Escaping a Downward Spiral

20 Thursday Jun 2024

Tags

David, difficulties, faithfulness of God, God, Goodness of God, hard times, praise, Prayer, problems, Psalms, salvation, the LORD, trust in God

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365

Reading: Psalm 13
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the LORD’s praise,
for he has been good to me (NIV). *

grayscale photo of man leaning on refrigerator

Photo by Aleksandr Neplokhov on Pexels.com

Reflection
Have you hit a low point in your life? Are you facing a personal downturn when nothing seems to go right? Problems may arise whether it’s in your career, your finances, your family, or your relations with others. Often difficulty in one area leads to difficulty in other aspects of life. It may seem circumstances are conspiring to bring you down. Are you caught in a downward spiral?

David begins this psalm in such a state. His life and career appear to be in a death spiral. He pleads with God, “Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.”

We can learn a lot from David’s response to hard times. First, he brought his problems before God. He poured out his frustration, and in desperation he called out to the LORD for help. He didn’t pretend everything was fine, when clearly, they were not. Call out to God in times of trouble.

Secondly, David asked for the light of God to shine into his situation. “Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death…” When we are going through a dark time often, we can’t see our way out. Many times, the solution is right in front of our eyes, but we can’t see it. We need God to illumine our path. There is a way forward. We need Him to show us. Open your eyes to God’s solution.

Finally, David trusted in the unfailing love of God. He rejoiced in God’s salvation. God is in the rescue business. The solution had yet to arrive, but in advance David sang his praise to God. David reflected on the goodness of God. The LORD had been good and faithful in the past. David knew God would show him His goodness once again. Trust and praise God in advance.

Response: LORD God, thank you that I can call out to you in times of trouble. Show me the way forward. Open my eyes to the help you are providing and will provide. I trust and thank and praise you in advance. Amen.

Your Turn: Has God rescued you in difficult times in the past? Trust Him to do the same now and in the future.

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, 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.

A gripping summer read from David Kitz
4485 SHARABLE-2

To purchase or for a closer look click here.

The LORD Rescued Me

18 Tuesday Jun 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

attack, devotional, faith, God, grace, Jesus, lion, Philistines, Prayer, Psalms, rescue, the LORD

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
by David Kitz.

Reading: Psalm 11

LORD God,
you are my refuge.
Help me to stand my ground
when my faith is under attack
and help other believers to do the same
by the grace of Jesus.
Our faith rests on you, Lord.
Amen.

— — —

Saul replied,
“You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him;
you are only a young man,
and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

But David said to Saul,
“Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep.
When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep
from the flock,
I went after it,
struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth.
When it turned on me,
I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.
Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear;
this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them,
because he has defied the armies of the living God.
The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion
and the paw of the bear
will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Saul said to David,
“Go, and the LORD be with you.”

(1 Samuel 17:33-37), NIV)*

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, and Ukraine!

New from David Kitz
TheElishaCodeCVR5

To purchase or for a closer look click here.

Every Spiritual Blessing

17 Monday Jun 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 10, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

blameless, blessing, conception, creation, Father God, grace of God, Jesus Christ, praise, Prayer, Psalms

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
by David Kitz.

Reading: Psalm 10:12-18

Father God,
father me.
Thank you for caring for me
from the moment of conception until now.
Your abiding love has made
all the difference in my life.
Help me become the father (or mother),
I need to be.
Amen.

— — —

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in the heavenly realms
with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
For he chose us in him
before the creation of the world
to be holy and blameless in his sight.
In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship
through Jesus Christ,
in accordance with his pleasure and will—
to the praise of his glorious grace,
which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
(Ephesians 1:3-6), NIV)*

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

* GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

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

New from David Kitz
TheElishaCodeCVR5

To purchase or for a closer look click here.

You Uphold Me

16 Sunday Jun 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 41, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

enemy, God, Israel, mercy of God, praise, praise the LORD, Prayer, the LORD, triumph

I will praise the LORD!

Buttercups — photo by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 41:7-13

All my enemies whisper together against me;
    they imagine the worst for me, saying,
“A vile disease has afflicted him;
    he will never get up from the place where he lies.”
Even my close friend,
    someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
    has turned against me.
But may you have mercy on me, LORD;
    raise me up, that I may repay them.
I know that you are pleased with me,
    for my enemy does not triumph over me.
Because of my integrity you uphold me
and set me in your presence forever.
Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen. *

Happy Father’s Day!

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, and Ukraine!

B1P95Jv-LtS._SY300_

The Blessed in the Land

15 Saturday Jun 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 41

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

God's deliverance, God's protection, illness, praise the LORD, Prayer, Psalms, restore, the LORD, the weak

I will praise the LORD!

Photo by Jacub Gomez on Pexels.com

Reading: Psalm 41:1-3

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. *

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, and Ukraine!

B1P95Jv-LtS._SY300_

In the Back of the Boat

14 Friday Jun 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 10, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Bible, disciples, faith, Father God, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Lord Jesus, master, Prayer, salvation

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
by David Kitz.

Reading: Psalm 10:5-11

Father God,
infuse my life with the joy of salvation.
Lord Jesus,
you are the Lord and Master
of the universe.
Even the wind and the waves obey you.
I want to obey you too.
Holy Spirit,
blow into my life
and fill me with your presence today.
Amen.

— — —

Suddenly a strong wind blew up,
and the waves began to spill over into the boat,
so that it was about to fill with water. Jesus was in the back of the boat,
sleeping with his head on a pillow.
The disciples woke him up and said,
“Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?”

Jesus stood up and commanded the wind,
“Be quiet!”
and he said to the waves,
“Be still!”
The wind died down,
and there was a great calm.Then Jesus said to his disciples,
“Why are you frightened? Do you still have no faith?”
(Mark 4:37-40), GNT)*

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

* GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

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

New from David Kitz
TheElishaCodeCVR5

To purchase or for a closer look click here.

When God Is Removed

14 Friday Jun 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 10, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

devotion, forgiveness, God, Jesus, lies, Prayer, pride, self-deception, selfishness, threats, truth

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365

Reading: Psalm 10:5-11
His ways are always prosperous;
your laws are rejected by him;
he sneers at all his enemies.
He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.”
He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.”
His mouth is full of lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.
He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent.
His eyes watch in secret for his victims;
like a lion in cover he lies in wait.
He lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.
He says to himself, “God will never notice;
he covers his face and never sees” (NIV). *

Petrie Island reflections — photo by David Kitz

Reflection
Yesterday’s reading from Psalm 10 was an introduction to the man who has no room for God in his life. The psalmist states, “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”

Today’s reading continues to describe in disturbing detail, the thoughts, deeds, and attitudes of the heart of such a person. He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.” He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.” His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.

Nature abhors a vacuum. All manner of things will rush in to fill an empty space. When God is removed from His rightful place as the Master of our life, selfishness and pride rise to the top. If Jesus isn’t the Lord of my life, then my selfish nature will rise to the occasion. But when my selfish nature rules, all manner of sin follows. Worst of all self-deception follows. We deceive ourselves into believing a lie.

The psalmist states: He says to himself, “God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees”

Of course, God does see. Our pride and ignorance are on full display before Him. Jesus has these words to say about this topic. “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken” (Matthew 12:36).

I have spoken more than a few empty words. How about you? The simple truth is I need a Lord and Master like Jesus to help me govern my life. I also need his love and forgiveness when I slip up.

Response: Lord Jesus, you are the Lord and Master of the universe. Even the wind and the waves obey you. I want to obey you too. Holy Spirit, blow into my life and fill me with your presence today. Amen.

Your Turn: What fills the vacuum in your life? Take some time to let Jesus fill that empty spot today.

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, and Ukraine!

A gripping summer read from David Kitz
4485 SHARABLE-2

To purchase or for a closer look click here.

My Peace I Give You

13 Thursday Jun 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 10, Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

God the Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus, peace, Prayer, Psalms, the peace of Christ, troubled

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
by David Kitz.

Reading: Psalm 10:1-4

Lord Jesus,
I seek after you.
Open my eyes to see you at work today.
You are not distant from me
in time or space.
Show up in my world today.
I wait expectantly for you.
Amen.

— — —

“All this I have spoken while still with you.
But the Advocate,
the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you all things
and will remind you of everything
I have said to you.
Peace I leave with you;
my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid.
(John 14:25-27), NIV)*

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

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

New from David Kitz
TheElishaCodeCVR5

To purchase or for a closer look click here.

God Seekers

13 Thursday Jun 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Bethlehem, Christmas, God, God seekers, greed, Jesus, Prayer, Savior, season, the LORD

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365

Reading: Psalm 10:1-4
Why, LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God (NIV). *
Psalm 105_8

Reflection
As I write these thoughts on Psalm 10, outside my window snow is drifting down and appropriate or not, my mind returns to our annual rendezvous with Christmas. Ah, Christmas! I love the significance of the season—time spent with family and thoughts of a babe in a manger.

But for many, the celebration of Christ’s birth has become a mangled wreck—a gross distortion. For millions of people, this commercial bonanza is completely devoid of any spiritual meaning. It is nothing more than a buying and selling frenzy—a pursuit of trinkets signifying nothing—nothing of eternal value.

In this psalm we see the deceptive signs—the misdirected signs of that season. Through clever advertising and marketing schemes we too were hunted down by the top-level merchandisers of this world. Perhaps you were caught in the schemes they devised. Rather than being a season where we seek the LORD, we too can fall into a trap. We can find ourselves boasting about the cravings of our heart. As the Psalmist says, we bless the greedy and in so doing, we revile the LORD.

The words of the Psalmist ring true, “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”

No room for God… in today’s world? In a perverse way it seems rather appropriate. There was no room for God in Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born. No room for God… no room for the Maker and Savior of the universe! That sounds insane, but then it seems we live in a world gone mad.

For you and me, it doesn’t have to be that way. While there was no room for God incarnate in Bethlehem, the magi were busy seeking Him. They were hungry to know more about this Redeemer of Israel and they crossed deserts to reach Him. They came to bow down and worship that baby in a manger.

Regardless of the season, or the season of our lives, you and I can set our hearts to be God seekers. In what remains of this year, let’s set our hearts to seek after the LORD.

Response: Jesus, I seek after you. Open my eyes to see you at work today. You are not distant from me in time or space. Show up in my world today. I wait expectantly for you. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you seen Jesus in others? How can you seek God throughout the week? What would seeking God look like for you?

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

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

New from David Kitz
TheElishaCodeCVR5

To purchase or for a closer look click here.

Hope Will Never Perish

12 Wednesday Jun 2024

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 9, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

blessing, children, difficulties, generous, God's help, praise, Prayer, the LORD, the needy, the righteous, troubles

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
by David Kitz.

Reading: Psalm 9:11-20

Heavenly Father,
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.

— — —

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.

(Psalm 37:23-26), NIV)*

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

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

New from David Kitz
TheElishaCodeCVR5

To purchase or for a closer look click here.

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365

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

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

Today’s quote and prayer from “Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer” by David Kitz.

Reading: Psalm 11

LORD God, you are my refuge. Help me to stand my ground when my faith is under attack and help other believers to do the same by the grace of Jesus. Our faith rests on you, Lord. Amen.

Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.”

(1 Samuel 17:33-37), NIV)*

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

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

Today’s quote and prayer from“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”by David Kitz.

Reading: Psalm 10:12-18

Father God,father me.Thank you for caring for mefrom the moment of conception until now.Your abiding love has madeall the difference in my life.Help me become the father (or mother),I need to be.Amen.

* GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

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

I will praise the LORD!

Reading: Psalm 41:7-13

Happy Father’s Day!

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

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

I will praise the LORD!

Reading: Psalm 41:1-3

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

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

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

Today’s quote and prayer from “Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer” by David Kitz.

Reading: Psalm 10:5-11

Father God, infuse my life with the joy of salvation. Lord Jesus, you are the Lord and Master of the universe. Even the wind and the waves obey you. I want to obey you too. Holy Spirit, blow into my life and fill me with your presence today. Amen.

* GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

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

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365

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

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

Today’s quote and prayer from “Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer” by David Kitz.

Reading: Psalm 10:1-4

Lord Jesus, I seek after you. Open my eyes to see you at work today. You are not distant from me in time or space. Show up in my world today. I wait expectantly for you. Amen.

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

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

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365

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

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

Today’s quote and prayer from “Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer” by David Kitz.

Reading: Psalm 9:11-20

Heavenly Father, 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.

(Psalm 37:23-26), NIV)*

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

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

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
by David Kitz.

LORD God,
you are my refuge.
Help me to stand my ground
when my faith is under attack
and help other believers to do the same
by the grace of Jesus.
Our faith rests on you, Lord.
Amen.

Saul said to David,
“Go, and the LORD be with you.”

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
by David Kitz.

Father God,
father me.
Thank you for caring for me
from the moment of conception until now.
Your abiding love has made
all the difference in my life.
Help me become the father (or mother),
I need to be.
Amen.

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
by David Kitz.

Father God,
infuse my life with the joy of salvation.
Lord Jesus,
you are the Lord and Master
of the universe.
Even the wind and the waves obey you.
I want to obey you too.
Holy Spirit,
blow into my life
and fill me with your presence today.
Amen.

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
by David Kitz.

Lord Jesus,
I seek after you.
Open my eyes to see you at work today.
You are not distant from me
in time or space.
Show up in my world today.
I wait expectantly for you.
Amen.

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
by David Kitz.

Heavenly Father,
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.