Tag Archives: psalms

Anointed One (Psalms 2:2), June 16, 2017

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Today’s Podcast

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Scripture
1. Psalms 2:2

Why do the nations conspire

and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth rise up

and the rulers band together

against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,

“Let us break their chains

and throw off their shackles.”

The One enthroned in heaven laughs;

the Lord scoffs at them.

He rebukes them in his anger

and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

“I have installed my king

on Zion, my holy mountain.”

Devotional
1. The Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ
2. In Old Testament times, people were subject to anointing when they were called to the offices of prophet, priest, and king. For example, when Saul became the first king of Israel, Samuel the prophet anointed his head with oil in a ceremonial fashion (1 Sam. 10:1). This religious rite was performed to show that the king of Israel was chosen and endowed by God for the kingship. Likewise, the priests (Ex. 28:41) and prophets (1 Kings 19:16) were anointed at God’s command. In a sense, anyone in the Old Testament who was set apart and consecrated for a servant task was a messiah, for he was one who received an anointing.
3. But the people of Israel looked forward to that promised individual who was to be not merely a messiah but the Messiah, the One who would be supremely set apart and consecrated by God to be their Prophet, Priest, and King. So, at the time Jesus was born, there was a strong sense of anticipation among the Jews, who had been waiting for their Messiah for centuries.
4. In the psalm we read, the psalmist talked about an anointed king, but also talked about the coming Messiah, the One all Israel waited for to act as prophet, priest, and king. The God/Man.
5. Jesus fit the bill
  1. Anointed, not with oil by a priest, but set aside and proclaimed by testimony of the Father and the prophets and the miracles He performed to the be long awaited Messiah
  2. He didn’t fit the mold many were looking for
    1. Political ruler
    2. Military victor
    3. Someone of wealth and fame
  3. He was the One they needed
    1. Savior
    2. Redeemer
    3. God, the Anointed One
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

El-Shaddai (Genesis 17:1; Psalms 91:1), June 9, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
The name for today, El-Shaddai. It can mean God of the mountains or more commonly translated God Almighty.
Scripture
1. Genesis 17:1; Psalms 91:1
2. When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless.
3. Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Devotional
1. El-Shaddai, God Almighty.
2. We hear that term a lot.
  1. We hear the name so often we probably let it just slip off our tongue without really thinking much about it
  2. God Almighty; Almighty God; the all-sufficient one; the one mighty to nourish, satisfy, and supply;
  3. Maybe we should stop and consider just exactly what we’re saying when we characterize God with this title
3. Definition: having complete, unlimited power; omnipotent
4. Synonyms: all-powerful, omnipotent, supreme, preeminent
5. So again, what does that mean to you
  1. He is able to supply your every need
  2. He is able to nourish and satisfy the deep longings of your soul
  3. He is able to defeat your enemies in impossible situations
  4. He is able to bring hope when things seem hopeless
  5. He is able to conquer your greatest fears
  6. He is almighty, all-powerful, omnipotent, nothing can overcome Him
6. El-Shaddai spoke the worlds into place
  1. He holds the power of the stars in His hands
  2. He pushes back the oceans and releases the power of volcanoes
  3. He makes grass grow through rock and makes the soft down on a duck’s belly
  4. He is God Almighty, the all-sufficient one, the one mighty to nourish, satisfy, and supply your need
7. El-Shaddai put the mountains in place and causes them to crumble in the rain
  1. He put the rivers in place and dries them up at his command
  2. He heals when there seems to be no cure
  3. He forgives and removes the burden of guilt from us
8. If El-Shaddai can do all those things, what are you facing that He cannot help you get through? What problem do you struggle with that He cannot help you conquer? Who is attacking you that you cannot overcome? What temptation are you facing that He cannot provide an exit for you?
  1. The answer is simple. He is El-Shaddai, God Almighty. There is nothing beyond His capability because He is almighty, He has complete, unlimited power; omnipotent, supreme, preeminent.
  2. He is able
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

Elohim (Genesis 1:1), May 26, 2017

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Today we start looking at the names of God. He is called a lot of different things in scripture. We will start looking at what His names mean to us today.
Scripture
1. Genesis 1:1; Psalms 19:1
2. In the beginning, God created everything: the heavens above and the earth below.
3. The celestial realms announce God’s glory;

the skies testify of His hands’ great work.

Devotional
1. The Bible starts with the words we just heard, In the beginning, God created everything.
  1. Elohim is an interesting name for God.
  2. Hebrews used it as singular, but ‘im’ usually makes the word plural
  3. Usually means the God of great power
  4. Can mean God of gods, power of powers
2. Hebrews began their basic understanding of God with this word
  1. God of gods, supersedes anything or anyone we might try to put in His place
  2. Power of powers, Elohim is greater, more powerful than anything or anyone Satan may try to use to defeat us.
  3. God is above all
    1. In strength
    2. In knowledge
    3. In wisdom
    4. In goodness
    5. In grace and mercy
    6. In dealing out justice for those who deserve His wrath
  4. Before anything was, God was there and created it
3. When we think about the name Elohim, we also see the triune God-head encapsulated in the name
  1. The word is plural
  2. Singular when referencing God, the creator
  3. Recognition that God is more than one, but one, three in one, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
  4. Those who wrote the words believed in one God, monotheistic society
  5. Still used the plural name, inspired by God
4. As you think of this first name used by the Hebrews to describe our God, think of what qualifies Him to carry this name
  1. Creator
  2. God of gods
  3. Power of powers
  4. Here before the beginning to put in place all there is, nothing exists apart from His spoken word bringing it into existence
5. Elohim, God of power and might
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The best source of strength (Mark 15:34) September 16, 2016

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – Amos 5-9

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Mark 15:34
Jesus: Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

“My God, My God, why have you turned your back on Me?” Jesus’ question to His father from the cross. We often read the words of Jesus from the cross and forget that many of them are prayers recited from the Psalms. This one comes from Psalms 22. It’s interesting to go back to those hymns that Jesus used as His prayers on the cross recorded for us by the gospel writers and put them back into their context. I often wonder if Jesus prayed the whole Psalm while on the cross, or just the verses recorded for us.

If you go back to Psalm 22, you’ll find the words Jesus spoke in the first verse. “My God, My God, why have you turned your back on me? Your ears are deaf to my groans. O my God, I cry all day and you are silent; my tears in the night bring no relief.”

Most of the rest of that psalm describe exactly what Jesus was experiencing.

I’m surrounded by many tormentors; like strong bulls of Bashan, they circle around me with their taunts. They open their mouths wide at me like ravenous, roaring lions. My life is poured out like water, and all my bones have slipped out of joint. My heart melts like wax inside me. My strength is gone, dried up like shards of pottery; my dry tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; You lay me in the dust of death. A throng of evil ones has surrounded me like a pack of wild dogs; They pierced my hands and ripped a hole in my feet. I count all my bones; people gawk and stare at me. They make a game out of dividing my clothes among themselves; they cast lots for the clothes on my back.

Perhaps we sometimes draw the wrong conclusion about this particular phrase. I usually think about God turning His back on Jesus because He carries the sins of the world on His shoulders and the Father cannot stand the sight of sin. He abhors sin and so Jesus carries the weight of all humanity’s sins alone.

But what if, instead, Jesus draws strength from reciting this psalm from the cross. The hymn begins these stark words from the depth of David’s misery. It describes the suffering Jesus will endure. But there are some other words in that same song from which He can draw great comfort.

Still, You are holy; You make Your home on the praises of Israel. Our mothers and fathers trusted in You; they trusted, and You rescued them. They cried out to You for help and were spared; they trusted in You and were vindicated.

and

But You, O Eternal, stay close; O You, my help, hurry to my side. Save my life from violence, my sweet life from the teeth of the wild dog. Rescue me from the mouth of the lion. From the horns of the wild oxen, You responded to my plea. I will speak Your Name to my brothers and sisters when I praise You in the midst of the community. You who revere the Eternal, praise Him— descendants of Jacob, worship Him; be struck with wonder before Him, all you children of Israel. He’s not put off by the suffering of the suffering one; He doesn’t pretend He hasn’t seen him; when he pleaded for help, He listened. You stir my praise in the great assembly; I will fulfill my vows before those who humble their hearts before Him. Those who are suffering will eat and be nourished; those who seek Him will praise the Eternal. May your hearts beat strong forever! Those from the farthest reaches of the earth will remember and turn back to look for the Eternal; All the families of the nations will worship You. The Eternal owns the world; He exercises His gentle rule over all the nations. All the wealthy of the world will eat and worship; all those who fall in the dust will bow before Him, even the life that is headed to the grave. Our children will serve Him; future generations will hear the story of how the Lord rescued us. They will tell the generations to come of the righteousness of the Lord, of what He has done.

Could Jesus’ words on the cross be a reminder to us of the importance of scripture and prayer in the face of life’s greatest challenges? Certainly, these few hours were Jesus’ most the stressful and challenging of His short life. And throughout those hours, the majority of His words can be traced back to the scriptures He knew so well. Is this, too, the beginning of a song, only the beginning of which was recorded by the gospel writers, but within Jesus’ heart and soul, soared to His father as a song of praise and worship even in those dark hours? Could it be that He was teaching us even in these last hours of His life that God’s word remains our best source of strength in times of trouble? Jesus used it; shouldn’t we?

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Forever, firm and resolute (Psalm 119:89-112) December 26, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 119:89-112

Set – Psalms 117; Psalms 119:81-176

Go! – Psalms 117, 119:81-176; 2 John; 3 John

Psalms 119:89-112
⁸⁹ Forever, O Eternal One,
Your word stands in heaven, firm and resolute.
⁹⁰ Your faithfulness endures to every generation;
You founded the earth, and it remains.
⁹¹ Everything remains today in keeping with Your laws,
for all things exist to serve You.
⁹² If I had not found joy in Your guidance,
then I would have died from my misery.
⁹³ I will never forget Your precepts,
for through them You have given me life.
⁹⁴ I belong to You, Lord; save me
because I have taken care to live by Your principles.
⁹⁵ The wicked lie in wait, anxious to kill me;
I will set my mind on Your statutes.
⁹⁶ I have seen the limit of all perfection,
but Your commands are all-encompassing.

⁹⁷ Oh, how I love Your law!
I fix my mind on it all day long.
⁹⁸ Your commands make me wiser than my enemies
because they are always with me.
⁹⁹ I have more discernment than all my teachers
because I study and meditate on Your testimonies.
¹⁰⁰ I comprehend more than those who are my elders
because I have kept Your precepts.
¹⁰¹ I have kept my feet from walking the paths of evil
so that I may live according to Your word.
¹⁰² I have not neglected Your lessons,
for You, God, have been my teacher.
¹⁰³ Your words are sweet to my taste!
Yes, they are sweeter than honey in my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ I gain understanding from Your instructions;
that’s why I hate every deceitful path.

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp for my steps;
it lights the path before me.
¹⁰⁶ I have taken an oath and confirmed it:
I pledge to do what You say is right and just.
¹⁰⁷ I have suffered terribly, O Eternal One;
give me the life You promised.
¹⁰⁸ Please accept the words I offer willingly, O Eternal One,
and instruct me in the ways of Your justice.
¹⁰⁹My soul is continually in danger,
but I do not forget Your teachings.
¹¹⁰The wicked have laid a trap for me,
but I have not drifted away from Your instructions.
¹¹¹ Your decrees are forever mine,
for they bring joy to my life.
¹¹² I have committed myself to do what You require
forever and ever, to the very end.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

David understood. He starts this section of his meditation on My law with the words, “Forever, O Eternal One, Your word stands in heaven, firm and resolute.” He knew that despite the convenient changes man might want to make in My laws, they stood firm and resolute from the beginning to the end of time. I came from heaven to live alongside you for a time and told you the same thing. I didn’t come to do away with the law, but to fulfill it.

So many people today want to try to change My laws. They say they are old-fashioned, out-dated. They say My law should keep up with the times. What those folks don’t understand is that I made each person. It’s My miracle that allows birth to happen in the first place. It’s My miracle that allows life to happen on this third planet in orbit around this particular star in your galaxy. It’s My design that keeps all of those things in place so you can enjoy this world at My pleasure.

What you forget is that you haven’t changed. I’ve let you learn more about the place you live. I’ve let you discover more about the way things work so you could enjoy more comfort in life. But your desires basically mimic those of your ancient ancestors. You want a better life for your children. You want to live in safety. You prefer health over sickness, warmth over cold, community over isolation. You have not really changed since I first created humankind.

So the precepts of living I designed for you and passed on through My prophets centuries ago are just as valid today as they were then. Just because you want your selfish ways doesn’t mean they are good for you or for the greater community in which you live. That’s really why I gave you those laws in the first place, to remind you that My way, not yours, is how you will succeed in living in community with Me and with your fellow man.

David understood this concept so well, he closed this section of his psalm with these words, “I have committed myself to do what You require forever and ever, to the very end.” David understood that as long as He followed My rules, life would go well for him. Every time he strayed from the laws I gave his people, he found himself in trouble.

Pay attention to David’s meditation on My laws. Live by them and see if you don’t find yourself enjoying life as much as David did when you follow My ways instead of your own.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

The beauty of God’s laws (Psalm 119:1-16) December 5, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 119:1-16

Set – Psalms 119:1-16; Ephesians 5

Go! – Psalms 119:1-80; Ephesians 5-6

Psalms 119:1-16
¹ Happy are the people who walk with integrity,
who live according to the teachings of the Eternal.
² Happy are the people who keep His decrees,
who pursue Him wholeheartedly.
³ These are people who do nothing wrong;
they do what it takes to follow His ways.
⁴ You have given us Your precepts
so we would be careful about keeping them.
⁵ Oh, that every part of my life would remain in line
with what You require!
⁶ Then I would feel no shame
when I fix my eyes upon Your commands.
⁷ With a pure heart, I will give thanks to You
when I hear about Your just and fair rulings.
⁸ I will live within Your limits;
do not abandon me completely!

⁹ How can a young person remain pure?
Only by living according to Your word.
¹⁰ I have pursued You with my whole heart;
do not let me stray from Your commands.
¹¹ Deep within me I have hidden Your word
so that I will never sin against You.
¹² You are blessed, O Eternal One;
instruct me in what You require.
¹³ My lips have told how
You have delivered all Your wise rulings.
¹⁴ I have celebrated Your testimonies
as though rejoicing over an immeasurable fortune.
¹⁵ I will fix my mind on Your instructions
and my eyes on Your path.
¹⁶ I will find joy in Your ordinances;
I will remember Your word forever.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

The psalmist wanted others to understand not just the importance, but the beauty of the laws I gave you. So he put them in the form of a beautiful acrostic poem. This longest book of the Bible tells you a lot about My law. What it is. Why I gave it to you. Why it’s important to follow it. Why it helps you along the path of life. The beauty it holds within its words. The peace you find by following it. The love that grows in your heart when you follow My precepts.

Many think that if you don’t read My word or hear My laws you will be exempt from them. But that isn’t true. You have them available to you so you have no excuse. In fact, in the West, you probably have multiple Bibles in multiple versions in your home. The question is, do you read them? Do you make them an everyday part of your life? The psalmist understood the importance of making My law a part of his heart as he talks about hiding it in his heart so he will not sin against Me. Do you follow his example?

A lot of you think My laws are only there to punish you. You assume I’m looking for reasons to find you guilty of some sin so I can zap you with a lightning bolt or some evil plague. Nothing could be further from the truth. I give you My laws in hopes that you will understand better the holy life I want you to live. I want you to stay away from the things that will destroy your relationship with Me or with your fellowman. I give you My laws to protect you, not to punish you. But Satan has lied to you and made you turn them around to think otherwise. That’s why I came to live with you and show you the beauty of My laws. I didn’t abolish them when I came. I fulfilled them. I glorified them. I put them in your heart so you could abide by them out of love rather then by a sense of duty.

Those who understand My laws in the way the psalmist understood My laws know the benefits that come from learning them. Making them a part of your very thought process as you conduct your daily life. Whether in business, dealing with family and friends, or in conflict with you greatest nemesis, living by My precepts will always be in your best interest. You will come out ahead every time when you abide by My laws.

So don’t put My laws on the shelf. Begin to make them a part of your life. Learn to love them like the psalmist and understand just how important they are to keeping your life pure and spotless not just in My sight, but in the sight of those around you. When you live by My laws, there is little anyone can say negatively against you. Your life will shine with the glory that spills over from serving Me.

Take some time and read Psalm 119 and take to heart what the psalmist says. Discover for yourself what he has learned about Me and My laws. You’ll be surprised at how your life can change when you do.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Unmoved, enduring, eternal (Psalm 125) November 27, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 125

Set – Psalms 125; Matthew 27

Go! – Psalms 125; Matthew 26-27

Psalms 125
¹ All who have faith in the Eternal stand as Mount Zion:
unmoved, enduring, eternal.
² Just as the mountains around Jerusalem embrace her,
the Eternal, too, wraps around those who belong to Him—
for this moment and for every moment to come.
³ For wickedness will not get the upper hand;
it shall not rule the land where righteous people live
Lest good people go bad
and do what is wrong.
⁴ Be good, Eternal One, to those who are good,
to those who are filled with integrity.
⁵ The Eternal will send all the wicked away
along with those who pervert what’s good and twist it in their own crooked way.
May peace be with Israel.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

David wrote his song before you built your monster machines. He would probably still write that those who have faith in Me are unmoving, enduring, and eternal like Mount Zion. But I know that you are more solid and eternal than even Mount Zion. Monster machines can cut through the rock and soil that constitutes Mount Zion and eventually it could move the mountain from one place to another. But it would take years to do it with all of the equipment currently available on earth.

For all intents and purposes Mount Zion is immovable to you. It will last forever as far as you’re concerned. But it won’t. A day will come, sooner than you think, when Mount Zion will be crushed. It will melt away in My wrath as the world as you know it disappears. But you, your immortal soul will endure with Me forever. It is eternal, unmovable, enduring, just as David says.

It might seem that now the wicked have the upper hand as you look around the world and see the graft and corruption in society. You might think they have the pleasures of life and you are left with nothing when you follow My commands and live the life I ask you to live. But the truth dispels such lies. Wealth does not bring satisfaction. Wealth and riches do not bring joy or peace. The temporary pleasures of this life are just that, temporary. There comes a day of reckoning at which the wicked must account for their ways and they too endure forever, but so does their punishment.

For those who have faith in Me, I am eternally good to them. They endure for ever, too. My goodness lasts forever as they live with Me in My home. Those who put their faith in Me enjoy My presence and My eternal rewards. I’ve been preparing them a long time. I know what pleases you, but what will please you most is just being in My presence, rejoicing in the company of the other saints, praising Me throughout eternity.

The only ones who will be there are those who follow Me. Only those obedient to My will make it to My home. The wicked will never cross its threshold. I will not allow the wicked into My presence and they will never bother you again when you join Me in paradise. What a glorious time we will have together. You must make the decision now, though. Today is the day of salvation.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Protection for God’s purpose (Psalm 124), November 18, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 124

Set – Psalms 124; 2 Corinthians 12

Go! – Psalms 124; 2 Corinthians 11-13

Psalms 124
¹ If the Eternal had not been with us—
sing, Israel, sing—
² If He had not been with us
when the villains came for us,
³ When their anger flamed around us,
they would have swallowed us up alive!
⁴ Their hatred was like a flood:
the waters were rising and would have engulfed us;
the streams were rushing past and would have overcome us.
⁵ The furious waters would have broken over us.
Battered and overwhelmed, we surely would have drowned!
⁶ Blessed be the Eternal
who did not leave us
to be torn by their fangs!
⁷ Our souls cry out: “We escaped with our lives like a bird
from the fowler’s snare!
The snare was broken,
and we escaped with our lives!”
⁸ Our help has come in the name of the Eternal,
the Maker of heaven and earth!

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Have you ever experienced one of those near escapes that David talks about in this psalm? Perhaps you avoided a collision by just inches. Maybe you missed something falling on you by seconds. Maybe you missed a flight that later crashed or a ferry that sank. Maybe you changed your travel plans and found that a tornado or hurricane ripped through the area you would have visited if you had not changed your plans.

Did you ever stop to think about those near misses and wonder how that happened? Have you ever stopped to think that I’m watching over you? Did you ever stop and wonder if there really are guardian angels that look out for you at times?

David understood that many of the escapes he experienced were because of My hand protecting him. He knew only My intervention could keep him safe in some of those narrow misses when he should have been captured or killed at the hands of his enemies. But I often protect My children from the mishaps of life and keep them safe from their enemies.

Do I always intervene? No. Sometimes I let the suffering that is part of being in this world happen because I promised that the world would hate you and that you would have trouble in this world. Sometimes you must identify with Me in the suffering I did as I walked with you in the flesh. It’s not because I like to see you in pain or sorrow, but because I don’t want you to think that this world is the place for you. This is only a testing ground.

The life you live now is only the beginning. It is the place you decide who you will serve for eternity. This life allows you to choose whether you will serve yourself or serve Me. Some of the decisions you make will entail some suffering in this world because the world does not want you to follow Me. It will hate you for it. The world will do everything it can to dissuade you from believing I even exist, much less following in the path I lay before you.

I just show you My creation, give you My love and let you choose. I’m not pushy. I don’t nag. I just let you see Me all around you and then let you make the choice between following Me or following your own way. I always hope you will choose to follow Me, though. I don’t want you to be lost forever with the rest of those who fail to heed My call and do what I ask them to do to complete My plans for this world.

I want you to understand, like David did, that I will never leave you and help you escape from the clutches of your enemies. I will help you to get through this life with honor and peace and joy. My joy. The kind that survives the troubles of this world. Joy that breaks through the sorrow this world dishes out and still fills the heart with the knowledge that I am with you until the end of time. The joy that makes you sing despite the circumstances of the day and brings peace to your troubled heart.

Know that I am always there to protect you to fulfill your part of My plan and all things work together for good for those who are called according to My purpose. But it’s My purpose, not yours.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Fight the right fight (Psalm 35), November 15, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 35

Set – Psalms 35; 2 Corinthians 1

Go! – Psalms 35; 2 Corinthians 1-2

Psalms 35
¹ Make a case against those who struggle with me, Eternal One.
Battle against those who battle against me.
² Be my shield and protection;
stand with me and rescue me!
³ Draw the spear and javelin
to meet my pursuers.
Reassure my soul and say,
“I will deliver you.”
⁴ Shame and dishonor those ruthless enemies
who wish to end my life.
Turn back those who conspire against me,
defeated and humiliated!
⁵ Let them be separated from the righteous as chaff is separated from the grain,
blown by the wind,
driven far, far away by the Eternal’s messenger.
⁶ Make their way unsure and dangerously dark,
a gauntlet of gloom
chased through the darkness by the Eternal’s messenger.
⁷ For no reason at all, they set a trap for me—a net, a snare—
then, without cause, they disguised a pit to capture my soul—another cowardly snare.
⁸ May they be surprised by their own destruction.
May they become tangled in their own net
and fall into the pit which they, themselves, dug.
⁹ When that day comes, my soul will celebrate the Eternal
and be glad in His salvation.
¹⁰ Every fiber of my being will shout,
“Eternal One, there is none like You!
You save the poor
from those who try to overpower them
and rescue the weak and the needy from those who steal from them.”
¹¹ False witnesses step forward;
they ask me strange questions for which I have no answers.
¹² When I do good to them, they do evil to me,
bringing misery to my soul.
13 When they were sick,
I mourned for them and wore sackcloth;
I chose to humble myself by fasting.
But my prayers came back unanswered.
¹⁴ So I mourned more deeply as if I grieved for my brother or friend;
I went around bowed down by sorrow, dressed in black,
as if I were weeping for my mother.
¹⁵ But when I stumbled, they gathered together
and celebrated my fall with joy;
People attacked me when I wasn’t expecting it;
they slandered me with no end.
¹⁶ Like godless mockers at a festival,
their words tore at me.
¹⁷ Lord, how long will You do nothing but watch?
Save me from their evil assaults, plots, and plunder;
rescue my life from these hungry beasts, these ruthless lions!
¹⁸ Then I will praise You and thank You at the great gathering,
in the company of the entire congregation.
¹⁹ Do not allow my enemies to boast at my expense,
for they despise me without any cause—
yet they wink at me—malicious, taunting winks.
²⁰ Their words have no ring of peace.
They plan evil rumors and incriminations
against those who live peacefully in the land.
²¹ They speak lying accusations against me;
they say, “Aha! Aha! We know what you’ve been up to.
We’ve seen it with our own eyes!”
²² You have seen what’s happening, Eternal One; don’t remain silent!
Lord, do not stay far away from me!
²³ Wake up; come to my defense!
Fight for me, my Lord and my God!
²⁴ Pass Your judgment, Eternal One, my True God;
do it by the standards of Your righteousness.
Do not allow my enemies to boast over me.
²⁵ Do not allow them to gloat over me,
“Aha, we have won! We got what we wanted!”
Do not allow them to brag,
“We chewed him up and spit him out.”
²⁶ Shame and confuse those who celebrate my suffering;
may those who exalt themselves above me be covered with shame—
wrapped in a cloak of dishonor!
²⁷ As for those who desire my vindication,
may they be joyful and glad.
May they forever say,
“The Eternal is indeed great!
He takes pleasure when good things happen to His servant!”
²⁸ That’s why I will speak of Your righteousness
and sing praises to You all day long.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

How do you fight your battles? David learned a secret to coming through his battles as the victor. He knew how to fight. He didn’t fight against men, but rather brought the battles to Me. When he did, he won. When he failed to do so, he lost. Read the psalm again. David had enemies coming at him, abusing him, discrediting him, slandering him. But instead of fighting them, he brought his cause to Me. He remembered that vengeance belongs to Me.

David brought his request for justice to Me and let Me deal with his enemies. It’s a tactic you should employ with your enemies. Fight the right fight. When you pray for those that seem to be against you, you’ll find that engaging My help is the right choice. I never lose. I’ve already been victorious over sin, evil, and the world. It’s an easy matter for Me to take care of your enemies as well. Only I might not take care of them the way you expect. I might just transform them and make them your friend. I might make them your brother or sister. I might want you to help them, care for them, love them the way I love you. You can do it…with My help.

Just give your problems to Me. Give your eneemies to Me. Fight the right fight in the right place in the right position…on your knees. Remember, I always win. Always. It’s who I am.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Start your journey with God (Psalm 122), November 11, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 122

Set – Psalms 122; 1 Corinthians 10

Go! – Psalms 122; 1 Corinthians 9-11

Psalms 122
¹ I was so happy when my fellow pilgrims said,
“Let’s go to the house of the Eternal!”
² We have made the journey, and now we are standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
³ Jerusalem! What a magnificent city!
Buildings so close together, so compact.
⁴ God’s people belong here. Every tribe of the Eternal
makes its way to Jerusalem—
Just as God decreed for Israel
to come together and give thanks to the Eternal.
⁵In Jerusalem, justice is the order of the day because there sit the judges
and kings, the descendants of David.
⁶ Ask heaven to grant peace to Jerusalem:
“May those who love you prosper.
⁷ O Jerusalem, may His peace fill this entire city!
May this citadel be quiet and at ease!”
⁸ It’s because of people—my family, friends, and acquaintances—
that I say, “May peace permeate you.”
⁹And because the house of Eternal One, our God, is here, know this:
I will always seek your good!

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Do you get excited the way David does when you go to church? David wrote this psalm for those who journeyed to Jerusalem to worship Me. He remembered the excitement of approaching the city and seeing the buildings gleaming in the sun as he turned the bend in the road and saw the city on the side of the mountain. David thrilled with the thought of coming to My city to worship Me. Every time he Jerusalem to do battle or to take care of some part of the kingdom, he longed for the thrill of coming home to see the beautiful city of Zion set on the hill for My glory.

You hear it in his song. He gave this song to the people of Israel to sing on their way to the city when they came to worship Me. When they joined together to lift their voices in praise, they began to think about worship well before they entered the city, well before they came to the tabernacle. They came to the city expectantly. As they gathered along the roads on the journey, families would meet each other and take up the song.

Enthusiasm would build the closer the people came to the city. They waved palm branches in the air, they sang songs of joy. They lifted My name as they came through the gates and approached the tabernacle to bring their sacrifices to Me. Joy filled their hearts well before they came to the tabernacle because they began to worship well before they came to the tabernacle. They sang and praised and prayed and lifted their voices to Me all along their journey to Jerusalem. They worshiped together long before their feet hit the city streets. They worshiped together and prepared their hearts all along the way.

When the people finally reached the tabernacle brought to Jerusalem, the people already had their hearts and minds set on Me. They already prepared themselves well in advance of their arrival and getting to the tabernacle just continued their celebration. They were ready to see Me and experience My glory because they prepared for it all the time they traveled from their home to get to the tabernacle.

So how about you? Do you prepare to meet with Me when you come to worship? Do you sing and praise and pray on your journey from your home to the place you will gather with others to worship Me? Do you come enthusiastically to the place where you will experience My glory and present yourself to Me as a living sacrifice so I may bless you and your family as you worship with those of like mind with Me? Is your journey a chore? A bore? Or an enthusiastic joy knowing you have an opportunity to meet with Me again?

You might try what the early Israelites did on your next trip to church. Sing and praise Me on the way. Get prepared to meet Me before you come. Worship Me along the way. You’ll be surprised what it does to the rest of your day when you start your journey with Me.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.