Delivered from Death

17 Wednesday Jan 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 116, Psalms

Tags

answered prayer, Covid, deliverance from death, heart surgery, pandemic, the LORD

Reading: Psalm 116:1-9
I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.
The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;
I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the LORD:
“LORD, save me!”
The LORD is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.
The LORD protects the unwary;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return to your rest, my soul,
for the LORD has been good to you.
For you, LORD, have delivered me from death,
my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the LORD
in the land of the living (NIV). *

Photo by David Kitz

Reflection
Three and a half years ago, on a personal level I experienced the power and truth of the following words: For you, LORD, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

When I was seventeen, during a routine physical exam required for college entry, I was informed I had a heart murmur. Years later when I talked with other doctors, I was told my leaky heart valve was barely perceptible—not a big deal. Well, it was no big deal until I collapsed while sitting at my desk on the morning of July 16^th, 2020. Suddenly, I felt incredibly weak. I dropped to the floor with my head between my knees. I tried desperately to remain conscious.

Moments earlier my wife had driven off to do some errands. I had visions of her returning to find me dead on the floor. Frantic I reached for my phone. Dialed. Ring. Ring. Ring. Prayed for her to pick up.

She answered. In minutes she was home. An ambulance was called, arrived, and half-conscious I was whisked off to hospital.

For the next eight days I teetered on the brink of death. Then, in the early months of the COVID pandemic, I had open-heart-triple-valve-repair surgery. It saved my life. Along with my wife I can rejoice and say, “You, LORD, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.”

Response: Father God, I love you LORD, for you heard my voice. Over and over, you have answered my prayers. You have extended my life. You are a very merciful God. Now help to live each day with renewed vigor, thanksgiving, and purpose. Amen.

Your Turn: Has God helped you? Has He answered your prayers? Take a moment to testify.

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel and Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here. TheElishaCodeCVR5

To purchase or for a closer look click here.

Hope is Foundational to Revival

16 Tuesday Jan 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Devotions

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Almighty, churches, Holy Spirit, hope, hope in God, joy, life, love, peace of God, poem, poetry, revival, Savior, survival, trust in God

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13, NIV). *

I have always been fascinated by stories of extreme survival.

In the early 1900s a cargo freighter carrying coal caught fire while rounding Cape Horn on the southern tip of South America. After battling the onboard fire for many days, the eighteen-member crew was forced to abandon ship in frigid waters. Most were able to make it to shore on an uninhabited, inhospitable rocky island. As the weeks passed, one by one they succumbed to starvation and the frigid conditions. EFFECTS winter

Finally, only three remained, the cook, who was the deceased captain’s wife, and two crew members. After long months they were finally rescued by a passing ship. Why did these three survive? The two men said it was entirely due to the cook. She refused to give up. She always maintained hope—hope that they would be rescued. Hope saved their lives.

We have all seen it. The elderly and the sick wither away and die when hope is abandoned. Churches wither when hope wanes. They die when hope is abandoned. But the opposite is also true. Hope revives the frail, it energizes the weak, and renews our faith in an Almighty Savior.

As we begin this year fill your heart with hope. Let it overflow. Hope by the power of the Holy Spirit turns survival into revival.

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine!

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Keep Me Safe

16 Tuesday Jan 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 115

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Tags

Bible, God's faithfulness, Prayer, safe, sheild, the evil one, the LORD, trust in God

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
by David Kitz.

Reading: Psalm 115:9-18

Father God,
I trust you to be my help and my shield.
Keep me safe from the evil one.
Thank you for all your help through the years.
For all my days,
You Lord
have been faithful to keep your word.
Amen.

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine!

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Our Help and Sheild

16 Tuesday Jan 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 115

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

defense, faith in God, help from God, sheild, the LORD, trust in God

Reading: Psalm 115:9-18
All you Israelites, trust in the LORD—
he is their help and shield.
House of Aaron, trust in the LORD—
he is their help and shield.
You who fear him, trust in the LORD—
he is their help and shield.
The LORD remembers us and will bless us:
He will bless his people Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
he will bless those who fear the LORD—
small and great alike.
May the LORD cause you to flourish,
both you and your children.
May you be blessed by the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
The highest heavens belong to the LORD,
but the earth he has given to mankind.
It is not the dead who praise the LORD,
those who go down to the place of silence;
it is we who extol the LORD, both now and forevermore.
Praise the LORD (NIV). *

Christ is our light in a dark time — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
As a sharp contrast to placing our trust in the lifeless idols of this world, Psalm 115 calls us to place our trust in God. Today’s reading begins with a threefold call to trust the LORD. All you Israelites, trust in the LORD—he is their help and shield. House of Aaron, trust in the LORD—he is their help and shield. You who fear him, trust in the LORD—he is their help and shield.

For those who are logically minded, there is a simple equation or formula at work here. Trust in the LORD results in help and protection—he is their help and shield. Our trust or faith in God brings a response from Him. The LORD’s response is both active and passive. He provides help; He intervenes by actively assisting us. From personal experience I know the LORD has been my help. In the nick of time, He has provided words of knowledge and wisdom. He has been my constant guide. When needed most, He has opened the windows of heaven and poured out blessings. He has sent help in various forms, and in ways too numerous to mention.

But the LORD is also our shield, our passive defense. He protects us from the slings and arrows of the evil one. He shields us from the enemy’s attacks, whether it is from physical harm and disease, or spiritual attacks that undermine our faith through faulty reasoning or deceptive philosophies. The LORD is our sure defense. We can draw strength from this promise: He will bless those who fear the LORD—small and great alike.

Response: Father God, I trust you to be my help and my shield. Keep me safe from the evil one. Thank you for all your help through the years. You have been faithful to keep your word. Amen.

Your Turn: Can you think of instances when God has helped you? Take time to thank Him for being your help and your shield.

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel and Ukraine!

TheElishaCodeCVR5

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To Your Name Be the Glory

15 Monday Jan 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 115

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Bible, correction, idols, Jesus, Prayer, Psalms, serving God

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
by David Kitz.

Reading: Psalm 115:1-8

Father God,
show me if there are idols in my life.
In love,
correct me when I stray.
I want to serve you
and put you first in my life.
Lord Jesus,
be my master.
It’s an honor to bow before you
and serve you
my King.
Amen.

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine!

To purchase or for a closer look click here.

Where Are Your Idols?

15 Monday Jan 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 115, Psalms

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Tags

Christianity, idol worship, idols, Jesus, Mammon, money, Solomon

Reading: Psalm 115:1-8
Not to us, LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
Why do the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.
But their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
They have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
They have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk,
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them (NIV). *

Giant Bhudda, Kamakura, Japan — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
Where are your idols? “I have none,” you say. Are you sure? Most readers of this post would deny being idol worshippers, but perhaps we have more idols than we care to admit.

Idolatry was commonly practiced during Israel’s kingdom era. In Old Testament times, the nations around God’s people all practiced various forms of idol worship. One might assume God’s redeemed people, who were rescued from slavery, would have nothing to do with such vile practices. But you would be wrong. Time and again Israel fell into idolatry.

King Solomon, who was revered for his wisdom, is a prime example of someone who condoned idol worship. Here’s what we read about this ‘esteemed’ leader: On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods (1 Kings 11:7-8).

When leaders go astray, there will be many who follow. In the church today we have many leaders who have fallen captive to the god of Mammon—material goods. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

Before we claim to be free from idols, we need to examine our hearts. Are we yielding to the Holy Spirit, or are we controlled by our desire for what this world has to offer?

Response: Father God, show me if there are idols in my life. In love, correct me when I stray. I want to serve you—put you first in my life. Lord Jesus, be my master. It’s an honor to serve you. Amen.

Your Turn: What things have become idols in your life? What actions can you take to establish Jesus as your Lord?

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel and Ukraine!

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A Great Post by Eric E. Wright

14 Sunday Jan 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

believers, Christian, empathy, faith, patience, Suffering, unanswered prayer

Click the link below to read more about unanswered prayer.

What I’m Learning From Unanswered Prayer

Well worth reading…

I Remain Confident of This

14 Sunday Jan 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 27, Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

confidence in God, Goodness of God, praise the LORD, Prayer, waiting for the LORD

I will praise the LORD!

Sunrise on Petrie Island — photo by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 27:11-14

Teach me your way, LORD;
    lead me in a straight path
    because of my oppressors.
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.
I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the LORD
    in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the LORD. *

Please pray for peace to return to Israel and Ukraine!

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Faith Today Magazine Interviews David Kitz

13 Saturday Jan 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Books by David Kitz

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

author, Bible, Christian, Christian writers, David Kitz, Elijah, faith, God, Interviews and Reviews, Jesus, Ottawa

FT (Faith Today): You’re a retired schoolteacher and ordained Foursquare minister who writes a daily blog on the Psalms (davidkitz.blog) and performs one-man Bible dramas. Why prioritize those things?

DK (David Kitz): These priorities come out of my objective and motto which is “Bringing God’s Word to life and lives to God’s Word.” If we want to see real change in people’s lives, we need to connect them with the living Word of God. Jesus is the living Word, and in knowing him I have discovered love, peace, and joy. Writing and drama are two vehicles I use to bring the living Word to others.

FT: Congrats on the Word Alive Press award you and your co-author Ed Hird got for your manuscript The Elisha Code and the Coming Revival. What’s the book about and when does it come out?

DK: The Elisha Code and the Coming Revival explores the relationship between the Old Testament TheElishaCodeCVR5 prophetic dynamic duo of Elijah and Elisha, and their New Testament counterpart, the duo of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. Jesus identified John as “the Elijah who was to come” (Matthew 11:14). An examination of Elisha’s miracles reveals that they run parallel to the miracles of Christ in a most remarkable way. Furthermore, this has implications for believers today as we live in anticipation of seeing even greater works (John14:12) in days of spiritual revival ahead. The Elisha Code and the Coming Revival is available now.

FT: You’re chair of the board at The Word Guild, a national association for Christians in writing and publishing. How does that group benefit the church community?

DK: Writers change the world, and they have been shaping the world we live in for thousands of years. Our goal at The Word Guild is to encourage, equip, and strengthen Canadian Christian writers so they can impact our society at every level. God uses Christian writers to inform and inspire the church community. We can all agree the written living Word needs to be present and active in Canada.

FT: Tell us a bit more about yourself anf your development as an author.

DK: I’m a farmboy born and raised in Saskatchewan but now living with my wife Karen in Ottawa, Canada’s capital. We have two adult sons and a daughterinlaw.
2023-10-06-OnlineSharing-2
My first book, a novel, was published in 2003. God has blessed my efforts, and over the years I have won multiple awards across several literary genres. Prior to The Elisha Code and the Coming Revival, my most recent publication was a three book devotional series entitled Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by Elk Lake Publishing.

In all this my goal contunues to be “Bringing God’s Word to life and lives to God’s Word.”

For a direct link to David’s website click here.

Seeking the Face of God

13 Saturday Jan 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 27, Psalms

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

forsake, praise the LORD, prayer for mercy, Savior, seeking God

I will praise the LORD!

Photo courtesy of Donald Adam

Reading: Psalm 27:7-10

Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
    be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, LORD, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;
    you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
    God my Savior.
Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the LORD will receive me. *

Please pray for peace to return to Israel and Ukraine!

To purchase or for a closer look click here.

I love the Psalms

~ Connecting daily with God through the Psalms

Author Archives: davidkitz

Delivered from Death

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel and Ukraine!

Hope is Foundational to Revival

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine!

Keep Me Safe