Introduction to 3000 Year Old Prayers
Three thousand years sounds old, doesn’t it? Sounds like it’ll be dry as bones and in an arcane language that doesn’t connect to Frisco, Texas 2007. It’s tempting to skip the whole process. But if you did, you’d miss one of the miracles of Scriptures. It’s the miracle of old words speaking to modern lives. It’s the relevance of songs composed long ago speaking the feelings and the thoughts of my own soul. That’s the miracle of the Psalms. They are 3000 year old prayers that speak to my heart as if they were born in me this very day. Let them speak to you this month.

Over these next four weeks you will be able to listen and read and reflect on the book of Psalms. This collection of devotions is designed to help give you a structure to your reading and praying of the Psalms. There are 20 of the Psalms to read, five per week, arranged to help us march through the whole book, getting a taste of these ancient prayers.

1. Begin by finding a place to speak with God one on one. That’s what the prayers are for. Let it be a time to speak to God and let Him speak to you through His Word. Open with prayer such as, “Lord, open my heart to pray these prayers.” Then read the Psalm assigned for that day. Read it with a pen or pencil handy and mark the phrases or lines that really stand out to you, that speak to where you are at in your life.

2. And then read the devotion for that Psalm. All twenty of these devotions have been written by someone here at St. Philip’s. These aren’t seminary trained commentators. These aren’t Bible scholars. Instead they are ordinary people who have let the Psalm speak to their heart and through them perhaps to yours. Jot down your own thoughts or things that God might be saying to you through these words.

3. Then close your time with God in prayer – either lifted from the Psalm itself or from the devotion for that day. Ask God to make the words from this Psalm resonate in your soul all through the rest of the day.

May this walk through this ancient garden give you a hunger for more and may that hunger drive you to His Word.

Psalm 1

Blessed… 1:1

This psalm begins where I hope, at least, to end. Like a signpost, the opening psalm points to the road of blessedness. Blessedness is described in three ways.

First, we have it described negatively (1:1) There are three things a blessed person will not do. Consider the triple triplets describing the quicksand of a self-directed life:

They denote successive steps in a career of foolish choices sinking further from that happy blessed state. There is a negative side to goodness.

But blessedness can also be described positively (1:2). Instead of keeping society with the scorners, we may enter the company of God Himself, speaking in Scripture.

Then we have the blessedness described consequently (1:3). Oh, to be characterized by:

It certainly characterizes our Master!

So we can either be chaff driven by the storm, or a tree that defies the storm. And He provides a Christian Guide to map out the way to the firm ground of blessedness!

Closing Prayer:
Lord, how blessed it is to realize that You know and love. Thank You for being our Counsel, our Way and our Instructor. Help us to be a blessing to others. Amen.

—Deborah Lein

Psalm 8

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! 8:1 & 9

My Lord, my Father is in control. I imagine myself in His lap, safe and secure. I feel small, yet chosen and loved. I am worry-free, fearless and protected.

God gives me the strength to conquer my enemies; my fears, and insecurities. To overcome my feelings of unworthiness. His love overwhelms me.

Out of the mouths of babes and from the lips of infants, He strengthens me. I think of my own children and the way that they have encouraged Scott to come to church, receive the blessings, and eventually become baptized. I think of the disciples of Jesus, infants in Christ, going out into the world to proclaim Gods love for us.

He created everything, every star, every grain of sand, yet He knows me. He wants to be in relationship with me, with all of us. So much so, that He gave His most precious gift, His baby Son…for us — a depth of love that is far beyond my comprehension.

What an awesome God! Go sit in His lap and talk to Him. He knows you and loves you completely.

Closing Prayer:
My dear Lord, Father, Abba,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for the beautiful creation of your earth. Thank You Lord for my family. I pray Lord that You will continue to give me the strength and courage to stay in relationship with You. I pray that You touch my heart so I can please You and do the work that You have planned for me. I will not be afraid, knowing You are in me, You are most powerful. Thank You Lord for loving me. I love You with all I have and all that I am. Amen.

—Dawn Sommer

Psalm 16

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure, because You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. 16:9-11

Prayer is our way of expressing ourselves and forming our spiritual communion with God. In this particular psalm David expresses his trust that God is his ultimate protection. He knows that God is his sustainer and that God provides him with “the path of life.” He knows he is never abandoned and takes joy in that fact.

He also knows that without God he is left with only himself. We must trust that God knows us and is listening, or our prayer becomes just words. The key to prayer is trusting in God, as David does in the psalm. By praising and thanking God, we strengthen our connection with Him that can only be held through prayer.

Prayer is the way that leads to life with God. Prayer provides an unlimited relationship with God because He is unlimited, and He is capable of providing all that we could ever need or want. No situation, problem, or concern is bigger than Him.

The psalmist understands this, and the beauty of the language used to express these feelings is what makes the psalms an excellent source of meditation and prayer.

Closing Prayer:
God, I put my trust in You. I know You will always love me, always protect me, and always sustain me. Keep me wrapped in Your loving arms and keep me safe. Thank You for all the blessings in my life and my relationship with You. Please help me to keep our relationship strong. Amen.

—Barbara and Ali DeLizza

Psalm 23

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. 23:1

In the darkest hours of my life, I was up against circumstances in which I could find no answers. All seemed lost and beyond my control. In my desperation, I took a leap of faith and surrendered my will and my life over to God. I turned the overwhelming circumstances over to God, trusting in Him that I would not be alone. In my desperate search for direction, I was lead to read the Twenty-Third Psalm.

As I read the psalm, I felt each word had been written specifically to me. I was on the edge of my chair as I read slowly every sentence. The Lord was my shepherd…written to me for that very moment. And as I walk with God, I would lack nothing, for He is with me. The Living God, who in my desperation was not my focus, now seemed “closer than my breath.”

I so longed for rest, the type of rest only He can provide as the “peace that passes understanding.” The images of being led to green pastures and still waters became calming. I felt the impact of His promise that He would restore my soul, even as I read the psalm for the very first time. Also, He would lead me in right paths for His name’s sake, and I found myself turning and trusting in Him. And in the darkest hours of my journey, as I would walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I would fear not for He would be with me. I realized in that moment that He, the living God, would always be with me.

The psalm went on to tell me that God’s provision for my needs would be overflowing. And that goodness and mercy would be with me all the days of my life. In walking with Him, blessings would follow me. I thought to myself, “what more could I ever ask for?” It continued, I would dwell in the house of the Lord forever. This was the answer to my question of “what more could I ask for?” I would be with Him forever.

As I embraced the Psalm that day, my leap of faith to surrender my life to God had immediate answers. The circumstances that seemed so dark and beyond my control, came and went. And yet, my life was forever transformed. To this day, I recite Psalm 23 every morning before I rise. Yes, the Twenty-Third Psalm does have life transformative power.

Closing Prayer:
Living God, I turn my will and life over to You afresh. I know no safer place to put myself than in Your hands, my Good Shepherd. Thank You for following me with goodness and mercy all the days of my life. Amen.

—George Lollis

Psalm 28

The Lord is my Strength and my Shield; my heart trusts in Him; and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song. 28:7

This verse struck a chord with me. God has been my Strength in so many ways throughout life. He has helped my get through the tough times. He has helped me to understand the violent death of my 29-year-old cousin, Jay, in 2003. I find strength in knowing we will meet again in heaven. God has also been my Strength in times of joy. He has encouraged me to accomplish things I did not think possible. Without God, my husband and I would not have become a part St. Philip’s church family which has changed our lives.

God is also my Shield. God has protected me in many ways. It gives me comfort to know God “has my back.” One incident was on a dark, cold January morning in Maryland in 1999. My car hit ice on a downhill turn. I was three months pregnant and as the car was spinning out of control and heading into the woods, I let go of the steering wheel. I knew that it was in God’s hands. In those few seconds, I crossed my arms, closed my eyes and prayed for my baby’s life and mine. The SUV I was driving bounced off many trees and ended up wedged between two of them. The frame buckled and every window shattered. There was only one door that opened—it was mine. An off-duty fireman saw my taillights and responded. All I remember is falling out of the car onto my knees in the snow, bawling and thanking God. I was fine and so was my baby. God was my Shield that day.

It is when we trust in God, that we are helped. In my life, when I give my worries to God, that is when my prayers are answered. When we think we can do things on our own is when we set ourselves up for failure.

I am blessed with two healthy children and thank God daily. In this verse, David says his heart leaps for joy. Marriage and motherhood have both given me reasons to leap for joy. I am thankful to God for providing us with His Strength and His Shield to raise our children to know Him. They in turn, continue to increase our strength and faith every day.

Closing Prayer:
God, I pray that you will continue to show us Your strength and be our shield in these crazy times we live in. Please help our hearts to always trust in You and to know that You will help us if we ask. Lord, we thank You for all the times we have asked for strength and for help and You have answered our prayers. Amen.

—Kate Wilson

Psalm 42 & 43

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. 42:5, 11; 43:5

“Tears.” “Downcast.” “Disturbed.” David, the great king, conquering hero, and slayer of Goliath, uttered these unsettling words. Evidently this man, who as a boy equipped with just a sling and his faith had conquered a giant, also faced times of anxiety and fear.

David was exiled by a jealous son attempting to be king, and so was unable to worship in the tabernacle. His soul was “cast down.” He wrote about feeling alone and forgotten by God: “I say to God my Rock, ‘Why have You forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning oppressed by the enemy?” (verse 9). Anxiety responds, “No one can help me—not even God.” There is no peace when the mind is filled with such toxic thinking. And so when such thoughts oppress us, we should turn our hearts to God and in touching Him, we cease to be lonely.

And that reaching out to God in times of fear and loneliness is one of David’s greatest contributions to us 3000 years later. Instead of turning away from God, he grabbed more tightly on to Him.

For example, this Psalm gives expression to conflicting emotions, such as the people of God have experienced in all ages. Sorrow and song, fear and faith, doubt and devotion are strangely intermingled. When we are oppressed and depressed there will always be those times we taunt ourselves with, “Where is your God?” (42:9). That is the psalmist’s first emotion; but hard on the heels of it comes another, which is given expression to in words of courage, hope, and assurance (42:5, 11; 43:5).

How true this is to experience! First the breakers (42:7) then the blessings (42:8); first the sigh, then the song; first the mourning (42:9), then the morning (42:8). No one who truly pants and thirst for God will fail to find Him (42:1, 2). Hope, and you shall yet Praise (43:4).

Closing Prayer:
Gracious Savior, my soul does thirst for You and Your ways. I desire to be led by Your Divine Light and Truth that will lead me to the heights of holiness. Thank You for Your love, Your song, for being my Rock & my Life & my Hope. Amen.

—Deborah Lein

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 46:1
The LORD Almighty is with us. 46:7
Be still, and know that I am God. 46:10
The LORD Almighty is with us. 46:11

God has always had a way of getting our attention. If we put Him off long enough, He seems to make His message even more obvious.

Although we had been asked to write this particular devotional, it took us a few weeks before we actually sat down and dug in. We had finished watching the news where we heard stories about the weekend’s earthquake in Indonesia, flooding in southeastern Texas and continued uprising in Iraq.

As we turned to Psalm 46, we found God is crystal clear in telling us that we should have no fear for He is our “refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” This passage, written so long ago, speaks precisely of the things we are going through today—earthquake, flood, nations in uproar.

How comforting to be reminded that the Lord Almighty is always with us. Though we might not be personally experiencing the devastation of earthquake, flood, or war, we all go through our own trials. Financial difficulties, family conflicts and issues at work, to name a few, can make it all too easy to rely on ourselves and try to control the situation. It is only when we take the time to “Be still, and know that I am God” that we find in Him the peace and strength to get through challenging times.

Closing Prayer:
Lord, You have told us that You are with us, that You are our refuge and strength in times of trouble. We ask You to take our worries and replace them with Your perfect peace. Please order our day in such a way that we may find the time to be still and rest in Your presence. Amen.

—Rich and Beth Sarey

Psalm 47

He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom He loved. 47:3-4

This psalm starts out with a call to praise God joyfully. And what are the reasons given to do this?

• He subdued nations under us
• He chose our inheritance for us.

Maybe it’s hard to relate to those two things. Few of us are doing battle with foreign nations. And usually when we receive an inheritance, it’s at a time of great sorrow, not of joy!

But, if we look again…
God HAS subdued an antagonist beneath our feet, hasn’t He? When Christ took our sins on Himself at the cross, sin’s power to control us was broken. While it might still call out to us, it has no power to demand our obedience anymore.

And the inheritance He gave us…while it WAS obtained through a death…the Lord Jesus’ death was followed closely by a resurrection! What wonderful things come to us through this inheritance, as we become a “joint heir” with Christ, and share in the blessings of God.

He, who is the great King over all the earth, stoops down to tenderly love the individual… even the deceitful, scheming Jacob…and choose an heritance for him, and for us!

Praise the Lord!

Closing Prayer:
Oh Lord Most High, You are awesome. I pray that You would subdue anything that clamors for my affection, or anything that distracts me from You. I’m thankful that You are Lord over all the nations, and Lord over me—You are in control! I pray for a heart that sings Your praises and for hands that clap for joy! Amen.

—Trinka Jeffery

Psalm 51

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow…
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 51:7, 10

We come to the Lord, burdened with our transgressions, stained with the pain of our sins, jaded by the torment of our experience in this life. We look up at the cross and hope, hope that Jesus will cleanse us, restore us, make us what He intended us to be from the beginning.

When Psalms 51 was written, the great Redeemer had not yet come to the Jews, but the promise of God’s forgiveness had been written on the heart of the psalmist. God’s most passionate desire is for us to be in communion with Him today and for all eternity.

Psalms 51 gives us the model of the repentant heart. We picture a man that has realized, in full, his sin and brokenness. He has come to grips with the overwhelming reality that he is helpless and hopeless in his fallen humanity.

Knowing the nature of God, he reaches out to Him, confessing his sins, relinquishing his independence, beseeching the great I AM to renew him and lift him up. He turns from his sin and throws himself at the mercy of a righteous God.

In his refrain, he affirms the sovereignty of God and asks for His cleansing, His sustaining power, His restoration, His joy. He knows that he can not even speak praises to the LORD, lest the words come from God Himself. His own power has failed him. He has been emptied of self. Through his meekness, he opens the door for God to restore him and bless him. God is pleased when we come to Him, humbly asking Him to do for us what we can not do for ourselves.

Closing Prayer:
Lord, God Almighty, creator and sustainer of all things, show me my transgressions. Pierce me with your righteousness and humble me before Your majesty. Give me a repentant heart so that I might grasp Your redemptive power and accept Your blessing upon my life. Give me the words to praise Your holy name. Give me the wisdom to walk in Your ways. Give me a clean heart so that Your Holy Spirit can live and reign within me. Uphold me in Your mercy so that I may live and serve You in all honor and glory. AMEN.

—David & Julia Chalker

Psalm 59

O my Strength, I sing praise to You; You, O God, are my fortress, my loving God. 59:17

As David cries out to God while he is pursued by Saul’s men, his words remind us of God’s faithfulness to us during our times of desperation. David’s enemy was a king with an army of men, but from whom or what do I need to cry out to God to “protect me from those who rise up against me”? (59:1)

Our “enemies” might be wicked people out to destroy us, but more likely they take other forms such as the seduction of the world’s priorities, or the defiant pride of our rebellious heart. The person of faith looks to God for deliverance from every attack, whether ferocious or urbane, from inside or out.

This psalm starts with enemies all around but ends with songs of praise. The turning point is (in verse 8) God’s laughter because He knows the truth. No enemy can stand against God or any one of His children. It is God who rescues, so it is God who is to be praised. Call out to God in your time of need and trust in His deliverance.

Reflect on these phrases:
Rescue me…We can call on God when confronted by any of our “enemies.”
What do you need rescuing from today?

Defend me…God protects us from evil, from whatever might try to destroy us.
Ask God for His strong defense in all your situations.

You’re God…There is no other name by which we can be saved.
Don’t foolishly trust your own power.

Strong God…He is our strength, our defense.
The God of the universe promises to be with those who trust in Him.

I can always count on You…ALWAYS! He is our fortress.
Let the word “always” soak in to your heart and have persistent faith.

God’s in charge…EVERYWHERE! ALL THE TIME! FOREVER!

Closing Prayer:
Lord God, thank You that You listen when I cry out to You. You are my deliverer from all the enemies that attack me. You will always be with me. You are my dependable Love. You are in charge, Lord. Amen

—Terry & Glenna Reisner

Psalm 66

Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of His praise be heard; He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. 66:8-9
Praise be to God who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me! 66:20

When things are going well and we can see the ways in which we have been blessed, praise to God comes easily. We “make a joyful shout” at a beautiful sunset. We “sing out the honor of His name” when we think of what was and what is to come. We say “how awesome are Your works” and “all the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You.” It’s as if praising God comes so naturally that we know it is what we were meant to do.

But like the Israelites crossing the Red Sea, we have trials that test our faith and moments of realizing that our survival depends on trusting and obeying God. Rather than our praise flowing naturally from our hearts, we think of it as a conditional response.

We promise God that if He will deliver us we will bring Him our praise. We promise Him that we will acknowledge that it was His power that saved us, and not our own. We promise we will remember what He has done for us. We promise Him, if He will hear our prayer, we will tell others.

Can you see how God has blessed you? Make a joyful shout!

Can you praise Him for those blessings? Sing out the honor of His name!

Can you tell someone else what He has done for you? Come and see the works of God!
Oh, bless our God, you peoples!

Closing Prayer:
Lord, how awesome are Your deeds! So great is Your power. Just as You brought the Israelites out of Egypt on dry land, even so You have brought me through times when my back was up against the “Sea” with the “Egyptian army” pressing in on me. You preserve my life and keep my foot from slipping. Help me to tell others of Your mighty deeds. Amen.

—Robert, Sheryl, Alex & Sam Holton

Psalm 77

Your path led through the seas, Your way through the mighty waters. 77:19

When there is a thunderstorm rolling through Texas (and you know how violent those can be) we have to trust that it will pass by and the sun will come out again. It’s crazy to give up all hope and think that the storm would never pass. What reason would we have to think that nature wouldn't do its job? When the lightning seems like it’s about to hit your house you have to trust that the wind will blow the storm clouds away eventually. And what's more, the storm wasn't all that bad and the grass really needed watering.

Well, we all have storms in our life — struggles that we have to go through. Sometimes they're fast and quick but other times it lasts so long that we forget what it was like before the rain. At first we cry out to God for help, but after a while we get weary. We start to ask questions and doubt that His "unfailing love" really is unfailing.

When we begin to lose trust in Him, we have to remember why we ever trusted Him in the first place. In this psalm, he regains trust in the Lord because he remem¬bers all the "miracles of long ago." He remembers how faithful God had been in the past.

How foolish it would be to only trust someone when it was easy. To only love nature when it was sunny. Real trust lasts through the good and the bad times. If we lose trust now, in the worst of times, then we reject what He has done for us in the best of times. We trust in the Lord, not because of what we think He should do or even what He will do, but because of what He has done. Is not His proven love for us miracle enough to trust Him? Add on to that all the good things in our lives, the people we love, the things we enjoy, the fact that we are still alive today. He has shown His faithfulness through these things, so that when the storms come along we can trust that He will lead the "way through the mighty waters."

So next time one of those big Texas storms come rolling in, remember nature has never given us any reason to doubt that it will pass. And if we can trust nature to do what it's supposed to do, then how much more should we be able to trust the One who controls it?

Closing Prayer:
Lord, give us the courage and the perseverance to trust in You when we go through struggles. Help us to always be able to see the truth and remember Your greatness. Especially when we begin to doubt, we ask that You will remind us of Your faithfulness so that we can wait for the blessings to come. Thank You for what You have done, for what You will do, and even for what You are doing now in us. Amen.

—Jenny Lein

Psalm 84

O LORD Almighty, happy is everyone who trusts in You. 84:12

Stephen’s take:
Psalm 84 is referred to as Joy of Worship in the Temple. The Temple is less a place than it is living a life with and for God. The rewards, or Joy, are numerous—and this psalm uses imagery to show what a life spent in harmony with God is like.

The Temple (our relationship with God) is a place of safety…
…it is our shield. It is a place where the sparrow can feel comfortable to build a nest and raise her young. It is compared to the Baca Valley, a place in the desert where balsam trees provide shade, a place of springs where early rains leave pools of water on the ground.

The Temple is a place of righteousness…
…a place where being near to God trans¬forms a life of service into greater things than a life of self-centered indul¬gence can provide. The Temple is a place where God blesses those who live a life centered on Him. He gives them His strength.

This Temple is a place of joy…
…it is a place where ‘my heart and my flesh sing for joy’. It is a place of song. It is a place where God does not withhold good things and a day spent in the Temple (with God) is better than a thousand spent elsewhere! “Happy is everyone who trusts in You.”

Karen’s take:
David longs to be in the courts of the Temple. A court of olden days is a protected place, high walls, lush gardens filled with sweet smelling flowers, a soft bubbling fountain, and most of all, peace.

David speaks of altars as a haven for the sparrows and a nesting place for the swallows, and we remember Abraham putting his very own son Isaac on an altar in faith. What a sweet sense of peace must have swept over Abraham when God delivered him from that moment.

David asks for God to look at us and hear us, because he knows the Father would love to see and hear His children. Our God bestows peace and grace on those who walk hand in hand in trust with Him.

What peace to live in the house of God! This image is David’s way of saying “I would do anything to be with You, even just to be near You is better than anything I’ve ever wanted.”

Closing Prayer:
Lord God, thank You for Your continual presence with us. That we can live in harmony with Your will and be able to say with David “You are better than anything!” Amen.

—Steve and Karen Okeson

Psalm 91

Because he has set his love upon Me. 91:14

Refuge and deliverance are the promises found in Psalm 91, promises of Jehovah. Under His wings refuge can be found, just as Ruth found (Ruth 2:12), and just as the children of Israel could have, but the Lord said to them, “you were not willing” (Matthew 23:37).

Refuge, shelter, hope, trust: The primitive Hebrew root word for refuge used in Psalm 91:2, 9 is chaceh which means to put trust in, have hope in, confide in or take refuge in. The word chacah for trust, is used in verse 4 and is used in more than 20 of the Psalms.

Deliverance, rescue, salvation, strength: The English word, deliver, has three different Hebrew words used in verses 3 (natsal, save), 14 (palat, rescue) and 15 (chalats, strengthen).

The words, refuge, trust and deliverance and their synonyms, are used in this Psalm to demonstrate that God protects and rescues from the fear of earthly and spiritual evils. But, to whom does the Almighty provide this eternal security and why? The answer is in verse 14: “Because he loves Me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name….” (NIV). The Hebrew word here for love means to desire, to delight in, to love, to be attached to, long for. So, this love is a desire to be intimate with God, a longing to be in constant communion with Him and a recognition that nothing else can compare with the delight God provides. Can there be any doubt of God’s desire for us to look to Him for our refuge and to put our trust in Him?

So, do you love God like that? Do you love Him with all your heart, soul and mind? If you’re not sure, the test is obedience to the commands and teachings of Jesus. And when you find your obedience lacking, go to the cross and look to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of your faith. There you will find a love so amazing and so divine that it springs forth obedience. There you will find refuge and deliverance.

Closing Prayer:
Lord God Almighty, all my treasures, I give to the shadow of the safety that is in You:
my name anew in Christ; my body, soul, talents, character; my success, work, wife/husband, children, friends; my present, my future, my end. Take them, they are Yours, and I am Yours, now and for ever, through Jesus Christ, my Lord, my Deliverance, my Refuge. Amen.

—Tom & Carroll Nabors

Psalm 103

Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. 103:1
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. 103:2
He who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 103:3
Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 103:4
Who satisfies your desires with good things so that 103:5
your youth is renewed like the eagle's… 103:5
is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, 103:8
does not treat us as our sins deserve, 103:10
so great is His love for those who fear Him; 103:11
as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion; 103:13
He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust. 103:14
Praise the LORD, you His angels, 103:20
Praise the LORD, all His heavenly hosts, 103:21
Praise the LORD, all His works everywhere in His dominion. 103:22
Praise the Lord, O my soul. 103:22

Psalm 103 is a psalm of praise. Praise God with all your being and in all you do. Over and over, David says to give "praise to the Lord, O my soul". The Lord's love for us is so great - He forgives all sins, He heals all diseases, He redeems our lives and satisfies our desires. For those who fear (respect & honor) Him, He has compassion and grace.

Psalm 103 sums up the reason for our existence, TO PRAISE THE LORD! He created us to be in fellowship with Him. Without Him, we are nothing. Therefore, in everything we do, we should be asking, "How is God being blessed, glorified, and exalted?"

Closing Prayer:
Father God, We praise You with all our souls: our minds, our emotions, and our wills. We gratefully praise You for Your loving-kindness, compassion, and mercy. Christ heals everything! Cause us to reflect Your glory and to be a blessing to every tribe, language, people, and nation. Change our priorities in life so that we may bring You the greatest glory. Amen!

—Greg, Mary & Grant Hendrix

Psalm 115

You who fear Him, trust in the LORD — He is their help and shield. 115:11

"Where is their God?" People asked that question 3,000 years ago and they are asking it today. People then made idols to worship out of silver and gold. What do we make our idols out of today? What are our idols? Is it money? Work? Is it addictions to television, internet surfing, or computer games? What is it that drives your life? What do you live for? What do you think about in your first waking moments and in the last moments before sleep?

The psalmist says the idols can't speak, can't hear, can't feel, and can't walk with us. He is right, you know? No matter how hard we read and study, it will not bring us the intimate knowledge of Christ. No matter how hard we work, it will not bring us joy. No matter how much money we make, it will not bring us the peace that passes understanding to our hearts.

None of these things are inherently bad; but when they drive everything that we do, these things fill our hearts and they edge God out. In today's fast paced, busy world, it is easy to get so involved that we forget to spend time with God. It is God who will bring us joy, and happiness, and peace. He will walk with us, if only we would take the time to seek Him out.

Whenever I start feeling overwhelmed with the busyness of the day, it dawns on me when I am about ready to pull my hair out, that I have forgotten to spend time with God. I have built up myself an idol of busyness where I am stretched out of shape into a rush-rush world where everything’s got to be done right now. Then I realize that if I let Him, God would have been walking beside me all day, bringing me His calmness and His peace and His joy, if only I would seek Him. It is usually around this time that I have to get outside. I never feel closer to God than when I am outside in the midst of His creation. When I take the time to listen, I can hear Him speaking to me in the songs of the birds. I feel Him touch me in the gentle breeze. He paints beautiful, calming pictures in the flowers that bloom, in the sunrises and sunsets. It is in these moments that I know He is walking right beside me.

Closing Prayer:
Father, I sincerely pray that You would help us to seek You and find You. I pray that You will be the driving force in our lives. Help us to tear down the idols that we have made for ourselves and help us turn back to You so that when people ask "Where is their God?" they won't have to look far. They will see You in us. Not to us Lord, but to Your name be the glory. Amen.

—Robert and Melanie Campbell

Psalm 119:1-48

For I delight in Your commands because I love them. I lift up my hands to Your commands, which I love, and I meditate on Your decrees. 119:47-48

Everybody has heard a love song before. You know the genre—it’s all about how somebody loves someone so much that they do crazy things like sing in the rain or ride a bull in a rodeo. Most love songs are inspired by beautiful women or heroic men, but have you ever heard a love song to the Law?

Psalm 119 is that. It’s the longest Psalm in the Bible (176 verses—that’s a long song). And it’s primary object of affection is God’s Word, His law, His decrees and commandments. In fact, every verse in our reading refers to God’s law in some way. Look for yourself. Go verse by verse from 1 to 48 and underline the word that the psalmist uses as a synonym for law or decree or statute or way. You’ll see that the author couldn’t let it rest even for a verse.

Why? Because God’s Word changes lives. It transforms hearts. It alters the way we live. That’s what the Psalmist makes clear over and over again. “Blessed are they who keep His statutes” (verse 2). “I see wonderful things in Your law” (verse 18). “I run in the paths of Your commands for You have set my heart free” (verse 32). God’s Word impacts every part of his life.

And God’s Word has changed me—more than education or family or profession. God’s Word has challenged me to be a better person, it’s guided me and provided a model for right living, it’s comforted me when I felt lost and afraid, it’s lifted up my vision to see God’s big picture. That’s why we talk about it at church so much. That’s why we ask people to open the Bible or to take a class or to study a passage. It’s to introduce each and every one of us personally to God’s Word. And who knows perhaps with an introduction you too might say, “I delight in Your commands because I love them.”

Closing Prayer:
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which You have given us in our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer—Proper 28, page 236

—Clay and Jill Lein

Psalm 121

Where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD! 121:1-2

Worry is not a gender or age specific issue. We all do it and it’s not a productive experience. It can easily cause greater stress or concern. Why? Why do we worry? What is it that we need? What are we really looking for?

What we’re really looking for are assurances. Just knowing that everything’s going to be ok would take all the stress off our shoulders.

Yet, where does that help come from? Spouses, friends and family are all great answers and usually where we start. But google “where does my help come from?” and you’ll get another answer, the ultimate answer. That question is actually in verse 1 of Psalm 121.

The answer, in verse 2, is “from the LORD.” And in verse 7 we see the ultimate assurance, “He will watch over your life.”

Read it. There are no qualifications. Not just in times of trouble. Not just when you ask for it. Not just if you are the perfect Christian. But, “both now and forevermore.”

We know that and believe it, but all too often forget it. But it’s right there in black and white. There’s no need to translate or interpret.

“He will not let your foot slip—He who watches over you will not slumber,” verse 3.
“The LORD will keep you from all harm—He will watch over your life,” verse 7.

How’s that for assurance?!

Closing Prayer:
O Father, thank You for the blessings of this life and help us remember those during troubling times. All things are possible through You and we know that You are always watching over our lives. Let us take great comfort knowing that You never sleep nor leave our side. Let us give You our worries and our stress so that we may be focused on our love for You and for each other. In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

—Don Strain

Psalm 140

Rescue me, O LORD, from evil… 140:1

In the Lord’s Prayer there is a brief phrase that I have prayed countless times but have never given significant thought. The phrase is “…but deliver us from evil.” I picture God shielding us from Satan, complete with horns, tail, and pitchfork. But what evil or enemies do we face today as individuals, husbands/wives, parents, Americans, and Christians?

Recent times have highlighted the enemies seeking to attack us. The morality of individuals is being attacked through television, magazines, and the Internet. The sanctity of the family (and marriage) is being fought in courtrooms and on the Senate floor. America is constantly on guard against the possibility of attacks on our soil. Yet Christians are being attacked and persecuted both physically and spiritually all over the world.

It is evident in Psalm 140 that King David experienced many similar enemies. In this psalm, David takes his concerns to God and seeks protection from the tongues and hands of evil men. He is open and honest in his prayer laying down the pain, anguish, and desires he feels in his heart. In addition to God’s protection, he asks that the plans of the wicked be foiled, for disaster to fall upon them, and ultimately that they be thrown into fire never to rise again. Getting the anguish off his chest, David recognizes and expresses confidence in God’s justice for the needy, the poor, and the righteous.

Jesus teaches us to “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you,” (Luke 6:27-28). Once attacked, whether against our person, our family, our country, or our religion, how do we progress from the human feelings of hatred and anger to feelings of forgiveness and love? David, through this psalm, gives us a model. Lay those feelings at the feet of God, seek His delivery and protection from evil, recognize His presence in all situations, and open our hearts to His grace and mercy.

Closing Prayer:
Father, You are my God and You know my heart and hear my prayers. Protect me, my family, and Your people from the evil in this world. Give me the strength and wisdom to defend what I know is right while responding to my enemy as Christ has taught by showing mercy, grace, and love. Amen.

—Daniel & Rhonda Colgrove

Psalm 146

I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 146:2

Praise the LORD! Hallelu Yah!

Upon reading and rereading this Psalm (Psalms being one of the books I seldom ever read, until now) I am struck by the sense of Hope. I feel this is a guidebook from God for hope. But unlike most guidebooks, this one instructs us in the right direction to travel while warning us of the wrong path as well.

Most directions I have received sound something like this: “turn left, go straight, then turn right.” This one tells me rather “do not turn left without going right, then after going straight turn right without going left.”

Psalms 146 tells us not only in Whom to trust, but also explicitly in whom not to trust. The Bible is often filled with these types of directions: direct and unwavering, leaving no doubt, from a Father to His children begging them to take the right path while knowing they will often go the wrong way.

Unlike many earthly fathers, God never gives up trying (“forever”). He has eternal hope that we will follow Him, and never tires of guiding our paths should we just take the time to listen and obey. He tells us how not to hope, then gives example after example of wherein lies our best hope…in Him and through Christ.

Take your time and read each verse, understand, and revel in, the boundless ways in which our Lord gives us hope, and realize that despair is an unnecessary distraction for His children…hope eternal lies in our Lord, our Father, through Christ, our Savior.

Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your unwavering protection of us. We thank You for giving us eternal hope regardless of our situation, heritage, upbringing, infirmity, finances, education, or past indiscretions. Please help us to always find that hope at all times, whether dark or fair. Thank You for never giving up on us, no matter how we fare, nor how we turn away from You. Please help us to praise Your name, and the unending hope You offer, in all that we do, say, and think. Amen.

—George and Leigh Ann Martin