The Daily Dose

Finding Peace in God’s Power

You are more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey. ~ Psalms 76:4

In today’s chapter of the book of Psalms, there is a reminder of God’s power and majesty—that He is greater than any force that comes against us. This psalm shows our heavenly Father as a mighty protector who brings peace by defeating the things that seek to harm us. It assures us that even in the most troubling times, God is more powerful than any problem or opposition we face.

Even just recently in my own life I faced a situation that seemed overwhelming, like a mountain too steep to climb. I was feeling powerless and unsure of what to do. Anxiety kept creeping in, and I felt alone in my struggle. But during that time, I sensed the Holy Spirit urging me to focus on His strength rather than on my fear. As I spent time in prayer and reading the psalms, I began to realize that the same God who is praised for His power in Psalm 76 was with me, right now in my struggle. Instead of letting fear take over, I began to declare His power and thank Him for being my protector. Slowly, my perspective changed, and I felt a deep peace settle in my heart, knowing that God was greater than my circumstances.

In times of trouble, it’s easy to feel small and powerless. But this passage reminds us to look to God’s unmatched strength and trust that He will handle the details. He is not only able to protect us but also to bring peace to our hearts, even when the situation hasn’t been fully resolved. When we focus on His power, we find peace that the world cannot give.

Here are some ways to help you hold on to His peace when you are getting slammed by the waves of fear and anxiety.  First, shift your focus. When anxiety or fear creeps in, remind yourself of God’s greatness. Take a few moments to list ways He has shown His power in your life before and thank Him for His strength.  Keep your mind focused on Him and today by not letting your thoughts run to what could happen in future days.

Next, declare God’s power by speaking loud His promises from scripture, like Psalm 76:4. Remind yourself that God is more powerful than any problem you’re facing and that He is working behind the scenes because you have called on Him.  Then, pray for peace.  Step into God’s peace that passes understand and ask Him to fill your heart with peace. Invite Him to be your protector and trust that He is handling things beyond what you can see.

Lastly, lean into worship by spending time in His presence and thank Him for His majesty. Whether its by putting on some worship music or helping out a neighbor or friend in need, worship has a way of shifting your focus from your worries to His glory.  It also helps you to remember that He is bigger than anything that is coming against you.

Today I want to encourage you that as you walk through your day, remember that the God of Psalm 76—glorious and powerful—goes before you. No matter what challenges lie ahead, He is able to bring you through them and give you peace in the midst of the storm. Trust in His strength and let His peace guard your heart.  He is faithful and He will get your through to victory every time.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Psalms 76

1 In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel.

2 In Salem also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling place in Zion.

3 There He broke the arrows of the bow, the shield and sword of battle. Selah

4 You are more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.

5 The stouthearted were plundered; They have sunk into their sleep; And none of the mighty men have found the use of their hands.

6 At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep.

7 You, Yourself, are to be feared; And who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry?

8 You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; The earth feared and was still,

9 When God arose to judgment, To deliver all the oppressed of the earth. Selah

10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself.

11 Make vows to the Lord your God, and pay them; Let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared.

12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes; He is awesome to the kings of the earth.

Trusting God’s Timing

For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another. ~ Psalms 75:6-7

This passage is a reminder of a powerful truth that God is the One who sets up promotion, timing, and the direction our lives take. Sometimes, we find ourselves striving to make things happen or wondering why certain doors haven’t opened yet. It wasn’t that long ago in my life when I felt stuck. I was working hard and praying for a change in jobs, but it felt like my efforts weren’t paying off. I watched others advance, and I began questioning why my prayers seemed unanswered. But during that time, God gently reminded me that His timing is perfect. He taught me to trust that He sees the big picture even when I can’t.

Looking back, I can see now that God was building something within me.  He was strengthening my character, patience, and a deeper reliance on Him. When the breakthrough finally came, I realized that the timing was exactly what I needed, and the growth I experienced in the waiting period prepared me for the blessings ahead. God wasn’t delaying my blessing; He was preparing me to receive it fully.

Psalm 75 teaches us that we don’t need to strive or compare our journey with others. Promotion and blessings come from God, not from our own effort or timing. When we trust Him, we allow Him to move us forward in His perfect way.

Here are some ways that you can trust God’s timing at a greater degree.  First of all release Control. Surrender your timeline to God. Release any pressure you feel to make things happen by your own strength. Trust that His timing is not just good but perfect.

Next, focus on growth. Use the waiting time to draw closer to God. Spend time in prayer, asking Him what He wants to build in you during the waiting. Allow Him to deepen your relationship with Him, faith, and patience. Then celebrate others’ success.  Resist the temptation to compare. Instead, celebrate when others experience blessings, knowing that God’s faithfulness to them is a reminder of His faithfulness to you.

Lastly, declare His goodness.  Spend time each day thanking God for His plan for your life. Praise Him in advance for the way He is working, even when you can’t yet see it.

Today I want to encourage you to let Psalm 75 remind you that God is the One who lifts you up in due time. He knows your heart, your needs, and your dreams. Trust Him to bring about your breakthrough at the perfect moment. Keep your eyes on Him, and know that His plans for you are good and worth the wait.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Psalms 75

1 We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.

2 “When I choose the proper time, I will judge uprightly.

3 The earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved; I set up its pillars firmly. Selah

4 “I said to the boastful, ‘Do not deal boastfully,’ And to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn.

5 Do not lift up your horn on high; Do not speak with a stiff neck.’ ”

6 For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south.

7 But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.

8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; It is fully mixed, and He pours it out; Surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth drain and drink down.

9 But I will declare forever, I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

10 “All the horns of the wicked I will also cut off, But the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.”

Help in Troubling Times

Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, the tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed. ~ Psalms 74:2

This Psalm captures the heart’s cry in seasons of struggle, reminding us that God has not forgotten His people, even when everything seems to be unraveling. In life’s hardest moments, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. I know this feeling all too well from experiences within my own family. We’ve been through some tough seasons, facing both the fallout of personal decisions and the weight of circumstances beyond our control. We’ve dealt with broken relationships, loss, and times when life seemed unbearably heavy.

One particular time comes to mind when I felt completely out of strength. Between family responsibilities, work, and trying to hold things together, it felt like I was being pulled in every direction. In the middle of all of it, a family member was sick and needed medical help. That is when I reached my breaking point and cried out to God, telling Him I couldn’t carry it all. It was then that He gently reminded me that I wasn’t meant to carry these burdens alone. He showed me that His grace is there to empower me through all of life, not just to survive but to walk through the storm with His strength. I knew that I needed to lay my burdens down and trust that He would lead me to a place of peace and victory.

In the passage today, we read a similar cry for help.  In this chapter, we are reminded that God has been faithful to His people through every generation. Even when we feel weak, even when life feels like an uphill battle, we can call on Him, knowing that He has delivered us before and will do it again. God’s faithfulness is not just a distant hope; it’s a promise to cling to in the midst of our most challenging times.

So today, I want to encourage you to draw near to God. In difficult seasons, it might be through prayer, reaching out to others in your faith community, or journaling about His past faithfulness. Whatever it looks like for you, remember that He hears your cries and is working behind the scenes. God’s help has been with you from the beginning, and He is still with you now, shaping every challenge into an opportunity to experience His grace. Trust Him, even in uncertainty. Lean into His strength and expect to see His faithfulness in ways you may not yet understand. He is working wonders in your life, even in the struggles, and He is more than able to carry you through.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 74

1 O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?

2 Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, the tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed—this Mount Zion where You have dwelt.

3 Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations. The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.

4 Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place; They set up their banners for signs.

5 They seem like men who lift up axes among the thick trees.

6 And now they break down its carved work, all at once, with axes and hammers.

7 They have set fire to Your sanctuary; They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground.

8 They said in their hearts, “Let us destroy them altogether.” They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.

9 We do not see our signs; There is no longer any prophet; Nor is there any among us who knows how long.

10 O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?

11 Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.

12 For God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

13 You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters.

14 You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces, and gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

15 You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up mighty rivers.

16 The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun.

17 You have set all the borders of the earth; You have made summer and winter.

18 Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O Lord, and that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name.

19 Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast! Do not forget the life of Your poor forever.

20 Have respect to the covenant; For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty.

21 Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed! Let the poor and needy praise Your name.

22 Arise, O God, plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily.

23 Do not forget the voice of Your enemies; The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually.

Declare His Works

But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works. ~ Psalms 73:28

One of the surest ways to recognize God’s hand in our lives is by drawing near to Him and placing our trust in Him. As today’s key verse says, when we get close to God and trust in Him, we begin to see His works all around us. Why? Because in trusting Him, we look for His presence, expecting His hand to move as we commit our cares and concerns to Him. That is the very definition of trusting God—not just believing in Him, but actively leaning on Him and watching for His answers.

Getting close to God is simpler than most people think it is. Some believe only priests or pastors can have that closeness, while others feel God is just too far away. But the truth is, we can be as close to our Heavenly Father as we choose to be. The secret is spending time with Him, cultivating a relationship through prayer, worship, and following His wisdom. Like any of our earthly relationship, a relationship with God grows as we spend quiet intimate time with Him. Our connection with God deepens as we take time to acknowledge Him in all our ways, seek His guidance, and give thanks for His directions and blessings.

When we draw near to God, we begin to notice the wonders He works in our lives. Trusting Him opens our eyes to the countless ways He provides, protects, and guides us each day. This nearness enables us not only to experience His goodness but also to declare it to others. We become living testimonies of His love, able to share stories of how He came through in times of need, healed brokenness, and brought light into our darkest moments.

Here are some ways that you can take a step closer to Him right now:

Make Time for God Daily – Set aside moments each day to talk with Him, read scripture, and sit in God’s presence. The more time you spend with Him, the easier it becomes to see His work in your life.

Look for His Hand in Your Life – Begin each day with a heart of expectation. As you go through your day, ask God to show you where He’s working, even in the small things.

Declare His Goodness – Take every opportunity to share how God has moved in your life. Whether it’s with family, friends, or even in prayer, speaking about His works builds faith in you and encourages those around you.

Thank Him Often – Acknowledge and give thanks for God’s presence and blessings, even in challenging times. Thanksgiving keeps your focus on His faithfulness and lines your heart up with trust and gratitude.

Today I want to encourage you that as you draw close to God, you not only see His works but are also empowered to share them with others. Choose to trust Him daily, expecting to witness His goodness, and boldly declaring His works in your life.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 73

1Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart.

2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped.

3For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm.

5They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men.

6Therefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment.

7Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish.

8They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily.

9They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.

10Therefore his people return here, and waters of a full cup are drained by them.

11And they say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?”

12Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease; They increase in riches.

13Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.

14For all day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning.

15If I had said, “I will speak thus,” Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.

16When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me—

17Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.

18Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.

19Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.

20As a dream when one awakes, so, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image.

21Thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind.

22I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.

23Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.

24You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

25Whom have I in heaven but You? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.

26My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.

28But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.

Wonderous Things

Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things! ~ Psalms 72:18

Psalm 72 celebrates God’s majesty and His rule that brings justice, peace, and prosperity. It portrays God as a King who hears the cries of the needy, rescues the oppressed, and brings lasting righteousness. When we declare that God only does wondrous things, we’re acknowledging that His works go beyond human understanding and reveal His goodness and power in every situation, whether big or small.

I’ve seen the Lord work wondrous things in my lifetime—on global and national levels, but also in deeply personal ways. Some of the most meaningful “wondrous things” I’ve witnessed have been in my relationships, especially with my children. Like all relationships, ours have gone through difficult times. But as I’ve committed each of these challenges to God, He’s moved in ways I never imagined possible, drawing us closer and bringing healing and growth. There were times when misunderstandings or hurts felt impossible to overcome, yet when I trusted God to intervene, He brought restoration and joy.

Below are some ways to recognize the wonderous things of the Lord in your life.

Start by looking for God’s wonders in your everyday life. We often look for God’s work in big, miraculous events, but His wondrous works can also be subtle and close to home. Take time to look out for His goodness in the little moments: a friend’s encouragement, a solution to a small problem, or even a change in your own perspective. Practicing gratitude will help you to see God’s hand in all aspects of life.

Pray with expectation when you bring your needs to God.  You can do this by approaching Him with the belief that He truly wants to work wondrous things for you. Jesus encouraged His followers to ask in faith, believing that they would receive. This chapter reminds us that God is attentive to the cries of those in need, and He desires to show His glory in your life. Pray with confidence, trusting in His timing and His ways, which are always for our good.

Trust Him in the challenges when life brings unexpected difficulties.  Remember verse four reassures you that God’s rule is one of justice and mercy. When circumstances seem overwhelming, remember that God is still working. Trust Him to bring growth, wisdom, and, ultimately, blessings out of each trial. God often uses these moments to reveal His love and power in ways that transform us from the inside out.

Commit all your relationships to God. Just as God brings healing and restoration to nations, He also works in our personal relationships. When faced with misunderstandings or conflicts, commit them to God. Pray for His peace, wisdom, and grace, trusting that He can work wonders in your relationships, even those that feel strained. Like the Psalmist, believe that God is able to bring healing where there’s been hurt.

Lastly, don’t forget to celebrate His works. Make it a habit to share and celebrate God’s wonders, both past and present. Share testimonies of what God has done in your life to build your own faith and encourage others to trust in His power. Whether it’s sharing stories of His provision with friends or recording them in a journal, celebrating His works will help you remember His faithfulness.

Today I want to encourage you to “Blessed His glorious name forever! As Psalms 72 concludes, let the whole earth be filled with His glory.” Make it your mission to look for God’s wondrous works today and every day, to celebrate them, and to share His goodness with others. When you focus on the ways He moves in your life, you will be reminded of His love and faithfulness, bringing hope and peace into every situation you experience.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 72

1 Give the king Your judgments, O God, and Your righteousness to the king’s Son.

2 He will judge Your people with righteousness, and Your poor with justice.

3 The mountains will bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

4 He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, and will break in pieces the oppressor.

5 They shall fear You as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

6 He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, like showers that water the earth.

7In His days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.

8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

9 Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him, and His enemies will lick the dust.

10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts.

11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; All nations shall serve Him.

12 For He will deliver the needy when he cries, the poor also, and him who has no helper.

13 He will spare the poor and needy, and will save the souls of the needy.

14 He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; And precious shall be their blood in His sight.

15 And He shall live; And the gold of Sheba will be given to Him; Prayer also will be made for Him continually, and daily He shall be praised.

16 There will be an abundance of grain in the earth, on the top of the mountains; Its fruit shall wave like Lebanon; And those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

17 His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed.

18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only does wondrous things!

19 And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.

20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

Ask and receive

“Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22

Do you talk to God each day? Do you ask for things like having a good day, divine protection, and peace of mind? What about praying for others? Do you ask your Heavenly Father to watch over those you love and to bless the ones you care for?

Today’s scripture is about asking and receiving. Jesus said that if we believe when we ask Him for something, we will receive it. So, what are we supposed to believe? Are we to believe that He hears us? Are we to believe that He will answer our request? Or are we to believe that He wants to answer us? The answer to these questions is “Yes!” Psalm 91 says that when we call on Him, He will answer us. Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you.” Mark 11:24 says, “Whatever you ask when you pray, you will have.” In John 16:24, Jesus said, “Ask and you will receive, so your joy may be full.” James 1:8 lets us know that if we ask and don’t receive, it’s because we are double-minded (wishy-washy) and unstable in our ways. It means we are not sure about what we are asking for and therefore have no faith for it.

So why don’t we see and hear of more people praying and asking God for help in this world? If you take a look around, it’s clearer than ever that we need His help. So why aren’t more people talking to God instead of complaining about or fearing the latest world crisis? I believe it’s because many people do not believe that God will answer or that He is interested in what is happening on earth. This is where we as Christians and believers come in. Now is the time for us to step away from the world’s way of fear, complaining, and worry, and start building faith in those around us by telling of God’s goodness and His desire to come into our lives to guide and protect us from the evils of the world. It doesn’t mean evil will disappear completely, but He will keep it from affecting you and those who call on Him.

Today, I want to encourage you to take the first step in receiving: ask with purpose and believe that God wants to answer and take care of you and those you love. Turn your focus away from the world’s problems, and instead think about the solutions found in Him. In Him is peace, in Him is comfort, and in Him is grace to get you through whatever you are facing. Start including God in your life’s circumstances today by inviting Him in, and watch how He turns everything around for good instead of evil.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 21:12-22

12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.

13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”

14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.

15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant

16 and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”

And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,

‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants

You have perfected praise’?”

17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.

18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry.

19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”

21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.

22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” 

Riding on a Donkey

“Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”  Matthew 21:5

Today’s reading is about Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem the week before Passover. Everyone was gathered there to celebrate and observe the event. Jesus rode into the city on a donkey’s colt, and the significance was clear to anyone familiar with the Scriptures. The prophecy was that the Messiah would enter the city riding on a colt, a symbol of His royalty and Messianic identity. What the people didn’t realize was that He was actually the spotless Passover Lamb, coming to be offered up by the high priest for the sins of the world. To the people there that day, He appeared to be coming to deliver them from Roman oppression. However, the true reason He came was to be God’s pure payment—not for His own sins, but for theirs and ours today.  He came to pay the price for all sin for all time.

Yes, He is royalty, because He is the King of kings. And He was there to save the people, but not in the way they expected. He was brought into the city to be presented to the priests for inspection, just like all the other lambs that were brought that week. The difference was that He would be the final sacrifice ever needed for sin. At last, someone had come to cleanse the world of the sin that had entered back in the Garden of Eden.

Today, I want to encourage you to consider the spotless Lamb of God. He came to be the sacrifice for all sin, and His sacrifice still cleanses us today. Jesus’ supernatural work on the cross covers all people for all time, and it will continue for all eternity. Take some time today to thank Him for the provision He made at Calvary, and worship Him because He is worthy of our adoration.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 21:1-11

1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.

3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”

4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.

7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.

8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”

10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”

11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

 

A Resort

Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress. ~ Psalms 71:3

I’ve only been to a resort once in my life, and it was for work, so I didn’t have much time to take advantage of all the accommodations. I’ve stayed in many hotels over the years, but I’ve never really had a vacation experience where everything I needed was in one place, providing true rest and recreation.

That’s why I love today’s key verse, which speaks of running to God as our “resort” and continually finding refuge in Him. The psalmist reminds us that our refuge in God is not just a shelter during fierce and stressful times; it’s a place we can go to for renewal, rest, and re-energizing. God offers us so much more than just protection. He invites us into His presence as our place of peace and replenishment, where we can be shielded, restored, and refreshed.

This thought gives me hope, reminding me that I don’t always have to be busy working or constantly productive in fulfilling my purpose. I can have times at the “resort” with my Father, where I step away from the daily grind and let Him refuel me for the battles ahead. When life gets overwhelming, I can run to Him for renewal.

At His resort, you’ll find everything you need:

A fortress: a place of safety and provision.

Deliverance: protection from harm and freedom from wickedness.

Hope and strength: renewed trust and confidence in Him.

Restoration: strength for your body, mind, and spirit.

These are just a few of the benefits of our Refuge, but the bottom line is that anything and everything you need is available at His resort. The doors are always open, and you don’t need a reservation to enter. He welcomes all who call on His name.

Today, I encourage you to find strength and refreshment in your heavenly Father. Take time each day to “resort” to His presence. He has exactly what you need to get through the season you’re in right now—and when that season changes, He’ll have what you need for the next one, too.

If you’ve never called out to Him for salvation and rescue, you can do it now by praying a prayer of salvation. Jesus will come into your life and open the door for you to have a right relationship with your Father in heaven. Invite Him in, so you can run to His resort each day and receive the empowering grace you need to fulfill your purpose in this life.

Pray: God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.  I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me.  Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new today.  I know Your Son, Jesus died for me.  I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead.  At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in the blood of Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to accomplish the things You have planned for the rest my life here in this world. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 71

1 In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame.

2 Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape; Incline Your ear to me, and save me.

3 Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.

4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

5 For You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth.

6 By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. My praise shall be continually of You.

7 I have become as a wonder to many, but You are my strong refuge.

8 Let my mouth be filled with Your praise and with Your glory all the day.

9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails.

10 For my enemies speak against me; And those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together,

11 Saying, “God has forsaken him; Pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver him.”

12 O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!

13 Let them be confounded and consumed who are adversaries of my life; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor who seek my hurt.

14 But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more.

15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day, for I do not know their limits.

16 I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.

17 O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.

18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, ntil I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.

19 Also Your righteousness, O God, is very high, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?

20 You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

21 You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

22 Also with the lute I will praise You— and Your faithfulness, O my God! To You I will sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, and my soul, which You have redeemed.

24 My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long; For they are confounded, for they are brought to shame who seek my hurt.

Magnify Him

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified!” ~ Psalms 70:4

 At the beginning of 2024, I started what I called a “praise fast.”  It wasn’t a fast to stop praise and worship, but rather to replace every complaint, doubt, and criticism with praise and worship instead. Every time I felt fearful or began to doubt, instead of letting those thoughts take root, I used them as reminders to praise and worship God. If I found myself being critical or complaining, I took it as a prompt to offer prayers of thanksgiving. This practice transformed my days. It kept my focus on the One Who loves and saved me, rather than on the struggles I was having in my life.

After that “fast” was over, I really didn’t even think about it again.  Even though it was very effective in helping me to press into my Father, once it was over, I haven’t thought of it since.  However, this week, I spent some time on Sunday evening, listening to worship music and praising God.  I set aside everything else and just focused on praising my Father for His great love.  When I finished, I thought about how refreshed and invigorated I felt.  I remembered that worship is like oil for my soul, moistening and reviving the dry places.  That is when I decided to make it a part of my daily activity with no exceptions.

As I worship and magnify Him, I realize that every created thing was made to worship. The entire creation shows us this truth: plants stretch upwards toward the heavens, stars turn in their celestial paths, and animals flourish, each fulfilling their purpose to glorify their creator.

In today’s reading, we are encouraged to seek and rejoice in the Lord.  We are told to be glad and magnify or make Him bigger in our lives to show that we love His salvation.  We do this by making Him the focal point of all of our being. And we honor Him by walking each day guided by His Spirit.  When we make worship a priority, we honor God, deepen our relationship with Him, and experience His peace.

Maybe praise and worship doesn’t mean that much to you.  Some people think that we worship in church on Sunday simply to wait for everyone to get there.  But there is so much more to it and the truth is we were created for it.  Even though we have been given the choice, we were designed to require that worship to bring victory and peace into our lives.

The way that I have incorporated worship in my life is to set aside enough time to listen to one worship song and close my eyes to focus on Him.  In those minutes, I pray, I thank Him and I raise my hands in surrender and adoration.  My heart remembers how much He loves me and how much I love Him.

Today I want to encourage you to take time each day to worship Him!  Whether it is by doing a “praise fast” where you remember to thank Him for His wisdom and protections instead of fears and doubts.  Or you can play one worship song each day and spend five minutes purposefully turning your attention to His greatness and glory.  You can even just bow down and worship Him in a place of humility and honor. Whatever way you choose to worship Him doesn’t matter, but what does matter is that you do it in some way. Only then will you be able to rejoice and be glad because when you take time to give Him your time and attention, then you will have His perspective on every issue you face in this life.  Embrace worship today and magnify God in your live.  When you do, you will be transformed from the inside out. Let God be magnified in every thought, action, and word—because when you make room for Him, He fills that space with His presence, power, and peace.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 70

1Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Make haste to help me, O Lord!

2Let them be ashamed and confounded who seek my life; Let them be turned back and confused who desire my hurt.

3Let them be turned back because of their shame, who say, “Aha, aha!”

4Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified!”

5But I am poor and needy; Make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.

Overwhelmed

Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God. ~ Psalms 69:1-3

I remember a time when I was completely overwhelmed, feeling like I was in over my head with all the responsibilities I was juggling. It felt like I was trying to be the magician with spinning plates, balancing each one on poles while the slightest mess up threatened to bring everything crashing down. My energy was drained, and my spirit felt dry, as though I’d cried out until my voice was hoarse and my hope was wearing thin.

Then, in a moment of revelation, I realized I didn’t have to hold everything together on my own. God, who invites me to cast my burdens onto Him, was right there, waiting for me to reach out and let go of the weights I was never meant to carry alone. I realized that not only could I hand over my troubles to Him, but I could also trust Him to empower me with His grace to accomplish the things He has called me to.

Sometimes, when we feel stretched to the limit, it can be easy to think we’ve taken on too much or that we’re failing in some way. But those moments of overwhelm can also be opportunities to lean into God’s strength, to give Him the entrance into those stressful times to fill in the gaps where we are lacking. His grace is always sufficient, even when our own strength falls short.

Here are some examples of what you can do to turn your stressful times over to your Father to get His help and strength.

Cry out honestly like David did in Psalm 69. Start by pouring your heart out to God. Let Him know what you’re feeling and thinking, even if it’s messy. Talk to Him about the areas where you feel burdened or lacking, and invite Him into those struggles.

Surrender what you can’t control by releasing the responsibilities or worries you’re holding onto into His hands. Ask yourself if there are things you’re carrying that God hasn’t called you to bear alone. Let go of those burdens to Him in prayer, trusting that He will take care of what you cannot.

Ask for His grace to strengthen you because God promises to provide grace for what He’s called us to do. Pray for His empowering presence to fill the areas where you feel stretched or overwhelmed and believe that He will sustain you with the strength you need.

Take practical steps to rest often, when we’re overwhelmed. Sometimes we neglect physical and emotional rest. Make time to recharge—spend a few minutes reading God’s Word, worshipping, or simply sitting in silence with Him. Psalm 69:13 reminds us to wait on His timing, so give yourself permission to pause.

Seek support from your community by reaching out to trusted friends or mentors who can pray with you and encourage you. Just as God is with us, He places people in our lives to help us carry our burdens. Let others lift you up when you’re feeling weak.

Focus on today instead of worrying about everything at once. Keep your attention on what God has placed in front of you today. Matthew 6:34 says, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Ask God for guidance and strength for just this day, trusting that He will be with you again tomorrow and give you what you need now and then.

Today I want to encourage you when you are feeling overwhelmed, remember that God doesn’t expect you to handle everything alone. Like David, who felt overwhelmed yet ultimately found refuge in God, you can rest in His faithfulness, too. He sees your struggles, He hears your cries, and He is more than able to carry you through each moment with grace. Let go of your worries, lean into His strength, and trust Him to empower you no matter what you have to carry in every season of your life.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 69

1 Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.

2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

3 I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God.

4 Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; They are mighty who would destroy me, being my enemies wrongfully; Though I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it.

5 O God, You know my foolishness; And my sins are not hidden from You.

6 Let not those who wait for You, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed because of me; Let not those who seek You be confounded because of me, O God of Israel.

7 Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; Shame has covered my face.

8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother’s children;

9 Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.

10 When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting, that became my reproach.

11 I also made sackcloth my garment; I became a byword to them.

12 Those who sit in the gate speak against me, and I am the song of the drunkards.

13 But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, in the acceptable time; O God, in the multitude of Your mercy, hear me in the truth of Your salvation.

14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink; Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.

15 Let not the floodwater overflow me, nor let the deep swallow me up; And let not the pit shut its mouth on me.

16 Hear me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good; Turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies.

17 And do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in trouble; Hear me speedily.

18 Draw near to my soul, and redeem it; Deliver me because of my enemies.

19 You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor; My adversaries are all before You.

20 Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none.

21 They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

22 Let their table become a snare before them, and their well-being a trap.

23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; And make their loins shake continually.

24 Pour out Your indignation upon them, and let Your wrathful anger take hold of them.

25 Let their dwelling place be desolate; Let no one live in their tents.

26 For they persecute the ones You have struck, and talk of the grief of those You have wounded.

27 Add iniquity to their iniquity, and let them not come into Your righteousness.

28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

29 But I am poor and sorrowful; Let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high.

30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.

31 This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull, which has horns and hooves.

32 The humble shall see this and be glad; And you who seek God, your hearts shall live.

33 For the Lord hears the poor, and does not despise His prisoners.

34 Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.

35 For God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it.

36 Also, the descendants of His servants shall inherit it, and those who love His name shall dwell in it.