Monthly Archives: March 2020

Spiritual Constipation

17 Tuesday Mar 2020

Posted by in Devotions, Psalm 6, Psalms

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Reading: Psalm 6
For the director of music. With stringed instruments.
According to sheminith. A psalm of David.
LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.
Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint;
heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.
My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, LORD, how long?
Turn, LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.
Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
Who praises you from the grave?
I am worn out from my groaning.
All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.
My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.
Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping.
The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.
All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame (NIV).*

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Foster’s driveway — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
The life of a God-follower isn’t all happy days and sunny skies, as some preachers might have you believe. On the contrary, hard times and grief may frequent our way. Does that mean we are out of the will of God? Has God abandoned us during these times of inner turmoil, struggle and hardship?

Judging by the life and experience of David as expressed through the psalms, the answer is a resounding, “No.” God has not abandoned you.

David met with God during these times of difficulty. He poured out his complaint before the LORD. He pleaded with God; he held nothing back. Take a look at some of the keywords in this psalm: agony, anguish, groaning, weeping, tears, and sorrow. David experienced all these emotions. He didn’t bottle them up. He poured them out before the LORD in prayer.

Many believers suffer from a form of spiritual constipation. They are filled with anger, hurt and bitter disappointment. Life has been hard, but they are afraid to take their anguish before God. They put on a brave face for the world and the church, but inwardly they are dying. They need a massive dose of the Psalms of David—psalms of self-emptying.

Fear not; God can handle your anguish and anger. He won’t smite you dead for being honest about your feelings. Here is some sound advice. Are you hurt or feeling broken? Take it to the Lord in prayer. Then take heart from what David says in the conclusion to this psalm, “The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer (v. 9).“

Response: Dear God, I pour out my problems, hurts and struggles before you. Hear my prayer. I know you are a God of mercy. I open myself to you. Amen.

Your Turn: Do some Christians suffer from spiritual constipation? Does heartfelt prayer bring relief? Are you bottling up things that should be released to the Lord?

*New International Version, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.

This post by award-winning author David Kitz will be published in book format later in 2020 by Elk Lake Publishing under the title 365 Days through the Psalms.

 

LORD God, Lead Me

16 Monday Mar 2020

Posted by in Devotions, Psalm 5, Psalms

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Reading: Psalm 5
(Verses 8-12)
Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness
because of my enemies—
make your way straight before me.
Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;
with their tongues they tell lies.
Declare them guilty, O God!
Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,
for they have rebelled against you.
But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you (NIV).*

eyeglasses on book beside pink rose on cup

Photo by Ylanite Koppens on Pexels.com

Reflection
How good is your eyesight? Is it 20/20? How well do you score on an eye exam? I recently had elective lens replacement surgery. I simply got tired of wearing glasses. They were the bane of my childhood. I was an active lad and in those early years I can’t begin to count the number of times I broke or damaged the frames.

Going without glasses was not an option. I was practically blind without them; everything was a blur.

Today’s reading from Psalm 5 begins with David making this request: Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies—make your way straight before me (v. 8).

Trust me on this point. If you can’t see clearly, you may need someone to lead you. David recognized his need. Because of his enemies, he needed the LORD to lead him. He knew his enemies were waiting to ambush him at any moment. But where were they? Enemies in hiding are not easily spotted. That’s why like David, we need the LORD. He sees everything.

My greatest enemies are not parading around out in the open. They are lurking within. Pride and selfish ambition come dressed up in various disguises. It’s easy to justify that lingering eye or that wayward glance. Somehow we have 20/20 vision for that sort of thing.

The truth is I too need the LORD to lead me because of the enemies of my soul. How about you? Now here is the outcome we want: But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you (v. 11.

Response: LORD God, lead me. I can’t see the dangers ahead. Often I am unaware of the enemies that are trying to undermine my life and my love for you. Go before me. Show me the way, Lord Jesus, because you are the way. Amen.

Your Turn: How is your spiritual vision? Can you see the enemies that derail your progress?

*New International Version, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.

This post by award-winning author David Kitz will be published in book format later in 2020 by Elk Lake Publishing under the title 365 Days through the Psalms.

Here I Am

15 Sunday Mar 2020

Posted by in Bible, Psalm 40, Psalms

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I will praise the LORD!

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Photo by David Kitz

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—
    but my ears you have opened —
    burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
    it is written about me in the scroll.
I desire to do your will, my God;
    your law is within my heart.”

I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;
    I do not seal my lips, LORD,
    as you know.
I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
    I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
    from the great assembly.

  (Psalm 40:6-10, NIV)*

* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

Wonders too Many to Declare

14 Saturday Mar 2020

Posted by in Bible, Psalm 40, Psalms

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I will praise the LORD!

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Photo by David Kitz

Blessed is the one
    who trusts in the LORD,
who does not look to the proud,
    to those who turn aside to false gods.
Many, LORD my God,
    are the wonders you have done,
    the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
    were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
    they would be too many to declare.

  (Psalm 40:4-5, NIV)*

* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

The Reviews are in and the Scores are High

13 Friday Mar 2020

Posted by in book review

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Here is the latest Amazon review of “The Soldier Who Killed a King”:

A very good read! I enjoyed this book and recommend it, bought one for my daughter as well…timely for Easter too. In two words, David Kitz “nailed it!”
                                                      — Ruby

As an author, as in much in life, it’s not easy to please everyone. But we can learn from our critics. With that said I am pleased to report that my passion of Christ novel scores very well with readers.

With 62 reviews on Amazon.com “The Soldier Who Killed a King” scores 4.8 out of 5 stars on the Amazon rating system. In Canada with 50 reviews posted the score is even higher at 4.9 out of 5 stars. Numbers like that are rare in the literary world.

Maybe there’s some star inflation going on? Maybe readers are being too generous? But maybe Ruby is right. Maybe the readers have nailed it? You won’t know the answer to that question unless you read the book for yourself.

And… with Easter fast approaching, now is the ideal time to do just that.
4485 SHARABLE-2

To read more reviews and purchase in the USA click here.

To read more reviews and purchase in the Canada click here.

 

 

Wait Expectantly

13 Friday Mar 2020

Posted by in Devotions, Psalm 5, Psalms

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Reading: Psalm 5
For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.
(Verses 1-7)
Listen to my words, LORD,
consider my lament.
Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.
For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
with you, evil people are not welcome.
The arrogant cannot stand in your presence.
You hate all who do wrong;
you destroy those who tell lies.
The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, LORD, detest.
But I, by your great love,
can come into your house;
in reverence I bow down
toward your holy temple (NIV).

20200120_080829 (2)

Winter sunrise courtesy of Louie Foster

Reflection
Are you a morning person? Are you most productive in the morning hours, or do revive after the sunsets? Our bodies move according to their own internal rhythm. Some people love to rise with the chirp of the first songbird, while others are true night owls. Often my wife catches her second wind in the evening as I’m fading into sweet oblivion.

It would seem that David was a morning person. Here in Psalm 5, we read these words from David: In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

David was one of those early birds that began calling out to God at the break of day. He knew God was listening. He made sure that the LORD heard his voice.

Is the LORD hearing your voice in the morning? Are you calling out to Him? Of course, your heavenly Father is pleased to hear your voice at any time, day or night. Is He familiar with your call?

But there’s more to this than just calling out to God and laying out your requests. David waits expectantly. He expects God to respond. He is listening, watching and waiting for the LORD’s reply. Have you built some wait time into your prayer time?

All too often our conversations with God are one sided. They are one sided because we blurt out our requests and rush off into our day. We don’t wait expectantly for the LORD’s reply. We don’t allow Him time to respond.

Response: Heavenly Father, I call out to you. I lay out my requests. Teach me to wait expectantly for you. Open my ears to hear your voice. I want to be tuned into you throughout my day. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you set aside a regular prayer time? What time works best for you?

* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

This post by award-winning author David Kitz will be published in book format later in 2020 by Elk Lake Publishing under the title 365 Days through the Psalms.