Compassion and Empathy

09 Monday Mar 2026

Tags

care for the poor, compassion, correction, David, empathy, forgiveness, help others, pride, Psalms, the LORD, the needy, the weak

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 41:1-6

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;
    the LORD delivers them in times of trouble.
The LORD protects and preserves them—
    they are counted among the blessed in the land—
    he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.
The LORD sustains them on their sickbed
    and restores them from their bed of illness.
I said, “Have mercy on me, LORD;
    heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
My enemies say of me in malice,
    “When will he die and his name perish?”
When one of them comes to see me,
    he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander;
    then he goes out and spreads it around.
(NIV)*

Reflection

Psalm 41 reminds us compassion and empathy are at the core of what it means to be a follower of the LORD. David begins this psalm with this declaration, “Blessed are those who have regard for the weak.”

Social justice and care for the poor are not small matters in eyes of the LORD. Ancient Israel was destroyed and went into exile because of their disregard for the poor. The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: “It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?” declares the LORD, the LORD Almighty (Isaiah 3:14-15).

Why is regard for the weak so pivotal in having a right relationship with God? Lack of care or empathy for the needy is based on a kind of self-deception. In arrogance we see ourselves as better than those who are weak or needy. Yet if we examine ourselves, we have all gone through times when we were weak and needy. Sometimes we may need a reminder that our current state of self-sufficiency can come to an end in a moment.

This morning, I very nearly hit a pedestrian as she rushed across the street. I sounded my horn thinking she was in error. A quick glance showed she was crossing with the walk light. I was the one in error. I had completely missed a red light. I was the one in need of correction and forgiveness.

Are you doing well now? Praise God. The day will come when you need His help and protection. Do you see someone in need? Help as you are able. The day will come when you need forgiveness and the help you have offered others.

Response
LORD God, forgive me when I have looked down on others in need. Open my eyes to someone I may help today. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Your Turn
How do you keep yourself from the deception of pride? How open are you to correction?

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

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

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, Russia and Ukraine!

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.

Ideal for the Season of Lent

A stunning story of Holy Week through the eyes of a Roman centurion.

Watch the triumphal entry of the donkey-riding king through the eyes of Marcus Longinus, the centurion charged with keeping the streets from erupting into open rebellion.

Look behind the scenes at the political plotting of King Herod, known as the scheming Fox for his ruthless shrewdness.

Get a front-row seat to the confrontation between the Jewish high priest Caiaphas and the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.

Understand as never before the horror of the decision to save a brutal terrorist in order to condemn the peaceful Jew to death.

If you’ve heard the story of Passion Week so often it’s become stale, now is the time to rediscover the terrible events leading from Jesus’s humble ride into the city to his crucifixion. The Soldier Who Killed a King will stun you afresh with how completely Christ’s resurrection changed history, one life at a time.

To view further details or purchase click here.

Prince and Savior

27 Friday Feb 2026

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 38, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

forgiveness, Jesus, Prayer, Psalms, purify, Righteousness, salvation, Savior, the cross, the LORD, trust in God

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

Today’s Reading: Psalm 38:17-22

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
grant me the gift of repentance.
I am thankful Jesus died on the cross
to wash me clean.
Hallelujah!
I want to pursue you, Lord.
You are my help and my righteousness.
My salvation comes from you.
Amen.

— — — —

Prince and Savior

The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—
whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand
as Prince and Savior
that he might bring Israel to repentance
and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things,
and so is the Holy Spirit,
whom God has given to those who obey him.”
(Acts 5:30-32 NIV)*

Whoever does not love does not know God,
because God is love (1 John 4:8 NIV)

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

* 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!

Ideal for the Season of Lent

Watch the triumphal entry of the donkey-riding king through the eyes of Marcus Longinus, the centurion charged with keeping the streets from erupting into open rebellion.

Look behind the scenes at the political plotting of King Herod, known as the scheming Fox for his ruthless shrewdness.

Get a front-row seat to the confrontation between the Jewish high priest Caiaphas and the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.

Understand as never before the horror of the decision to save a brutal terrorist in order to condemn the peaceful Jew to death.

If you’ve heard the story of Passion Week so often it’s become stale, now is the time to rediscover the terrible events leading from Jesus’s humble ride into the city to his crucifixion. The Soldier Who Killed a King will stun you afresh with how completely Christ’s resurrection changed history, one life at a time.

To view further details or purchase click here.

Now We Are Children of God

26 Thursday Feb 2026

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 38, Psalms

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

children of God, Christ, faith, forgiveness, God's love, Prayer, Psalms, pure, purify, the LORD, trust in God

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

Today’s Reading: Psalm 38:9-16

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
speak to me when I am downcast.
Lift me when I am in need.
Forgive me when I fail.
You are my help and my strength.
LORD, I wait for you;
you will answer,
LORD my God.
Amen.

— — — —

Rideau Canal, Ottawa, ON

Children of God

See what great love
the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are!
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him. Dear friends,
now we are children of God,
and what we will be
has not yet been made known.
But we know that when Christ appears,we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves,
just as he is pure.
(1 John 3:1-3 NIV)*

Whoever does not love does not know God,
because God is love (1 John 4:8 NIV)

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

* 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!

Also available from David KitzIs a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
This book points the way forward.
For details click here.

Three That Testify

25 Wednesday Feb 2026

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 38, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

amazing grace, blood of Christ, Christ, faith, forgiveness, Jesus, Prayer, Psalms, salvation, testimony, the LORD, trust in God

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

Today’s Reading: Psalm 38:1-8

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
I thank you for Jesus.
I am thankful I can put my complete trust in you.
You forgive me
and cleanse me from all my sins.
I am saved by your amazing grace
not by my effort.
Amen.

— — — —

Three That Testify

This is the one who came by water and blood—
Jesus Christ.
He did not come by water only,
but by water and blood.
And it is the Spirit who testifies,
because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood;
and the three are in agreement. We accept human testimony,
but God’s testimony is greater
because it is the testimony of God,
which he has given about his Son.
(1 John 5:6-9 NIV)*

Whoever does not love does not know God,
because God is love (1 John 4:8 NIV)

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

* 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!

Also available from David KitzIs a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
This book points the way forward.
For details click here.

Salvation from the LORD

24 Tuesday Feb 2026

Posted by Tim K in Psalm 37, Psalms

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

David, forgiveness, grace, heaven, Jesus, Psalms, redeeming blood, righteous, sowing and reaping, the LORD

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 37:35-40

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
    flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
but he soon passed away and was no more;
    though I looked for him, he could not be found.
Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
    a future awaits those who seek peace.
But all sinners will be destroyed;
    there will be no future for the wicked.
The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
    he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
The LORD helps them and delivers them;
    he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they take refuge in him.
(NIV)*

Photo by Maria Orlova on Pexels.com

Reflection

Today’s reading is the concluding portion of Psalm 37. As noted previously, this entire psalm contrasts the life of the righteous person with the individual who pursues a life of sin and illicit gain. The righteous will receive their reward and the man who does evil will be destroyed.

We all reap what we sow. If we sow seeds of selfishness, hate and discord, we will reap a harvest of ruin. Paul, the apostle, gives us this warning, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7-8).

We can readily conclude that the good man will live because of his goodness. In other words, the righteous person will be saved because of his righteous deeds. But that’s not what this psalm teaches. In fact, the idea that one is saved because of one’s righteousness runs contrary to the message of this psalm and the entire counsel of Holy Scripture. The psalmist clearly states, “The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD.”

We are not saved by our righteousness. We are saved by the LORD. It is because of His great mercy that we are saved. This aligns with New Testament teaching as Paul declares, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Yes, we are called to live righteous lives and to do good works, but let’s not deceive ourselves into thinking that by these means we will earn our way to heaven. Jesus is the way to heaven. Our feeble efforts won’t take us very far. We need His forgiveness and the power of His redeeming blood. We are saved because we take refuge in Him.

Response
LORD God, I thank you for Jesus. I am thankful I can put my complete trust in you. I am saved by your amazing grace not by my effort. Hallelujah! Lord Jesus, you are “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Amen.

Your Turn
Have you relied on your righteousness rather than God’s grace? How can you develop a greater appreciation for God’s grace and acceptance?

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

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

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, Russia and Ukraine!

Ideal for the Season of Lent

Look behind the scenes at the political plotting of King Herod, known as the scheming Fox for his ruthless shrewdness.

Get a front-row seat to the confrontation between the Jewish high priest Caiaphas and the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.

Understand as never before the horror of the decision to save a brutal terrorist in order to condemn the peaceful Jew to death.

To view further details or purchase click here.

Your Heart’s Delight

20 Friday Feb 2026

Posted by Tim K in Psalm 37, Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

anger, blessings, children, David, delighting in the LORD, forgiveness, Psalms, the LORD

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 37:23-29

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

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.

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” (v. 27).

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” (v. 23).

The questions we need to continually ask ourselves are, “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 be a blessing and 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? When do you long for sweet communion with Jesus?

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

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

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, Russia and Ukraine!

Ideal for the Season of Lent

Look behind the scenes at the political plotting of King Herod, known as the scheming Fox for his ruthless shrewdness.

Get a front-row seat to the confrontation between the Jewish high priest Caiaphas and the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.

Understand as never before the horror of the decision to save a brutal terrorist in order to condemn the peaceful Jew to death.

To view further details or purchase click here.

Givers & Takers

19 Thursday Feb 2026

Posted by Tim K in Psalm 37, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

David, forgiveness, forgiveness of sins, generosity, giving, kindness, Psalms, receiving, redemption, the LORD

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 37:18-22

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

The blameless spend their days under the LORD’s care,
    and their inheritance will endure forever.
In times of disaster they will not wither;
    in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
But the wicked will perish:
    Though the LORD’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
    they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.
The wicked borrow and do not repay,
    but the righteous give generously;
those the LORD blesses will inherit the land,
    but those he curses will be destroyed.
(NIV)*

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Reflection
I have heard it said that there are two kinds of people in the world—givers and takers. Notice I didn’t say givers and receivers. We all are receivers from the first breath we take, as we receive love and nourishment from our mothers. But there is a subtle but important difference between receiving and taking. The receiver takes what is freely offered. The taker takes regardless—if it is offered or not.

Takers feel the world owes them something. Givers owe a debt of love and make regular payments on that debt. The apostle Paul urges us, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8 NKJV).

Here in Psalm 37 David declares: The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously. There is something counterintuitive about generosity. Generosity breeds prosperity, whereas hoarding leads to poverty. One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty (Proverbs 11:24-25 NIV).

Why is this the case? Job gives us this nugget of wisdom, Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty (Job 6:14). The Almighty oversees our lives. He sees when we withhold kindness from a friend, and He sees when we give generously. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV).

A generous spirit reflects the Spirit of God, who freely gives us all things, including His Son. His Son generously gave his life for our redemption, and for the forgiveness of our sins. Forgiveness is freely offered. It’s free for the taking from a lavishly generous God. Have you received what He offers?

Our amazing God turns takers into givers. Saul of Tarsus was a taker, but when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, he became a giver—a forgiven giver. Saul became Paul. Hate turned to love. Taking from the world turned to giving.

Response
LORD God, turn me around. Help me to be generous with those in need. You gave so much to me. Now help me be a giver—a reflection of you in the world. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Your Turn
Can we give without receiving? Which comes first?

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

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

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, Russia and Ukraine!

Ideal for the Season of Lent

Look behind the scenes at the political plotting of King Herod, known as the scheming Fox for his ruthless shrewdness.

Get a front-row seat to the confrontation between the Jewish high priest Caiaphas and the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.

Understand as never before the horror of the decision to save a brutal terrorist in order to condemn the peaceful Jew to death.

To view further details or purchase click here.

Can You be a Peacemaker?

09 Monday Feb 2026

Posted by Tim K in Psalm 35, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

children, David, forgiveness, Gaza, peace, peacemaker, Phillistines, reconciliation, Righteousness, the Psalms, turning the other cheek

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 35:22-25

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD, you have seen this; do not be silent.
    Do not be far from me, Lord.
Awake, and rise to my defense!
    Contend for me, my God and Lord.
Vindicate me in your righteousness, LORD my God;
    do not let them gloat over me.
Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”
    or say, “We have swallowed him up”
(NIV)*

Reflection
There’s an old saying, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” That certainly is true of the conflict in the Holy Land. About 3,000 years ago, in David’s time the Kingdom of Israel was in a struggle for survival. Chief among its enemies were the Philistines along the Gaza coast. On the day I wrote this post, Israel’s chief enemy Hamas was firing rockets into Israel from the Gaza coast.

David’s words from Psalm 35 have a present-day resonance. LORD, you have seen this; do not be silent. Do not be far from me, Lord. Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord. Many in present day Israel are praying this prayer with the fervor of those who are being attacked.

But the residents of Gaza could pray this prayer with equal fervor. Their homes and businesses are also under bombardment. Where is God in all this suffering? Whose side is He on? Many in the Christian community affirm with great confidence that God is on the side of Israel. Does that make God complicit in the deaths of innocent children in Gaza?

The rubble of Al-Huda Girls’ School in Jabalia, Gaza, February 22, 2025. (Jaber Jehad Badwan/Wikimedia)

Jesus gave this counsel to his disciples, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also” (Matthew 5:38-39). Present day Israel (and America for that matter) has a well-established policy of hard-hitting retaliation when attacked. What are the long-term consequences of this policy? Is the conflict resolved or is it inflamed?

Jesus’ admonition to turn the other cheek goes unheeded. Most feel that turning the other cheek implies weakness. In reality, it requires far more strength, but in the end, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness—not a righteousness that insists on its own way—but a righteousness that sees both sides of an issue and works hard for peace and reconciliation.

Jesus asks us to do the far harder thing. Retaliation is easy. It’s the natural response. Forgiving when we are wronged requires far more effort. Whose side is God on? He is on the side of peace. That’s something worth fighting for.

Response
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9). LORD God, help me to be a local peacemaker in my world today—someone who builds bridges between people and communities. Amen.

Your Turn
Forgiveness and turning the other cheek works on a personal level. How can we make it work on a community, interracial, international level as well?

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

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, Russia and Ukraine!

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 directly from the author click here.

God Speaks Back

21 Wednesday Jan 2026

Posted by Tim K in Psalm 33, Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

David, forgiveness, God's voice, Prayer, prophet, Psalms, shepherd, sin

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 32:8-11

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Do not be like the horse or the mule,
    which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
    or they will not come to you.
Many are the woes of the wicked,
    but the LORD’s unfailing love
    surrounds the one who trusts in him.
Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
    sing, all you who are upright in heart!
(NIV)*

Mule being led (Countesy of Pacific Southwest Forest Service, US, Flickr)

Reflection
In Psalm 32 God speaks back. David begins this psalm, and we clearly can hear his voice addressing us, as he tells how wonderful it is to be forgiven. He then goes on to speak of his own struggle with unconfessed sin. Finally, he tells us of the great relief he experienced as he is pardoned and restored to a place of close fellowship with the LORD. But then abruptly in verse eight, we hear a different voice. God is speaking. The LORD responds to what David has said. Through this psalm David is modelling true prayer. This psalm is two-way communication.

We have heard David’s words; let’s hear God’s words now. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

Clearly this is not the voice of David. David is not going to counsel and watch over us. This is the work of the LORD. The LORD will teach and guide us. It is His role to shepherd the flock of His pasture.

These words, from verse eight to the end of this psalm are coming from the LORD. David has heard God speak, and now he is passing on this message from the LORD directly to us. In this respect David is fulfilling the role of a prophet. He is acting as God’s spokesperson. In fact, in Acts 2:30, Peter asserts David was a prophet. And what is a prophet? In the simplest terms, it is someone who hears God, and then passes on God’s message to others.

Do you hear God? This is no idle, rhetorical question. It is essential to our Christian faith that we as believers hear the voice of God. I would go so far as to say, you cannot experience salvation unless you first hear God. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish” (John 10:27-28a).

In short, we must be able to hear Jesus in order to follow Him, and it is in following Him that we receive eternal life. Hearing God’s voice is of paramount importance.

Response
LORD God, give me ears to hear what you have to say to me. Please instruct me and teach me in the way I should go. Then give me grace to obey. I put my trust in you, O LORD. Amen.

Your Turn
Do you hear God’s voice? How does He speak to you? Have you heard the Lord’s voice recently? How do you distinguish God’s voice from all the other voices you hear?

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

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, Russia and Ukraine!

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?

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

Playing Hide ‘n’ Seek with God

20 Tuesday Jan 2026

Posted by Tim K in Psalm 32, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

dam, David, faith, finding God, forgiveness, hidden God, hiden god, Psalms, seek the Lord, sin, walk by faith

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 32:6-7

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

Therefore let all the faithful pray to you,
    while you may be found;
surely when the mighty waters rise,
    they will not reach him.
You are my hiding place;
    you will protect me from trouble
    and surround me with songs of deliverance
(NIV)*

“Hide n Seek with the Sun” (Arsalanhaneef00/Wikimedia)

Reflection
In the previous stanza of this psalm, David received the amazing dam-busting forgiveness of God. He has just experienced a wonderful release from a load of guilt. But now in his next breath he has some advice for us, and here it is. Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you, while you may be found.

We are to pray to God while He may be found. This raises some interesting questions. Is God unavailable at times? If God cannot be found, is He hiding? Furthermore, if God is hiding, where does He hide?

At this point I feel like jumping to my feet, like a lawyer pleading a case in the court of reason, and shouting out, “I object! All David has told us about God so far would lead us to believe God is always close at hand. Didn’t David testify to this earlier in Psalm twenty-three? He said the following words about the LORD his shepherd: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. And now it seems David is telling us there are times when God cannot be found. Which is it, David? It can’t be both.”

Ah, but it is both. This is one of those great divine paradoxes. The God, who is near, even in my heart, can also be distant—light years away, both in time and space. There exists a perceived distance between us that can vary according to the state of my heart—according to the state of my relationship with God.

The fact remains we cannot see God though we see evidence of His handiwork all around us. Our infinitely complex human bodies and finely tuned senses are themselves proof of His existence, yet Him we cannot see. He is a hidden God, and when we walk beside Him, we walk by faith and not by sight.

Repeatedly in the scriptures we are commanded to seek after the LORD. I find this to be a rather curious expression. We cannot see God, and yet we are commanded to seek Him, as though He might suddenly appear over the next hill, or around the next bend in the road. Suddenly, in unexpected ways, we may encounter God. The Psalms are all about encounters with God. Psalm nineteen began that way. Suddenly the starry hosts began talking to David about God, declaring His glory. We may pick up the Bible, and suddenly it speaks to our deepest need—the need of the moment, and we know this is the voice of God with a word specifically for us today. Even the ungodly people of this world recognize people encounter God. They use expressions like, “He found God,” to describe someone’s conversion to faith in Christ. The LORD invites us to play the most amazing game: Hide ‘n’ seek with God.

Response
LORD God, I want to seek after you. Show yourself to me today in this grand adventure called life. I want to have an encounter with you. I want to know what it means to be found by you. Amen.

Your Turn
Have you had a recent encounter with God? Do you sense His nearness or distance?

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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?

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Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

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

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

Today’s Reading: Psalm 38:17-22

LORD God, grant me the gift of repentance. I am thankful Jesus died on the cross to wash me clean. Hallelujah! I want to pursue you, Lord. You are my help and my righteousness. My salvation comes from you. Amen.

— — — —

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8 NIV)

* 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!

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

Today’s Reading: Psalm 38:9-16

LORD God, speak to me when I am downcast. Lift me when I am in need. Forgive me when I fail. You are my help and my strength. LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, LORD my God. Amen.

— — — —

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8 NIV)

* 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!

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

Today’s Reading: Psalm 38:1-8

LORD God, I thank you for Jesus. I am thankful I can put my complete trust in you. You forgive me and cleanse me from all my sins. I am saved by your amazing grace not by my effort. Amen.

— — — —

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8 NIV)

* 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!

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

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

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, Russia and Ukraine!

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

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

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, Russia and Ukraine!

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

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

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, Russia and Ukraine!

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

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

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, Russia and Ukraine!

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

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

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, Russia and Ukraine!

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

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

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, Russia and Ukraine!

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

LORD God,
grant me the gift of repentance.
I am thankful Jesus died on the cross
to wash me clean.
Hallelujah!
I want to pursue you, Lord.
You are my help and my righteousness.
My salvation comes from you.
Amen.

Whoever does not love does not know God,
because God is love (1 John 4:8 NIV)

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

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

LORD God,
speak to me when I am downcast.
Lift me when I am in need.
Forgive me when I fail.
You are my help and my strength.
LORD, I wait for you;
you will answer,
LORD my God.
Amen.

Whoever does not love does not know God,
because God is love (1 John 4:8 NIV)

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

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

LORD God,
I thank you for Jesus.
I am thankful I can put my complete trust in you.
You forgive me
and cleanse me from all my sins.
I am saved by your amazing grace
not by my effort.
Amen.

Whoever does not love does not know God,
because God is love (1 John 4:8 NIV)

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