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The Ruins, Mackenzie King Estate, Gatineau Park, QC — photo by David Kitz
He will spread his wings
10 Sunday Jul 2016
Posted in Psalms, Sunday's Psalm
Tag Archives: the LORD
Receiving the Land
07 Thursday Jul 2016
Posted in Psalms, Thursday's Thought
Tags
You will show the right path to all who worship you. They will have plenty, and then their children will receive the land (Psalm 25:12-13, CEV).
Tulip beds, Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is land.
Are you waiting for your inheritance? Actually, as sons and daughters of the King, we have an eternal inheritance that will be coming our way. We have a promised land that is ours to possess. Today’s verse from the Psalms is a direct promise from the LORD:
You will show the right path to all who worship you. They will have plenty, and then their children will receive the land (Psalm 25:12-13, CEV).
Old Testament Israel was promised a land flowing with milk and honey—a rich inheritance. But there are conditions attached to receiving the promises of God. Israel did not simply waltz in and possess the land they were promised. They had to fight for it. Yes, the LORD fought with them, but in return He expected their love, obedience and worship.
The same principles apply to believers today. The LORD will show the right path to all who worship Him. The LORD may show us the right path, but we must be willing to take it—to walk down that path—His chosen path for our lives.
Response: LORD God, show me the right path. I worship you with my whole heart. Give me a willing heart to enter into your promises that come through a life of love, faith and humble obedience. Amen.
Your Turn: Are you entering into your inheritance?
Not Strength and Weapons
06 Wednesday Jul 2016
Posted in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms
Their strength and weapons were not what won the land and gave them victory! You loved them and fought with your powerful arm and your shining glory (Psalm 44:3, CEV).
Daffodil path, Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is land.
What is the secret to victory in war? In modern warfare often the answer boils down to superior weapons. Superior weapons are the product of superior technology, so whoever has the best technology can be assured of victory. Right?
Don’t count on it. In the final years of the Second World War, Germany had developed fighter jets that were far superior to the turboprops the allies were flying. Similarly, German guided missiles were raining destruction down onto London. But despite these superior weapons, Germany lost the war.
Apparently, according to today’s verse from the Psalms, when it comes to war, God has the final say on who wins.
Their strength and weapons were not what won the land and gave them victory! You loved them and fought with your powerful arm and your shining glory (Psalm 44:3, CEV).
The secret to victory in war is knowing who is on your side. If the LORD is on your side, the path to victory is certain. The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name (Exodus 15:3, NIV).
Response: LORD God, in the spiritual warfare that I face daily, I desperately need you on my side. You are my strength against powerful spiritual enemies. But with you my victory is assured. Amen.
Your Turn: Have you enlisted the Lord to fight for you or are you fighting with him?
Your Heart’s Desire
04 Monday Jul 2016
Posted in Monday Meditation, Psalms
Trust the LORD and live right!
The land will be yours, and you will be safe.
Do what the LORD wants,
and he will give you your heart’s desire (Psalm 37:3-4, CEV).
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is land.
Are you thankful for the land in which you live? I certainly am. On almost every measurement of prosperity, security, freedom and human development, Canada ranks at the top among the nations of the world. We have a great deal to be thankful for.
But to whom should we be giving thanks? Yes, we can be thankful for those who have gone before us, who built this great land through hard work and sacrifice. They forged partnerships with welcoming hearts that brought the prosperity and success that we now enjoy.
But ultimately, our freedom, security and prosperity come from the LORD. Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us of this truth.
Trust the LORD and live right! The land will be yours, and you will be safe. Do what the LORD wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire (Psalm 37:3-4, CEV).
Ancient Israel enjoyed freedom and security when the people of the land trusted in God and lived right. The ways of LORD have not changed. If we want to continue to enjoy His blessings, we need to do what He wants and not merely pursue our selfish desires.
Response: LORD God, I thank you for my home and native land. Help the people of this great land turn their hearts toward you. God keep our land glorious and free. Amen.
Your Turn: Are you thankful for the land in which you live?
With all my heart
03 Sunday Jul 2016
Posted in Psalms, Sunday's Psalm
Come and Praise your LORD!
02 Saturday Jul 2016
Posted in Psalms, Saturday's Psalm
Yet He Was Merciful
01 Friday Jul 2016
Reading: Psalm 78
Verses 32-39
In spite of all this, they kept on sinning;
in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.
So he ended their days in futility
and their years in terror.
Whenever God slew them, they would seek him;
they eagerly turned to him again.
They remembered that God was their Rock,
that God Most High was their Redeemer.
But then they would flatter him with their mouths,
lying to him with their tongues;
their hearts were not loyal to him,
they were not faithful to his covenant.
Yet he was merciful;
he forgave their iniquities
and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger
and did not stir up his full wrath.
He remembered that they were but flesh,
a passing breeze that does not return (NIV).
Reflection
Psalm 78 is a lengthy indictment against the people of Israel for their unfaithfulness to the LORD. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that these were the people of God—His chosen people—yet they responded with lies, unbelief and disloyalty. If this is how the people of God conduct themselves, what are we to expect from those who do not know the LORD?
Autumn in Central Park, New York, NY — photo by David Kitz
Unfortunately, the people of God today are not so different from the people of Israel 3,000 years ago. When we look about the church world, we see a plenty of division, backbiting and sin. All too often hate rules instead of love. We cover ourselves with a fig leaf of self-righteousness and then proceed to attack those who fail to meet our standard. We do all this while we are trapped in our own secret web of sin. We are determined to clean up the world while ignoring our personal pile of filth.
The words of Jesus from his Sermon on the Mount still ring true today, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:4-5).
But given this deplorable state of affairs, what does the LORD do? The psalmist states, “Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them.” Like the people of ancient Israel, we are saved not because of our righteousness, but solely because of God’s mercy and grace.
Response: LORD God, I cannot boast because of my righteousness. You know all my shortcomings. I have an impressive pile of personal sin. Forgive me through the mercy of your son, Jesus. Amen.
Your Turn: Have you been guilty of pointing out the faults of others while ignoring your own?
Bowing before Royalty
27 Monday Jun 2016
Posted in Monday Meditation, Psalms
Because of your great mercy, I come to your house, LORD, and I am filled with wonder as I bow down to worship at your holy temple (Psalm 5:7, CEV).
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is bowing.
When was the last time you bowed? I don’t mean a slight nod of the head; I mean a deep reverential bow. There’s not much bowing done in western societies unlike in Japan. After living there for a time, bowing became second nature for me. I even remember bowing to other drivers at four-way stops.
I recently saw a picture of ladies curtsying as Queen Elizabeth II passed by on the occasion of her ninetieth birthday celebration. Bending the knee or bowing the head are signs of submission, respect and willingness to serve.
Are we willing to submit and serve the great King? King David was not too great to bow before the LORD. We read of his willing submission in Psalm 5.
Because of your great mercy, I come to your house, LORD, and I am filled with wonder as I bow down to worship at your holy temple (Psalm 5:7, CEV).
Consider this. We have the privilege to serve the LORD our King today.
Response: LORD God, I bow before you. I am your servant. Give me ears that hear you calling. Give me a willing heart to serve. You are my eternal King. Amen.
Your Turn: Do you enjoy serving or being served?
He Keeps His Promises
25 Saturday Jun 2016
Posted in Psalms, Saturday's Psalm
Ownership
22 Wednesday Jun 2016
Posted in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms
Tags
belonging, created, Creator, Gatineau Park, gender, God, Ottawa River, sexuality, the LORD
You know the LORD is God! He created us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture (Psalm 100:3, CEV).
The Ottawa River Valley as seen from the Gatineau Park Escarpment — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is creation.
So many of the divisive issues that convulse our society have a deeper root. Whether it is issues around gender and sexuality, or race and ethnicity, scratch below the surface and you soon discover the foundational issue. The foundational issue is do you believe in God. More specifically, do you believe God created you? Do you believe He has an ownership claim on your life?
The psalmist states this root issue quite succinctly:
You know the LORD is God! He created us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture (Psalm 100:3, CEV).
If you accept the premise that God created humanity and therefore has ownership of our lives and “Creator’s rights,” then we know our bodies belong to Him. We are ultimately accountable to Him for how we use the gift of our sexuality. We are his people, the sheep in his pasture.
Furthermore, there are no racially superior people. The LORD God made them all and offered up His Son to redeem them all.
The root issue is ownership. Do you belong to God or are you god?
Response: LORD God, I acknowledge that you created me. I belong to you. I was bought by the precious blood of Jesus. Help me to daily reflect the great love you have for me. Amen.
Your Turn: Whom do you belong to? Do you believe in Creator’s rights?
