Category Archives: Psalms

Patient Love

15 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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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?

The Greatest Discovery

12 Friday Feb 2016

Posted by in Friday's Focus, Psalms

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Discover for yourself that the LORD is kind. Come to him for protection, and you will be glad (Psalm 34:8, CEV).

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Gatineau Park trail – photo by David Kitz

Reflection

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

I don’t know about you, but I love heading off the beaten path and doing some exploring. I like trying new foods, enjoy meeting new people, and seeing new sites. I suppose it’s because I’m incurably curious. There are things to discover.

Today’s verse from the Psalms invites us to do some exploring and make a discovery. Discover for yourself that the LORD is kind. Come to him for protection, and you will be  glad (Psalm 34:8, CEV). 

We can read about the kindness of God. We can hear about it from others, but there is nothing quite like experiencing God’s kindness firsthand.

Exploration and discovery always require a step of faith. God invites us to give Him a try—to take that step.

Response: LORD God, give me the courage to take steps of faith that bring me closer to you. I want to discover and experience your love and kindness for myself. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you discovered God’s kindness firsthand?

Kind Blows

11 Thursday Feb 2016

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Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers (Psalm 141:5, NIV).

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Sunset Glow – Photo courtesy of Eric E. Wright

Reflection

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

How well do you handle criticism? I confess my first reflex is defensive. How dare so-and-so rebuke me?! But if the truth be told, I have learned far more from my critics than from those who praise me.

Good criticism is corrective. Its intent is not to harm or put someone down. It results in self-examination and improvement. In reality I am a poor judge of my own performance because I have a built-in bias. I can’t see myself. I need to hear from others to improve my game.

Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us to welcome rebukes as an act of kindness. I am changed for the better when I heed the words of those who call me to a higher level of righteousness, love and service.

Response: LORD God, give me ears to heed the rebukes of others, whether they are offered in love or not. I need the broom of your Spirit to clean the home of my heart. Amen.

Your Turn: How do you respond to criticism? What helps you respond correctly?

Remembering

10 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms

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When our ancestors were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea (Psalm 106:7, NIV).

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Distant Lighthouse – Photo courtesy of Eric E. Wright

Reflection

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

A kindness remembered is like fresh water to a thirsty soul. It brings a smile to the heart and the face. Pause for a moment to recall when someone was especially kind to you. Are you smiling as you think those thoughts?

Now let’s take a moment to fix our thoughts on God. Are there moments when God showed great kindness to you? God did miracles for the sake of His people when they were enslaved in Egypt. Has God done any miracles for you?

If we reflect on instances when God has been kind to us, I believe something begins to change inside us. Our rebellious, quarrelsome nature retreats to the back corner and in its place thanksgiving comes to the fore.

Kindness begets kindness. Here’s hoping you set in motion an outbreak of kindness today.

Response: LORD God, you have shown me kindness in the face of Jesus Christ. He loves, forgives and works miracles on my behalf. I remember your kindness today. Amen.

Your Turn: What can you do to demonstrate kindness today?

My Rock of Refuge

09 Tuesday Feb 2016

Posted by in Psalm 71, Psalms

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Reading:                                                        Psalm 71

Verses 1-8

In you, LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
turn your ear to me and save me.
Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.

For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD,
my confidence since my youth.
From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you.
I have become a sign to many;
you are my strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long (NIV).

Reflection

I must confess that I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with rocks. I grew up on a farm on the Canadian prairies and annually the rich soil produced two crops—a crop of grain and a crop of rocks. Grain crops such as wheat, barley and oats were welcomed—the rocks not so much.

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Hopewell Rocks, New Brunswick – Photo by Karen Kitz

Simply working the soil in spring would bring the rocks to the surface. It was our job as children to help our dad to pick those rocks and haul them off the fields. For the most part it was tedious work. That’s the unpleasant part of my relationship with rocks. But as for the rocks themselves, for the most part I liked them. They came in a huge variety of shapes, colors, sizes and textures. I found them fascinating.

For the psalmist, the LORD was his solid foundation—his rock of refuge in a changing world. Hear his prayer: Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

In the shifting circumstances of life, it is essential that we have those things that remain solid and unwavering. From our childhood onward we need a rock of refuge from the storms of life—a rock to which we can always go in good times and bad.

It’s wonderful when we can say with the psalmist, “From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you.”  

Response: LORD God, thank you for being my solid rock. Your faithfulness has steadied me in stormy times. You have been my help and strength, my shelter and fortress. Amen.

Your Turn: How has the Lord been a solid rock for you?

Kindness for the Lowly

08 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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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?

Speak for Justice

05 Friday Feb 2016

Posted by in Friday's Focus, Psalms

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Words of wisdom come when good people speak for justice (Psalm 37:30, CEV).

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Sunset photo courtesy of Eric E. Wright

Reflection

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

Bad things happen when good people remain silent. It’s always right and good to speak up for justice. Why then do we remain silent?

In many cases the answer is fear. We are afraid of being ridiculed or attacked. Criminals get away with murder because good people are afraid to speak out. But it’s not just criminals, who are allowed to strut their stuff. The devil gets his way whenever God’s people remain silent and don’t take a stand.

Today’s verse from the Psalms puts a more positive spin on this topic. Words of wisdom come when good people speak for justice (Psalm 37:30, CEV).

Wisdom is often in short supply. You can be absolutely right about a matter, but absolutely wrong about how you address it. Both wisdom and goodness need to come from our lips.

Response: LORD God, help me stand for what is fair and just. Give me wisdom to speak into the situations around me. Help me overcome the fear that allows evil to triumph. Amen.

Your Turn: Is there a situation that you need to speak into?

Young Lions

04 Thursday Feb 2016

Posted by in Psalms, Thursday's Thought

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Young lions may go hungry or even starve, but if you trust the LORD, you will never miss out on anything good (Psalm 34:10, CEV).

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Image courtesy of tratong at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Reflection

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

I don’t like being late for supper. I don’t like being the last one in the line up for the self-serve banquet. I might miss out on something good.

I’m hungry for something good. Aren’t you? Of course, something good can be more than just food. Sometimes it’s good-natured fun with friends. Sometimes it’s a game, or a round of physical or mental exercise, and at other times it’s rest and relaxation.

Something good comes in a variety of packages.

I like the promise in today’s verse from the Psalms: Young lions may go hungry or even starve, but if you trust the Lord, you will never miss out on anything good (Psalm 34:10, CEV).

The key factor is trusting in the LORD. Are you someone who trusts in the LORD even in hard times?

Response: LORD God, increase my faith. I want to experience the good things you have set aside for me. Help me daily to put my trust in you. Amen.

Your Turn: What does trusting in God mean for you today?

A Gift

03 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms

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I have said,
    “Only you are my Lord!
    Every good thing I have
    is a gift from you” (Psalm 16:2, CEV).

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Stormy Skies — photo by Eric E. Wright

Reflection

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

Today’s verse from the Psalms fills me with gratitude. I have said, “Only you are my Lord! Every good thing I have is a gift from you”(Psalms 16:2, CEV).

If you haven’t said these words, you probably have thought them.

Every good thing I have is a gift from the Lord—every ability, every talent, every joy. Chief among those good things is the gift of life itself. After the resurrection, Peter called Jesus the author of life (Acts 3:15, NIV).

Now with the psalmist we can say, “Only you are my Lord!”

Response: LORD God, thank you for all the gifts you have given me. You are good and you have been good to me. Most of all I thank you for Jesus, the author of life. Amen.

Your Turn: What gifts are you thankful for today?

Are You Poor and Needy?

02 Tuesday Feb 2016

Posted by in Psalm 70, Psalms

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Reading:                                     Psalm 70

For the director of music. Of David. A petition.

Verses 1-5

Hasten, O God, to save me;
come quickly, Lord, to help me.

May those who want to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace.
May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
turn back because of their shame.
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The LORD is great!”

But as for me, I am poor and needy;
come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
LORD, do not delay (NIV).

Reflection

When I consider my situation—my station in life—I would not call myself poor, but neither would I say I am rich. I live in a comfortable suburban home. It’s no mansion, but we are mortgage free. I have income that covers our expenses with a little left over at the end of the month. We can afford one major trip each year, as long as we do a little penny pinching along the way. Our eight-year-old car will need to be replaced at some point, but for now it’s doing just fine. I have no worries about retirement.

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Our modest suburban home — photo by David Kitz

Many in this world would see me as rich. On the other hand, I’m a pauper in the eyes of the super wealthy. I’m in the comfortable middle.

David did not see himself that way. Hear his confession—his desperate prayer: But as for me, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; LORD, do not delay. 

We don’t know at what point in his life David penned this humble petition. We know that the Shepherd-King of Israel was a man of humble origin, but he also ruled as King of Judah for seven years and for all of Israel for another thirty-three years. From the midpoint of his life onward, he was a man of wealth and power, but his humility remained. Like authoritarian rulers throughout the ages, he could have had his personal history cleansed of such self-effacing pleas for mercy, but David chose a different path. He let the record stand. Perhaps he was looking for a better kingdom.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Some poverty and humility of spirit might be fitting for me as well. How about you?

Response: LORD God, I don’t want to live the life of the self-satisfied. You are my treasure and my very great reward. I am needy—in constant need of you. Come quickly to me, O God. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you poor in spirit? How do we remain that way even when we are blessed?