Tag Archives: Elizabeth

Why Am I So Favored

17 Wednesday Dec 2025

Posted by in Psalm 23, Psalms

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Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer

 Today’s Reading: Psalm 23

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

 

O LORD my God,
I want to follow you.
Dear Jesus,
be my Good Shepherd,
now and throughout this life
you have given me.
I love you because you first loved me.
I want the good life that comes from following you.
Amen.

— — — —

Deer on a snowy day near MacNutt, SK, photo by Char Kitz


Mary Visits Elizabeth

At that time Mary got ready
and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 
where she entered Zechariah’s home
and greeted Elizabeth. 
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the baby leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 
In a loud voice she exclaimed:
“Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the child you will bear! 
But why am I so favored,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 
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 1:39-45 NIV)*

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for enduring peace in Israel and Gaza,
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

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. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

Also available from David Kitz

Holy Week as seen from a soldier’s perspective

American readers click this link to purchase The Soldier Who Killed a King.

Canadian readers click this link to purchase The Soldier Who Killed a King directly from the author.

The Power of the Most High

16 Tuesday Dec 2025

Posted by in Psalm 22, Psalms

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Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer

 Today’s Reading: Psalm 22:27-31

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

 

Father God,
thank you for the good news of the gospel.
Jesus is alive and reigns forever.
Help me to do my part
in bringing the message of your love
and redemption to the world.
I want to see people from all nations
turning to you in repentance and faith.
Amen.

— — — —


The Annunciation of the Coming Messiah—
Mary’s Response

“How will this be,”
Mary asked the angel,
“since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered,
“The Holy Spirit will come on you,
and the power of the Most High
will overshadow you.
So the holy one to be born
will be called the Son of God.
Even Elizabeth your relative
is going to have a child in her old age,
and she who was said
to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.
For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,”
Mary answered.
“May your word to me be fulfilled.”
Then the angel left her.
(Luke 1:34-38 NIV)*

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for enduring peace in Israel and Gaza,
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

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. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

Also available from David Kitz

Holy Week as seen from a soldier’s perspective

American readers click this link to purchase The Soldier Who Killed a King.

Canadian readers click this link to purchase The Soldier Who Killed a King directly from the author.

Your Prayer Has Been Heard

08 Monday Dec 2025

Posted by in Advent, Psalm 21

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Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer


Today’s Reading: Psalm 21:1-7

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

Heavenly Father,
help me to rightly handle the success you bring.
Lord Jesus,
you are my victory over death,
hell, and the grave.
Help me remain thankful.
You are more wonderful than I can imagine.
I praise you.
I owe any success I have achieved to you,
Lord Jesus.
Amen.

— — — —

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him,
standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
When Zechariah saw him,
he was startled and was gripped with fear.
But the angel said to him:
“Do not be afraid, Zechariah;
your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you are to call him John.
He will be a joy and delight to you,
and many will rejoice because of his birth,
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
He is never to take wine or other fermented drink,
and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit
even before he is born.
He will bring back many of the people of Israel
to the Lord their God.
And he will go on before the Lord,
in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of the parents to their children
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—
to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
(Luke 1:11-17 NIV)*

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for enduring peace in Israel and Gaza,
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

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. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz

James—the brother of Jesus—who was this man? What evidence do we have that this “brother of our Lord” even existed?

David Kitz digs deep into archeology, family dynamics, church history, and the biblical texts. What emerges from his research is a portrait of a decisive, pivotal leader who embodied the will and character of Jesus Christ.

But how did James—James the unbeliever—transform to become a leader who changed the course of world history? In these pages you will uncover the answer and rediscover for yourself the life-changing power of the gospel.

To view further details or purchase this or other books directly from the author click here.

Singing to God

13 Wednesday Dec 2017

Posted by in Bible, Devotionals, Psalm 68, Psalms

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Reading:                                      Psalm 68

(Verses 32-35)
Sing to God,
you kingdoms of the earth,
sing praise to the Lord,
to him who rides across the highest heavens,
the ancient heavens,
who thunders with mighty voice.
Proclaim the power of God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
whose power is in the heavens.
You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary;
the God of Israel gives power
and strength to his people.
Praise be to God! (NIV).

Reflection
Psalm 68 ends with a call for us to sing. Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens, who thunders with mighty voice.

2017-12-10 L Kranz

Winter cabin in the woods — photo by Liz Kranz

Have you noticed how important singing and music are to our celebration of Christ’s birth? Take music and song out of Christmas and there is little left. In many ways carols define the season and add sparkle and joy. And so it should be. Heaven saw fit to announce the Saviour’s birth through song. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:13-14).

God sent an angel choir to celebrate the birth of His only begotten Son. And earlier during her pregnancy, at the home of Elizabeth, Mary burst out with what is commonly called the Magnificat or Mary’s Song. See Luke 1: 46-56. Yes, in the darkest month of  the year we can rejoice with the songs of Christ’s birth.

So yes we should sing praise to the Lord, to him who rides across the highest heavens. He sent his star to guide the way for the magi. One glorious night the heavens joined in to declare the glory of heaven’s Son, who had come to earth to be born among men—men and animals.

What a grand descent! From the highest heavens to a lowly stable. That’s the glory of Christmas. God transferred His sanctuary—His dwelling place—from heaven to earth—from heaven’s throne room to a stable. Now we can join with the psalmist and the shepherds with these words of praise:

You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary;
the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.
Praise be to God!

Response: LORD God, thank you for sending Jesus. Thank you for coming in frail human flesh—flesh like our own. Thank you because now we can know you as one of us—God with us. Amen.

Your Turn: How important are music and song to you? Do they lead to heartfelt worship?

The Lord is with you

20 Tuesday Dec 2016

Posted by in Advent, Psalms

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I will praise Him!

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The Lord is with you – photo by David Kitz

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

(Luke 1:24-26 NIV)

(In a departure from the norm, I will be doing brief Advent scripture quotes throughout this week leading up to Christmas. My regular Psalms devotional posts will resume on December 26th.)