A boy came late to Sunday school. Knowing he was usually very prompt, his teacher asked, "Johnny, is there anything wrong?"
"No ma'am, not really," he said. "I was going to go fishing but my dad told me that I needed to get up and go to church." The teacher was very impressed and asked Johnny if his father explained why it was more important to go to church instead of going fishing.
"Yes ma'am, he did," Johnny said. "My daddy said he didn't have enough bait for the both of us!"
God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be confused, and if I cannot trace His hand I can always trust His heart.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, from "Hope When Your Heart Breaks," page 52
Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. Psalm 54;4
A famous author keeps a special
picture in his office. It shows a turtle
setting atop a fence. The caption at the
bottom of the photo reads: If you see a
turtle on a fence post, you know he had some help!
I doubt that the Psalmist David ever
pictured himself as a turtle. But he
counted on and depended upon the help that he received from the Lord God. Again and again, David sought the Lord’s help.
Psalm
27:9 – Do not hide Your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger;
You have been my helper.
Psalm
28:7 – The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am
helped.
Psalm
30:2 – O Lord my God, I called to You for help and you healed me.
Psalm
33:20 – We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
Psalm
40:17 – You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.
As you can tell from these verses,
what the Lord offers to David (and to you and me) is much more than just “a
helping hand.” The Lord comes to our
aid…gives protection…listens with understanding…heals our hurts…pours out
compassion and love. Throughout the
first third of the book of Psalms, David again and again draws
near to His Lord for help.
Where do you need God’s help this
week? In dealing with
discouragement…helping a troubled friend…learning to love an unlovable
co-worker…looking ahead to the future with faith? Follow David’s example – look to your Savior
God for He is your helper!
Monday, April 25, 2022 Read: Psalm 13 David teaches us an important lesson – in times of distress or despair, turn to the Lord and His Word. Meditate and pray upon it. The Holy Spirit will give you hope and restore Your confidence. Pray: Holy Spirit, remind me this day of my heavenly Father’s love and protection for me and my loved ones. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Tuesday, April 26, 2022 Read:
Psalm 14 Some reject the existence of God, preferring
to point to their own good works as being worthy of acclaim. Verses 2-4 describe how completely God
rejects any works done outside of faith in Him alone. Pray: Thank
You, O Lord, for my righteousness, holiness and redemption comes through faith
in You alone. Amen. (based on 1 Corinthians 1:30)
Wednesday, April 27,
2022 Read: Psalm 15 The
apostle James wrote that “I will show you my faith by what I do.” This, too, is the point of the psalmist. True faith produces righteous living. Where do you see yourself in today’s
reading? Pray: Gracious God, I want to follow You alone. But sometimes I struggle with this…
Thursday, April 28,
2022 Read: Psalm 16:1-6 Did
you notice the heading, “A miktam of
David?” A miktam is a “mystery poem,”
meaning that it deals with the deepest mysteries of life and of our
relationship with God. Note: this is a
Messianic Psalm. Pray: Dear Father, I simply cannot understand why You are so gracious
and kind to me. I praise You for Your
indescribable love and mercy. In Jesus’
name. Amen.
Friday, April 29, 2022 Read:
Psalm 16:7-11 Did you know that both Paul and Peter quote
verses 9-11 in their letters? They do so in reference to the resurrection of
Jesus as affirmation of the Savior who fulfills the promises made by David and
the Old Testament prophets. Pray: Lord Jesus, I praise and thank You
for Your sacrificial death and victorious resurrection. Guide me on the path that leads to eternal
life. Amen.
Saturday, April 30, 2022 Read: Psalm 17:1-9 David is confident that God will answer his prayer. Why? Because of God’s disposition to love and care for His children. Pray: Dear Lord, keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings. Amen.
Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness. What a liberation when you can forgive.
From "Oh, How He Loves You."
Psalm 18:30
As for God, His way is perfect; the Word
of the Lord is flawless.
I can still remember the scene as if
it took place yesterday. The St. Louis
Rams had just won the Super Bowl and Kurt Warner was being interviewed. His words would be going out to a worldwide
audience. The interviewer asked, “Kurt,
tell us how you felt after throwing the game-winning touchdown to Isaac Bruce?”
Warner responded, “The first thing
I’ve got to do is praise my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!”
Wow!
What an uncommon athlete. Warner
gave glory to God rather than seek glory and acclaim for himself. That’s what David does in Psalm 18.
The subscription to this Psalm gives
the reason for the writing of this song.
David was hunted by his enemies with the same intensity that a rabid
football fan might seek an extra ticket for the Super Bowl. King Saul, filled with jealously and rage,
brought the power of the kingdom against David and his small group of
followers. Each time, God thwarted
Saul’s plans to destroy David. The evil
king could never defeat the one – David – God had chosen to lead His people.
David responds by writing a majestic
song of praise to his Lord. He points to
God’s grace as the reason for his many escapes and triumphs. David takes no credit for outfoxing
Saul. He does not boast of having a
superior intelligence or battle tactics.
He sings, “I love you, O Lord, my strength.” To the very end of the psalm, David keeps
pointing to the grace and mercy of God as the reason for his success.
Where has God surprised you with His
grace? When did you experience His mercy
in an extraordinary way? Was it when He
sustained you through a difficult experience?
Was it when He removed you from a painful situation. As you work through the psalm this week,
think about the song of praise you could sing to the Lord. You already have the opening verse: I love You, O Lord, my strength!
Monday, April 18, 2022 Read: Psalm 9:1-12 It’s hard to know for sure but some scholars believe that this psalm was written toward the end of David’s life. The psalmist offers sincere words of thanks and praise to God for His mercy and help throughout his life. Pray: O Lord, you have been good to me too. Let me thank You for the following blessings…
Tuesday, April 19, 2022 Read:
Psalm 9:13-20 You’ve probably heard someone say, “God is so
unfair!” David has heard such talk as
well. But in this section of the psalm,
David defend the fairness of God’s judgments, noting that rebellion against God
brings punishment. Pray: Thank You, gracious God, for the assurance that You will never
leave me nor forsake me. In Jesus’
name. Amen.
Wednesday, April 20,
2022 Read: Psalm 10:1-12 Sometimes
it seems as though those who purposefully lead ungodly lives prosper the
most. In today’s reading, David
describes the actions of such people and pleads to the Lord not to let the
arrogant escape His wrath. Pray: Dear Father, restrain those who seek
to bring evil against we, Your people.
Keep us in Your care. In Jesus’
name. Amen.
Thursday, April 21,
2022 Read: Psalm 10:13-18
The psalmist writes in verse 16: “The Lord is king forever and ever.” This is another way of saying, “God is in control!” Pray:
O Lord, You are the Rock. Your works are
perfect. All Your ways are just. Amen.
(based on Deut. 32:4)
Friday, April 22, 2022 Read:
Psalm 11 This psalm offers a powerful testimony to the
way the Lord cares for His people. David
again proclaims the truth that God will uphold good and put down evil. Pray:
Merciful God, sometimes the obstacles I face seem too overwhelming. Today I need Your help with these concerns…
Saturday, April 23, 2022 Read:
Psalm 12 Ever have to deal with someone who has spoken
a falsehood against you? David prays for
God’s wrath to fall upon such people who speak deceitful lies. This psalm comforted Martin Luther when he
was under attack at the time of the Reformation. Pray: O
God, help us to always defend and speak well of our family, friends and church
family. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance, but laying hold of God's willingness.
Martin Luther
The commemoration of Holy Saturday encompasses our Lord's rest in the tomb and His descent into hell. The descent into hell is not, however, the depth of Christ's humiliation but rather the demonstration of HIs complete victory over death. This day takes us out of the depths of most painful sorrow and out of the solitude of holy meditation upon Christ's passion to the celebration of victory as we anticipate the Lord's resurrection breaking forth in all its glory on Easter.
Treasury of Daily Prayer
Good Friday is the high point of Holy Week but not of the Church Year - for we know that after Good Friday a day is coming when death will give way to life. If the commemoration of Good Friday was separated from Easter, we would remain in our sins, and thus the ultimate word of Good Friday would be "you are condemned." Even as we stand at the foot of the cross and contemplate the price of our sin, we gather as children reconciled to God. In the services of Good Friday, the Church does not leave us in the darkness and the shadow of death but rather fills us with the certainty of victory over sin, death and the devil, pointing us to the final victory that will be celebrated on Easter.
Treasury of Daily Prayer
When I don't really know what to pray or how to pray, I take God's words and make them my prayers.
Dannah Gresh
Maundy Thursday, the Day of Commandment (Dies Mandati), most properly refers to the example of service given us by our Lord and the directive to love as we have been loved (John 13:34). Yet we must not forget the command given in the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ to "do this in remembrance of Me." This day, with its commemoration of the institution of the Lord's Supper, is set off from the rest of Holy Week as a day of festive joy.
Treasury of Daily Prayer, page 174
If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within yourself, you'll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you'll be at rest.
Corrie ten Boom
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
This is a verse that is often prayed by pastors before entering their pulpits on Sunday
morning. All week long the pastor has
studied, wrestled with and meditated upon a text of Holy Scripture. Then the writing and rewriting of the
manuscript or outline took place.
Finally, the day comes for the pastor to proclaim the Word of God to the
flock. As he looks out at the people who
have gathered, he recognizes those who have suffered disappointment, who
struggle with destructive habits, who are going through times of testing and
doubt. So the pastor prays this psalm
verse. It’s what all pastors want – that
their words would proclaim the forgiveness, salvation and peace that only God
can give. And that God would be pleased
with their meditation and preaching.
But this verse is not just for
pastors. It serves as an excellent
prayer for every believer in Christ Jesus.
We all want God’s Words on our lips.
Who knows when we might be able to speak His Word of encouragement to
someone who’s lost a job…speak His Word of comfort to a friend awaiting test
results from a doctor…speak His Word of compassion to a family member who is
overwhelmed with the details of daily life.
We can speak of our God our Rock,
our strength. Remember Jesus’ Word to
the Apostle Paul? “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect
in weakness.” We can speak of God our
Redeemer, our Savior. Remember the “new
song” of the Saints in heaven? “You (Jesus) are worthy to take the scroll and
to open its seals, because You were slain, and with Your blood You purchased
men for God…”
Commit Psalm 19:14 to memory this week. God bless your words and meditations.
So come to His table, listening only to His words and receiving what He gives. All your doing doesn't count against you anymore. There is none of you, none of your doing outside of Jesus forgiveness. Nothing can separate you from Him, for He has borne it all and answered for it in your place. The Lord invites you to His table, family and fellowship to share all His happy good. This is how much He loves you. And by this Meal the Lord brings you on your way to that glad feast that is the feast of the Lamb with all His saints.
April 11-15, 2022
Monday, April 11, 2022
Read: Psalm 5:1-6
Read verse three again. As you
begin another week, what prayer requests do you wish to make? Each morning the psalmist offers his
petitions and then waits to see what the Lord will do. How about you? Pray:
O Lord, since You have invited me to have this quiet time with You, here are
some of the things that are on my heart…
Tuesday, April 12, 2022 Read:
Psalm 5:7-12 How do you see your house of worship? The psalmist saw God’s house as a refuge, a
place where God’s protection and help becomes our defense against those threaten
our faith and life. Pray: Gracious God, guard us from unbelievers and skeptics who would
have us doubt the life we have in You.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Wednesday, April 13, 2022 Read:
Psalm 6 This is the first of what are known as the
penitential psalms (the others are 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143). David is sorry for his sin. He pleads for God’s mercy. Look at verse nine again – God’s mercy is
granted to David. The Lord has heard
David’s plea. Pray: O Lord, like the psalmist I am in need of your mercy. Forgive me for…
Thursday, April 14, 2022 Read:
Psalm 7:1-9 Have you ever been frustrated by someone who
seems like they are out to get you? Ever
have to work with someone who seemed determined to tear you apart? David shows
you how and what to pray in Psalm 7. He
expresses a confident faith that God will protect and vindicate him against his
unjust enemies. Pray: Dear Father in heaven, protect me from those who seek to harm
me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Friday, April 15, 2022 Read: Psalm
7:10-17 The psalmist is so confident that God will
deliver him from his enemies that he thanks the Lord in advance for His help and justice. Pray:
God Most High, my shield, grant me the same trusting and confident faith as the
psalmist. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
All of us have people in our lives that
have influenced us or made a lasting impression on us in some way. Because of their faith in us or love they’ve
shown to us, we consider such people our heroes. We look up to them. We admire the example they set for us. We want to be like them.
One of my heroes is Father Tim. I’ve never met him in person. In fact, he doesn’t exist – except in the
pages of the Mitford series of books by author Jan Karon.
Father Tim is the pastor of the
Lord’s Chapel in the fictional town of Mitford, North Carolina. Each of the Mitford books follows the life of
the humble and devoted pastor as he cares for the people of his little
community. I appreciate the fact that
Father Tim knows what people need the most – the Word of God. And he uses the Psalms very effectively in
his ministry.
For example, as Father Tim sought to
minister to a young man who had been abandoned by his mother, he prayed Psalm
32:8b: I will instruct you and teach you
in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.
When searching for encouragement, Father
Tim remembered Psalm 68:19: Praise be to
the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
To the individual near death, the first
verse of Psalm 27 was Father Tim’s prayer:The
Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of
whom shall I be afraid.
We aren't sinners because we sin. We sin because we are sinners.
From "Reading Romans with Luther," page 25
April 4-10,
2022
Monday, April 4, 2022 Read: Psalm 1:1-3 Today’s
reading tells us that there are three blessings for those who delight in
reading and meditating upon God’s Word.
Did you catch them? Such people
resist sin…love God’s Word…produce fruit of faith. Pray:
Help me, O Lord, to be a person who loves to read and pray your Word back to
You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Tuesday, April 5, 2022 Read:
Psalm 1:4-6 Today’s reading causes us to think of the
separation of the sheep and the goats – believers and unbelievers – as taught
by Christ Jesus in Matthew 25:31-33. Pray: Lord Jesus, righteous King, help me
to be armed with Your Word so that I might resist the devil and be counted as
one of Your precious sheep on the Last Day.
Amen.
Wednesday, April 6, 2022 Read:
Psalm 2:1-6 This is the first of a number of Messianic
Psalms you will read this year. This
particular Psalm describes the invincibility of the Lord’s Anointed – Christ
Jesus. The first three verses speak of
rebellion against God; verses four through six explain just how foolish it is
to think that mere man can thwart God’s plans.
Pray: Gracious God, help me to
live in faithful obedience to You and Your holy Word. Amen.
Thursday, April 7, 2022 Read:
Psalm 2:7-12 Does verse seven sound familiar? Three New Testament texts quote this verse as
proof that Jesus is the Son of God (see Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5 &
5:5). Pray: Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your gracious rule over my life in
Your Kingdom of Grace. Amen.
Friday, April 9, 2022 Read: Psalm
3 Psalms 3-6 all refer to suffering or affliction caused by
enemies. Some believe that David wrote
these Psalms when being persecuted by his son, Absalom. If you were to underline just one verse from
today’s reading, what would it be? Pray:
Lord, protect me from the wicked plans of evil men and women. In Christ’s name. Amen.
Saturday, April 10, 2022 Read: Psalm 4 Reread verse eight. In what way do the words of the Psalmist
increase your confidence in
your Savior’s love? Pray: Gracious God, You are so good to hear and answer my prayers. Here are my concerns for you today….