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Posts Tagged ‘psalms’

Thankful to Trust Even When You Delay, Lord

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on December 5, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus
Thursday, December 5, 2024

Lord, all he could do was trust you. The psalmist recorded his testimony of the dark time his soul dwelt into depression and despair. His world came crashing down around him. He prayed and waited for you to deliver him, but for some higher reason, you delayed his rescue.

Did he understand your delay? Probably not. He could only hold to your promise: You would rescue him from what he called a pit of mirey clay, a place so slippery no one escapes on their own. In his humanity, the psalmist must have questioned, “When, Lord? When are you coming to rescue me? I need help—now—not next week.” Hmmm. Lord, how many times have I pleaded with you to rescue me?

The psalmist’s plight caught the attention of the people in his sphere of influence. Will the psalmist abandon his faith or remain faithful? Why is God punishing him? Did people speculate he had a secret sinful life. Despite the backlash, the psalmist expressed his only hope: “He turned to me and heard my cry” (Psalm 40:3)

As the apostle Paul would scribe centuries later to the Galatian believers, “But at the right time, God sent Jesus” to meet the needs of those who call upon his name (Galatians 4:4).Faithful to your promise, Lord, you came to the psalmist’s rescue. You not only rescued his physical being, but you also rescued his spiritual being. “He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God” (Psalm 40:2). People were speechless. They could only give credit to you, Lord, for the psalmist’s transformed life.

May the same be said of us when we fully commit ourselves to you, Lord God. Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful I’m Not Riding a Spiritual High Horse

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on November 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus
Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Lord, are you sure you didn’t overlook me on this one? Why didn’t you give me the gift of discerning the true condition of someone heart? You can trust me to put those whose hearts are not fully devoted to you in their place. I’ll point out their errors while I punch their ticket for the guilt trip train. And how did you overlook the psalmist when distributing this gift? Like me, he would have been excellent at pointing out others’ faults.

Lord, forgive my sarcasm. I’m being foolish, mocking those religious critics who take it upon themselves to hold others to an unattainable higher faith. Only you attained that perfection while you walked among us.

Self-righteous people can be annoying. Their holier-than-thou attitudes belittle the grace you freely give. Fortunately, you have spiritual chainsaws that cut off the legs of their spiritual high-horses. Judgmentalism blinds us from seeing others as you see us. The psalmist viewed these misguided believers and took action to avoid joining that fraternity.

“But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge …” (Psalm 73:28 NLT).

Remembering the pain from his wandering, the psalmist vowed never to return to that spiritual wilderness. Keeping his mind continually on you guaranteed staying close to you. Fleeing to you for refuge, he found the peace he needed and the stability his erratic soul sought. Living in rebellion against you is no way to live.

For over 3500 years, this truth hasn’t changed. Lord, we pray those who call you Lord will find that same peace and stability for our souls, that we may be near you. Riding our judgmental high horse is such a bumpy ride.

Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful Not to Be on the Rollercoaster

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on November 18, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus
Monday, November 18, 2024

Lord, reading the Psalms, I get the impression the psalmist’s life resembled a rollercoaster. One moment, he lived a godly life, serving you. Next, he wandered from faith and found himself surrounded by enemies, fighting for his life. One such psalm described his need for immediate divine assistance. Evidently, everything he tried failed to deliver. As he clung to the end of his proverbial rope, what other choice did he have but to call on you. Personally, the psalmist situation sounds familiar.

Most folks might not face the dangers the psalmist faced. Everyone has been broken at one time, some multiple times. We face mountains we cannot climb, walk around, or tunnel through. Mired in misery from one life’s disappointment after another, countless multitudes echo the psalmist’s prayer.

“From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer” (Psalm 130:1, 2 NLT).
No more denial. The time for complete transparency and honesty arrived. Scripture suggests the psalmist knew his problems rose from his sin. His hesitancy at repentance compounded his misery. In his pleading, he reminded you, and himself, of your merciful character.

“Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?” (Psalm 130:3)

Stubbornly, an enemy still hung around. It’s true you may not have kept a record of his sins, however, the psalmist did. Every day, the devil reminded him of his sin record. Every day, your Spirit faithfully revived him. He wrote of your mercy.

“But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you” (Psalm 130:4)

Lord, your love allows all who believe the freedom to fearlessly love you with all our being. I wanna live like that. No more rollercoaster.
Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful You Control our Destiny, Lord

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on November 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Lord, did the psalmist have a vision of society 3000 years in the future, or was he writing about the society he lived in? Psalm Chapter 11 describes the dangers when power falls into the hands of the ungodly. Having some degree of power challenged the psalmist convictions.

Would he remain true to his convictions, or would he compromise under persecution? Would he govern with a velvet glove or an iron fist? The psalmist made his convictions clear: “I trust in the Lord for protections. Why do you say to me, ‘Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety’” (Psalm 11:2). In other words, I stand by my convictions and I’m not going anywhere.

Lord, the psalmist knew who opposed his every move to remain faithful to you. The anti-God enemies, controlled by the prince of darkness, threatened to destroy not only the psalmist but anyone who believes in you. The devil has not ceased his plan to destroy the righteous. What the psalmist wrote could be today’s headline: “The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3)

“What can the righteous do?” the psalmist asked. He had only one response. “[But] the Lord is in his holy Temple, the Lord still rules from Heaven (verse 11:4). Now, we echo the psalmist’s response. You, Lord, are in control of our destiny.

We witness society falling apart around us. Unchecked power has corrupted every level of government. Amid continual lying, how can we trust anything our leaders say. People foolishly believe they will get away with their corruption. “He [the Lord God] watches everyone closely, examining every person on Earth. The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked,” (verse 11:5).

Lord, we might not understand all that is happening. Nonetheless, we trust you are in control and things are unfolding according to your plan. Therefore, we confidently stand with the psalmist: “I trust in the Lord for protection.”

Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful Not to Remain in Stubbornness

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on November 4, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus

Monday, November 4, 2024

Lord, guard me from being as stubborn as the psalmist. Talk about hardheaded. He could be the hardest of the hardheaded in ancient Israel. Being a ruler, maybe his pride refused to allow him to admit he made mistakes. After all, being a role model for the “lesser” people allowed him to justify his sinful actions. He couldn’t disappoint his fan club members. But, Lord, you would have nothing to do with his nonsense.

Because you loved the psalmist, you would not allow him any peace until he came clean with you and with those he offended. Suppressing his guilt created constant internal conflicts. Sickness. Ailments. Affliction after affliction. One problem followed by another. I doubt any smiley face stickers could be found in the palace. Scripture suggests in frustration, he threw his hands up and did not care anymore. Later, he recounted these incidences from that miserable time in his life.

“When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat” (Psalm 32:3,4).

Lord, that I might heed the psalmist’s warning. My choice could not be clearer. Life is too short to live in misery because I’m too stubborn to admit my mistakes. Lord, please expel me from the hardheaded club. Leaning into you is my only reprieve.

“Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone” (Psalm 32:5).

What was true three thousand years ago is still true today. God’s Word works. Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful to Be Honest with You, Lord

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on November 1, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus
November 1,2024

Lord, the psalmist finally understood how your act of grace wiped his many sins from his sin record. He must have felt the heavy burden of guilt lift from his soul. The exposure of his secret sins must have haunted his every waking moment. The fear his deceptions, his half-truths, his sins of omission now lay forever buried in God’s sea of forgetfulness. Such a relief to know his sin record held no evidence against him. After making restitutions with those he wronged, with a heart free of guilt and fear, he penned these famous words:

“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!” (Psalm 32:1,2 NLT).

Honesty. Complete honesty. Countless times, the psalmist might have twisted the facts concerning his sin to justify his actions. With his record now wiped clean by your grace, the psalmist began his new life of complete honesty. Living in truth in all matters would bring the rewarding life of peace with you and others that the psalmist needed.

Lord, come to think of it, that is the kind of life I desire as well. As a former race car driver, a life of complete honesty is what I need. A non-worry life of complete honesty with you, others, and myself. No more half-truths. No more tangled webs of deceptions we cannot talk ourselves out of. Instead, more peace. More joy amid problems. More freedom to love you. More freedom to become who you created us to be.

Yes, Lord, that my life might honor you as I am determined to live in complete honesty. Amen, Jesus!

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Thankful Lord You Keep Your Promise

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus
Thursday, October 17, 2024

Lord, the more I read about the psalmist and his struggles with life issues, I see a common trait. I’ll never be a shepherd, nor a warrior, and certainly never a king, but the psalmist had the same human nature as I have. He might have faced temptations I may never face. He might have met challenges I will never meet, dealt with a caliper of people I’ll never associate with, however, we have this in common: We broke our promise. I doubt I’m alone in this comparison with the psalmist.

I know he promised you he would forsake his wandering ways and remain loyal to you. But life has its ups and downs. There were periods he rode high with you, sharing your message of hope, making a difference in his world. Nonetheless, occasionally, he made foolish choices that landed him in trouble. Driven by his passion to serve you, he must have kicked himself repeatedly for acting so foolishly. Hoping to escape the embarrassment and shame, he made the same promise again, possibly for the umpteenth time.

“I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations. I have suffered much, O Lord. Restore my life again as you promised” (Psalm 119:106, 107).

By your grace, Lord, the psalmist ceased his wandering ways.

Sadly, I must confess the psalmist’s story sounds much like me. You have been with me while I’m doing life and the dumb choices I made, but by your grace, you have kept me on the right path. You will help me keep my promise to you. And you will do the same for all who call upon you, for you are a forgiving and merciful God.

Amen.

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Thankful to Be Good as You are Good, Lord

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Lord, there hasn’t been a time when I wasn’t good. Growing up, I was good at lying to my parents, lying to my teachers. I worked at being good telling whoppers, making me appear as someone I was not. I was a good cheater. I’d do anything good or bad to win. I was good at manipulating the naive to get what I wanted. Yes, I was good alright—good at being bad.

Reading the psalmist’s story, he could have been the poster child of being good at being bad. As king, he had the power to do as he pleased, and for a period, he did. But as the psalmist found, as well as those who forsake goodness to embrace the bad have found too, that wandering path leads to heartaches, disappointments, and not to mention, opposition from you. What a sad way to live. You opened his spiritual eyes.

The psalmist repented, corrected the wrongs he could, and made amends to those he harmed. His famous Psalm 101 details his determination to live a changed life. Later, while reflecting on his faith journey, he recorded his breakthrough.

“You are good, and you do what is good. Teach me your demands” (Psalm 119:68).

The psalmist stated without doubt you are good. There is no darkness, no evil, no “badness” in you, nor ever will be. Lord, you heard his humble prayer and honored his plea: “Lord, teach me to be good as you are good.” I desire to be good at being good.

Might my prayer be the same as the psalmist. Teach me how to be “good as you are good.” Help me show your love and kindness and be your Light in this dark world. Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful When We Wander You Make Us Ponder

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus

Monday, October 14, 2024

Lord, those close to the psalmist kept after him. “Man, what are you doing? Have you lost your mind?” His friends tried to reason with him. “Abandoning God’s ways isn’t working out for you, is it?” they warned. Those who loved him prayed he would come back to sanity and abandon his stubbornness. He was headed toward a cliff.

Like many believers, we go through a period of questioning our beliefs. Does God really care about me? Am I on the right track? Are my convictions really true? What am I missing out on by committing to follow you, Jesus?

Examining the psalmist up and down spiritual walk with you, we see how much we are like him. After all, like us, he was a believer. Maybe he took for granted that you would bless his actions whether they were in your plans or not. Often, Lord, you and the psalmist were not on the same page, or should I say, on the same scroll. That scenario so resembles me.

Scripture tells of the psalmist’s plight when he wandered from you. Everything that could go wrong went wrong. Lord, you loved him too much to allow him to continue down that destructive path. In mercy, You opened his spiritual eyes and he acknowledged his folly:

I pondered the direction of my life and turned to follow Your laws. Psalm 119:59

Lord, may I learn from the psalmist’s experience. When I ponder my life’s direction, forgive my wandering. Help me keep my mind steadied on you and your precepts. As the psalmist discovered, so have I. True happiness and contentment is found by living for you, Jesus.

Amen.

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Thankful to Seek Only That Which is Worthy

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 11, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus
Friday, October 11, 2024

Lord, how did we get bogged down in such a busy do-more/see-more lifestyle? We rush from one “must-do” activity and scurry to another “can’t-miss” event. Then we hustle off to another “must-attend” meeting. We know we need to slow down, but our busy lifestyle will not allow it. In all this busyness, we must ask ourselves if our participation in all these activities is necessary. For me, in my younger years, I thrived in such environments. Now older, and hopefully wiser, I enjoy a slower pace.

Media ads claim we’ll never have the quality of life we deserve unless we have the latest gadget. New miracle creams promise to keep us looking young well past our twilight years. Unless we have the latest cell phone, which comes with lunar rocket programming, how can we keep up with our friends? Madison Avenue is aware of our desire for the latest widgets. Their advertising keeps us focused on their client’s product. Why can’t we just live primitive lives without these latest marvels?

When the psalmist committed to live totally for you, the devil lost him forever. His only tactic was to disrupt the psalmist’s walk of faith. The psalmist wrote how these distractions, and the never-ending temptations, tried to lure him away from you.

“Turn my heart to your decrees … Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless. Give me life in your ways: (Psalm 119:36, 37).

Lord, that I might pray the same. Help me keep my eyes on you and may I focus on fulfilling the plan you have for me. I’m thankful I find my purpose, joy, and contentment in you and not in man’s worthless marvels.

Amen, Jesus.

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