Category Archives: Psalms

My Heart Leaps for Joy!

18 Friday Dec 2015

Posted by in Friday's Focus, Psalms

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The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him (Psalm 28:7 NIV).

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Percé Rock. Percé, QC – photo by David Kitz

Reflection

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

In Psalm 28 we read that David’s heart leaped for joy and he sang out his praise to God. But in this Advent season we read of someone else who had a similar experience.

Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist reports having this experience when she was greeted by the mother of our Lord, “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:44-45 NIV).

Jesus our redeemer is coming into the world. Leap for joy!

Response: LORD God, thank you for sending Jesus – a real flesh and blood baby into the world. You fulfilled all your promises and have come to dwell among us. Oh, what joy! Amen.

Your Turn: Is Jesus dwelling in your heart through the Holy Spirit?

Right Living Produces Joy

17 Thursday Dec 2015

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The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes (Psalm 19:8, NIV).

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Percé, QC – photo by David Kitz

Reflection

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

To put it simply the LORD’s ways are higher and better than our ways. I always want the shortcut, the easy way. But my shortcut and my quick fix can short circuit the excellent plan that God has in mind for me.

We all want joy, but that joy comes in fullest measure when we patiently obey God’s commands. There is a joy that comes from doing His will that the world cannot receive or comprehend.

Response: LORD God, I want to experience your joy. Give me eyes to see your beautiful plan. Give me a heart that willingly obeys your word. Amen.

Your Turn: Is your life built on the rock solid word of God?

A River of Joy

16 Wednesday Dec 2015

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A river and its streams bring joy to the city, which is the sacred home of God Most High (Psalm 46:4 CEV).

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Lake Placid, NY — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

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

Are you drinking from streams of joy? Jesus promised that through the gift of the Holy Spirit we would become a source for joy. “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:38 NIV).

Where the Spirit of God is moving there is newness of life and joy.

Response: LORD God, I want to experience your joy. Give me a greater measure of your Holy Spirit. Fill me to overflowing. Amen.

Your Turn: Is Jesus a source of joy in your life?

Kingdom Conquests

15 Tuesday Dec 2015

Posted by in Psalm 68, Psalms

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Reading:                                     Psalm 68

Verses 24-31

Your procession, God, has come into view,
the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.
In front are the singers, after them the musicians;
with them are the young women playing the timbrels.
Praise God in the great congregation;
praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel.
There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them,
there the great throng of Judah’s princes,
and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.

Summon your power, God;
show us your strength, our God, as you have done before.
Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings will bring you gifts.
Rebuke the beast among the reeds,
the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations.
Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver.
Scatter the nations who delight in war.
Envoys will come from Egypt;
Cush will submit herself to God (NIV).

Reflection

All of Psalm 68 is a hymn of triumph—national triumph. In today’s reading it is apparent that this psalm is a triumphant processional song penned by David. The enemies of Israel have been vanquished and God’s army has returned victorious.

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Percé Rock, Percé, QC — photo by David Kitz

For Christians today, does this psalm hold a deeper significance? Does it signify more than a celebration after a military conquest?

The King we serve—the one born in a stable—didn’t come to establish an earthly kingdom by means of guns and war. In his defence before Pilate Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place” (John 18:36).

Make no mistake; Jesus calls us to be citizens in his heavenly Kingdom. It is a Kingdom that is headquartered in heaven, but its address on the earth is the human heart—your heart—my heart. Furthermore, that Kingdom grows in power and influence as we yield our will to God and joyfully become more like His son, Jesus. For followers of Jesus, battles are won as we submit our will to God.

There are nations—Egypt and Cush (the upper Nile region) are mentioned here—that will submit themselves to God. But personally for us today, submission must first come from our own stubborn heart.

Response: LORD God, I yield my will to you. Conquer my heart with your love. Through Jesus sacrifice on the cross I am yours. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you been conquered by the love of God?

The Joy of Forgiveness

14 Monday Dec 2015

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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Our God, you bless everyone whose sins you forgive and wipe away (Psalm 32:1 CEV).

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One falling leaf, Gatineau Park, QC — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

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

What is your greatest joy? For me many things spring to mind. But the more I think about joy, the more the thought of forgiveness presses to the forefront. God through the grace of a babe laid in a manger has forgiven me.

I am accepted. I am redeemed. I am forgiven. Those thoughts bring joy.

Response: LORD God, thank you for the forgiveness you extend to all through Jesus suffering, death and resurrection. Lord Jesus, I find my joy in you. Amen.

Your Turn: Does forgiveness bring you joy?

Where do I put my hope?

11 Friday Dec 2015

Posted by in Friday's Focus, Psalms

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Even before sunrise, I pray for your help, and I put my hope in what you have said (Psalm 119:147 CEV)

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Grey Nuns Park, Ottawa, ON — Photo by David Kitz

Reflection

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

Where do you put your hope? The psalmist put his hope in what God had said. Has God spoken to you? Have you heard His voice in prayer, in nature or through His written word? Have confidence in God’s word. Those who put their hope in His word will overcome.

Response: LORD God give me ears to hear what you say. Help me to pray with expectation. You are my hope and my help. Amen.

Your Turn: How has God spoken to you?

Finding Hope

10 Thursday Dec 2015

Posted by in Psalms, Thursday's Thought

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You are my hiding place and my shield. I find hope in your word (Psalm 119:114 NET)

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Photo by David Kitz

Reflection

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

Do you have a personal hideout? Is there a place where you can retreat from the world and its demands? The psalmist found his hiding place in God. He is our shield—a place of safety. As we hear and read his word we find hope.

Response: Word of God speak to me. Let me hear your words of love and assurance. Show me the way forward today. Amen.

Your Turn: Does God’s word bring you hope?

You Offer Hope

09 Wednesday Dec 2015

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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 David Kitz

Reflection

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

There are two words that stand in sharp contrast in today’s passage from the Psalms. The words are suffer and hope. Without hope suffering becomes unbearable. But where there is hope there is endurance. We have hope in our suffering because we have a God who listens to our cries.

Response: LORD God, you understand our suffering because Jesus, your son, suffered greatly. Hear me when I call. Amen.

Your Turn: Has the Lord brought you hope in times of suffering?

You Give Hope to People Everywhere

07 Monday Dec 2015

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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Our God, you save us, and your fearsome deeds answer our prayers for justice! You give hope to people everywhere on earth, even those across the sea (Psalm 65:5 CEV).

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Syrian Refugees – Alan Parker blogs.canoe.com

Our theme for this week is hope.

Does God give hope only to our kind of people, or is God more generous than that? Today’s psalms meditation makes it clear that God has a bigger view of humanity. He is the giver of hope to people everywhere.

Response: LORD God, we look to you for hope. Help us to be like you, heavenly Father,  giving hope and help to those in need. Amen.

Your Turn: What can you do today to give hope to someone in need today?