Tag Archives: psalmist david

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; J.K. – Wailing to Song

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No believer in Christ is exempt from trials and correction. “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (Hebrews 12:6) As one commentator expressed it, you undergo “home training” so you may have a personal, intimate relationship with God.

I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

Psalm 13:5

The Psalmist David was often in distress. Psalm 13 begins as he boldly comes before the Lord asking, “How long…how long?” David was sorrowful, enemies pursued him, and he felt distant from what he determined was an unresponsive God. But the wailing turned to song when he realized that he could not save himself. His deliverer was Almighty God! The apostle Paul struggled as well. “For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” (Romans 7:18) His joy became full when he knew his deliverer was Jesus Christ (Romans 7:25-8:1).

Believer, know that your “Woe is me!” pleases the devil, but your songs of praise grieve him sorely (Martin Luther). Lift your eyes heavenward, trust in God’s steadfast love and rejoice that God is the deliverer of body and soul. Then pray for the people of this nation that they may do the same.

Recommended Reading: Psalm 16

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Stay in God’s Presence

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And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me; in His tent I will offer sacrifices and shouting of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

—Psalm 27:6

The psalmist David said that the thing he wanted most was to be with God and to dwell in His presence all the days of his life (See Psalm 27:4). David loved God for who He is, not just for what He did for him.

The Word says that if we abide in the presence of God, He will defeat our enemies, and hide us in the day of trouble (See v.5). God’s attention is on us, but we must keep our attention on Him to enjoy the fullness of His presence in our lives. We must invite God to be involved in everything we do, and then remember to praise Him for His goodness.

 

 

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Meditating on the Right Things

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I will meditate also upon all Your works and consider all Your [mighty] deeds.—Psalm 77:12

The psalmist David spoke frequently about meditating on God, His goodness, works, and ways. It is tremendously uplifting to think on the goodness of God and all the marvelous works of His hands. I enjoy watching television shows about nature, animals, ocean life, etc., because they depict the greatness, the awesomeness of God, His infinite creativity and how He is upholding all things by the might of His power (See Hebrews 1:3). Meditating on God and His ways and works will need to become a regular part of your thought life if you want to experience victory.

One of my favorite verses of Scripture is Psalm 17:15 in which the psalmist says of the Lord, I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You]. I spent a lot of unhappy days because I started thinking about all the wrong things the minute I awoke each morning. In contrast, I’ve found that choosing to think about the Lord and fellowshipping with Him early in the morning is one sure way to start my day right and enjoy my life. I can truly say that I have been fully satisfied since the Holy Spirit has helped me operate out of the mind of Christ (the mind of the Spirit) that is within me.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – A New Song

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And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne. . . .

—Revelation 14:2–3

Sometimes we see heaven depicted as a place where people sit around on clouds, strumming on their personal harps in boredom. While it is true there will be harps in heaven, not everyone will be playing them. In Revelation 14:2, John the apostle was describing a stringed instrument. It was a point of reference for him: “And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.”

Maybe we could update this scene in heaven by saying there were a lot of guitarists rocking out on their electric guitars. The point is that it isn’t boring; it is a celebration of a new song that is being sung.

Every believer should have a new song. The psalmist David wrote, “He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth—praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:2–3).

If you have trusted in Christ, if you have been lifted from a pit of despair, then you have a new song. Did you know that? It doesn’t need to be a literal song. You don’t have to walk around and sing, “I used to be an unbeliever . . . but now I am a Christian. . . .” Rather, it is the idea of having a new message.

So stop singing the old song. Sing the new song. Let others know what Christ has done for you. That is what these believers in heaven were doing. And that is what we ought to do.

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Max Lucado – The Prison of Want

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Come with me to the most populated prison in the world. It’s name is WANT—the prison of want. You’ve seen her prisoners. They want something bigger. Nicer. Faster. Thinner. They want a new job. A new house. A new spouse.  If you feel better when you have more and worse when you have less—you’re in the prison of want. If your happiness comes from something you deposit, drive, drink, or digest, then face it—you’re in the prison of want!

The good news is, you have a visitor. It is the psalmist, David. “I have a secret to tell you,” he whispers, “the secret of satisfaction.” From Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” David has found where discontent goes to die. It’s as if he’s saying, “What I have in God is greater than what I don’t have in this life.”  Oh, that you and I could learn to say the same!

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Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – How to Be Fearless

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“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1).

The psalmist David did not choose words carelessly – but under divine inspiration – when he spoke of lightand salvation.

Of all the memorials in Westminster Abbey, not one has a nobler thought inscribed on it than the monument to Lord Lawrence – simply his name, with the date of his death, and these words:

“He feared man so little because he feared God so much.”

Charles H. Spurgeon gives some helpful insights into Psalm 27:1.

“In the New Testament, the idea which is hinted at in the language of David is expressly revealed as a truth. God does not merely give us His light. He is light, just as He is love in His own uncreated nature.

“God is light, ‘John writes in his epistle,’ and in Him is no darkness at all.’ When John sought to teach us our Lord’s Godhead as clearly and as sharply as possible, he calls Him the ‘light,’ meaning to teach us that as such He shares the essential nature of the Deity.”

How wonderful that we need not live in darkness – in any sense of the word – but that we immediately can have the Light of Life, God Himself, available to us in the person of His indwelling Holy Spirit as well as in His inspired Word. Every prerequisite for the abundant, supernatural life has been made available to us, and access is immediate if we come to Him immediately with our needs.

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:2-6

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: With God’s help, I will follow Him who is my light and my salvation. I will have no fear of men or circumstances.

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Our Daily Bread — Terrifying Moments

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Psalm 23

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. —Psalm 23:4

When our first child was born, my wife, Marlene, was in labor for more than 30 hours, creating tremendous stress for both her and the baby. The doctor, a fill-in for her regular physician, was unfamiliar with her and her pregnancy. As a result, he waited too long to make the decision to perform an emergency Caesarean section, and the resulting trauma put our infant son in the neo-natal intensive care unit. There was nothing they could do to help our baby to overcome his trauma-induced condition.

By God’s grace, Matt recovered—but I cannot remember any moment in my life as terrifying as when I stood by his crib in intensive care. Yet I knew the Lord was near as I talked with Him through prayer.

In the terrifying moments of life (and all the other moments as well) nothing can bring comfort to the hurting heart like the reality of God’s presence and care. The psalmist David wrote, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Ps. 23:4).

When fear is overwhelming, the Lord is there. His comforting presence will carry us through our deepest trials. —Bill Crowder

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll—

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

“It is well, it is well with my soul.” —Spafford

Peace is the presence of God.

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Our Daily Bread — Grandpa Snucked Out

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Psalm 16

My heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope. —Psalm 16:9

My cousin Ken fought a courageous 4-year battle with cancer. In his final days, his wife, three children, and several grandchildren were in and out of his room, spending time with him and sharing special goodbyes. When everyone was out of the room for a moment, he slipped into eternity. After the family realized that he was gone, one young granddaughter sweetly remarked, “Grandpa snucked out.” One moment the Lord was with Ken here on earth; the next moment Ken’s spirit was with the Lord in heaven.

Psalm 16 was a favorite psalm of Ken’s that he had requested to be read at his memorial service. He agreed with the psalmist David who said that there was no treasure more valuable than a personal relationship with God (vv.2,5). With the Lord as his refuge, David also knew that the grave does not rob believers of life. He said, “You will not leave my soul in Sheol [the grave]” (v.10). Neither Ken nor anyone else who knows Jesus as Savior will be abandoned in death.

Because of Jesus’ own death and resurrection, we too will rise one day (Acts 2:25-28; 1 Cor. 15:20-22). And we will find that “at [God’s] right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps. 16:11). —Anne Cetas

“In the Beloved” accepted am I,

Risen, ascended, and seated on high;

Saved from all sin through His infinite grace,

I am accorded in heaven a place. —Martin

 

God is our treasure now, and being with Him in heaven will bring pleasures forever.

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Our Daily Bread — Just Enough

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Matthew 6:25-34

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. —Matthew 6:33

I love writing for Our Daily Bread. I confess, however, that sometimes I whine to my friends about how difficult it is to communicate everything I would like to say in a short devotional. If only I could use more than 220 words.

This year when I came to the book of Matthew in my Bible-reading schedule, I noticed something for the first time. As I was reading about the temptation of Christ (Matt. 4:1-11), I noticed how short it was. Matthew used fewer than 250 words to write his account of one of the most pivotal events in all of Scripture. Then I thought of other short yet powerful passages: the 23rd Psalm (117 words) and the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 (66 words).

Clearly, I don’t need more words, I just need to use them well. This also applies to other areas of life—time, money, space. Scripture affirms that God meets the needs of those who seek His kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33). The psalmist David encourages us, “Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing” (Ps. 34:10).

If today you’re thinking, “I need just a little bit more” of something, consider instead the possibility that God has given you “just enough.” —Julie Ackerman Link

I would be quiet, Lord, and rest content,

By grace I would not pine or fret;

With You to guide and care, my joy be this:

Not one small need of mine will You forget! —Bosch

He is rich who is satisfied with what he has.