Category Archives: Monday Meditation

My Supplier

04 Monday Apr 2016

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To everyone who is thirsty, he gives something to drink; to everyone who is hungry, he gives good things to eat (Psalm 107:9, CEV).

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Evening Silhouette

 

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is hunger.

Hunger comes in many forms. As the day progresses at various times I am hungry. At times I may even think I am starving. Of course this is nonsense. After a week without food I might get down to a more healthy weight, but even then I would not be starving. True starvation is more than missing a mid afternoon snack. Most of us have lost touch with the true meaning of hunger.

Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us that God is the one who satisfies our hunger.

To everyone who is thirsty, he gives something to drink; to everyone who is hungry, he gives good things to eat (Psalm 107:9, CEV).

Our greatest hunger may not be for food. We may be most hungry for love or acceptance, inner peace or forgiveness. Whatever your need, bring it to God. He is the suppler of every good thing.

Response: LORD God, thank you for being my supplier. Every good and perfect gift comes from you. I give thanks for your goodness. Amen.

Your Turn: What is your greatest need today? Will God be your supplier?

Packing Off to Hell

28 Monday Mar 2016

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All day long I will announce your power to save (Psalm 71:24, CEV).

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Chapel of the Transfiguration, Grand Teton National Park — Photo courtesy of Matthew Taylor

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is proclamation.

Do you have something wonderful to announce? If you are a witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, you certainly have something to proclaim. To put it simply our great enemy has been defeated. Through Jesus’ victory, death has been sent packing off to hell.

If that’s not good news, then I don’t know what is. The psalmist expresses it this way:

All day long I will announce your power to save (Psalm 71:24, CEV).

Jesus has the power to save us from death, hell and the grave. The proof of that is his empty tomb. By faith we too are witnesses of the resurrection. We know Jesus is alive by the proof of his indwelling presence in our lives.

Glory be to God! I have something to announce. My sins are forgiven. Death is defeated and I have eternal life thanks to Jesus.

Response: LORD God, I rejoice in the victory Jesus won over death. By faith that victory is mine as well. I don’t want to keep this good news to myself. Help me spread the joy. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you a witness to the resurrection?

Each Morning

21 Monday Mar 2016

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Each morning you listen to my prayer, as I bring my requests to you and wait for your reply (Psalm 5:3, CEV).

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Saskatchewan Sunrise – photo courtesy of Donald Adam

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is prayer.

The sunrises every morning and pours its splendor across the sky. When we rise, do we pour out our prayers—our thoughts and hopes to God?

There is a beautiful humility in prayer. We don’t have the answer. We are waiting on God because He does. We can see that in today’s verse from the Psalms:

Each morning you listen to my prayer, as I bring my requests to you and wait for your reply (Psalm 5:3, CEV).

People who pray are usually good at bringing requests to God, but are we good at waiting for His reply? I am often guilty of rushing into my day—rushing past the sunrise too busy to wait and appreciate.

Our Lord takes the time to listen to us each morning. How wonderful is that!

Response: LORD God, thank you for taking the time to hear our requests. I confess I need reminders to wait for your reply. Give me ears to hear and eyes to see what you are doing. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you learned to wait on God? How do we train ourselves to wait?

Unknown Faults

14 Monday Mar 2016

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None of us know our faults. Forgive me when I sin without knowing it (Psalm 19:12, CEV).

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Plum Blossoms, Nagoya, Japan — Photo courtesy of Matthew Taylor

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is forgiveness.

I can’t see the back of my head. I was reminded of this yesterday when I was getting my haircut. After the hairdresser finished, she held up a mirror so that I could see the back of my head. To my dismay I realized I’m balding back there. The evidence of hair loss was plain to see, but until that moment I was not fully aware.

In the same way we are often blind to our own faults. We are quick to spot the faults in others, but our own character flaws and moral shortcomings go undetected. Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us of this.

None of us know our faults. Forgive me when I sin without knowing it (Psalm 19:12, CEV).

Even when we discover our faults or sins, we are usually quick to excuse ourselves. The truth is we don’t need excuses; they usually don’t hold water. We need forgiveness—God’s forgiveness. Honest confession to God and forgiveness from God liberates the soul.

Response: LORD God, help me to see my faults—not so I’ll be weighed down by guilt—but so I will be set free by your forgiveness through Jesus your Son. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you been blind to your faults? What do you do when you become aware of them?

The God of Nerve Endings

07 Monday Mar 2016

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You listen to the longings of those who suffer. You offer them hope, and you pay attention to their cries for help (Psalm 10:17, CEV).

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Photo by Eric E. Wright

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is suffering.

We all suffer or have suffered in various ways, whether it’s physical, psychological or emotional pain. To be human is to suffer.

Our God is the God of nerve endings. We were designed to feel both pain and pleasure. The same nerve endings that give us joy and pleasure can scream out in pain and agony.

Have you heard an atheist railing against God because He allows humans to experience joy and pleasant sensations? Of course not, but God is blamed for allowing suffering. The God of nerve endings allows us to experience both pleasure and pain, and I’m so glad He does.

But beyond all this God hears us when we suffer.

You listen to the longings of those who suffer. You offer them hope, and you pay attention to their cries for help (Psalm 10:17, CEV).

God understands our pleasure and our pain because in the body of Jesus, He fully became one of us.

Response: Lord Jesus, I thank you for identifying with our problems, suffering and weakness. I determine in my heart to thank and praise you both in times of joy and in times of pain. Amen.

Your Turn: How do you respond to suffering? Why is it difficult to praise God in hard times?

Powerful Defence

29 Monday Feb 2016

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Some people trust the power of chariots or horses, but we trust you, LORD God (Psalm 20:7, CEV).

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Galloping Horses – Image courtesy of Tina Phillips at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is power.

I don’t have much trust in chariots and horses. For me horses are animals of beauty and entertainment. But then I don’t live in the Bronze Age, when horses and chariots were indicators of military might.

Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us that a nation’s defenses are more than just a matter of having a powerful military. Some people trust the power of chariots or horses,
but we trust you, LORD God (Psalm 20:7, CEV).

Tanks, bombs and fighter planes are not the first line of defense for any nation. The first line of defense is integrity, honesty and morality rooted in our faith in the LORD God, our Creator. When those defenses are undermined in the population, trouble and national decline are sure to follow.

Our God is more powerful than any army. My best defense is aligning my life with Him.

Response: LORD God, I put my trust in you. Help me to live a life of honesty and integrity. Be the defender of my nation. Holy Spirit, be at work among the people. Amen.

Your Turn: Why do you think nations go into decline?

Reflected Glory

22 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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Our LORD and Ruler, your name is wonderful everywhere on earth! You let your glory be seen in the heavens above (Psalm 8:1, CEV).

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Reflected Field of Dreams – photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is glory.

Last May at the close of the day, I snapped this photo through the window of a bullet train (shinkansen) as it raced through the Japanese countryside.

I think the verse from the psalm fits beautifully with the picture. Our LORD and Ruler, your name is wonderful everywhere on earth! You let your glory be seen in the heavens above (Psalm 8:1, CEV).

The LORD is ruler over all and no matter where you live–on every continent–His name is wonderful. Some of the most loving, committed Christian believers I know live in Japan.

The LORD lets us see His glory in the heavens, but it’s also reflected on the earth. In the photo the flooded rice paddy reflects the sky, so the LORD’s glory is reflected by all of creation and especially by his people.

Response: LORD God, this week help me to reflect your glory to those around me. I want my life and actions to shine for you. Fill me with the love of Jesus. Amen.

Your Turn: How can you reflect the glory of God as you go about your day?

Patient Love

15 Monday Feb 2016

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The LORD is merciful! He is kind and patient, and his love never fails (Psalm 103:8, CEV).

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Wild Flower – photo courtesy of Donald Adam

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is patience.

Can love be impatient? I certainly can be. But true love is not about me. It’s always about the other person. Impatience is all about me. The other person has not moved according to my schedule, so I am irritated or displeased.

Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us that God is loving and patient with us. The LORD is merciful! He is kind and patient, and his love never fails (Psalm 103:8, CEV).

I wonder if the apostle Paul had the words from this Psalm in mind when he penned those famous lines: Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or  rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do (1 Corinthians 13:4-5, CEV).

My impatience reveals my need for a greater level of God’s love, and mercy in my life. The love, mercy and patience that I have received from the LORD needs to be extended to others.

Response: LORD God, fill me with unselfish love so that I can be patient with those that don’t quickly conform to my wishes. Give me patient love. Amen.

Your Turn: How do we break our habits of self-focus?

Kindness for the Lowly

08 Monday Feb 2016

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Though the LORD is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar (Psalm 138:6, NIV).

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Gatineau Park – photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is kindness.

Have you ever been around people who make you feel invisible, as though you don’t exist? Recently, I was in a line up when someone stepped ahead of me without so much as a nod or an excuse me. I was left wondering, “Did he even see me?”

Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us that God doesn’t overlook us. Though the LORD is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar (Psalm 138:6, NIV).

We are always visible to God. It’s through the kindness of the LORD that He stoops down to listen to our prayers. He forgives our sins – overlooks our sins and meets our needs. What a kind and loving God!

Response: LORD God, your kindness is too wonderful for me. Thank you for looking past my shortcomings and receiving me as your child. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you want to be visible or invisible to God?

Goodness and Peace

01 Monday Feb 2016

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Love and loyalty will come together; goodness and peace will unite (Psalm 85:10, CEV).

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Monarch Butterfly — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is goodness.

Do you pay attention to the news? At times it can be quite discouraging listening to a daily barrage of reports about violence, suffering and war. Then there’s that other feature of the news: politicians and world leaders arguing about—you guessed it—violence, suffering and war.

It can leave you wondering if there is any goodness left in our world.

That’s why I find today’s verse from the Psalms so comforting. Love and loyalty will come together; goodness and peace will unite (Psalm 85:10, CEV).

There’s a promise in that verse. This is something that will happen. We have God’s word on it. I want to be part of it.

Response: LORD God, give me faith to believe your word. Grant me hope so that I can see you at work. Give me grace to be an instrument of peace and love in a world of discord. Amen.

Your Turn: How can you be an instrument of peace this week?