the Psalms: Blessed
In Psalm 128, we read this great promise: “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.” I always take note when I read about the blessing of fruitful work. How […]
October in the Psalms: God Keeps You
Psalm 121 reveals a God who keeps us. We read “The Lord is your keeper . . . The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” We read the verb–which translates to guard […]
October in the Psalms: Keeping You Steady
My friend inspired me once to read Psalm 119 every day. It’s just so wonderful! I love this line: “Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.” I think about areas of life where we feel “unsteady” or unsure of ourselves. What a great request of God: […]
October in the Psalms: Not Fearing
In Psalm 112:7-8, we receive a picture of an extraordinarily mature person. We read, “He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid.” What a peaceful heart! What a way to live! I think about this verse because of what one […]
October in the Psalm: Seek Continually
This time, the verb refers to us. In Psalm 105:4, we’re invited to “seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” Seek! It’s a day for seeking: in praying, in reading the scripture, in listening, in journaling, in marveling, in singing, in church-going and fellowship, in thanksgiving, in remembering, and in meditating on […]
October in the Psalms: God Satisfies with Good Things
When I read Psalm 103:4-5 (NIV) as a younger person, I felt like peered into the goodness of God’s character in a fresh way. This is who He is and what He does: God is the One who “redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires […]
October in the Psalms: Worship and Bow Down
I love these lines from Psalm 95:6-7 “Oh, come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker. For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. . .” When […]
October in the Psalms: Satisfy and Establish
In Psalm 90:14-18, I think about how God satisfies us and establishes our work. I’ve also always loved this idea that we might see gladness for as many days as we’ve been afflicted. Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as […]
October in the Psalms: Gladden the Soul
In Psalm 86:3-4, we find a great prayer for us all: Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. May God gladden our souls. May this day feel brighter, merrier, and happier […]
October in the Psalms: God Bestows and Does Not Withhold Himself From Us
I’ve always loved Psalm 84:11: “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” When I read this as a younger woman, I wondered about all the “good things” I thought God was withholding from me. I realized this: If […]