Tag Archives: hope

Can You Avoid Being Put to Shame?

19 Wednesday Jul 2017

Posted by in Bible, Devotionals, Psalm 25, Psalms

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Reading:                                     Psalm 25

Of David.
Verses 1-7

In you, LORD my God, I put my trust.
I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
 No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous without cause.
Show me your ways, LORD,
teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, LORD, are good (NIV).

Reflection
Shame is often viewed as a very negative feeling, and it is. Some pop psychologists are of the opinion that this emotional response should be completely removed from our lives. They argue that it has no useful function, since it often holds us back from exploring and experimenting with new behaviors and activities in the world around us.

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The Rideau Canal, Ottawa cityscape — photo by David Kitz

However, a life lived without any sense of shame is life without an active conscience. Those who lack a shame gland soon find themselves trapped in self-destructive behavior that spirals out of control. A sense of shame when we have done wrong can act as the messenger of God calling us to repentance and a change of heart.

Here in this psalm David pleads with the LORD that he will not be put to shame. That should be our prayer as well. And how can we avoid being put to shame? David gives us the answer.  No one who hopes in you [the LORD] will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.

If your hope is in the LORD, He will protect you from shame and disgrace. Trusting in God, rather than in ourselves is the point where freedom from shame begins. A humble teachable spirit is what God desires. Because of His great mercy and love, He forgives the sins of our youth and our rebellious ways. Praise the LORD!

Response: LORD, this is my prayer: Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Amen.

Your Turn: How does trusting in God protect you from experiencing shame?

Assigning Blame or Praise

05 Monday Jun 2017

Posted by in Psalm 9, Psalms

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Reading:                                           Psalm 9

Verses 11-20
Sing the praises of the LORD, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.
For he who avenges blood remembers;
he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.
LORD, see how my enemies persecute me!
Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,
that I may declare your praises in the gates of Daughter Zion,
and there rejoice in your salvation.
The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
The LORD is known by his acts of justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God.
But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.
Arise, LORD, do not let mortals triumph;
let the nations be judged in your presence.
Strike them with terror, LORD;
let the nations know they are only mortal (NIV).

Reflection

If only life was easy; if only life was just and fair! But it isn’t. Life is filled with struggles and difficulties. I’m not always treated fairly, nor are you. Here in this psalm David cries out, “LORD, see how my enemies persecute me!” You can sense the frustration in his voice. Though these words are not recorded, in the midst of his troubles he might have added, “This isn’t fair, LORD. You aren’t being fair!”

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Sing the praises of the LORD — photo by David Kitz

But David doesn’t say that. He assigns blame where blame is due. He blames his troubles on his enemies—his human oppressors—not on the LORD. By way of contrast, David has nothing but praise for the LORD. He declares, “Sing the praises of the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.”

If the source of your affliction is human, why are you blaming God for it? We need to always keep this statement in mind. The LORD is known by his acts of justice. In this life we may not always see His justice prevail, but rest assured on that great final Day, He will prevail. Ultimately, His justice will be seen and known by all.

In times of trouble God is our source of help and strength. Human help may fail us. Friends may let us down. We can wrongly blame the LORD for our troubles, or we can run to Him for help. In all our troubles, we must keep this promise in mind: God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

Response: LORD, in times of trouble, you are my help. I lay my troubles and my requests before you. I wait expectantly for you. I praise you for your goodness to me even in difficult times. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you been blaming God rather than thanking Him? Take some time to praise Him.

When I am Old and Gray

14 Sunday May 2017

Posted by in Psalm 71, Psalms

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I will praise Him!

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Light shines on the path of life — photo by David Kitz

As for me, I will always have hope;
    I will praise you more and more.

My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
    of your saving acts all day long—
    though I know not how to relate them all.
I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign LORD;
    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
Even when I am old and gray,
    do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
    your mighty acts to all who are to come.

(Psalm 71:14-18, NIV)

My Hope and Confidence

13 Saturday May 2017

Posted by in Psalm 71, Psalms

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I will praise Him!

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Moss covered branches — photo by David Kitz

For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD,
    my confidence since my youth.
From birth I have relied on you;
    you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
    I will ever praise you.
I have become a sign to many;
    you are my strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with your praise,
    declaring your splendor all day long.

(Psalm 71:5-8, NIV)

The Temporary Life

03 Wednesday May 2017

Posted by in Psalm 146, Psalms

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Reading:                                          Psalm 146

(Verses 1-5)
Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD, my soul.
I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Do not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God (NIV).

Reflection

Last week I had a delightful telephone conversation with my mom. She was pleased to report that her last and final round of cataract surgery had gone very well. Her vision has greatly improved. Speaking of her follow-up exam, she said, “The most excited person in the room was the doctor. He was thrilled that the surgery turned out so well. I was the oldest patient he had ever operated on.”

Bike Ride 2015-07-28

Around the bend in the trail — photo by David Kitz

My mom is ninety-four, but she doesn’t let a minor thing like that slow her down. After all, age is just a number. She still keeps a busy schedule and out works many women half her age. Who else but my mother would annually sew a hundred quilts and donate them to Lutheran World Relief?

But she knows, just as we all know that her life here on this earth will come to an end. We best make the most of it while we have this precious gift. Time marches on, and time will eventually march us off to the grave as surely as the sun will rise tomorrow on a new day.

In today’s reading from Psalm 146, the psalmist makes a lifelong commitment. He commits himself to praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, my soul. I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

This is not an insignificant commitment. We were made to worship and we all do it, even the atheists among us. Some worship their money; others worship the pleasures of this world. Perhaps the greatest god of the current age is the god of self. Monuments to personal vanity have been erected all around us. I have been known to set up a few of these myself.

Genuine praise for the LORD tears down personal idols. It establishes His lordship over our lives. It acknowledges that He is in control. I have so little power. I can’t turn a white hair to black, at least not in the true sense. But the LORD knows the number of hair on my head and the number of my days. Ultimately, my life is in His hands. My life here is temporary. That’s why I need to put my hope and my trust in God—the eternal One. The psalmist’s words ring true. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God. And that blessing holds true for ninety-four-year-olds too.

Response: LORD God, I thank and praise you for the gift of life. You are worthy of worship. I commit to worshipping you every day for the rest of my life. Thank you for eternal life through Jesus. Amen.

Your Turn: Will you praise the LORD for all of your life? Are you ready to make that commitment?

Flourishing in the House of God

19 Sunday Mar 2017

Posted by in Psalms, Sunday's Psalm

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I will praise Him!

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Flourishing in God’s House, Grey Nuns Park — photo by David Kitz

But I am like an olive tree
    flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love
    for ever and ever.
For what you have done I will always praise you
    in the presence of your faithful people.
And I will hope in your name,
    for your name is good.

(Psalm 52:8-9, NIV)

Remembering Miracles

18 Monday Apr 2016

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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Our LORD, I will remember the things you have done, your miracles of long ago (Psalm 77:11, CEV).

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Shine in me – photo courtesy of Donald Adam

Reflection

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

I am by nature a skeptic. Faith does not come to me easily; I struggle with it. I am the sort of person who demands proof. Thomas, the doubter, and I are good friends. But when miracles happen, they grab my attention. When they happen to me personally, I am all ears, so today’s verse from the Psalms has special meaning for me.

Our LORD, I will remember the things you have done, your miracles of long ago (Psalm 77:11, CEV).

For seven years as a young man I suffered from chronic pain in my left knee. I had arthroscopic surgery, cortisone shots, and extensive physiotherapy. I frequently asked for prayer. Nothing brought lasting relief. Then at an all-night prayer meeting something happened. I went home with a sore knee but when I awoke the next morning I was completely pain free. It was miraculous–physically and spiritually transformational.

God’s miracles are worth remembering. They instill hope for today and faith for the future.

Response: LORD God, thank you for your past interventions in my life. They have brought me close to you. As I recall those times fill me with faith in you for today. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you experienced a miracle in your life?

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?