Above the Heavens

06 Saturday Feb 2021

Tags

exalted, faithfulness, God's glory, God's love

Today’s verse from the Psalms
Heavenly Father,
I genuinely appreciate your love and faithfulness.
You are always good,
loving and worthy of praise.
Be exalted in my life.
In Jesus name, I pray.
Amen.

The first volume of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is now available. For a closer look at this 262-page daily devotional book click here.

I Will Awaken the Dawn

06 Saturday Feb 2021

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 108, Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

faithfulness of God, God's glory, God's love, music

I will praise the LORD!

Dale Kitz farm, MacNutt, SK — photo by David Kitz

My heart, O God, is steadfast;
    I will sing and make music with all my soul.
Awake, harp and lyre!
    I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, LORD, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, higher than the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.

(Psalm 108:1-5, NIV)*

* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

A Perfect Tension

28 Thursday Jan 2021

Posted by davidkitz in Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

blameless, God's love, God's will, justice

Today’s quote from Psalms 365 by David Kitz
Heavenly Father,
I want my will to be conformed to your will.
I want to lead a blameless life.
By Jesus’ blood, grant me a blameless heart
that is determined to love and serve you
for all my days.
Amen.

What Goes before God?

17 Thursday Dec 2020

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 89

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Tags

God's faithfulness, God's love, justice, rejoice, Righteousness

Today’s key verse from the Psalms:

Father God,
you are good and kind to all.
I thank you for your love and faithfulness.
Today,
I want to walk in the light of your presence, LORD,
and rejoice in your name all day long.
Amen.

An Ocean Full of Love

09 Wednesday Dec 2020

Posted by davidkitz in Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

God's love, ocean, Psalms, Psalms 365

Today’s quote from “Psalms 365” by David Kitz

Some good news: The first volume of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is now available. For a closer look at the book click here.

With You, Lord, Is Unfailing Love

16 Wednesday Sep 2020

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 62, Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

God's love, Psalm 62, unchanging, unfailing love

Reading: Psalm 62
(Verses 9-12)
Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath.
Do not trust in extortion
or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
do not set your heart on them.
One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
according to what they have done” (NIV).*

Evening calm — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
In this life that we have been given, what things are solid? What things are sure? Not much according to the psalmist, David.

Our station in life is just a fabricated lie. At heart, the highborn are no different than the street pauper. We breathe the same air, suffer the indignities of aging, and our bodies are fated for death and decay. In his epistle, James makes our fate quite clear. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes (James 4:14b).

As for this world’s wealth, it has no lasting value. Here is sound advice—advice from this psalm that you won’t get from a financial planner: though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

What then should we do? How should we live? Live in the light and knowledge of eternity and the One who holds eternity in His hands. David reminds us God will…“reward everyone according to what they have done.”

In other words, how we live matters. It matters for now and eternity. That knowledge should inform and give shape to all that we say and do. But there are two additional truths that should bring meaning to our lives. One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love.”

God alone has the power of life, death and resurrection. And in Jesus, He demonstrated his unfailing power and love for every man, woman and child on this planet. On the cross Jesus showed his unfailing love. Other loves—human loves—may fail us, but God’s love stands firm and unwavering. In a changing world of eroding values our LORD remains firm and immovable.

Response: LORD God, thank you for the unfailing love of Jesus. You love me even when I have failed and despite my shortcomings. Help me live my life in the light of eternity. Amen.

Your Turn: How is God’s love a motivator for you to change your ways, since He never changes?

* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

Some good news: The first volume of 365 Days through the Psalms by award-winning author David Kitz will be published in November, 2020, by Elk Lake Publishing. Two additional volumes will follow in 2021 to complete the three volume set of devotions from the Psalms.

Come and See What the LORD Has Done

07 Friday Aug 2020

Posted by davidkitz in Devotions, Psalm 46, Psalms

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

be still, God's love, Jesus, love of God, the cross

Reading: Psalm 46
(Verses 8-11)
Come and see what the LORD has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress (NIV).*

Be still — Photo by David Kitz

Reflection
I originally wrote this post during Holy Week—a week of contemplation leading to Good Friday—leading to our Savior’s death on the cross. The opening line of this reading from Psalm 46 grabs me: Come and see what the LORD has done.

Yes. Come and see what the LORD has done! Come and see what has happened to God’s son. Come and see the desolations he has brought on the earth—the desolations He has brought on the dust-formed bundle of flesh that at birth was laid in a manager. Now he is laid on a cross. He is not wrapped in swaddling clothes. He is stripped naked; arms pried wide open and nailed to a cross.

Come and see what has happened to him. This is the LORD’s doing. This is the Father’s will. This is the Son’s willing obedience. Now hear the Spirit’s beckoning call, “Come and see what the LORD has done!”

This is what love looks like—not our love for God, but God’s love for man. Love looks like Jesus on the cross. Love looks like a bloody sacrifice, engineered by God, inflicted on God, God come-in-the-flesh. Love looks painful. It looks painful because it gives to the last drop. It calls us near to the last breath. “Come and see what the LORD has done!”

And when you come be still. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

This is not the time to rush on by. Eve reached for the forbidden fruit. Adam rushed after her. Rushing has brought us this mess—this messed up world—this mess on the cross. Self-centered rushing hurtles us into sin with no thought for tomorrow—no thought for the man on a cross. Instead today, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Be still. Be still before the cross. He is God. The man on the cross is God. Love has a price, always has a price. It’s written in blood—the Savior’s blood.

Response: LORD God, alter me at the foot of the cross. I need you to change my heart, my life, my attitude. Help me be still before you as I contemplate your love—love that I don’t deserve—that I have not earned. But Jesus, you offered yourself freely. Thank you. Amen.

Your Turn: Has your life been altered by the cross?

* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

Because of open heart surgery, publication of 365 Days through the Psalms by award-winning author David Kitz has been delayed until later this year or 2021. In due course, 365 Days through the Psalms will be published by Elk Lake Publishing. In the interim, please pray for my return to good health.