Tag Archives: power

Powerful Hands

04 Friday Mar 2016

Posted by in Friday's Focus, Psalms

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Rescue the weak and homeless from the powerful hands of heartless people (Psalm 82:4, CEV).

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Image courtesy of alex_ugalek at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Reflection

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

Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us that some humans have powerful hands.

Rescue the weak and homeless from the powerful hands of heartless people (Psalm 82:4, CEV).

We are not powerless though the world and the devil would like us to believe that we can’t change anything. The truth is when we work with the Lord, we have tremendous power.

When more than 5,000 hungry people gathered to hear Jesus, he told his disciples, “You give them something to eat” (Matthew 14:16). And that’s exactly what they did. Jesus did the miracle, but their hands distributed the bread and fish.

God does not work alone. He chooses to work through people. Today you can be the hands of Jesus at work in the world.

Response: LORD God, thank you for the opportunity to work with you today. I want to use my hands to work powerfully for you. Amen.

Your Turn: Has God worked through your hands recently?

Power with Purpose

03 Thursday Mar 2016

Posted by in Psalms, Thursday's Thought

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I will praise you, LORD God, for your mighty deeds and your power to save (Psalm 71:16, CEV).

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Power to Save – photo courtesy of Donald Adam

Reflection

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

What is power without a purpose? I’m reminded of a young buck revving his engine, so he can pop the clutch, spin his tires and squeal off in a blaze of glory, dust, and bravado. There’s really not much purpose in it, unless I suppose it’s to impress.

At times God will display His power, but unlike the young buck showing off his hot car, the LORD has a meaningful purpose in His display of power. His purpose is our salvation.

I will praise you, LORD God, for your mighty deeds and your power to save (Psalm 71:16, CEV).

In the Old Testament, in a grand display of miraculous power, the LORD rescued his people from slavery in Egypt. Israel was saved by God’s power.

In the New Testament in a grand display of miraculous power, the LORD raised Jesus from the dead, and in doing this He defeated death, our age-old enemy. Jesus rescued us from slavery to sin. Praise God! His power has purpose.

Response: LORD God, I praise you for the grand rescue mission you sent your Son to accomplish. Thank you for resurrection morning and your power to save me. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you appreciate God’s power to save?

Mighty Power

01 Tuesday Mar 2016

Posted by in Psalms

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You are strong, and your mighty power put the mountains in place (Psalm 65:6, CEV).

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Misty Mountains – photo courtesy of Donald Adam

Reflection

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

Nothing speaks to me about God’s power like mountains. Maybe it’s because I grew up on the Canadian prairies, and I didn’t see any mountains until I was eighteen. When seen for the first time, the grandeur of the Canadian Rockies is simply breathtaking.

That feeling of awe is likely what led the psalmist to write these words: You are strong, and your mighty power put the mountains in place (Psalm 65:6, CEV).

We know one thing with certainty. God can move mountains. Their existence declares his power. But I also know God can move the personal mountains that I face in my life. Jesus said, “If you have faith in God and don’t doubt, you can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will” (Mark 11:23).

What about you? Are there mountains you would like to see moved?

Response: LORD God, you are the strong One—the mountain mover. Move the mountain in my life that keeps me from being close to you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Your Turn: What mountain would you like God to move?

Powerful Defence

29 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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Some people trust the power of chariots or horses, but we trust you, LORD God (Psalm 20:7, CEV).

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Galloping Horses – Image courtesy of Tina Phillips at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Reflection

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

I don’t have much trust in chariots and horses. For me horses are animals of beauty and entertainment. But then I don’t live in the Bronze Age, when horses and chariots were indicators of military might.

Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us that a nation’s defenses are more than just a matter of having a powerful military. Some people trust the power of chariots or horses,
but we trust you, LORD God (Psalm 20:7, CEV).

Tanks, bombs and fighter planes are not the first line of defense for any nation. The first line of defense is integrity, honesty and morality rooted in our faith in the LORD God, our Creator. When those defenses are undermined in the population, trouble and national decline are sure to follow.

Our God is more powerful than any army. My best defense is aligning my life with Him.

Response: LORD God, I put my trust in you. Help me to live a life of honesty and integrity. Be the defender of my nation. Holy Spirit, be at work among the people. Amen.

Your Turn: Why do you think nations go into decline?

Glory in the Place of Worship

25 Thursday Feb 2016

Posted by in Psalms, Thursday's Thought

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I have seen your power and your glory in the place of worship (Psalm 63:2, CEV).

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Ottawa Cathedral – photo by David Kitz

Reflection

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

This is David’s heartfelt statement of fact, “I have seen your power and your glory in the place of worship” (Psalm 63:2, CEV).

I stand in full agreement with David’s profession. I too can say I have seen God’s power and glory in the place of worship. I have seen God visibly at work in the lives of his people as they gather for worship. I have sensed his presence with me at church.

The great pity is that there are many who have not encountered God–truly experienced His power and glory in the place of worship. Transformation occurs when we show up and the LORD shows up. It’s His power and His glory that change us, not a hymn or a sermon, though those have their place. But they fall flat unless we meet God in them.

Our prayer should always be to have our eyes opened to the glory of God in the place of worship.

Response: LORD God, open my eyes to you. I want to see you. I want others to see you. I need to be changed by your presence in my life and my place of worship. Amen.

Your Turn: Is there something you do that makes you more aware of God?

Receiving the Desires of Your Heart

02 Tuesday Sep 2014

Posted by in Psalms

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Reading:                                     Psalm 37

Of David

(Verses 1-6)

Do not fret because of those who are evil     

or be envious of those who do wrong;

for like the grass they will soon wither,     

like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the LORD and do good;     

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Take delight in the LORD,     

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD;     

trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,     

your vindication like the noonday sun. (NIV)

 Reflection

What are the desires of your heart? What do you want more than anything else? Wealth? Fame? Power and influence? Is this what you want? We all have desires. Some are noble some are not. How we manage and direct our desires fundamentally determines the direction of our lives.

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Here in Psalm 37, David compares and contrasts the life of the evil person with the life of the individual who does right in God’s eyes. The differences are stark; this is a night and day comparison. But at its core, everything in life centers on the desires of our heart and how we handle them.

There is a promise embedded in this psalm: Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. It’s a promise that is well worth pondering.

Will the LORD grant us our desires if our desires are evil? Most certainly not! In Psalm 34 we read, “The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth” (Psalm 34:16).

God’s promises are conditional. There is something required of us before the promise can take effect. In this case we are to “Take delight in the LORD.” What does that really mean?

If I take delight in someone, my wife for example, I enjoy being around her. It’s a delight to spend time with her. I take pleasure in the sound of her voice. I pay careful attention to her wishes and desires. Ah, there’s that word again, desires. If I take delight in the LORD, then my desires will align themselves with the LORD’s desires. I’ll be concerned about what He wants. My selfish desires will be tempered by my love for Him. He in turn will grant the desires of my heart because I love Him and want the best for Him and His eternal Kingdom.

It’s easy to get the desires of your heart, if your desires are His desires.

Response: LORD God, help me to delight myself in you. May I love what you love. Help me to recognize when my desires are right and wholesome, and when they are misdirected. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Your Turn: How do you keep your desires in check and in line with God?