The Daily Dose

Joy in His strength

The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord; And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! Psalms 21:1

 I am underserving of God’s great love and salvation.  We all are, but because He loved us as His family before we were even born, His love and His care for each one of us is unconditional.  Meaning, it has nothing to do with who we are or what we do.  Even if someone rejects the message of salvation and never surrenders their life over to Him, that will not change the fact that God loves them and made a provision for them to be with Him for all eternity.  It is truly His desire to have His created people, all of them back in a right relationship with Him, the way He created us to be.

The fact that God doesn’t automatically save us makes some people uncomfortable.  There are actually people out there that think that God should just take everyone to heaven when they die, no matter what decisions they made in this life.  However, He wanted it to be our choice.  His desire is that we would choose to love Him so that we would be intentional about our relationship with Him.  This is a great responsibility and good news.  We have been given this great salvation to choose and it is totally up to each individual.  No one can ever say that they were forced to be saved and yet, each person is accepted by Him with open arms when they enter into His provision and love by being washed in the blood of Jesus.

That is good news for sure, but what does that have to do with Psalms 21?  This Psalm was written by David, and it is a victory Psalm.  Something David wrote or said when he returned from a victorious battle.  He gave glory to God for delivering Him, but he also rejoiced in the salvation of the Lord.  Because it starts out by saying “The “king” has joy in God’s strength.”  It could be easy to skip right over it because we do not see ourselves as kings.  But the words about God are true for all of us.

As I am reading this passage today, I am taking these words personally to say: I have joy in the Lord’s strength, because it is always there for me and always available for me to access when I need strength.  I say: In His salvation I will greatly rejoice!  When I consider the depth of God’s love to rescue me at the expense of His only Son’s life, I cannot express enough how grateful I am. 

If I continue to read this chapter and make it personal to me, I actually feel my heart being lifted high above the circumstances in life.  He gives me my heat’s desire and has not withheld the requests of my lips.  He meets me with blessings of goodness and sets a crown (honor) on my head and life.  I ask life from Him and He gave it to me, even length of days forever.  My glory is great in His salvation, honor and majesty that He has place on me.

When I read it that way, I am reminded of all the good thoughts and plan my Father has for my life.  He isn’t finished with me yet and even though I continue to get older, He has a plan for every last breath in my lungs!

So today I want to encourage you to read this passage and apply it to your own life.  Let the Word of the Lord strengthen and lift you up today.  What ever you have going on in your world, have joy that His strength is with you and on you and rejoice that His great salvation includes every provision you need to accomplish His plan for your life.  He is your Father and loves and takes care of your needs even greater than your father in this world would desire to.  Trust Him today and be thankful and remember, it is up to you how close you are to Him.  He gave you the choice to include Him in all every area of life.  Choose to walk His plan each day and when you come to the end of your journey in this world, you will have no regrets.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 21

1 The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord; And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

2 You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

3 For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head.

4 He asked life from You, and You gave it to him—length of days forever and ever.

5 His glory is great in Your salvation; Honor and majesty You have placed upon him.

6 For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence.

7 For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.

8 Your hand will find all Your enemies; Your right hand will find those who hate You.

9 You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger; The Lord shall swallow them up in His wrath, and the fire shall devour them.

10 Their offspring You shall destroy from the earth, and their descendants from among the sons of men.

11 For they intended evil against You; They devised a plot which they are not able to perform.

12 Therefore You will make them turn their back; You will make ready Your arrows on Your string toward their faces.

13 Be exalted, O Lord, in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power.

Trust in God not in men

 May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose.  Psalms 20:4

Psalms 20 is a psalm that was written as a prayer of blessing for kings going into battle.  In fact, it is believed by many people that King David prayed this blessing many times as he entered the tabernacle before going out to fight his enemies.  It is an expression of his confidence in God’s protection and favor, bringing him strength to stand in the day of war.  This prayer voices his assurance of relying on God rather than on his own power or resources. In this passage, David speaks about what he believes and has seen in past victories.  He knew that the hand of God lead him as David acknowledged his God in all his ways.

There seems to be 4 themes in this psalm so, again, I want to break it down to help the message stick with you.

1. David calls out for God’s Help and Protection (Verses 1-4)

The psalm begins with a series of blessings, asking that the Lord answers the king in times of trouble, protects him, and sends help from the sanctuary. These verses show David’s deep trust in God’s ability to provide help and protection. The people pray that God will accept the king’s offerings and grant him the desires of his heart, implying that the king’s plans are in line with God’s design.  It also shows the confidence the people had in their king because of his faith in God.

Verse four is especially relevant because it talks about fulfilling your purpose.  This blessing reminds us that God wants to give us the desire of our heart as it lines up with His plan and purpose for our lives.  It is only by seeking out the purpose we were created for that we can live a satisfying and fulfilling life with no regrets.

2. Confidence in God’s Power (Verses 5-6)

The message shifts in verse 5 from a petition to a declaration of confidence. The crowd rejoice in knowing that God will give victory to the king. They are looking forward to celebrating the victory because they trust in Him. The psalmist confidently says that the Lord saves His anointed, emphasizing that God’s power is what secures victory not the strength of the king.

3. Contrasting Trust in God with Trust in Human Strength (Verse 7)

I love verse seven as it is one of the most well-known verses in this psalm because it contrasts trust in God with trust in the power of people: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”  It is pointless to rely on material strength or military might. True security and success come from trusting in God alone.

4. Assurance of Victory and God’s Protection (Verses 8-9)

The Psalm ends with a confident declaration that those who oppose God will collapse and fall, while those who trust in God will be lifted up and stand firm. The final verse is a call for the Lord to save the king and to answer when the people call.  This reinforces the overall theme of relying on God for deliverance and victory and not on our own strength and wits.

Today I want to encourage you as you read Psalms 20 to be reminded of the importance of trusting in God’s protection and guidance. Be encouraged to place your confidence in God rather than in your own strength or resources. Your loving heavenly Father is attentive to your prayers and your trust in Him.  His power is sufficient to deliver and sustain you in your times of need.  So the next time you are facing a battle in life, remember to pray this Psalm of blessing and assurance that your trust is in God to bring you through to victory.

Today’s Scripture reading: Psalms 20

1May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;

2May He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion;

3May He remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah

4May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose.

5We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

6Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.

7Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

8They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright.

9Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call.

He wants everyone to know Him

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.  Psalms 19:1

Psalms 19 is such a powerful message, and I could not pick just one verse to write about.  There is so much wisdom and revelation in it that I didn’t want to miss even one nugget.  As I was preparing to write, I began by breaking each verse down into phrases and words that I could understand at a higher level.  God’s word is perfect, but some of the way it is translated makes it a little difficult to understand when phrases are turned around or even words that I don’t use in everyday language.  An example of this is the word firmament.  I have always struggled to grasp exactly what that word was talking about. 

As I was reading over it again, I simply asked. “What is it?”  I was about to search for the meaning of the word when I suddenly got an impression of the first two lines of this chapter.  I saw the first line that says: “The heavens declare the glory of God” and I immediately understood that it was talking about the universe with it’s stars and galaxies beyond this world.  Then the next part that says: “The firmament shows His handiwork” then made sense to me that it is the sky and air within our planet.

The struggle I was having was that I thought the firmament was the heavens, so the first verse seemed repetitive in its language, but when I understood the difference in the two, the entire passage took on a new meaning.  After considering that in the first verse, I decided to translate the entire psalm in my words to help me get a hold of a deeper message from this scripture.  Since I have known this chapter most of my life, I wanted to look at the words that were a little out of reach in my normal everyday talk.  I am including that in the message today to maybe expand this Psalm for each of you some.  I know there are various translations that we will all read it in, but I am hoping and praying that breaking it down a little more will help each one to my fully get the message that David was writing about so long ago.

Start by recognizing that this Psalm is a powerful reflection of the revelation of God’s glory through His creation and the things that David knew about Him on a personal level.  As you read the break down below, notice I have separated it into three sections that seem to be the three main points of the message of stepping into a deeper relationship with God through the ways we can see and know Him here in this world.

The Glory of God in Creation

1. The universe announces God’s glory and the sky and air around us displays His artwork.
2. Everyday says something about God. Each night tells us He is with us.
3. Every nation and language in the world can see and understand what creation is saying about God’s love for them.
4. His display shows up everywhere in the earth, even to the ends of the world.
5. Each day is like a groom coming out of his bedroom and shouting for joy like an athlete winning his first race.
6. The sun rises from one end of the earth in the east and circles around the world to set in the west.  Nothing can hide from its light or heat.

The Glory of God in His Word

7. God’s structure of the way life was designed to work is completely perfect.  His systems convert the wicked soul and life.  His testimony and accurate account of how it was all created makes even simple or uneducated people wise.

8. His directions for living life are righteous and when followed brings joy to the heart. His commandments and instructions come from His pure heart and loving desire to lead us in a good path and lights up the way for us to walk in this dark world.

9. As we awe, reverence and fear the Lord and follow the blueprint that He made for this life to be successful, then we are not defiled but cleansed from all unrighteousness and will live for all eternity following His plan.

10. God sees and perceives the world with His truth and without any deception of the sin in it.

11. All His ways are what we are looking for in life to be satisfied and fulfilled.  They are greater than the riches of all the fine gold and sweeter and more useful than honey from a honeycomb. Also, God’s people are alerted to dangers by the things around us that He has created and by walking life out in faith and keeping His ways, we are guaranteed His great rewards in this life and the next. 

Personal Application

12. Sinful people cannot comprehend that they are making misguided decisions, and they also follow after secret and selfish motives.  Lord, remove and cleanse us from sinful ways and from going in our selfish directions.

13. I pray the Lord keeps me away from the sin of pride and thinking that I know the right way on my own and He won’t let me be oppressed by others.  Only then will all guilt, and faults be removed from me.  Then all transgressions, even great will be gone from my life.

14. Lastly, (and this should be the way we live each day) let everything that comes out of my mouth and every thought that comes from my heart be acceptable and pleasing in your sight when You look at me because You are my strength and my Redeemer and give me the empowering grace to accomplish Your instructions and purpose you created me for.

Summary: The heavens are broadcasting the glory of God 24 hours a day, and every sunrise and sunset proclaim His majesty and power. Just as the sun faithfully rises each day, God’s love and presence are constant in our lives. When we look at the world around us, we can know that the same God who crafted the stars and set the sun on its course is watching over us, with care and intention.

God’s Word, like His creation, is perfect and trustworthy. It revives and restores our soul, makes simple people wise, and brings joy to the heart. In times of uncertainty or when you need direction, His commandments are clear and right, lighting your path and leading you toward truth and righteousness. There is great reward in following His ways, more precious than gold, sweeter than honey.

Even when we stumble or face challenges, Psalm 19 reminds us that God is our Rock and Redeemer. He understands our weaknesses and offers forgiveness and strength. As we seek to line our lives up with His purpose, we can pray, like the David did, that our words and thoughts would be pleasing to Him. Begin today to rejoice in knowing that the God who created the universe cares deeply for you. His Word is a guide for your life, full of wisdom and truth. Trust in His perfect ways, and let your life reflect His glory.

Today I want to encourage you to begin to implement this Psalm into your life.  Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself through the natural world and through His perfect Word.  Worship Him daily by walking in obedience and pressing in, to know His direction for your steps.  Then you will be inspired to see God’s hand in every part of your life and trust in His perfect wisdom for your day.  Remember the same loving Father who created the heavens and the earth is with you all day long offering His love, guidance and strength to share with those who come into your life each day.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.

2 Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.

3 There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.

4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,

5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race.

6 Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.

13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

The Hidden Things

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”  Matthew 13:35

The rest of Matthew 13 has a list of parables that Jesus told concerning the Kingdom of Heaven.  He talked about wheat and tares, which was a farming scenario again.  He talked about the mustard seed being the smallest of all seeds and He talked about leaven and how even when it is hidden or unseen, the results of it can be seen in the outward circumstances.

I find it most interesting that in today’s verse, it says that it was prophesied in the Old Testament that Jesus would speak His messages in parables and stories to teach secret things that were hidden since the beginning of time.  Jesus didn’t come to hide more from people, but to reveal great mysteries to them through stories about every day life.

It’s the same thing today. God isn’t trying to hide things from us.  He wants us to know His plans and especially His plan for our lives personally.  He wants to lead us in that perfect path of righteousness, and He wants us to discover the great faith works that He has for each one of us to accomplish.  However, just as it was in Jesus’ day, you must go to Him to find out the secrets of your journey.  You must purpose to seek Him first and His righteous ways.  That requires you to set aside time each day to commune with Him and press into His goodness and grace.  Only then will He reveal the steps you are to take day by day to fulfill your part in the kingdom of Heaven so that when the day comes to separate the wheat from the tares, you will be found in the company of His produce.

Today I want to encourage you to look for the secret paths He has for you to travel.  It may not always make sense because it requires faith to walk out His plans.  It isn’t blind faith; it is faith in the direction He speaks to your heart through His Word and the inner voice of the Holy Spirit.  Walk closely with Him each day so that you can discern His heart of good things for your life and watch as He reveals secrets to you that have been hidden just for you ever since the foundation of the world.  He really does have great things for you to do and walk in, but it is up to you to seek them out. Discover the hidden plans He has for your life today and remember, they are not hidden from you, but they are hidden and protected for you to find and then walk them out.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 13:24-43

24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;

25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.

26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.

27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’

28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’

29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field,

32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

33 Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”

34 All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them,

35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”

37 He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.

38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.

39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.

41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,

42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! 

Reap WHAT you sow

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.  Matthew 13:19

Have you ever heard the old saying you will reap what you sown?  There is actually a scripture in Galatians that says: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7) This scripture is not talking about planting a garden, it is about the things you do and say in life.  In the very next verse in the 6th chapter of Galatians it says: “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

Today’s text is talking about the Word of God.  God’s Word is a seed that is planted in the hearts of those who HEAR it.  Jesus explained to His disciples that when the Word of God is planted in the heart of people, it can produce 4 different types of results.  In the case where someone is hearing the word but doesn’t understand it, then it is easy for the enemy to come and steal what was sown in that person’s heart. (that’s disturbing) Satan can steal what has been planted in your heart, which is the reason that Proverbs tells us to guard our heart. (See Proverbs 4)

Next Jesus said that others can receive the Word of God and receive it with joy, but when trouble comes, they will stumble because they have not reinforced their root system by abiding in or filling up daily with the Word of God.  Then He talked about the cares of life choking the Word and cutting off the flow of it in life because the cares and riches can steal your focus and smother the work God’s Word is doing in a person’s life.

Lastly, there is good ground to receive the Words of God and that is the place that God’s Word will thrive, grow up and produce a great harvest.  The good ground has been prepared, cultivated and fertilized.  It doesn’t have weeds and thorns (distractions).  It is full of nutrients that are waiting to receive seed to grow it to maturity.

Today I want to encourage you to, first of all consider what you are planting in your heart.  If words are seeds, whose words are you allowing to grow in the soil of your heart.  Is it the voice of the world with its bad news, current headlines and woke media?  Is it the voice of social media with all the perfect and pretty pictures or is it the words of your past that haunt and grow up into shame and condemnation?  If it is any of these, change the words you are listening to today and begin to fill up with God’s Words.  God’s Words will encourage you, God’s Words will strengthen you and God’s Words will move you forward in His plan and purpose for your life.  If you are already growing God’s Word in your heart, look around for someone you can help to prepare their heart’s soil and begin planting seed of God’s love and words in them today.  You will reap what you sow but thank goodness you can choose what to sow.  Plant the Word of God in yourself and others today and soon you will see the harvest of His goodness wherever you are.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 13:10-23

10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,

And seeing you will see and not perceive;

15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower:

19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;

21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

 

He will protect you

God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.  Psalms 18:30

 I am so thankful to be reading through the Psalms.  Even though it is the longest book in the bible with the most chapters, it is so easy to read and understand.  At one point in my life, I would read through and memorize the Psalm of my age. 

Like when I was 34, I read Psalms 34 many times throughout that year.  Then, of course, the next year I moved on to Psalms 35.  You really get to know a passage when you spend a year’s time reading it over and over.  There are so many promises in the book and when you are feeling low, it is one of the best places to look in the scriptures for hope and encouragement.

I remember at one point in my life that I was praying about the safety and protection of my family.  I don’t remember the exact circumstances that happened to cause me to be worried about something happening to them.  But someone I knew had experienced a loss in their family and it left me with a feeling of fear of the unknown.  I felt like there was nothing I could do to prevent something terrible happening in my family and I didn’t why something bad would happen to someone who knew God.

So I did what I always do when anxiety and stress try to come on me.  I “cried” out to the Lord for help and understanding.  As I talked it over with Him, I really sensed in my heart that He was showing me that I could trust Him with those people that I love.  As I prayed over them for protection and wisdom each day, He would be faithful to protect and guide them in life.  I couldn’t do anything about it in the natural realm, but by placing them in the hands of Jesus, He faithfully cares and watches over them. 

Since that time, I have seen His faithfulness over the years to keep my loved ones in all their ways.  I have also prayed many scriptures that I have learned about His provision of protection.  Today’s scripture is one of those passages that remind me that He is a shield for all those who look to Him and trust Him for protection.  These are not just some poetic and flowery words, it is a promise to people from the Holy Spirit of God.

As I read through the rest of chapter 18, I am reminded that when I am humble, I am actually moving closer to my Father in heaven, but pride pushes Him further away.  He is light in my dark times and strength when I am weak.  His ways are perfect, and when I follow His Word, I can walk out the plan He designed for my life.  He protects me and those I care about as I trust them to His care.  He is the one constant in my life, and I can trust that He is always there for me.  He sets me in high places and makes my feet firm there, so I won’t fall.  He increases my life and makes it plain and clear so that I can know I am following Him.  I can shake of the dusty and dirty things in life that try to stick to me, and He keeps me from getting into conflicts when I listen to His wisdom.  He is alive and directing my life because I take my refuge in Him.  I do that by spending time with Him and praise and worship with Him.

Today, I want to encourage you to trust the Lord.  Trust Him to watch over you and protect you and those you commit to His care.  Turn every area of your life and all the people that you love over to Him for help and protection.  Recognize that He can be trusted.  Don’t worry that He might cause evil to come on you because He is good and does good and there is no evil in Him.  Whatever life throws at you, He will always provide a way through that trouble, but you must press into Him and follow His way, not the way that looks right to you.  He is faithful and He is true.  Even when He points to a place that seems different than you would have thought of, trust Him because He can see the big picture and show you secret passages.  Let your heavenly Father give you hope and assurance today by trusting the promises He has given you in His Word.  He will always come through for you when you determine that His way is the only way!

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 18:27-50

27You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.

28You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.

29In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.

30God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

31For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock?

32God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect.

33He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.

34He trains my hands for battle; He strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.

35You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me; Your help has made me great.

36You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping.

37I chased my enemies and caught them; I did not stop until they were conquered.

38I struck them down so they could not get up; they fell beneath my feet.

39You have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued my enemies under my feet.

40You placed my foot on their necks. I have destroyed all who hated me.

41They called for help, but no one came to their rescue. They even cried to the Lord, but he refused to answer.

42I ground them as fine as dust in the wind. I swept them into the gutter like dirt.

43You gave me victory over my accusers. You appointed me ruler over nations;

people I don’t even know now serve me.

44As soon as they hear of me, they submit; foreign nations cringe before me.

45They all lose their courage and come trembling from their strongholds.

46The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted!

47He is the God who pays back those who harm me; He subdues the nations under me

48and rescues me from my enemies. You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies; You save me from violent opponents.

49For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.

50You give great victories to your king; You show unfailing love to your anointed,

to David and all his descendants forever.

Your root system

But when the sun was up, they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.  Matthew 13:6

On of my favorite parables that Jesus told was about planting seeds.  Jesus often talked about things in the physical world and compared them to things in the spirit realm.  (That is a place we live in, but cannot see with our physical eyes.)  He did this for a few reasons, but one was so that people could understand and remember what He taught.  In today’s parable, He talked about planting seeds.  It is a timeless illustration because seed, time and harvest have been the same since the beginning of the world’s existence.  This way His teaching could be passed down through the generations and hold it’s meaning because the principle would always be the same as long as the earth exists.

The part of the parable I want to focus on today is the root system.  God created the root system in a plant to sustain its life.  A root system anchors a plant in the soil so it cannot be moved by the weather and elements around it.  It provides nourishment to the part of the plant that is above the surface, and it reserves food for the times when a plant isn’t getting what it needs from the top side to sustain it’s life through dry times.  Essentially, the root system keeps the plant alive and without it, it cannot survive.

Later in the chapter, Jesus compares this system to the foundation of our Christian life.  He said that when a person receives the Word of God in their life unto salvation, they must build a foundation to be able to keep their faith in tact when the trials and troubles come.  The storms of life can blow a new believer away because they do not have an anchor or root system in place to keep them grounded.

This is where we as God’s people come in.  We are to disciple new converts to help them sustain the tribulations in life.  When a crisis comes, we help hold them in place by going through the storm with them, encouraging them and making sure they are getting a steady dose of God’s Word and time with Him.  It isn’t enough to just show them the way, you have to walk the path with them until they are strong enough to stand firm on their own.

Some ways you can do this is by meeting with others in a small group study or activity.  You can invite a new believer to come to church with you or make a regular lunch or coffee date with them.  By simply inviting them along with you in your day, will encourage them and help them not to feel alone.  In this way, you are nurturing their foundation and building it strong so that the enemy will not be able to pluck them up and destroy their roots.

Today I want to encourage you to help a new Christian in their walk with God. Bring them along with you in life to help build their foundation with them.  You cannot do it all, but you can get them started.  Teach them how to have their own quiet time with their loving heavenly Father and help them to learn how to put away the things in life that want to steal them away from their new life in Christ.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 13:1-9

1 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.

2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow.

4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.

5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.

6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.

8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

 

The will of your Father

“For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50

Have you ever wondered how to know for sure that you are part of God’s family?  In today’s verse, Jesus answers that question.  We know that after Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection and ascension, salvation was available for all who would receive it.  However, in today’s passage, Jesus tells His disciples and us how to identify His family.  He said it was those who do the will of His Father in heaven. 

On the surface, this is an awesome revelation. You and those around you can actually see that you belong to the God of the universe simply by you doing His will.  Now the question is:  How do I know what God’s will is for me to be doing?

For starters we know that God’s Word is His will.  It is the best place to start.  If you see something in the scriptures that hasn’t quite fit into your life yet, begin to step into that now.  Salvation starts with stepping into a personal relationship with our heavenly Father through the blood of Jesus that cleans us from all sin and the stains that sin has left in our lives.  Now that you have entered into that personal relationship, like any relationship, the way to grow it is to nurture and give attention to it.  Purpose to spend some quiet time with your Father each day and you will begin to know His leading in the way that you should go.  Take some time to read His words in the scripture, give Him some praise and thanksgiving and then talk with Him and listen to what He is speaking to your heart.

Next, do what Jesus did and begin to reach out to others in kindness and love.  The scripture says that the fruit of God’s Spirit or the evidence that God’s Spirit is active in your life is (aka doing His will): love, joy peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and patience.  Begin to let this produce grow in your daily walk for the world around you to receive.

It is not about doing works to receive your salvation, but it is about doing good to imitate your Father in heaven and by doing kind deeds others can see God’s love in you.  As you hang out with Him, you will take on more of His attributes and begin to look more like Him each day. (See Eph. 5)

Lastly, instead of killing all your free time with scrolling social media, television and recreational activities, spend time listening to podcasts and reading material that will grow your faith and trust in His goodness and love for you.  And don’t forget to take time to worship with others at least once a week. 

Today I want to encourage you to do the will of your Father in heaven.  Step into a closer walk with Him by setting aside special quiet time each day to get to know Him and His blessed plan for your life.  Then start displaying His grace and love for others in the relationships of your life.  Let the world around you identify you as part of God’s family by the way you walk out His will and plan for your life each day.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 12:38-50

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

42 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.

44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.

45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.

47 Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”

48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?”

49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!

50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

What do you say

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.  Psalms 18:6

I have gone through a lot of low times in my past.  There were times when I was afraid, times when I was worried and times when I was down.  When those times came, I called on the Lord.  I cried out to Him for help.  He was always there for me and even though I was not living my life in agreement with His plan and purpose, He still rescued me in my distresses.  When things got better, I was off running in my own direction again.  I didn’t say it out loud, but I was basically living my life with the mindset of, I’m going to do things my way, God and if I get into trouble, then I will ask You for help.

That is not the wise way of walking through this life and of course, now I know there is a better way to live.  That way is to follow His leading and direction, not because He wants to control me, but because He knows how to get me to the good life He designed for me to live before I was even born. By following Him, I can find out ahead of time what and where that is.  It doesn’t mean that I will never have trouble or problems again, it just means that I am in the right place and God is right there beside me to get me through.  It also indicates that I am close to Him and talking to Him all the time so that when the low times come, He doesn’t have to rush in to rescue me, but instead He is right there beside me as we walk through and overcome, step by step by step.

I never really focused on my issues and felt the need to talk about them all the time with whoever was around me.  That has helped me out a lot in life.  I ask God for help; He comes and fixes things and then I would get up and start running again.  Even though I was running in the wrong direction, that thought process helped me to unload a lot of baggage when I did start going in the right direction.  However, I have met many people who park when they have problems and then sit down and talk about the issue over and over and over again.  It doesn’t help anything, it just lets others know that they need help and by telling them, they expect others to do something to fix the circumstances, or to pity them and make excuses for them.  Either way, it results in a victim mentality and it becomes a vicious cycle that is even harder to get out of and move away from in life.

In Psalms 18, David cried out to God while he was being hunted by king Saul.  David didn’t do anything deserving of Saul’s oppression and hatred.  Saul was just jealous of him because God had chosen David to be the next king after Saul’s disobedience.  What I want to make note of in this Psalm is that before David talked about his problem to God, he told himself and even those around him how he was going to handle his concerns.  He said: “Even though things look bad around me, and I am being pursued unjustly, I will love the Lord with all my strength because He is my rock and my fortress.  He delivers me and I trust Him.  He is my horn and my salvation.  I call on Him because He is worthy to be praised and save me from my enemies.”  Then David shifts his words to talk about how he was feeling.  He said that he felt like the pains of death and sorrows surrounded him as he was confronted by death, but in his distress, he called upon the Lord for help.  Then the passage goes on to say that God came rushing in with a fierce anger.  Not because David asked for help, but because David was hurting.

As David watched what God did in the circumstances around him, he was encouraged and recognized that God lifted him up and brought him to a broad, safe place and that God delighted in helping David get there.  To David it felt like God picked him up, dusted him off and moved him forward in the plan for his life.  After that, David confessed his confidence in God’s mercy and faithfulness to help in out of every trouble.  He kept his conversations devoted to speaking and praying the solution, not repeating the problem over and over again.

We can approach our difficulties in life with the same heart that David did.  It is kind of the same way we approach our heavenly Father when we go to service each weekend with the body of believers.  We enter in with worship and praise about God and what we know about Him.  We sing praise about His great salvation and rejoice because He has delivered us from eternal separation. Then we listen to a message that teaches us how to walk in faith through every obstacle in life.  We leave that place with hope and thanksgiving for the reminder of our Father’s presence and provision for everything we need coming up.  He is good and His name is to be praised!

Today I want to encourage you to know what to say the next time you are going through a rough season. Begin by reminding yourself of God’s love and goodness in your life.  Speak a list of all the wonderful attributes you know about His character.  Then cry out to Him with how you are feeling at the time.  You don’t necessarily have to tell Him why you are feeling that way, just let Him know you are anxious, fearful, depressed or whatever it is that day.  They rejoice as you sense His presence with you, comforting you and lifting you up on your feet to face another day.  Even if nothing changes immediately in your surroundings, your heart will change, and peace will rush in to hold you until your prayer is answered and the situation is resolved.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 18:1-26

1I will love You, O Lord, my strength.

2The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

3I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.

4The pangs of death surrounded me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.

5The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.

6In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

7 Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, because He was angry.

8 Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it.

9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down with darkness under His feet.

10 And He rode upon a cherub, and flew; He flew upon the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

12 From the brightness before Him, His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

13 The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice, hailstones and coals of fire.

14 He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.

15 Then the channels of the sea were seen, the foundations of the world were uncovered at Your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

16 He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.

17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.

18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support.

19 He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.

20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.

21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

22 For all His judgments were before me, and I did not put away His statutes from me.

23 I was also blameless before Him, and I kept myself from my iniquity.

24 Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

25 With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;

26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.

Friend or not

Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them.  Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings.  Psalms 17:7-8

As I read through Psalm 17, I can begin to understand what it means to be a friend with God.  This Psalm shows the contrast between those who have His favor versus those who do not. This passage can work as a guide to help us understanding our relationship with God, evaluating if we are walking out His will and plan, and recognizing the qualities of those who walk in close relationship with Him.

Psalm 17 is a prayer of David, where he earnestly seeks God’s justice and protection against his enemies. In it David gives a deep personal plea for deliverance and vindication.  He writes his request within the context of righteousness and trust in God’s purpose. Below, I have listed several key sections, each revealing crucial elements about what it means to be a friend or not of God.

1. The Plea for Righteous Judgment (Verses 1-2)

David begins by asking for God’s attention by calling out to Him in prayer: “Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! From Your presence let my vindication come! Let Your eyes behold the right!” Here, David’s plea highlights a fundamental aspect of being a friend of God: a commitment to righteousness and truth. Those who seek God with a sincere heart, like David, will line up their lives with His nature, ways and His Word. They seek what is right in God’s eyes, not only for themselves but as a reflection of God’s own standards.

In contrast, those who are not friends of God may approach Him with deceitful hearts or ulterior motives. They are not honest with Him or themselves. Their prayers do not show a genuine desire for justice or truth but rather a self-serving intent. Psalm 17 sets a high bar for those who wish to be considered friends of God—we must approach Him with a pure heart and truly be seeking after His path.

2. Trust in Divine Protection (Verses 3-5)

In verses 3-5, David expresses his trust in God’s protection and guidance: “You have tried my heart, You have visited me by night, You have tested me, and You will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.” This trust is based on a life lived in agreement with God’s will, free from the wicked schemes of the ungodly. The intent and purity of David’s actions and words are evident, and he is confident that God’s protection and provision will prevail.

Friends of God demonstrate unwavering trust in His protection and guidance, knowing that their commitment to living righteously is a shield against adversaries. They live with a sense of divine security, strengthened with the knowledge of their friendship with God and confidents in His plan. In contrast, those who are not friends of God may rely on their own understanding or methods for protection, often resulting in vulnerability to their own failings and the schemes of their wicked schemes.

3. A Call for Deliverance from the Wicked (Verses 10-14)

David contrasts his own righteousness with the behavior of the wicked: “They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly. They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.” He asks for deliverance from those who are not only his enemies but who do unrighteousness and cruelty.

The Psalm underscores the reality that those who oppose God’s people often do it with a hardened heart and arrogance. They show no pity and seek to undermine righteousness. Being a friend of God involves standing apart from such behaviors and seeking His intervention against the forces of evil. Friends of God bring themselves into alignment with His values, while those who oppose Him display their arrogance and wretchedness.

4. The Promise of Divine Satisfaction (Verse 15)

David concludes this Psalm with a profound statement of faith: “As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with Your likeness.” This verse assures us of the ultimate reward for those who live in agreement with God’s Word—a desire for God’s friendship and satisfaction of being created in His image.

Friends of God are promised a deep, personal relationship with Him, marked by satisfaction and fulfillment in His presence. This ultimate reward contrasts sharply with the fate of those who do not seek God’s ways or live according to His Word. For them, there is no promise of divine fulfilment, protection or intimacy within a personal relationship with Him.

So, today I want to encourage you to read Psalm 17 and remember it as a powerful reminder of what it means to be a friend of God. Seek after a true friendship with God by committing to righteousness, set time aside each day to deepen your trust in His protection.  Set your life apart from the world and wicked says and press into the promise of divine contentment and peace. As you meditate on this Psalm, evaluate your own friendship with God, to make sure that your hearts and life lines up with His standards and His ways. By assessing your relationship, you will move closer to the joy that comes from being in the presence of a good and loving God.  Decide today that He is your best friend, and then let that friendship thrive by committing all your ways to Him.

 Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 17

1 Hear a just cause, O Lord, attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.

2 Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.

3 You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

4 Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.

5 Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip.

6 I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.

7 Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You from those who rise up against them.

8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,

9 From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me.

10 They have closed up their fat hearts; With their mouths they speak proudly.

11 They have now surrounded us in our steps; They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth,

12 As a lion is eager to tear his prey, And like a young lion lurking in secret places.

13 Arise, O Lord, Confront him, cast him down; Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword,

14 With Your hand from men, O Lord, from men of the world who have their portion in this life, and whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, and leave the rest of their possession for their babes.

15 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.