Tag Archives: children

A Fortress of Praise

19 Thursday May 2016

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With praises from children and from tiny infants, you have built a fortress. It makes your enemies silent, and all who turn against you are left speechless (Psalm 8:2, CEV).

D Adam Moon 3

Prairie Moon — photo courtesy of Donald Adam

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is the word fortress.

The idea of building a fortress with praise seems completely illogical. How can praises build a fortress? But that’s what today’s verse from the Psalms states:

With praises from children and from tiny infants, you have built a fortress. It makes your enemies silent, and all who turn against you are left speechless (Psalm 8:2, CEV).

Furthermore, this fortress is not built with the praises of men, but rather with the praises of children and infants. The simple innocence and wisdom of children often confounds the philosophers and experts of the day. It was children who hailed Jesus as the messianic Son of David, while the chief priests and teachers of the Law scoffed at him (Matthew 21:14-16).

Praising the Lord fortifies our spirit against the attacks of the enemy. And it doesn’t take a genius to apply that truth.

Response: LORD God, I want to build a fortress of praise. There is no one as holy, loving and powerful as you. I give this day, my life and my praise to you. Amen.

Your Turn: Why do children often grasp the truths of God more easily than adults?

Generation to Generation

31 Thursday Mar 2016

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Each generation will announce to the next your wonderful and powerful deeds (Psalm 145:4, CEV).

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One generation to the next — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

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

When we think of proclaiming God’s goodness, our minds quickly go to the ends of the earth. But the most important place to live out the gospel is at home. And the most important person you will announce the good news to is your own son or daughter.

Moses had these instructions for the people of Israel: These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

Among family members talking about God and our faith should be as natural as breathing. After all, God is involved in our daily lives. Then these words from the psalms will come true for us.

Each generation will announce to the next your wonderful and powerful deeds (Psalm 145:4, CEV).

The day will come when Jesus welcomes us into our eternal home. I don’t want to be living there alone.

Response: LORD God, help me to truly appreciate my family. Help me to radiate your love to those near and dear to me. Help me to live before them as a person of integrity. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you find it easy to talk about God with your family?

Who Delights Your Heart?

16 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by in Psalms

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Reading:                                     Psalm 37

(Verses 23-29)

The LORD makes firm the steps     

of the one who delights in him;

though he may stumble, he will not fall,     

for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

I was young and now I am old,     

yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken     

or their children begging bread.

They are always generous and lend freely;     

their children will be a blessing.

Turn from evil and do good;     

then you will dwell in the land forever.

For the LORD loves the just     

and will not forsake his faithful ones.

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;     

the offspring of the wicked will perish. 

The righteous will inherit the land 

and dwell in it forever. (NIV)

Reflection

According to Psalm 37 there is a string of blessings that is bequeathed to the righteous. We are kept safe—held secure in the palm of God’s hand. Furthermore these blessings are intergenerational. The children of the righteous are blessed, so they can be a blessing to their parents and others.

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him (Psalm 127:3).

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him (Psalm 127:3).

As parents and grandparents can attest, children can be a great blessing, or if they are corrupted by rebellion and disobedience they can become a curse, making life difficult for all around them.

Much of the trouble in the world today is self-inflicted. By choosing the path of anger, selfishness and resentment, we heap sorrow on our own head. Conversely, if we choose to follow the LORD along the path of love, generosity and forgiveness, we set ourselves up to receive blessings from our heavenly Father.

Down through the ages, David’s admonition rings true: Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.

 But God’s blessings rest on a premise, and here it is: The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him.

 The question we need to continually ask ourselves is “Am I delighting myself in the LORD? Is He my chief joy in life? Do I hunger for His word and His presence in my life? Do I long for times of sweet communion with Him?

Response: LORD God, help me to delight myself in you. May I love what you love. Help me to position myself to receive your blessings. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you living proof of God’s intergenerational blessing on those who delight in Him?