Are You Wholehearted?

16 Friday Feb 2018

Posted by davidkitz in Bible, Devotionals, Psalms

≈ 7 Comments

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all nations, David, Grey Nuns Park, Jesus, Lord, praise, prayer of David, Savior, undivided heart, wholehearted, worship

Reading: Psalm 86

(Verses 8-13)
Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.
Teach me your way, LORD,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths,
from the realm of the dead (NIV).

Reflection
Today’s reading from Psalm 86 begins with this prophetic declaration. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.

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Night view, Grey Nuns Park, Orleans, Ontario — photo by David Kitz

Psalm 86 is a prayer of David, but within this prayer David makes this prophetic statement about all nations worshipping the Lord. By the Spirit of God, David saw and declared what is to come. In the pantheistic world of his time, David saw that the God he served was not a local or national god. He saw that Yahweh, the LORD was, is and will be the Lord over all. How could David know that the God of Israel would come to be worshipped in every nation on the earth?

David grasped the big picture. Or a better explanation might be that the God of the big picture grasped David and revealed this truth to him. Through David’s line would come a Savior—a Savior named Jesus—a Jewish Savior for the whole world.

Why was David able to receive such a profound revelation? We are given a clue in the words of his prayer. Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

The answer may lie in David’s heart. He had an undivided heart. In other words he was wholehearted in his love for the Lord. He had a single-minded focus on God. He says just that in the next line of his prayer. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.

Are you wholehearted in your love and praise for the Lord?

Response: LORD God, unite my heart to praise your name. I don’t want to be distracted by the pursuits of this world. I set my affection on you. Thank you for loving me as your child. Amen.

Your Turn: What are some of the things that distract you from loving and fearing God?

No Fear of Bad News

11 Sunday Feb 2018

Posted by davidkitz in Bible, Psalm 112, Psalms

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

bad news, gifts, honor, praise, righteous, secure, steadfast, the LORD, triumph, trust in God

I will praise Him!

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Photo courtesy of Liz Kranz

Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
    they will be remembered forever.
They will have no fear of bad news;
    their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
    in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
    their righteousness endures forever;
    their horn will be lifted high in honor.

(Psalm 112:6-9, NIV)

Light Dawns for the Upright

10 Saturday Feb 2018

Posted by davidkitz in Bible, Psalm 112, Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

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blessed, children, darkness, fearing God, generations, generosity, Grey Nuns Park, justice, Light, Orleans, praise, the LORD

I will praise Him!

2018-02-03a

Light dawns for the upright — Grey Nuns Park, Orleans, ON — photo by David Kitz

Praise the LORD.

Blessed are those who fear the LORD,
who find great delight in his commands.

Their children will be mighty in the land;
    the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their houses,
    and their righteousness endures forever.
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
    for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
    who conduct their affairs with justice.

(Psalm 112:1-5, NIV)

Holy and Awesome

04 Sunday Feb 2018

Posted by davidkitz in Bible, Psalm 111, Psalms

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

covenant, fear of God, holy, Ottawa, praise, redemption, Rideau Canal, the LORD, trustworthy, wisdom

I will praise Him!

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Skaters on the Rideau Canal, Ottawa, ON, Canada — photo by David Kitz

He has shown his people the power of his works,
    giving them the lands of other nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
    all his precepts are trustworthy.
They are established for ever and ever,
    enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
He provided redemption for his people;
    he ordained his covenant forever—
    holy and awesome is his name.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.

(Psalm 111:6-10, NIV)

Glorious and Majestic

03 Saturday Feb 2018

Posted by davidkitz in Bible, Psalm 111, Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

compassionate, covenant, fearing God, glorious, gracious, praise, praising God, Righteousness, the LORD

I will praise Him!

IMG_20180126_153549_hdr[2313]

Winter sun, Grey Nuns Park, Orleans, ON

Praise the LORD.

I will extol the LORD with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

Great are the works of the LORD;
    they are pondered by all who delight in them.
Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
    and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
    the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
He provides food for those who fear him;
    he remembers his covenant forever.

(Psalm 111:1-5, NIV)

Help me, LORD

27 Saturday Jan 2018

Posted by davidkitz in Bible, Psalm 109, Psalms

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

accuser, praise, rejoice, the LORD, unfailing love, worshipers

I will praise Him!

Bamboo 1 2015-05-19 (3)

Bamboo grove, Kamakura, Japan

Help me, LORD my God;
    save me according to your unfailing love.
Let them know that it is your hand,
    that you, LORD, have done it.
While they curse, may you bless;
    may those who attack me be put to shame,
    but may your servant rejoice.
May my accusers be clothed with disgrace
    and wrapped in shame as in a cloak.

With my mouth I will greatly extol the LORD;
in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him.
For he stands at the right hand of the needy,
to save their lives from those who would condemn them.

(Psalm 109:26-31, NIV)

Awakening the Dawn

21 Sunday Jan 2018

Posted by davidkitz in Bible, Psalm 108, Psalms

≈ 1 Comment

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dawn, music, praise, praising God, sing, the heavens, the LORD

I will praise Him!

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The Wonders of God — photo courtesy of Liz Kranz

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)

Some Went Out on the Sea

14 Sunday Jan 2018

Posted by davidkitz in Bible, Psalm 107, Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

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courage, praise, sea, storm, the LORD, trouble, unfailing love

I will praise Him!

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Crashing waves, Lake Ontario – photo courtesy of Eric E. Wright

Some went out on the sea in ships;
    they were merchants on the mighty waters.
They saw the works of the LORD,
    his wonderful deeds in the deep.
For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
    that lifted high the waves.
They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
    in their peril their courage melted away.
They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
    they were at their wits’ end.
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
    and he brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
    the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
    and he guided them to their desired haven.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
    and praise him in the council of the elders.

(Psalm 107:23-32, NIV)

He Sent out His Word

13 Saturday Jan 2018

Posted by davidkitz in Bible, Psalm 107, Psalms

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

death, God's kindness, healing, praise, rebellious ways, sacrifice, Suffering, thanks, thanksgiving, the LORD, trouble

I will praise Him!

2017-06-04e

Quiet waters, Petrie Island, Orleans, ON — photo by David Kitz

Some became fools through their rebellious ways
    and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
They loathed all food
    and drew near the gates of death.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them;
    he rescued them from the grave.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
Let them sacrifice thank offerings
    and tell of his works with songs of joy.

(Psalm 107:17-22, NIV)

Some Sat in Darkness

07 Sunday Jan 2018

Posted by davidkitz in Bible, Psalm 107, Psalms

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

God saves, God's commands, God's goodness, praise, prisoners, rebellion, the LORD, trouble

I will praise Him!

2017-09-02

Splendor and majesty are before Him — photo by David Kitz

Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
    prisoners suffering in iron chains,
because they rebelled against God’s commands
    and despised the plans of the Most High.
So he subjected them to bitter labor;
    they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
    and broke away their chains.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
for he breaks down gates of bronze
    and cuts through bars of iron.

(Psalm 107:10-16, NIV)