• Home
  • About
  • DavidKitz.ca
  • Youtube Videos
  • Books by David
  • Books on Amazon.com

I love the Psalms

~ Connecting daily with God through the Psalms

I love the Psalms

Category Archives: Psalms

Living with God

27 Friday Jan 2023

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 15, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

actions, eternity, God's presence, knowledge, Prayer

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

Psalm 15-1
Reading: Psalm 15

Heavenly Father,
I don’t want to come for an occasional visit.
I want to live in your presence now
and in eternity.
Today, help me interact with others
with the knowledge you are watching
every thought, word, and action.
I’m living with you.
Amen.

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

BGBG_v4.3_150[1818]

Your prayers for the people of Ukraine are making a difference.

Start 2023 with a new devotional series. 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. Start 2023 with a new devotional series. To purchase or for a closer look click here.
Vol III 2021-07-17 at 8.15.36 AM

Living in the Presence of God

27 Friday Jan 2023

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 15, Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

faith, God's presence, Mount Zion, omnipresent, practical Christian living

Reading: Psalm 15
A psalm of David.
LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?
The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
who despises a vile person
but honors those who fear the L
ORD;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
will never be shaken
(NIV). *

2021-02-20

Winter bliss — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
Where are you living? Please note, I did not ask, “What is your address?”

For the Old Testament believer, God had an address. He lived in the Tent of Meeting on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. Later this was the location of the great temple built by Solomon. But this entire psalm is based on the premise we can live in the presence of God. Why else would David ask, “LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?”

Wherever we are, it is possible to live one’s life in the conscious presence of the LORD. What an awesome privilege. But how is that possible? On an intellectual level, this is a no brainer. God is present everywhere. We are continually living our lives in full view of an omnipresent God.

Am I always aware of His presence? No, not always.

What can I do to change that? The psalmist lists some requirements for living in the LORD’s presence. Apparently, God is vitally concerned with the way we walk out our life of faith—the words we speak, and our interactions with neighbors and friends. The list of requirements found in this psalm is all about practical day to day living, being true to our word, loving our neighbor, and being generous to those in need.

The day is coming when I will meet the LORD face to face, but can I see Him before that final day? Do I see Him in the face of my neighbor?

Response: Heavenly Father, I don’t want to come for an occasional visit. I want to live in your presence now and in eternity. Today, help me interact with others with the knowledge you are watching every thought, word, and action. I’m living with you. Amen.

Your Turn: When are you most conscious of God’s presence in your life? How can we become more aware of God?

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

BGBG_v4.3_150[1818]

Your prayers for the people of Ukraine are making a difference.

Start 2023 with a new devotional series. 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. Start 2023 with a new devotional series. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

The Right Company

26 Thursday Jan 2023

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 14, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

forgiveness, Jesus, remedy, sin

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

Psalm 14_5
Reading: Psalm 14

LORD God,
I want to seek you always,
especially when I sin.
That’s when I need you most.
You have the remedy for my sin—
the blood of Jesus.
You forgive me and clean me up.
Amen.

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

BGBG_v4.3_150[1818]

Your prayers for the people of Ukraine are making a difference.

Start 2023 with a new devotional series. 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. Start 2023 with a new devotional series. To purchase or for a closer look click here.
Vol III 2021-07-17 at 8.15.36 AM

How the Fool Fools Himself      

26 Thursday Jan 2023

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 14, Psalms

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Atheism, depravity, fool, God, moral deficiency

Reading: Psalm 14
For the director of music. Of David.
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.
The L
ORD looks down from heaven on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.
All have turned away, all have become corrupt;
there is no one who does good, not even one.
Do all these evildoers know nothing?
They devour my people as though eating bread;
they never call on the L
ORD.
But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for God is present in the company of the righteous.
You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
but the L
ORD is their refuge.
Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the L
ORD restores his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
(NIV) *

2021-02-20b

Winter glory — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
Apparently, atheism is not a modern phenomenon. Three thousand years ago in David’s time, there were people who said in their heart, “There is no God.” Atheism has a long and ignoble pedigree. I say ignoble because as David observes, it is the fool who says, “There is no God.”

There is a footnote in my Bible indicating the word translated in this psalm as fool denotes someone who is morally deficient. David goes on to describe this moral deficiency. He uses the words corrupt and vile. In fact, there is a complete absence of anything good. But this isn’t just David’s indictment against a few errant atheists; this is the LORD’s view of all mankind. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. In the New Testament, Paul the Apostle quotes from this psalm in his epistle to the Romans as he outlines the depravity of humanity.

Is there a link between unbelief and the sinful state of the human soul? Does sin breed unbelief? There is ample biblical and anecdotal evidence that it does. When Adam and Eve sinned, in an instant, they turned from God seekers to God avoiders. Add a little more sin, and it’s only a short step for a God avoider to become a God denier.

We deny the existence of God to avoid accountability for our sin. We foolishly assume that since we can’t see God, He can’t see us and our misdeeds. Better yet why not pretend God doesn’t exist? Then we are at liberty to sin as much as we please without fear of God’s judgment. That sounds like morally deficient reasoning to me. But the fool fools only himself.

Response: Father, I want to seek you always, especially when I sin. That’s when I need you most. You have the remedy for my sin—the blood of Jesus. You forgive me and clean me up. Amen.

Your Turn: Does sinful conduct affect or infect your belief system? How does sin cloud our reasoning?

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

BGBG_v4.3_150[1818]

Your prayers for the people of Ukraine are making a difference.

Start 2023 with a new devotional series. 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. Start 2023 with a new devotional series. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

A Light in a Dark Place

25 Wednesday Jan 2023

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 13, Psalms

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

death spiral, downturn, praise God, salvation, trouble, trust in God

Reading: Psalm 13
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, L
ORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the L
ORD’s praise,
for he has been good to me
(NIV). *

2021-02-20a

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

Reflection
Have you hit a low point in your life? Are you facing a personal downturn when nothing seems to go right? Problems may arise whether it’s in your career, your finances, your family, or your relations with others. Often difficulty in one area leads to difficulty in other aspects of life. It may seem circumstances are conspiring to bring you down. Are you caught in a downward spiral?

David begins this psalm in such a state. His life and career appear to be in a death spiral. He pleads with God, “Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.”

We can learn a lot from David’s response to hard times. First, he brought his problems before God. He poured out his frustration, and in desperation he called out to the LORD for help. He didn’t pretend everything was fine, when clearly, they were not. Call out to God in times of trouble.

Secondly, David asked for the light of God to shine into his situation. “Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death…” When we are going through a dark time often, we can’t see our way out. Many times, the solution is right in front of our eyes, but we can’t see it. We need God to illumine our path. There is a way forward. We need Him to show us. Open your eyes to God’s solution.

Finally, David trusted in the unfailing love of God. He rejoiced in God’s salvation. God is in the rescue business. The solution had yet to arrive, but in advance David sang his praise to God. David reflected on the goodness of God. The LORD had been good and faithful in the past. David knew God would show him His goodness once again. Trust and praise God in advance.

Response: LORD God, thank you that I can call out to you in times of trouble. Show me the way forward. Open my eyes to the help you are providing and will provide. I trust and thank and praise you in advance. Amen.

Your Turn: Has God rescued you in difficult times in the past? Trust Him to do the same now and in the future.

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

BGBG_v4.3_150[1818]

Your prayers for the people of Ukraine are making a difference.

Start 2023 with a new devotional series. 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. Start 2023 with a new devotional series. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

A Caring Heart

24 Tuesday Jan 2023

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 12, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

caring, Jesus, oppressed, the poor

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

Psalm 12_6, NIV
Reading: Psalm 12

LORD God,
give me a caring heart
for those who are poor and oppressed.
Help me to demonstrate care
not just in thought
but in practical ways as Jesus would.
Amen.

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

BGBG_v4.3_150[1818]

Your prayers for the people of Ukraine are making a difference.

Start 2023 with a new devotional series. 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. Start 2023 with a new devotional series. To purchase or for a closer look click here.
Vol III 2021-07-17 at 8.15.36 AM

Who Cares for the Poor?

24 Tuesday Jan 2023

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 12, Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

corporate titans, oppressed, political leaders, the needy, the poor

Reading: Psalm 12
For the director of music. According to sheminith.
A psalm of David.
Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore;
those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
Everyone lies to their neighbor;
they flatter with their lips
but harbor deception in their hearts.
May the L
ORD silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue—
those who say,
“By our tongues we will prevail;
our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”
“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the L
ORD.
“I will protect them from those who malign them.”
And the words of the L
ORD are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible,
like gold refined seven times.
You, L
ORD, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked,
who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race
(NIV). *

2021-02-09

January trail — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
Who cares for the needy? The corporate titans and bank executives don’t. It seems they are far too busy lining their pockets and preparing their golden parachutes to give a thought or a hard-earned dollar to low paid employees or the poor. The relentless pursuit of profit trumps all other concerns.

Who cares for the poor? The political leaders and power brokers don’t. When called upon, they mouth meaningless platitudes and profess concern. But policy is dictated by those with fat bank accounts and the right connections. They ensure very little trickles down to those in need. In their hearts these are those who say, “By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

Who cares for the poor and needy? According to the words of this psalm the LORD does. “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will protect them from those who malign them.”

God has always demonstrated concern for the poor. The prophet Amos declared the LORD’s severe judgment on Israel because of their mistreatment of the poor. “For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent. They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed” (Amos 2:6-7).

Will God judge us for how we treat the poor? Absolutely. God has not changed. He defends the poor, and He remains true to His word. Call out to Him in your time of need. The word of the LORD is tried, tested and true. You can count on it.

Response: LORD God, give me a caring heart for those who are poor and oppressed. Help me to demonstrate care not just in thought but in practical ways as Jesus would. Amen.

Your Turn: What can you do today for someone who is needy or suffering? Let your actions speak.

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

BGBG_v4.3_150[1818]

Your prayers for the people of Ukraine are making a difference.

Start 2023 with a new devotional series. 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. Start 2023 with a new devotional series. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

Standing My Ground

23 Monday Jan 2023

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 11, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

believers, faith, Jesus, refuge

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

Psalm 11 -365
Reading: Psalm 11

LORD God,
you are my refuge.
Help me to stand my ground
when my faith is under attack
and help other believers to do the same
by the grace of Jesus.
Our faith rests on you, Lord.
Amen.

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

BGBG_v4.3_150[1818]

Your prayers for the people of Ukraine are making a difference.

Start 2023 with a new devotional series. 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. Start 2023 with a new devotional series. To purchase or for a closer look click here.
Vol III 2021-07-17 at 8.15.36 AM

Faith under Attack

23 Monday Jan 2023

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 11, Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

armor of God, Bible, experiences with God, faith, faith in God

Reading: Psalm 11
For the director of music. Of David.
In the LORD I take refuge.
How then can you say to me:
“Flee like a bird to your mountain.
For look, the wicked bend their bows;
they set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
The L
ORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.
The L
ORD examines the righteous,
but the wicked, those who love violence,
he hates with a passion.
On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur;
a scorching wind will be their lot.
For the L
ORD is righteous, he loves justice;
the upright will see his face
(NIV). *

2021-01-30b

Winter trail — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
Do you feel like your faith is under attack? It seems everywhere there are people who are mocking those who have faith in God. Believers are openly ridiculed. We are blamed for every war since time immemorial. We are told science has rock-solid evidence, while God followers rely on concocted myths handed down by unscrupulous manipulators.

The enemy is firing arrows of accusation, doubt, and distrust from the shadows at the upright in heart. The very foundation of our faith, the word of God—the Bible—is being attacked as outdated, unreliable, and historically inaccurate. Along with David we ask, “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

The righteous can do what David does in the first line of this psalm. David says, “In the LORD I take refuge.” For David, God was not a mystical concept. God was a rock-solid reality. David had a memory bank full of experiences with the LORD. The LORD was David’s helper, healer, and deliverer. In the tough times of life, God was there—was present in David’s life. The LORD brought victory for David over Goliath and over every enemy that exalted itself above God.

The same can be true for you. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:11). Remember the LORD is on his heavenly throne. Nothing takes Him by surprise. The LORD is with you, and He is watching your response. We need not be intimidated; we need not flee. We need to stand our ground like David and like Paul the apostle. The LORD is with us.

Response: LORD, you are my refuge. Help me to stand my ground when my faith is under attack and help other believers to do the same by the grace of Jesus. Our faith rests on you, Lord. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you have a memory bank full of experiences with the LORD you can draw on? How does reflecting on those past experiences help you now?

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

BGBG_v4.3_150[1818]

Your prayers for the people of Ukraine are making a difference.

Start 2023 with a new devotional series. 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. Start 2023 with a new devotional series. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

Pastor Jack Hayford Finished Well

21 Saturday Jan 2023

Posted by davidkitz in Psalms

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Prayer, David Kitz, worship, Foursquare Church, Jack Hayford, leader, pastor

In this age of scandal and disappointment, what a blessing it is to see a leader finish well. Pastor Jack Hayford, who was promoted to glory on January 8th, 2023, fought the fight, ran the race, and kept the faith.

Pastor Jack was born as a breech baby with a near-fatal neck condition. After prayers for breakthrough, Jack was miraculously healed. A few years later, he was healed from childhood polio. These healings gave Jack a deep reliance on the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit for daily living.

Jack Hayford - Photo

Pastor Jack Hayford

For thirty years, he was the lead pastor of Church on the Way, Van Nuys, California, growing to over 12,000 people by 1999. Fifty percent of his congregation was Spanish-speaking. Randy Remington, president of the Foursquare denomination, commented, “Pastor Jack was a Kingdom ambassador whose influence transcended denominational, generational, and global boundaries.”

Jack served as President of the Foursquare denomination from 2004 to 2009. However, he was widely accepted across the Body of Christ as belonging to all of us. As a child, he had attended, along with his parents, Presbyterian, Methodist, Foursquare, Quaker, Alliance, and Baptist churches. He left a remarkable legacy as a Christian statesman and bridge builder. Ed Stetzer, editor-in-chief of Outreach Magazine, commented, “He was both a great man and a humble man.”

Jack was remarkably Christ-centered. It was all about Jesus, rather than all about himself. So often, even as Christians, we put our leaders on pedestal, and then knock them off.

Jack was a deep person of prayer, loving to pray privately in both English and in the Spirit. He commented, “Once I come out of the prayer closet, I need to be the kind of person like Jesus, that touchable, true, human, desirable kind of person.”

You may wonder how did he accomplish so much in his eighty-eight years. We can imagine the saints in heaven welcoming Jack perhaps with a rendition of Jack’s song Majesty. It is hard to believe that he wrote more than 600 songs, and over fifty books. He was passionate about enabling others to penetrate spiritual darkness. Jack helped people rediscover God’s Kingdom presence in worship:

“Worship has often been misunderstood as the musical prelude, rather than the means by which we, as the people of God, invite the dominion of his kingdom to be established on earth.”

Jack was President of Life Pacific University (1977-1982) and in 1997 became the founder and Chancellor of The King’s University (TKU) and Seminary in Southlake, Texas. He also was the General Editor of the Spirit Filled Life® Bible and the Spirit Filled Life® Commentaries. Jack had a remarkable gift of seamlessly integrating Word and Spirit.

Pastor Jack had a remarkable impact on Christian pastors and leaders around the world. David Kitz, author, and chair of The Word Guild, recalls sitting under Hayford’s teaching ministry at the All-Japan Pentecostal Conference in 1984.

“Above all Pastor Jack was a man of the Word. He was a Pentecostal with brains. He merged the fire and passion of Pentecost with a keen and incisive intellect. I will never forget how in a moment of prophetic insight he brought healing and restoration to an issue that had divided the Japanese church.”

We thank God for Pastor Jack’s life and witness and pray that his example will inspire many to seek first God’s Kingdom.

Majesty, worship His Majesty.
Unto Jesus be all glory, honor and praise!
Majesty, Kingdom Authority,
Flow from His throne, unto His own
His anthem raise!

A tribute by Rev. Dr. Ed & Janice Hird—Co-authors, God’s Firestarters

← Older posts

Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer

Psalms 365 Volume II

Psalms 365 vol 3
— Psalms 365 Volume III

Psalms

Recent posts

  • Like a Lost Sheep January 28, 2023
  • Living with God January 27, 2023
  • Living in the Presence of God January 27, 2023
  • The Right Company January 26, 2023
  • How the Fool Fools Himself       January 26, 2023
  • A Light in a Dark Place January 25, 2023
  • A Caring Heart January 24, 2023

Calendar

January 2023
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Dec    

Blog Posts

Blogroll

  • David Kitz Website
  • Discuss
  • Get Inspired
  • Get Polling
  • Get Support
  • Learn WordPress.com
  • Theme Showcase
  • WordPress Planet
  • WordPress.com News

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Comments

  • davidkitz on Living in the Presence of God
  • wally12662013 on Living in the Presence of God
  • Signora Sheila on How the Fool Fools Himself      

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • I love the Psalms
    • Join 1,236 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • I love the Psalms
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...