A Study of Psalms (From Findingauthenticchristianity.com)

Studying the Psalms November 9th, 2010

One of the most incredible books of the Bible is the book of Psalms.  In it, David and a few other guys who deeply loved the Lord share their stories and songs they wrote to the God they loved.  These songs can be so life-changing even today that many current Christian song writers have used the lyrics in their own songs. 

Many psalms are signed by their author but others are not. Seventy-three bear David’s name . Asaph is listed on twelve. Some are attributed to Solomon. Moses, Ethan and Heman are thought to have written one each. The remainder are unknown in authorship. The Davidic psalms bear other hallmarks of David. He was known as a master musician throughout the Old Testament period and these psalms bear testimony to this. Many are reflections of events in his life. The New Testament writers also referred to David as being the author of specific psalms. The Sons of Korah wrote 11.

Psalm 1 Devotional by Chad November 11th, 2010

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is on the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.”  (Psalm 1:1-3)

These first three verses of Psalms have had such a huge impact on me that I memorized them several years ago.  I’d strongly encourage you to memorize them as well.  This passage has helped lead me away from hypocritical Christianity and toward authentic Christianity as it gives practical instruction on how to walk with God.

According to this passage, the key thing to do in order to prosper and bear fruit as a believer is to “meditate day and night” on the Word of God.  Have you ever heard of meditating on God’s Word?  If so, what does that phrase mean to you? 

Meditating on Scripture involves reading the Bible every day and then thinking about the verses you read with a prayerful attitude.  As you’re praying over the verses, you ask yourself what sin God is revealing, and you confess whatever sin to God that he reveals.  You then ask God to change your heart and attitude toward that sin.  If the verses you are meditating on lead you to action (such as sharing your faith with someone or encouraging someone), then you pray about what you need to do to follow the instruction and ask God to give you the courage to do it.  Because of this passage, I’ve learned that authentic Christianity is simply being a follower of Jesus.  As I follow him, I experience him and fall in love with him.

How are you doing at meditating on God’s Word day and night?  Do you spend time with the Lord daily?  Do you have a prayerful attitude throughout the day to think about the words you’ve read?  Consider memorizing the verses above, and make a commitment to God to spend more time with him and develop intimacy with him.  God promises prosperity and blessings to us if we spend time with him and walk with him moment-by-moment.

Psalm 2 Short Devotional by Chad November 12th, 2010

“Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” (Psalm 2:8)

One day all authentic followers of Christ, who are God’s children as it says in Ephesians 1:5, will share in Christ’s inheritance.  However, when I read Psalm 2, I don’t think this song is so much about the inheritance as it is about Jesus the King.  It’s a song about how powerful Jesus is.  He’s not just a man who was crucified on a cross for our sins, and he’s not just a friend to those who believe in him.  He is the most powerful King of Kings, the Creator of the universe (Col. 1:16), and the greatest force of power this world has ever seen.  All who do not know Christ or mock his name are warned in this Psalm, and all who are under his protection are assured of their safety.  The song ends with the statement, “Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

In what or whom are you placing your trust today?  Have you been depending upon your own strength, or have you been trusting in the Lord?  When you are faced with any decision, big or small, do you immediately ask the Lord for his wisdom, or do you make your own decisions?  Are there any areas of your life which you aren’t surrendering to the Lord?  Spend time today reflecting on Psalm 2 and meditating on these verses.  If the Lord has revealed an area you need to surrender to him, consider surrendering it right now.  Only Christ, the King who created us, knows what truly satisfies us and makes us happy.  “Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 2:12)

Psalm 3 Devotional by Chad November 13th, 2010

The real story behind this song is the story surrounding its origin.  King David’s son Absalom was greedy and set out to destroy the king and take his place as the ruler of Israel (see the story in 2 Samuel 13-19).  David’s unconditional love for Absalom is an example of God’s love for us.  Even though Absalom had killed David’s other son, Amnon, and had set out to kill David, he still loved him and protected him.  In the end, Absalom was killed by his own men while he was pursuing David and trying to overthrow him.  When David heard of Absalom’s death, he said, “O my son Absalom! 

My son, my son Absalom!  If only I had died instead of you – O Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Samuel 18:33)

David wrote Psalm 3 while he was being pursued by Absalom.  Listen to his words and how much he trusted in the Lord:

“I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.  I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.” (Psalm 3:5-6)

In what ways do you trust the Lord the way that David did in Psalm 3?  What are areas of your life in which you don’t fully trust in him?  What are areas of your life you haven’t surrendered to him?  This may involve your career, a relationship, financial needs, or even just what you’re doing this summer.  Pray and ask God to give you the strength and trust that David had.  If God reveals any area that you need to surrender to him, take time to pray and give Christ control of your life.  Only he knows the amazing plans and adventures he created you to experience.

Psalm 4 Short Devotional by Chad November 14th, 2010

“Why is everyone hungry for more?  ‘More, more,’ they say.  ‘More.  More.’  I have God’s more-than-enough, more joy in one ordinary day.” (Psalm 4:6-7 from The Message)

Before I found an authentic relationship with the Lord toward the end of my freshman year in college, I was the perfect example of someone who was “hungry for more,” as described in this Psalm.  In the area of money, my dream was to be a millionaire and own my own company or multiple companies as well as houses and cars.  I dreamt of being a famous pro baseball and pro football player, the greatest of all time.  Of course, I also dreamt of being the guy that every girl wanted to date. 

When I began to fall in love with Christ, that all began to change.  Instead of focusing on the future and wanting more of everything, I began to find joy in the present and be thankful for everything I have.  I also began to be less self-centered and actually take the time to care about other people and help them in their spiritual journeys.  Seeing God use me has brought me great joy.  The Bible says there is also a peace that surpasses all understanding for those who walk with the Lord, and I’m finding more and more of that each day.

Where are you in your spiritual journey?  Do you find yourself always wanting more and dreaming of having more, or are you completely satisfied with the present?  Do you find yourself seeking satisfaction in popularity, money, material possessions, good grades, video games or other worldly things?  Are you falling in love with God?  Spend time today reflecting on Psalm 4, and honestly ask yourself if you have “God’s more-than-

enough.”  Confess any unconfessed sin these verses reveal, and surrender your whole heart to God.  He really is more than enough.

Psalm 5 Short Devotional by Chad November 15th, 2010

“And here I am, your invited guest – it’s incredible!  I enter your house; here I am, prostrate in your inner sanctum, waiting for directions to get me safely through enemy lines.” (Psalm 5:7-8 from The Message)

I used to have a bad habit of only praying to God when I was in desperate need…when I had a big test coming up, when I had a knee injury, etc.  As I began to pursue a deeper relationship with Christ, I realized it is impossible to be an authentic Christian without prayer.  By definition, being an authentic Christian is being a follower of Christ.  When I’m not letting him lead me by seeking his wisdom and guidance, I’m not following him.  In this passage, David is pleading for directions from the Lord.  He knows that without God’s leading, he cannot be safe from worldly harm.

How has your prayer life been recently?  Do you pray only when you are in trouble or desperate need, or do you pray throughout the day like king David, the author of this Psalm?  Would you say that you are truly an authentic follower of Christ, constantly listening and waiting for his directions?  Or would you say you need the Lord’s help to become a more authentic follower?  Spend time praying and confessing any sin these verses reveal.  Ask God to help you to grow and develop into a more healthy, authentic follower of Christ.  He truly is the only one who can keep us safe from all evil.

Psalm 6 Devotional by Chad November 16th, 2010

“Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping.  The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.  All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will run back in sudden disgrace.” (Psalm 6:8-10)

David writes Psalm 6 from his bed, where he is struggling with a life-threatening illness.  Though the Lord has sent him to illness to chastise him for his sin, David asks that God would not in anger impose the full measure of the penalty for sin, for then death must come.  In verses 4-5, David asks God to save him for the Lord’s name’s sake, so that David can continue to make the name of the Lord famous.

I am reminded in these verses above, the last verses of Psalm 6, that we are to pray with confidence when we are praying according to God’s will, just as David closed his song with confidence that the Lord heard him and could heal him.  This is not a confidence

based on how powerful we are, but a confidence in the trustworthiness of God’s word and his power. 

When you pray, do you pray according to your will, or do pray according to God’s will?  An example of someone who prays according to their own will would say something like:  “Lord, I pray you will heal my sick mother.  I ask you to help me experience joy today.”  However, someone who prays according to God’s will might say:  “Lord, I ask you to heal my mother so she can continue to share her faith with others and make your name famous.  I pray that you will help me to experience joy in Christ today so that everyone who comes in contact with me will believe you are real and see you moving.”  Can you see the difference in praying for our will versus praying for God’s?  Spend time today praying that the Lord’s will be done in and around you today.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God:  that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.”  (1 John 5:14-15)

Psalm 7 Devotional by Chad November 17th, 2010

In Psalm 7, David asks God to deliver him from an enemy.  Many commentators believe this enemy (referred to as “Cush the Benjamite”) is Saul.  In this song, David proclaims his innocence in the situation and seeks justice, which is different than in Psalm 6 when David said he was guilty and derverved justice for his sin.

“Stand up, God; pit your holy fury against my furious enemies.  Wake up, God.  My accusers have packed the courtroom; it’s judgment time.  Take your place on the bench, ready for your gavel, throw out the false charges against me.  I’m ready, confident in your verdict:  ‘Innocent.’” (Psalm 7:6-8 from The Message)

Have you ever felt like others were plotting against you or talking bad about you behind your back?  How did it feel?  Think of a situation when you realized someone had done you wrong and hurt you.  What were your emotions like?  On the flip side, how are you doing in the area of gossip or hurting others?  Do you talk poorly about others when they’re not around?  I know I have.  Is there someone you make fun of or someone you talk about poorly in order to make yourself feel better about yourself?  If so, spend time confessing your sin to God and asking him to change your attitude about that sin.  Consider making a commitment to grow in this area by watching what you say about others when they’re not around.  Who knows?  They may be praying like David did to bring justice to those who plot against them.

Psalm 8 Short Devotional by Chad

November 18th, 2010

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?  You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:  all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.  O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:3-9)

I love this song written by David!  I picture him lying on his back outside on a moonlit night, staring at the sky in awe of the vastness and beauty of God’s creation.  Have you ever done that?  Just stopped to look up at the sky and stare in wonder?  I wonder how anybody who has ever taken time to do this could ever question whether or not God exists.

One of the key things that causes us to miss authentic Christianity is the busyness of life.  In America, we are so busy running after the American dream, studying hard in school, building a resume, chasing a busy career.  We seldom slow down and enjoy God’s creation.  We rarely stop and gaze in awe at the stars in the sky.  We fail to marvel at how big and great our Creator is.

When is the last time you slowed down long enough to gaze at the sky or marvel at God’s creation?  Have you been too busy to notice?  The most important commandment in the Bible is to love God with all our hearts, all our souls and all our strength.  In order to follow this commandment, we must stop to spend time with God and enjoy our relationship with him.  Confess any sin these verses above reveal in your life, and get out your calendar to set a date with God.  Find an evening this next week to bundle up, walk outside where it’s nice and dark, and gaze at the sky.  Try to remember a few of these verses from Psalm 8 so you can pray through them as you gaze at our God’s great creation.

Psalm 9 Short Devotional by Chad November 19th, 2010

“I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.  I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” (Psalm 9:1-2, NIV)

“I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart, I’m writing the book on your wonders.  I’m whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy; I’m singing your song, High God.” (Psalm 9:1-2 from The Message)

The first two verses of this song from the NIV Bible above are familiar to me because there was a praise and worship song in the 1990′s taken from these verses.  I like how

Eugene Peterson puts it in the Message.  David says he’s thanking God from a full heart.  He’s whistling, laughing and jumping for joy!

When’s the last time you had so much joy of the Lord that you were whistling and laughing?  Have you ever jumped for joy because you were so thankful toward him?  Remember King David was a man’s man.  He fought in many battles and beat thousands of soldiers, including the giant Goliath.  He was the man.  Yet, he was so in love with the Lord and had such a thankful attitude that he wrote love songs just for him.

Have you had a thankful attitude this week?  What are some things God has given you for which you should be thankful?  Even if you’ve had a tough week, it can always be worse.  The Bible says spiritual forces of evil are at work behind the scenes seeking to destroy.  If we didn’t have a God who won’t give us more than we can handle, things would be so much worse for us.  If you have neglected God this week and haven’t had a full, thankful heart, take time to confess any sin these verses reveal, and thank God for all your blessings that come to mind.  For me, I’ve learned that having a thankful heart toward God cures any bad attitude or cynicism I have.  Being thankful helps me to fall in love with God.

Psalm 10 Short Devotional by Lee Davis November 20th, 2010

“ 1 Why, LORD, do you stand far off?   Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10)

Have you ever felt like God can’t hear you or maybe that he just doesn’t care? Well, as you can probably see, David felt that same way. In todays world, strife, sin and struggles are everywhere. On the news, we see tyrants murdering and killing their own people; we see people that we know doing things that they they shoudn’t be doing.

In verse 11 David says, “[The wicked man] says to himself, ‘God will never notice; He covers His face and never sees.’” Life hasn’t changed; people are still going to do the wrong thing until they get punished for it. I know this for a fact because I am the same way. A lot of the times when I sin, I convince myself it’s okay because I’m not getting in immediate trouble for it, or it’s not hurting anyone else. All that time, I know that I shouldn’t be doing what I’m doing.

The worst part about it is that there will be punishment for what we do; not just our actions, but our words and thoughts as well. Thankfully, there was a provision for us, through Jesus Christ; that no matter what we do, we can be forgiven. God knew that we couldn’t be perfect so He sent His Son, Who had never sinned, to be the propitiation(payment)  for our sin. That way, we can be with Him in Paradise some day. All we have to do is confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and our Savior.

Life here on earth can be difficult, and we may feel like God doesn’t care or exist, but those are lies designed to separate us even further away from Him. One day, our cries will be heard; we will be rescued. Continue to fight the good fight, run the race, because just as there is punishment for sin, there is a greater reward waiting for us for in Eternity!

“16 The LORD is King for ever and ever;   the nations will perish from his land.17 You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted;   you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,   so that mere earthly mortals   will never again strike terror.” (Psalm 10)

Psalm 11 Short Devotional by Nancy November 21st, 2010

Read Psalm 11.

Who is your refuge? As I read this psalm, I realized two things: 1) David’s refuge was in the Lord 2) David knew who the Lord was. But, what does refuge even mean? To take refuge in something means to remain in a place of safety or a shelter from danger or harm. So, here David is saying that God is his shelter from danger or harm. Now, in order to claim a place as safe, you would have to know it very well. For example, when you go camping or hiking and are picking out a place to rest, you don’t just rest anywhere. You have to make sure that the place where you are resting is out of danger. Therefore, you get to know the surroundings and examine to see if there are any snakes, fire ants, or any other harmful animals. If you don’t take the time to get to know your surroundings, you run the risk of getting hurt. I believe David had the confidence to say that God was his refuge because he truly knew God. He knew God’s character. In fact, verses 1-3 show that even when others told him to trust in other things, he trusted in the Lord. Verses 4-7 describe what David knows about God.

Do you know God? Have you made him your refuge? God’s word says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8). In fact, according to John 17:3, knowing God is eternal life. God wants you to know him. He wants to show you who he is, he wants to be the refuge in which you can find rest and peace. Are you truly resting in the Lord? Or are you resting on something else? Spend some time in prayer and ask the Lord to show you more of him and to help you to find rest in him. Continue to seek him and you shall find him.

“The more I seek you,the more I find you.

The more I find you,the more I love you

I wanna sit at your feetdrink from the cup in your hand.Lay back against you and breath,hear your heart beat

This love is so deep,it’s more than I can stand.I melt in your peace, it’s overwhelming”-“The More I seek you” by Kari Jobe

Psalm 12 Devotional by Chad November 22nd, 2010

“God’s words are pure words, pure silver words refined seven times in the fires of his word-kiln, pure on earth as well as in heaven.  God, keep us safe from their lies, from the wicked who stalks us with lies, from the wicked who collect honors from their wonderful lies.” (Psalm 12:6-8 from The Message)

Have you ever had a friend that you could never trust to tell the truth, a friend you caught in a lie and had a hard time believing after that?  I had a friend like that once.  I caught him telling one tall tale, but I didn’t have the guts to confront him in his lie.  After that, everything he said seemed impossible to believe. 

It gives me comfort in this passage to hear the Word of the Lord is flawless.  After all, if the God of the universe who created all things wasn’t powerful enough to make sure the Bible was written without errors, then how strong would he be?  Not strong enough to keep me safe or help me when I need him, I’m sure.  Psalm 12 reminds me that God is all powerful, and his words are true.  He will keep me safe and will never give me more than I can handle.  I thank the Lord for his love and protection!

Is there an area of your life in which you need God’s help or protection?  Is there a truth in God’s word that you need to proclaim today?  An example of a truth found in God’s word is:  “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation (Col. 1:22).”  If we have Christ in our lives, the truth is that we are free from accusation, blameless in God’s sight.  Thank God for that truth we can use to battle the devil’s lies that we are not worthy of being a Christian.  Pray the Lord will help you fall deeply in love with him.

Psalm 13 Devotional by Joshua Gale

November 23rd, 2010

Psalm 13

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?How long will you hide your face from me?2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughtsand day after day have sorrow in my heart?How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, LORD my God.Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;my heart rejoices in your salvation.6 I will sing the LORD’s praise,for he has been good to me.

It is thought that David wrote this Psalm while running from his Son Absalom. Absalom had taken over the thrown in a deceitful manner. This isn’t the first time that David’s relatives and men turned on him. In 1 Samuel 30, when the Amalekites raided his camp, burned his army’s possessions, and kidnapped all of the women and children. As if the loss wasn’t bad enough, David’s men turned on him and threatened to stone him. Just like Elijah and many other great men in the Bible, David went through spiritual highs and spiritual lows. During the lows these men found strength in the Lord. In 1 Samuel 30:6 it says, “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” Other translations say that “he encouraged himself in the Lord.” After this time with the Lord, things turned around for David. His emasculated army was miraculously remobilized and they recovered all that was stolen.

Reading these verses really encouraged me, but it left me wondering what choice words David spoke to the Lord that allowed him to find strength. Reading through Psalms has helped me to understand David’s prayer patterns. He did not always speak directly to God. Sometimes he praised the Lord and sometimes he spoke the promises of God to his own weary soul. In Psalm 13 we see these patterns. He cries out to the Lord with the condition of his heart. He admits that he is tired of relying on his own strength and wisdom. He admits that he is nothing apart from God and that he can’t stand to be separated from God. To those who have experienced the joy of salvation and true intimacy with God understand that there is nothing else that can compare to that. Then he reminds himself of God’s steadfast love and the joy that salvation brings. We tend to have a condition called, Christian Amnesia. We tend to forget how good God is and how

much joy is found in salvation. He then sings praises to the Lord, because he remembers how good God has been to him.

A declaration of what God has done in the past is only a declaration of what he will do in the future. Like David, we must hold to the promises that God has made to us. We must put aside our deposition and go to the Lord with the burdens of our hearts. We must give thanks and praise to the one who gave it all. I use the ACTS acrostic to assist me in my time of prayer.

Adoration- Spend time praising the Lord and adoring Him for who He is (Matthew 6:9)

Confession- Confession should be a part of your continual walk with Christ. Spend time asking Christ to search your heart for areas that displease him. Repent (call it sin, call it forgiven, and call on God to change you)

Thanksgiving- Giving thanks for all things should also be a part of our everyday lives as God’s children (Phil. 4:6).

Supplication- We are called as believers to intercessory prayer (Luke 18:1).  We are to come before God on behalf of others.

Psalm 14 Short Devotional by Chad November 24th, 2010

“The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.  They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” (Psalm 14:2-3)

I used to have a habit of comparing myself to other people to try to justify how I am doing pretty good as a follower of Christ.  Well, to be honest, sometimes I still struggle with this.  However, this song written by David reminds me of how sinful I am.  No one (not the Pope, the President, the Apostle Paul, and especially not me) is good enough to justify themselves before God.  We have all broken God’s heart, and we can only be justified in God’s sight by accepting Jesus into our lives through faith:

“For there is no distinction:  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.  This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forebearance he had passed over former sins.  It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:22-26)

What sin does God reveal in your life through these verses?  Spend time confessing your sin to God and asking him to help you hate sin the way he does.  Thank Christ for

justifying us before God when we could not justify ourselves.  Thank God for providing a way for us to have an intimate relationship with him.

Psalm 15 Short Devotional by Chad November 25th, 2010

“O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?  Who shall dwell on your holy hill?  He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend….”

As I read this song written by David, I was reminded why God had rejected the first king of Israel, King Saul, and had chosen David as king.  In 1 Samuel 16, God sent Samuel the prophet to Bethlehem to anoint the next king of Israel.  When Samuel saw Eliab, David’s elder brother, he thought for sure God would anoint Eliab as king because he looked the part.  “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him.  For the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:7)

As we read Psalm 15, it’s clear David’s heart is in the right place.  When the Lord looks at our hearts, what does he see?  I’m convicted there is still some selfishness in my heart.  I often judge others, and I also worry too much of what others think of me.  What does the Lord see when he looks on your heart?  Spend time confessing any sin these verses above reveal, and ask the Lord to change your heart to make it more like his.  Thank God that because of Christ, we can dwell in the house of the Lord for all of eternity.

Psalm 16 Devotional by Chad November 28th, 2010

“Don’t just go shopping for a god.  Gods are not for sale.  I swear I’ll never treat god-names like brand-names.  My choice is you, God, first and only.  And now I find I’m your choice!  You set me up with a house and a yard.  And then you made me your heir!” (Psalm 16:4-6 from The Message)

This song, written by David, seems appropriate for the weekend of Black Friday and “Cyber Sunday,” a term online retailers have given to the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  In this psalm, David tells us not to go shopping for other gods.  For me, this song really hits home.  I confess I’ve had many other gods in my life such as popularity, money and financial stability, school, sports and material possessions. 

What are the gods you’ve chased after besides the one and only God in heaven?  Have these other gods brought joy and happiness or frustration and emptiness?  I can’t speak

for anyone but myself, but following Christ and pursuing a relationship with God has brought me deep satisfaction that nothing else can give. 

In Matthew 22, the Pharisees were trying to test Jesus.  “One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:  ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’  Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.’”  (Matthew 22:34-38)

Have you broken the greatest commandment by ”shopping for” other gods?  If so, spend time confessing your sin.  Ask God to help you make him your one and only God.  Ask him to change your heart and help you to fall in love with him.  Thank him for making you his first choice and for making you his heir, a child of the King!

Psalm 17 Short Devotional by Chad November 29th, 2010

“Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.  As for the deeds of men – by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.  My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped.” (Psalm 17:3-5)

When I first read this prayer of David this morning, I thought to myself, “Wow!  David was able to say that God would find no sin if he searched David’s heart?  It’s amazing that David had such a pure heart.”  I then immediately began to think of all the wives David had as well as his marital affair with Bathsheba, and I started to have a judgmental attitude toward David.  How could he say he had a pure heart? 

As I searched in a commentary to see what others had to say about these verses, I realized David was just talking about one particular conflict he had with vicious adversaries.  He had a clear conscience and pure motives in this particular conflict, and this psalm is a cry for help to the Lord for his protection.

In what areas of your life do you need protection from your spiritual adversaries?  Did you know there is a spiritual battle taking place every day around you for your heart?  The enemy, Satan and his army, are seeking to destroy you.  He’s tempting you with sin.  If you give into the temptation, then your eyes will be taken off of Christ.  You will no longer be an authentic Christian, and Satan can use your fall to discredit God and push others away from him.  Spend time today praying for the spiritual battle taking place around you.  Ask for God’s protection.  Call out to him to defend his honor by defending you and helping you to overcome the spiritual forces of evil.  Thank him for his protection and that ultimately he has defeated Satan for once and for all by sending Christ to die for our sins.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, after you have done everything, to stand.” (Eph. 6:12)

Psalm 18 Devotional by Chad November 30th, 2010

“To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.  You save the humble but bring low those who are haughty.” (Psalm 18:25-27)

I love reading this song written by David right after the Lord delivered him from the hand of Saul.  As you are reading the entire psalm, you can almost hear the joy and thankfulness in David’s voice. 

Every couple of years, I enjoy studying the attributes of God, such as his power, his omniscience, and his love.  In this passage above, David praises God for being just.  God shows himself faithful to the faithful and shows himself blameless to those who are blameless.  To me, these verses are comforting, but they also instill a fear of God in me.  I don’t mean I am in fear of my future.  I know Christ paid the penalty for my sins for once and for all, and my eternity is secure.  However, these verses remind me that there are consequences when I sin.  When I am not faithful, God does not show himself faithful.  He shows himself shrewd.

Have you been faithful to God, faithful to love him with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind?  If not, how have you been unfaithful to him?  Have you been blameless, or have you been impure in any way?  The good news for us is that God deeply loves us as his dear children, and he is ready to forgive us and heal us when we confess our sins and turn to him.  Spend time confessing any sin these verses reveal in your life.  Ask the Lord to help make you a more faithful follower.  Praise him for his faithfulness, and thank him that he is blameless and pure.

Psalm 19 by Macey December 1st, 2010

“The heavens declare the glory of God!”

Have you ever been blown away by God’s creation? The thing that gets me about this passage is that no matter where you are, all of creations constantly declares the glory of God, pouring forth speech and displaying knowledge about our Creator. All of creation

declares the glory of God. Whether you’re watching the sunrise at Isle of Palms in Charleston, looking at the stars in the middle of the Andes mountains, hiking in the Swiss Alps, or watching flowers grow in a garden, all of creation (and especially the heavens) just shout of a Creator who is mighty and awesome and beautiful and greatly to be praised.

How often do we lose sight of this? I know I get so busy and caught up in myself and all the busy things I have do get done that I tend to lose sight of this God? I neglect to worship him and obey him like I should- not because I want anything from Him, but just because He is God. How often do I forget that? To be honest, quite a lot. And sometimes it’s really a hassle and feels like a burden to try to follow Christ and live like he wants. But the next few verses (7-11) give a new mindset on this issue. Here, David says that the things God calls us to are perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, and precious. Moreover, they are good for us- they revive our souls, make us wise, give us joy, warn us and give us a great reward! How often do I think of God’s commands like that? But in reality, it totally makes sense that the Creator of such a beautiful universe gives us commands that are good and pure and beneficial.

David’s final response to this is seen in verses 12-14, where he pleads with God to transform him into His image. This is the only appropriate response to such a God- “Keep your servant from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

May that be our prayer today.

Psalm 20 Devotional by Chad December 2nd, 2010

“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.  We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.  May the Lord grant all your requests.” (Psalm 20:4-5)

What prayer does God listen to?  What prayer does God answer?  When I was growing up, I always heard in church that God answers all prayer.  He may not always say ‘yes,’ but he is always listening and always answers.  While I believe it is true that God is omnipresent, that he’s everywhere and can see and hear everything, it’s clear in the Bible there are particular prayers which please the Lord:

1)  God answers the prayers of the righteous.  “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:12)

2)  Prayer offered in faith is effective.  “And the prayer offerered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.  If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:15-16)

3)  God always gives his followers wisdom when we pray for wisdom.  “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)

4)  God always gives us whatever we ask for according to his will.  “This is the confidence we have in approaching God:  that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask -  we know that we have what we ask of him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

I don’t know about you, but I want to pray prayers to God I know will be answered.  If I’m going to spend time praying, I want it to be a good use of time and not just pray for things I don’t think God will give me (such as a new Mustang).  Several years ago, I started making it a habit to pray the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13.  I start the prayer by praising God for who he is, and then I pray, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  This has been life-changing for me because I’ve learned to desire God’s will, and the desires of my heart seem to line up with God’s will more and more each year.

Spend time today praying through the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 in your own words.  When you get to the part where you pray for the Lord’s will to be done, think of people in your life who don’t have a personal relationship with God.  Pray they will come to know him.  When you get to the part where you ask for forgiveness, think of the ways you haven’t loved God with all your heart, soul and strength.  Confess your sin to God, and ask him to make you the person he wants you to be.  Just as David prayed in this psalm, my prayer is that the Lord will give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed!

Psalm 21 Short Devotional by Chad December 3rd, 2010

Psalm 21 is a praise and worship song by King David.  In it, he expresses his thanks to God for all his many blessings:

“Your strength, O God, is the king’s strength.  Helped, he’s hollering Hosannas.  You gave him exactly what he wanted; you didn’t hold back.  You filled his arms with gifts; you gave him a right royal welcome.  He wanted a good life; you gave it to him, and then made it a long life as a bonus.  You lifted him high and bright as a cumulus cloud, then dressed him in rainbow colors.  You pile blessings on him; you make him glad when you smile.”  (Psalm 21:1-6)

Last night, I contracted some kind of virus.  I had a high grade fever most of the night.  I didn’t get much sleep, and then I woke up this morning with a low grade fever.  I’m not really feeling good, but Psalm 21 reminds me of all the great blessings God has given me.  He’s given me a great family and allowed me to live in a free country, where I make enough money to drive a car (that can take me just about anywhere).  I have a great job that is more like a hobby.  I feel so blessed, and despite my sickness this morning, I praise the Lord.  No matter what happens to me, he is worthy to be praised!

What do you have to be thankful for today?  What has God blessed you with?  Spend time praying and thanking God for all he’s done for us, including sending his one and only Son so that we should not perish but have eternal life.  We’ve done nothing to deserve to be born or have Christ die for us.  Yet God freely gives these gifts of life.  Consider taking out a piece of paper and writing down all the things you have to be thankful for.

Psalm 22 Devotional by Aaron December 4th, 2010

1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?Why are you so far away when I groan for help?2 Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.

Have you ever felt so alone that you felt like no one would ever be there for you? These famous words of David express a level of anguish and pain that I can say I’ve never felt before. The same words were uttered many years later by Christ as He paid the penalty for all of our sins on the cross. The words seem to express a feeling of abandonment, but on further examination, we see the trust David placed in God for His provisions.

David and Christ both finish the work entrusted to them. They both pushed through their feelings to experience the greater reward that is found only in a deep relationship with God. David mentions all of his pains and then immediately goes into praising God.

22 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.I will praise you among your assembled people.23 Praise the LORD, all you who fear him!Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob!Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!24 For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.He has not turned his back on them,but has listened to their cries for help.

David continues with more and more praise, and his point is clear. In spite of the difficulties that may be going on in your life, God is in control. David was a man that

made mistakes, just like you and me, but he always remembered the Lord’s faithfulness. Throughout the Bible we see a call to be thankful, Colossians 3, be joyful in trials, James 1, and to look forward to our future glory while enduring pain, Romans 8.

Needless to say, there is some area in your life where you haven’t trusted the Lord to come through. Spend some time praying and asking God to reveal that area to you. Thank Him for His provision and mercy.

Psalm 23- A short Devotional by Aaron December 5th, 2010

1 The LORD is my shepherd;I have all that I need.2 He lets me rest in green meadows;he leads me beside peaceful streams.3 He renews my strength.He guides me along right paths,bringing honor to his name.4 Even when I walkthrough the darkest valley,I will not be afraid,for you are close beside me.Your rod and your staffprotect and comfort me.5 You prepare a feast for mein the presence of my enemies.You honor me by anointing my head with oil.My cup overflows with blessings.6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue meall the days of my life,and I will live in the house of the LORDforever.

Psalm 22 and 23 fit together so well. Again, we see David’s heart for constantly praising God. Psalm 23 is a reassurance to trust in the Lord always. Fyodor Dostoyevsky had a great quote that sums up human nature: “Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys. If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it.” When we go through hardships, we have the amazing gift of Christ to focus on. David sums it up nicely in the first verse: “I have all that I need.” No matter how much we think we need, the truth is that all we need is Christ. A good exercise to remind yourself of how much God has given you, is to write out a list of 25 things you’re thankful for today. Then thank God for each thing individually and praise Him for all that He has provided.

David continues by talking about God’s leading. Surely God is leading you today; are you listening? For years I felt God calling me into full time ministry, but I fought Him because I wanted the wealth that being a doctor provides. Certainly being a doctor is a great profession, but God was calling me in a different direction! For years I ran in a different direction than the one God had called me to. I had a deep dissatisfaction with life. That dissatisfaction melted away the second I gave the Holy Spirit control of my future plans. Spend some time asking God to reveal areas in your life where you are depending more on your plan than His. Ask the Holy Spirit to take control of all the “rooms” in your life that you haven’t opened to Him yet. After all, He is leading you beside “peaceful streams.” Who wouldn’t want that?

Psalm 24 Devotional by Chad December 6th, 2010

I used to think the Old Testament of the Bible was mostly about God the Father and his relationship with his people, the Israelites, while the New Testament was about Christ and his followers.  However, after studying the Old Testament, I’ve realized many of the authors in the Old Testament talk about Christ like they have a relationship with him as well.  This psalm, written by David, is a song about Christ:

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.” (Psalm 24:1-2)

“Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.  Who is this King of glory?  The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.  Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.  Who is he, this King of glory?  The Lord Almighty – he is the King of glory.” (Psalm 24:7-10)

As I read these verses, I noticed the phrase “King of glory” was repeated 5 times in 4 verses.  So it must be pretty important.  This entire chapter portrays Christ as the king of all of heaven and earth.  He is the King of Kings!  I think it’s important at all times to remember that Christ is the King and to treat him with reverence and honor.

However, there have been times in my life when I’ve viewed Christ more as a short order cook.  When I needed to do well on a test in school, or needed healing from a sickness, or I just needed wisdom on a decision, I prayed to God and asked him for something…as if I was ordering from a restaurant.  I didn’t spend a lot of time praising Christ for being a majestic King.  However, the more I recognize Christ is the King of kings and give him praise, the more I feel like I grow closer to him.  I now believe one of the key marks of Christian maturity is how much time each day we spend praising and thanking God.

How much time each day do you praise Christ for being the King above all kings?  How much time do you spend thanking him?  If Psalm 24 reveals any sin in your life, spend time confessing that sin to God and surrendering your life to him.  Spend time now

praising him for being a majestic King, for being the King of glory.  Give him the worship only he deserves.

Psalm 25 Short Devotional by Chad December 7th, 2010

“Show me your ways, O Lord,

     teach me your paths;

guide me in your truth and teach me,

     for you are God and Savior,

     and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:4-5)

This morning as I read this song, written by David, I was challenged deeply.  When I was trained years ago in college ministry, I was trained that good student leaders in campus ministry should be faithful, available and teachable.  This means they should be dependable and should do what they say they’ll do.  They should have room in their schedules to spend time with God and other people.  And last but not least, they should have a teachable spirit.

As I think back to my early days as a student leader on campus, I remember the initial struggle with my teachability.  At first, I thought I knew it all.  Well, I really didn’t, but I was so full of pride I acted like I knew it all.  The truth was I was struggling inside.  I acted like a Christian on the outside, but I was struggling to surrender my heart to the Lord.  Since then, I’ve had weeks when it’s been easy to surrender my heart to the Lord, especially when things are going well.  Then there are weeks when I struggle to surrender everything to him.  These past several days have been like that.  I’ve had the worst virus I’ve had in a few years and have had a high grade fever for the past several days.  It’s been a time I’ve needed intimacy with the Lord the most, and yet I’ve failed to constantly pray to him.  I’ve resorted to watching a lot of television to just “wait it out,” almost as if I’m putting my life on hold until I feel better. 

If any of this hits home with anyone else, you can pray the following prayer with me:

“Lord, I need you.  I confess I have not lived my life fully surrendered to you these past few days.  I’ve chosen to live life on my own terms and direct my own life instead of pursuing you with everything I am.  I now ask Christ to take the driver’s seat of my life.  As David said in Psalm 25, show me your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.  Guide me in your truth and teach me.  For you are my God and Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.  Make me the person you want me to be.  In Jesus name, Amen.”

Psalm 26 Short Devotional by Chad December 8th, 2010

“Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.  Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.  I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites; I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked.” (Psalm 26:1-5)

David starts out this song saying he has led a blameless life, but looking at his life in 1 and 2 Samuel as well as in other Psalms, it’s clear David is not talking about sinless perfection in these verses.  He struggled with sin just like we all do.  However, in these verses, David is talking about moral integrity.  Even God himself identified David as a man of integrity.  When David’s son Solomon finished building the temple, God appeared to him and said:

“As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever…” (1 Kings 9:4-5)

Wow!  How would you like it if God, the Creator of the universe, identified you as being a man or woman with integrity of heart and uprightness?  I know that’s what I want the King of Kings to say about me when I die and go to heaven.

What are the areas of your life in which you have integrity of heart and uprightness?  Are you completely honest in your classes or at work?  Are you trustworthy in your finances?  Do you give God’s money (he owns all our money) back to him?  Are you honest with your words?  What are areas in which you are not full of integrity?  This could include an unhealthy relationship, visiting unhealthy websites, wasting your time and not spending any time doing eternal things.  Above all, how are you doing in your walk with the Lord?  Are you falling in love with him?  Is your relationship with him authentic? 

Spend time confessing any sin these verses reveal.  Pray and surrender your heart to the Lord, asking Christ to take the driver’s seat of your life and make you the person he wants you to be.  Ask him to make you a man or a woman full of integrity of heart like David.

Psalm 27 Short Devotional by Chad December 9th, 2010

“One thing I ask of the Lord,

     this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

     all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

     and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)

Can you imagine all of the trials and hardships David, the author of a majority of the Psalms, went through?  If you read 1 and 2 Samuel, you get the picture.  As just a young boy, he was dubbed the next king by the prophet Samuel because King Saul, Israel’s first king, had disobeyed God.  David then spent the next many years running from Saul as Saul tried to have him killed many, many times.  After David finally became king, he spent many years at war with neighboring pagan nations.  He wasn’t the best dad because he spent so much time at war, and his son Absalom took over his kingship and ran him out of town.  He went to war with Absalom, and Absalom’s own men killed Absalom during that great battle.  Yet despite all of the trials, David wrote songs like Psalm 27, expressing adoration toward God and his unfailing pursuit of intimacy with the Lord.

What are some of the trials you’ve been through in your life?  For some of us, we’ve grown up in broken homes or unsafe home environments.  Some of us had parents with low or no incomes, and we grew up financially challenged.  Others of us grew up with few or no real friendships.  Others have had medical challenges.  I know I have had 8 major knee surgeries; so medical trials are a part of my story.

Now for the important question:  Have those trials brought you closer to God, or have you allowed those trials to take you further away from God?  The answer to that question and the path we choose is up to us.  God is always there, and he is always ready to bring us peace and comfort the way he did for David.  If our one thing we ask for and the one thing we seek is to “dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our lives” (like David in Psalm 27), God is ready to grant that request.

Spend time today meditating on Psalm 27.  Whatever sin the Lord reveals, spend time confessing it to God and asking him to help you turn away from it.  Surrender control of your life to him, and thank him for being your fortress during the times you need him.  Thank him for loving you and providing a way to eternal love and peace.

Psalm 28 Short Devotional by Chad December 10th, 2010

“Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy.  The Lord is my strength and shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” (Psalm 28: 6-7)

It’s interesting David begins this song by pleading to the Lord for mercy (verses 1-5).  Then in these two verses above, David sings words of joyful praise in confidence that his prayers of mercy have been heard.  As you read verses 6 and 7, you realize David really believed 100% that his prayers were heard and that God had already helped him.  He was genuinely excited!

Psalm 28 was a reminder to me that when I pray, I need to pray in confidence.  The way I pray may be just as important as what I pray.  James said something similar in James 5:13-20:  “And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well…(James 5:15)”  My personal application point this morning is to try to be a better listener when I am praying today.  When I sense the Lord laying something on my heart that I need to pray for, I will do a better job praying in faith that the Lord can accomplish the things I’m praying for.

What do you get out of these verses in Psalm 28?  Is there something the Lord is laying on your heart?  Are there sins you need to confess?  Is there an action point you need to take from it?  What do you need to do as a result of this passage?  Spend time surrendering your heart to God today and giving him the driver’s seat of your life.  Only God can offer the protection and satisfaction our hearts desire today.

Psalm 29 Devotional by Chad December 11th, 2010

“Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones,

     ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

     worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.” (Psalm 29:1-2)

Psalm 29 is a poetic song about the glory and splendor of God.  God is worthy to be praised.  Period.  No matter what our circumstances are, He is worthy to be praised.  Whether we are sick or whether we are having a bad day or a good day, God is worthy to be praised. 

That’s why when Jesus taught the disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, he taught them to open every prayer time with the statement, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”  We also see the right response to God in every circumstance displayed in the first chapter of Job.  In this chapter, Satan took away all of Job’s wealth and had Job’s

children killed in a massive disaster.  When Job received the news that his children had been taken away, he responded by saying, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21).” 

When I read these passages in the Bible along with Psalm 29, the thought crosses my mind that maybe my life is not about me.  Perhaps there are greater purposes in life than the purpose I often pursue of pleasing myself.  Maybe the purpose of my life is to bring glory to God, the Creator of the universe, who deserves all of that glory.

What does Psalm 29 say to you?  Are there any attitudes you need to change or sin you need to confess?  Spend time today praising God and giving him the glory He deserves.  Thank him for giving you life, and ask Him to make you the person He wants you to be.

Psalm 30 Short Devotional by Chad December 12th, 2010

“You turned my wailing into dancing;

     you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.

     O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.”  (Psalm 30:11-12)

I love this psalm, written by King David for the dedication of the temple.  Songwriter Darrell Evans used this psalm to write a praise and worship song entitled “Trading My Sorrows” a few years ago, if you’ve ever heard of it.  In this song, David rejoices that while sorrow may last for a night, joy in the Lord comes in the morning and lasts forever!

What are things in your life for which you need to rejoice today?  Perhaps you come from a loving family, and you can praise God for blessing you with a great family.  Perhaps you can rejoice in the Christmas season and all the joy and peace this time of year brings.  We can all praise and Lord and be thankful we live in a free country, where we are free to openly worship the Lord.  Spend time today rejoicing in the Lord and thanking him for all the blessings He’s given!

Psalm 31 – A short Devotional by Aaron December 13th, 2010

“In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge;Let me never be put to shame;Deliver me in your righteousness.”

Where have you found your refuge? To what are you clinging to for your hope and your ultimate satisfaction? David is reaffirming in whom he has put his trust. He didn’t have to remind God, he had to remind himself. Prayer is one of the most interesting things in our relationship with God. God doesn’t have to listen to us, but He does. David is asking God to take care of him since he has placed ALL of his hope in God.

“Since you are my rock and my fortress,For the sake of your name lead and guide me.”

Why should God take care of us? The immediate answer is his mercy and grace, but we also need to remember that God takes care of us because it brings Him glory. Have you ever thought about the fact that you putting your faith in God gives Him glory? When we turn over control of our lives to God, we are actually bringing glory to the God that made the universe by laying our lives as sacrifices at the foot of His throne! What an awesome picture!

David then goes into a list of his troubles and problems in life, but he ends it the way all Christians should end a listing of their troubles:

“But I trust in you, O Lord;I say, ‘You are my God.’My times are in your hands…”

One of the most wonderful women I’ve ever met, “Memaw” as I affectionately called her, quoted this verse on her 90th birthday while in the middle of physical struggles. She was ready to start her eternity with a God who loved her, but she also knew that while she was here on earth, she had a job to do. She ended up living an additional 8 years, and she managed to serve God with everything she had right until the day she went to spend an eternity with Him. Memaw knew that her job was to tell others of the wonderful relationship we have with a loving God who wants to spend an eternity with us through His son Jesus Christ.

I’ll close with David’s words of Praise. I can say that for most of my life I haven’t depended solely on God. Whether it has been popularity, sexual satisfaction, or wealth, I’ve run to other places for my joy and peace. Nothing ever satisfied and everything always left me emptier than before, but I can tell you that Christ has fulfilled every promise He ever made. Whatever resident idol you have put on the throne of your life to help you through your hard times, God is calling you here in this Psalm to run to Him for satisfaction. He has promised you an abundant life; are you bringing glory to Him with your every day decisions?

“Love the Lord, all his saints!The Lord preserves the faithful,but the proud he pays back in full.Be strong and take heart,all you who hope in the Lord.”

Psalm 32 Short Devotional by ChadPosted on March 27, 2011 by admin

“Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him

And in whose spirit is no deceit.” (Psalm 32:1-2)

I can relate to David’s joy and thankfulness to the Lord in this song. There is no feeling as wonderful as the feeling you get when you realize you are forgiven by God even though we are all unworthy of his forgiveness. It’s a feeling of true joy and happiness in the Lord.

But what do we do when we don’t feel forgiven? How can we experience the joy of fogiveness? I like how David answers those questions and explains how we can experience God’s forgiveness in the same song:

“For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.

I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’ – and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” (Psalm 32:4-5)

Are you experiencing God’s grace today? If so, spend time praying this song back to God and thanking him. If not, is there unconfessed sin in your life keeping you from experiencing God’s forgivenss? Spend time confessing any sin the Lord reveals in your life so that you may sing like David and experience the joy of grace and salvation the Lord wants every one of his followers to have. Blessed is the man or lady whose sins are covered!

Psalm 33 Short Devotional by ChadPosted on March 28, 2011 by admin

My wife Elizabeth and I have had an eventful weekend. For two years, we’ve felt like the Lord was calling us to adopt a baby. We started the adoption process a year ago, and we’ve been fully approved as adoptive parents for 4 months. A week ago, we received a call from a pastor in NC. One of the members of his congregation had a seven week old baby girl, and the family was looking for an adoptive family (it’s a long story – but you would understand why the birth mother is looking for adoptive parents if you knew the situation). For the last two days, Elizabeth and I have had skype conversations with the birth mother and have answered all her questions. Last night, she said she felt our family was the right fit for her little girl. If all goes as planned, we could have a new little baby daughter in our family within the next two weeks!

As I read Psalm 33 this morning, I couldn’t help but praise the Lord and marvel at the truth behind the song. Here are just a few lines from the song:

“Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him.

For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.

But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” (Psalm 33:8-11)

Spend time today revering the Lord, give him praise for his greatness. What are the things in your life for which you need to be thankful? What are the blessings God has given you? Spend time thanking him, remembering that his plans never fail. He always works everything (even bad things) out for our good in the end. He is watching over us, taking care of us, and providing for us. Focus on God’s goodness throughout the day today, giving him praise and thanks.

Psalm 34 Short Devotional by ChadPosted on March 29, 2011 by admin

The Lord Delivers

I’ve had 8 major knee surgeries from old football wounds, and two weeks ago something happened to one of my knees that can’t be good. I have a doctor’s appointment on Wednesday, and I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t say I need a knee replacement. Six years ago, my knee surgeon predicted I would need a knee replacement in five years. So far, however, I haven’t felt much worry or sadness over the problem. Years ago, I would have been completely depressed about it, but something has changed inside of me over the years. I believe it’s Bible passages like Psalm 34 that have strengthened me:

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;

he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.” (Psalm 34:17-20)

You see, I no longer struggle as much with a lack of hope. I believe my story will have a happy ending. My knees are broken, but my hope is found in eternity. One day there will be no more pain or sorrow after Jesus returns and the earth is glorified (Isaiah 65). I also believe there are eternal rewards in heaven for true believers who are faithful during their lives on earth. The Bible says that those who persevere through trials will receive an eternal crown – the crown of life.

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

What stands out to you in Psalm 34? What are ways the Lord has delivered you? Think of specific ways the Lord has helped you through trials, and spend time thanking him and praising him for it. Sometimes we may think circumstances in our lives are coincidental, but the Bible says that every good thing in our lives is from God. Let’s give him the credit and the praise he deserves.

“Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows.” (James 1:16-17)

Psalm 35 Devotional by Scott HewettPosted on March 30, 2011 by SHewett

“Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;

fight against those who fight against me!”

In this psalm David is crying out to the Lord for help against his pursuers.

As believers we should not be ashamed to pray to God in this manner, David is asking that the schemes of the pursuers will fail and that they will suffer disappointment and humiliation.  Some of the reasons believers should pray like this are:

1. God’s protection of his children means that he must stop the schemes of those who want to harm them2. It is a just pray because the pursuers “desire evil” and are “without cause”3. Finally this pray is a plead out of true faith that God will provide

“Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord,

exulting in  his salvation.”

David looks forward to the joy and gratitude he will experience after the request is answered, this shows how much faith he has that God will answer his pray.

“But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered;

they gathered together against me”

David again talks about how they mistreat him, how when he stumbles that gather against him, but when they were sick, he helped they and he prayed for them, this is meant to show how unjust and cruel they were.  David continues to tell God how they scheme against him, and he asked God again “let them be put to shame and disappointment” and “let them be clothed with shame and dishonor”. Then at the end of the psalm he says:

“Great is the LORD,

who delights in the welfare of his servant!”

Here David is again referring to his future joy when his pray is answered, but not only he will rejoice but all “who delight in my righteousness” will rejoice to God for answering David’s pray.

This psalm shows how great God is, David is unable to handle his pursuers on his own but he is completely faithful that God will take care of him, this shows the power of God and how even King David can do nothing without him.

Are you dependent on God? Or do you think you can handle life and all of its worries by yourself? Spend some time today in pray asking God to make you more dependent on him, and to show you the sin that is keeping you from being dependent on him, it might be pride. Lastly rejoice in all that God is going to do in your life and in all the future prays that he will answer.

Psalm 36 Devotional by ChadPosted on March 31, 2011 by admin

Psalm 36 was made contemporary recently when the band Third Day used the lyrics from it in their song, “Your Love, Oh Lord.”

“Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep.” (Psalm 36:5-6)

These words ring so true this morning as I think about the Lord’s love and justice at work in the process of adoption. Two weeks ago, I received a phone call from a pastor of a church in North Carolina asking if we would consider adopting a newborn baby girl.

Yesterday, my wife Elizabeth and I received several pictures of our new addition to our family, Josilynn Grace. Her nickname is Josi. Josi was born on February 8th and is seven weeks old. She is so pretty!

We’ve given all of our SC paperwork to the birth mother’s lawyer, who is trying to complete the adoption this week. It appears, however, that sometime next week we will drive to North Carolina to complete the paperwork and welcome Josi into our family.

Looking back, it’s encouraging to see how the Lord’s hand was in this entire situation – despite some difficult trials. Josi’s birth mother and the birth mother’s parents are believers. We won’t share the circumstances behind the adoption, but the birth mother as well as her pastor and church family have been praying for Josi and her adoptive parents for the past two months. We believe the Lord may have answered their prayers by laying something on our hearts two years ago.

Two years ago, we felt the Lord was calling us to adopt a baby girl. As we prayed about it during the next year, we specifically felt he was leading us to adopt a bi-racial child. Jocilynn is bi-racial.

As we began the adoption process last April, we specifically felt led to pray for the birth mother. We had a feeling there would be difficult circumstances surrounding the pregancy. We prayed for the birth mother’s health, both spiritually and physically, and for the baby’s health. We’ve prayed for both of them every day for the past year.

Now that we’ve met Josilynn and her birth mother online, we realize they are the two people we’ve been praying for. Not only do we love Josi and care for her already, but we love her birth mother as well. Josi’s birth mother has a wonderful heart, and we know we are adopting a daughter who will have a wonderful heart as well.

What examples of the Lord’s love, righteousness and justice in your life come to mind when you read Psalm 36? Is there any sin in your life these verses are leading you to confess? Spend time praising God for his love, righteousness and justice. Confess your sin, and surrender your life completety to the Lord. He is the God of our present, our past and our future. He is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega, and he is the only one who can change our lives.

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” (Rev. 4:8)

Psalm 37 Short Devotional by Nancy CastilloPosted on April 1, 2011 by Nancy Castillo

In this passage, we see what a relationship with God looks like and what is the consequence of not having a relationship with God.    Go through the passage and write down what David says about the righteous and what is said about the wicked. What sticks out to you? Who is considered friends with God? Who is considered an enemy of God? How is the relationship between the righteous and God different than the relationship between the wicked and God?

If you have given your life to Jesus and have accepted him as your Lord and Saviour, be encouraged. Know that you are righteous before the Lord due to your relationship with Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross! What are some things that the righteous are told to do? (for example: v. 3-9). Take some time to thank the Lord for the blessings that you have received through Christ. Ask the Lord to help you accept these blessings and to grow in your intimacy with Him. Pray also that the Lord may continue to strengthen you in your Spirit so that you may be able to comprehend the greatness of Christ’s love (Ephesians 3:16-19). 

If you have not given your life to Jesus but would like to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, you can do that now. The bible says in Romans 10:9-10 that, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” By accepting Jesus as Lord, you are entering into a relationship with God. If you pray this, I encourage you to tell a friend who also follows Jesus or a Pastor in your community to help you continue to grow in your relationship with God.

Psalm 38 Devotional by ChadPosted on April 2, 2011 by admin

This song was most likely written by David after he sinned by having an affair with Bathsheba and then having her husband murdered. Some Biblical scholars believe David was temporarily stricken with leprosy, the “sin disease,” as a punishment for his sin.

“O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.

For your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down upon me.

Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin.

My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.” (Psalm 38:1-4)

The Bible is clear to point out there are negative consequences when we sin against God, against others, or against our bodies. As you reflect on this Psalm, what consequences of your past sins come to mind? We have all sinned, and we’ve all struggled with the consequences of our sin.

If the Lord uses Psalm 38 to bring any unconfessed sin to mind, spend time confessing your sin and surrendering your life to God. Ask him to bring healing to the areas where your sin has caused wounds. Ask him to heal others who have been hurt by your sin. Pray David’s prayer at the end of his song:

“O Lord, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.” (Psalm 38:21-22)

Psalm 39 Short Devotional by ChadPosted on April 3, 2011 by admin

This song was written by David during one of his trials, possibly when his son Absalom conspired against him and took over his kingdom temporarily.

“What am I doing in the meantime, Lord? Hoping, that’s what I’m doing – hoping you’ll save me from a rebel life, save me from the contempt of dunces.

I’ll say no more, I’ll shut my mouth, since you, Lord, are behind all this.” (Psalm 39:7-10)

These verses hit home with me because three weeks ago, I tore the meniscus (cartilage) in my left knee. I’ve had 8 major knee surgeries from old football wounds, but my left knee has been great since my last surgery 6 years ago. I visited my knee surgeon on Thursday, and he said it would be at least 3-4 weeks before he had time in his schedule for surgery. So I’ll just need to wait while I walk on crutches and my muscles in my left leg weaken.

These verses remind me there is a purpose for our trials, even when we don’t understand. In the book of Job, Job lost all of his possessions and his children because Satan was allowed by God to test Job. Job brought God glory when he praised God in the midst of his trials. We need to be like Job and praise God when we face trials just like we praise him when we experience his blessings.

Are you going through any trials? If so, how are you responding to them? Are you responding with praise and hope like David and Job? Spend time thanking God for the blessings in your life, and thank him for the trials he has given you. Ask him for strength to give him praise and glory in the midst of them, and ask him to help you to persevere through them so you will have greater faith in the Lord.

Psalm 40 Devotional by ChadPosted on April 4, 2011 by admin

I love this Psalm written by David because it reminds me so much of the many times the Lord has answered my prayers when I’ve called out to him.

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.” (Psalm 40:1-3)

This passage also reminds me that God is omniscient (he knows everything). He is always listening and even knows my thoughts before I think them. He knows my struggles and my failures. He knows when I do good, and he knows when I sin. As I’ve been studying God’s omniscience this past week, the following are some verses I studied. It’s comforting and encouraging to realize God is always watching, and he’s always in control:

God knows everything. He is perfect in knowledge. His understanding is infinite.

      1 John 3:19-20 [19] This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence [20] whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

      Job 37:16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?

      Psalms 147:5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

He sees all that occurs in every place and keeps watch upon the just and the wicked.

      Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

      Ezekiel 8:12 He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’”

He watches all mankind and considers each person’s works. He sees the ways of men, and He examines all each man’s goings.

      Psalms 33:13-15 [13] From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; [14] from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth — [15] he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.

      Proverbs 5:21 For a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths.

He knows all man’s deeds and experiences.

      Psalms 139:2-3 [2] You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. [3] You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

He knows all man’s words.

      Psalms 139:4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. 

He knows all man’s sorrows.

      Exodus 3:7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.”

He understands all our motives. He understands our thoughts from a distance.

      Psalms 139:1-2 [1] O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. [2] You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

      1 Chronicles 28:9 And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

God’s knowledge extends to minutest particulars.

      Matthew 10:29-30 [29] Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. [30] And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

God has always known everything that will ever happen.

      Acts 15:16-18 [16] ‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, [17] that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things’ [18] that have been known for ages.

      Isaiah 46:9-10 [9] Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. [10] I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.

God knows from the beginning what each individual man will do.

      1 Peter 1:20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.

      Mark 13:32 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

      Matthew 20:17-19 [17] Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, [18] “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death [19] and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

       2 Kings 7:1-2 [1] Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the LORD says: About this time tomorrow, a seah of flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.” [2] The officer on whose arm the king was leaning said to the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?” “You will see it with your own eyes,” answered Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it!”

The whole plan of the ages and each man’s part in it has been known to God from all eternity.

      Ephesians 1:9-12 [9] And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, [10] to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. [11] In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, [12] in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

      Ephesians 3:6, 8-9 [6] This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. … [8] … I am … to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, [9] and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

Spend time praising God for his omniscience, and thank him for the blessings he’s given you. Confess any sin these verses reveal in your life, and surrender your whole heart to the God who knows everything.

Psalm 41 Devotional by Jonathan StaffordPosted on April 5, 2011 by JStafford

Psalm 41 is a very unique chapter because along with basic life lessons there is prophesy of Jesus throughout it. The events that the Psalm is describing the last days of Jesus’ life.

The expressed hope of Jesus’ enemies

5 My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die, and his name perish?”

Judas makes his arrangements

6 And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad.

The enemies of Jesus talk about their plans against him

7 All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.

8 They say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him; he will not rise again from where he lies.”

Judas and Jesus relationship

9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

Aside from the prophesy about Jesus there are other lessons from this chapter.  Look at verse 1: “Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble.” It is crucial to see the action in this verse.  The action is going out from the man towards other people.  David  is not commanding or encouraging the readers to become a better person by trying to perfect yourself in what you do.  It pleases the Lord when we move from building ourselves up to building others up.  Look at Jesus.  John 13 Jesus washes his disciples’ feet. The Messiah chose to serve others and  to wash their feet instead of being served, which is what he deserved.

Too often we expect to be served because we feel a sense of entitlement.  However Jesus says that “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and servant to all.”  So throughout the day I challenge you to look for and find ways to serve others and try to lift up the people around you.

Psalm 42 Devotional by ChadPosted on April 6, 2011 by admin

When I was younger, there was a popular song entitled “As the Deer” written using the lyrics from this song. Perhaps you’ve heard it.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:1-2)

Have you ever been able to relate to these verses? Have you ever really thirsted (in a spiritual sense) for God? The Bible says that as believers, we have a new Spirit and an inner longing to spend time with God.

“On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.’ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” (John 7:37-39)

How often do you spend time with God? That’s what we were created to do – to have eternal fellowship with God. When we don’t walk closely with him, there’s a part of us that isn’t alive. We lack the spiritual nourishment we need. Spend time confessing any sin these verses reveal in your life, and make a plan to spend quality time with God this week. Can you set your alarm for a prayer walk and/or Bible study in the morning? Can you spend less time on the internet or playing video games? Whatever the distractions are right now in your life keeping you from experiencing God, set them aside this week to renew yourself by spending time with Jesus.

Psalm 43 – A Devotional by Aaron TrippPosted on April 7, 2011 by Aaron Tripp

This Psalm has two main points as I see it. It clearly shows where we should find our justification and how we should respond during times of crisis. So, where do you run for justification? The author of this Psalm is clearly saying where we should run.

1Declare me innocent, O God!Defend me against these ungodly people.Rescue me from these unjust liars.

Yet we often run to everything but God. When people slander us or accuse us of wrong doing, we fight and yell to prove them wrong. Christ promises us in the Sermon on the Mount that people will persecute us. How we handle it can make all the difference in the world as to whether or not they try to do it again. The next question ties in perfectly, how do you respond to hard times?

5 Why am I discouraged?Why is my heart so sad?I will put my hope in God!I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!

Throughout the Psalm, the author asks for guidance and help while admitting how upset he is. He has a sense of hopelessness, but he won’t let that blind him to the fact that God is in control. When those storms come, when people level unjust accusations against us, it’s ok to be upset. What the Psalmist is saying, is that we have to push through those feelings as we remember that God is ultimately bigger than our problems and He will get us through it. You see, the truth is that Christ died on the cross so that we would have an eternal hope, an eternal relationship with God that is more important than any troubles on this earth. When you accept Christ as your savior, his sacrifice covers over your faults and gives you a relationship that will never go away, no matter what other people say or do to us!

Psalm 44 Devotional by ChadPosted on April 8, 2011 by admin

Sometimes things just don’t seem to go our way, and only God knows why. That’s the theme of this chapter, just as it’s the theme of the book of Job. In this song, the sons of Korah are crying out to God, asking him for their help as they are being destroyed by their enemies. They don’t seem to understand why God is allowing them to suffer:

“All this happened to us, though we had not forgotten you or been false to your covenant. Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path. But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals and covered us over with deep darkness.

“If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart? Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” (Psalm 44:17-22)

I can relate to these verses as recently I tore my meniscus in my knee. I’ve already had 8 major knee surgeries on both knees, and now I’m on crutches once again. My surgeon has a busy schedule and couldn’t schedule me for surgery for another month; so I’m biding time for the next month as I walk on crutches and await a surgery.

I can’t control my circumstances, but I can control my attitude. Knowing that God is the one who allowed everything to happen to me the way it did, I can choose to trust him and follow him. God allowed me to face this trial so that he can use it to refine me and shape my character.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

What are some trials in your life right now? Are you going through a struggle with your health? Is your family struggling? Are you dealing with a broken relationship? Spend some time today thanking God for them, acknowledging that God has allowed you to go through them in order to develop your character. If you feel convicted for any wrong attitudes you’ve had about your trials, spend time confessing your sins to God and asking him to help you have an attitude of trust in him. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Psalm 45 Devotional by ChadPosted on April 10, 2011 by admin

Have you ever had anyone ask you where Jesus is in the Old Testament of the Bible? The answer is that Jesus is talked about throughout the entire Old Testament, from Genesis through the minor prophets. Psalm 45 is a song written to Jesus the King:

“You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been annointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever. Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display your awesome deeds. Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet. Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a sceptor of justice will be the sceptor of your kingdom.” (Psalm 45:2-6)

At first when you start reading the Psalm it seems like it is written for an earthly king since it describes him as “the most excellent of men.” However, by the time you get to verse 6 (“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever”), you realize it is written to Jesus, the King of Kings.

As you read Psalm 45, ask yourself if you worship Jesus as the King like the psalmist does in this song. What are the areas in which you haven’t made Christ the King in your life? Examples can include how you spend your time – if you spend daily time with the Lord, your relationships with believers or friends who don’t follow Christ, personal purity, etc. Spend time confessing any sin that you need to confess, and get your heart right before God. Not only is he a majestic King, but he’s constantly pursuing us, inviting us to have an intimate relationship with him. Only Christ can satisfy our deepest longings and make us who he created us to be.

Psalm 46 Short Devotional by ChadPosted on April 11, 2011 by admin

“Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

How often do you just take time to sit and be still, reflecting on God’s character and his attributes, acknowledging who he is? One of the biggest barriers that keeps us from being authentic in our faith is the busyness of life. We get so caught up in “doing” that we fail to just “be.” In other words, our busy activities such as our jobs, school, Christian work, and leadership responsibilities distract us from spending time with God and just being in love with him. When we fail to spend quiet time with him praying and also just listening to God in

silence, we fail to get direction from the one who has a plan for our lives, and we forget who we were created to be.

Take some time today to go somewhere and just be silent before the Lord. Think about his character, his goodness, and the mercy he showed by sending his Son to die for us. Meditate on a verse of the Bible you are memorizing, such as Psalm 46:10 above. After you spend time in silence before God, see if your perspective on life has changed. When I spend time in silence before God, he moves right up my priority list, and I remember I was created to have an authentic relationship with him. His love gives me the satisfaction my busy activities can never give me.

Psalm 47 Devotional by ChadPosted on April 12, 2011 by admin

This song was written by the Sons of Korah, the same Psalmists who wrote their desperate plea for God’s deliverance from their enemies in Psalm 44. Listen to their joy in this song after God delivered them:

“Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth!

He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.

God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.” (Psalm 47:1-6)

Have you ever felt as joyful and thankful to God as the Sons of Korah felt in these verses? James 1:17 says that every good thing that happens to us comes from God, and we need to acknowledge him, praise him and thank him for the great things he has done. If you have a pen and paper, take some time to write down all of the good things that have happened to you that you need to be thankful for. Pray through these verses above by thanking God for each and every thing that comes to your mind. Being thankful is the cure to cynicism in our lives and our bad attitudes we get when we take our eyes off Christ.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:15-17)

Psalm 48 Devotional by ChadPosted on April 13, 2011 by admin

This song, written by the Sons of Korah, is about the marvelous things that God has done, but at the end of the song the psalmists say we shouldn’t just keep to ourselves the stories of the great things God has done. We should tell others about the great things he has done!

“We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. As your name, O God, so your praise reaches the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness. Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments!

Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.” (Psalm 48:9-14)

If we really believe that discovering how we could have a relationship with God was the best news we’ve ever had, why wouldn’t we want to tell everyone we know about it? That’s exactly what this psalm is about – telling everyone about how amazing, powerful, and faithful our God is!

Have you ever shared the good news of Jesus to your friends or family members who don’t know him? If not, what has been keeping you from telling them? Is it because you don’t feel confident in sharing your faith? Is it because you lack the love or compassion for people who don’t know God that Jesus has (read Matthew 9:35-37 to see how compassionate he was)?

Confess any sin these verses reveal in your life. If you lack the love for people who don’t know Christ, ask the Lord to give you the love for them that he has. Ask God to help you be more like the Sons of Korah, the authors of Psalm 48, so “that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever.”

“Dust in the Wind” – Ps. 49 Devotional by ChadPosted on April 14, 2011 by admin

Psalm 49, written by the Sons of Korah, was a reminder to me this morning that our lives here on earth will pass away quickly. By far, the things in our lives that are really the most important are eternal things such as spending time with God and leading others toward Christ. In the words of the great philosophers in the band known as Kansas, “All we are is dust in the wind.”

“For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others.

Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they call lands by their own names.

Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.” (Psalm 49:10-12)

As you look toward the summer months, have you made any plans to do things that last forever? The summertime is a good time to go on mission trips or support others who go on mission trips. If you have a job this summer that won’t allow you to travel, consider making a monthly pledge with your finances to support someone who is going on a mission trip. Also, if you are working and can’t take time off, consider finding a weekend retreat or conference you can attend to grow in your personal relationship with God.

How are you doing at living your life in light of eternity? What changes do you need to make in your life to do better? Spend time confessing any sin these verses reveal in your life, and surrender your heart completely to God. He has made you with a wonderful plan, and only he can make us the people he created us to be. Our lives here on earth may be like dust in the wind, but God has created us with an eternal purpose. He has an eternal plan for our lives!

Psalm 50. Devotional by Scott HewettPosted on April 15, 2011 by SHewett

Psalm 50 is a psalm of Asaph and the main idea of this Psalm is worship.

The theme is all wrapped up in the last verse when it says:

“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;

to one who orders his ways rightly

I will show the salvation of God”

This Psalm has 3 major sections the first (50:1-6) is God summons the earth to assemble before him.  Here we see how Mighty God is, when he calls he expects the all of mankind to listen to him, and rightly so.

The next section (50:7-15) God commands his people to worship him from their heart.  Here God tells his people that he does not need their sacrifices because all of creation belongs to him.  He calls us to worship from the heart, to let Thanksgiving be our worship.  Do you always worship from the heart? or sometimes is it just out of habit, or maybe you think that worshiping by doing good works, or sacrificing your time for the needy will save you? The Israelites thought that sacrifices would work.  In reality God desires to have a relationship with us so he can deliver us and we can glorify him and he is the only one that can deliver us.

The last section (50:16-22) of this Psalm is God rebukes the wicked.  Here God rebukes the wicked, for hating his discipline that he gives to all his children. Instead of wanting to stay in the covenant of God they would rather be in the presence of thieves and adulterers. They thought because of Gods silence that he approved of their behavior and was as greedy as they were but God issues this rebuke out of his great mercy so that they can repent.

So think about how you worship, do you worship from your heart because of the love you have for God, and because of how thankful you are for your salvation? or do you worship him out of your own motives?  Be in pray about this and ask God to give you pure motives for all that you do, and thank him for all that he has done for you today.

Psalm 51 Devotional by ChadPosted on April 17, 2011 by admin

This song is one of the most popular Psalms written by David. It was written when the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12). When David was confronted by Nathan, he confessed his sin to God: “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge” (Ps. 51:4).

David then went on to write the words that have been made popular in contemporary Christian music:

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.” (Ps. 51:10-12)

As you reflect on this song, what unconfessed sin is the Lord revealing in your life? Spend time confessing your sins to God, asking him to change your heart and restore the joy of your salvation. Reflect on verses 10-12, asking God to give you a pure heart and make you the person he created you to be.

Psalm 52 Short Devotional by ChadPosted on April 18, 2011 by admin

David wrote this Psalm as he was running from Saul. He wrote it in response to Doeg the Edomite’s report that David had gone to the house of Ahimelech. Note the contrast in these verses between those who are evil and those who fear God.

Those who are evil:  “You love every harmful word, O you deceitful tongue!” (Psalm 52:4)

Those who fear God: “But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.” (Psalm 52:8)

Which one of these verses best describes you? If we are honest with ourselves, I think we would all say that the first verse (v. 4) describes each of us at least some of the time. We are all sinful, and our sin causes us to have a broken relationship with God. This is why Christ was sent to die for our sins – to mend our broken relationship with God. We can now flourish spiritually by confessing our sins to God and surrendering our hearts to Christ:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Spend time today confessing any sin to God that the Holy Spirit lays on your heart. Invite Christ to take control of your life and help you to flourish in your relationship with God. Thank him for dying on the cross for us, giving us the opportunity to experience an abundant and joyful life!

Psalm 53 Short Devotional by ChadPosted on April 20, 2011 by admin

“God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.

Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Psalm 53:2-3)

This Psalm is pretty well known because it is a key passage in the Bible which says that every single one of us is sinful. While some religions claim we can earn salvation by good works, one distinctive of Christianity is that the Bible says we can never be good enough to earn salvation. None of us is righteous. No one deserves eternal life.

Every time I read this passage, I’m immediately convicted of sin in my life. What sin is God laying on your heart as you read this passage? Spend time today praying the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 in your own words. When you get to verse 12 where it says, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors,” confess any sin the Lord reveals in your heart to God. Ask him to forgive you of your sin, purify your heart, and make you the person he wants you to be. Only God can change our hearts. He created us to do good things, and he can restore the righteousness to us that only Christ can bring.

Psalm 54 Short Devotional by ChadPosted on April 21, 2011 by admin

“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” (Psalm 54:4)

Today we have a very short devotional from a very short Psalm. What are the areas in your life in which you need God’s help? Are you struggling with a broken relationship? Do you need God’s wisdom and guidance concerning a summer job or your future career? Are you stressed out because the busyness of life is wearing you down?

Spend time today praying through the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Notice how the prayer starts out with: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name.” When we put God first in our prayers, it helps us have the perspective that our lives as Christians belong to God. This means whenever we have trials, we should consider how we can glorify God in this trial and what God may be teaching us through it. This coming Monday, I’m having my 9th knee surgery. When I think about how much God used those times to shape my character and keep me dependent on him, I realize I wouldn’t be the person I am today without those trials. So today when you pray for God’s help, ask him to help you have a good attitude during your trials and help you to bring glory to him in the good times and the tough times.

Psalm 55 Devotional by ChadPosted on April 22, 2011 by admin

Created On Purpose

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” (Psalm 55:22)

This verse in Psalm 55 reminds me so much of some of my other favorite passages:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16)

A funny thing that just happened is I spent a considerable amount of time writing an entire devotional, and when I went to go save it, my computer froze. I lost everything. I immediately got frustrated and angry.

Then it hit me. David was experiencing much more frustration and personal struggle when he wrote this song than I’ll probably ever experience. God blessed him beyond measure and made him the greatest king on earth, but David also faced more tests and trials than anyone. He failed many times as well, but ultimately he remembered that his life was not all about himself. His purpose in being created was to glorify God and have fellowship with God.

For a few minutes when my computer froze a few minutes ago, I forgot that my purpose in being created is to glorify God and have fellowship with him – even while I was writing this devotional. How ironic!

Where are you searching for purpose for your life? Do you live your life as if your number one purpose is to work, go to school, get married or raise a family? Although all of those things can be great things, ultimately they cannot bring the inner satisfaction that an intimate relationship with God can bring. I confess I so often forget my purpose, even in an instant when something bad happens to my computer.

Spend time confessing any sin these verses reveal in your life. Surrender your life completely to Christ, and ask him to help you fulfill your purpose today by bringing glory to him and experiencing fellowship with him. Ask him to make you the person he created you to be.

Psalm 56 Short Devotional by ChadPosted on April 23, 2011 by admin

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.” (Psalm 56:3-4)

This week is a bit of a trying time for me, and Psalm 56 really hit home. My wife Elizabeth and I have been in the process of adopting a baby girl, Josilynn, from Greensboro, NC, four hours away from home. We got to meet her and spend a couple of days with her last week, but we couldn’t bring her home because we don’t have custody of her yet and are waiting on a judge to set a court date. It’s been tough because the lawyer representing us has been saying for a month that the court date should be any day now. Yet we’ve just been waiting and still haven’t gotten a court date. There are all sorts of fearful thoughts that have been running through our minds as we wonder if the adoption will ever take place, but we know the Lord has called us to this adoption and that we need to trust in him.

On top of the adoption worries, I’m having a knee surgery on Monday morning (two days). Hopefully, it will be a minor outpatient surgery, but there is a chance the doctor could see major damage and perform a major surgery while he’s in there. How will this surgery affect the adoption? If the court date is set for this next week, will I feel well enough to travel to NC to go to court and gain custody of Josilynn?

Psalm 56 is my reminder today that God is in control. He’s right here with me, walking beside me (as I’m walking on crutches) each step of the way. I have nothing to fear since God wants the very best for me and will work everything out for my good.

What kinds of fears are you facing in your life? Are there circumstances out of your control that you are burdened by? Spend time praising God for being sovereign – always in control. Confess any fears you have, and ask God to give you the peace that surpasses all understanding as you place your burdens at his feet. Ask him to help your faith grow as you learn to trust in him and give him all your cares and worries.

“I will render thank offerings to you. For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feel from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.” (Psalm 56:12-13)

Psalm 57 Devotional by ChadPosted on April 24, 2011 by admin

“I will cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!” (Psalm 57:2-3)

David wrote this song while he was in a cave fleeing from Saul. Ultimately God sent Jesus to save us by dying on the cross for our sins. There are so many ways God saved his people in the Bible (from slavery in Egypt, from starvation in the desert on the way to the Promised Land, etc.), but all of those rescues paled in comparison to Jesus’ death and resurrection – saving us from eternal separation from God.

This morning as I was enjoying Resurrection Sunday, I read a passage from Luke 24 which reminded me what happened that morning at the tomb two thousand years ago:

“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” (Luke 24:1-7)

Today let’s remember the gospel – the good news that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. The story wouldn’t have been so great without Resurrection Sunday – the day Jesus rose from the dead. He’s alive and with us right now! That’s great news! If you have any unconfessed sin in your life, confess your sins to God and surrender your heart fully to Christ. Ask him to fill you with the Holy Spirit and allow you to experience a wonderful day full of the peace and love of Christ.

Psalm 58 Short Devotional by Nancy CastilloPosted on April 25, 2011 by Nancy Castillo

Read Psalm 58.

In this Psalm 58, you get a glimpse of what human righteousness leads to. This chapter is looking specifically at the judges of Israel. But, when you think about it, really all governments have their flaws. Most claim to be right, yet, our righteousness leads to violence (verse 2). The reason for the flaws in our own righteousness is due to the human condition. According to Romans 3: 9-18, no one is righteous. How can we be truly just, if we ourselves do not know this kind of righteousness? Yet the beauty of this psalm is that the writer is not asking to have an opportunity to punish the wicked for their unrighteous acts but, asking God to punish them for their unrighteous acts. You see God’s righteousness leads to glorifying Him (verse 11). 

Do you ever find yourself taking matters into your own hands? Have you trusted God to rightly act on your behalf? What is God saying to you through this psalm? Take some time to reflect on your own life. Confess anything you have tried to do in your own righteousness and let God fight on your behalf. Trust that the Lord will be just. He may not act the way you think He will but, I promise that He will act and it will bring glory to Him.

“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.

Turn from evil and do good;   then you will dwell in the land forever.For the LORD loves the just   and will not forsake his faithful ones.”

-Psalm 37:25-28

Psalm 59 Short Devotional by Nancy CastilloPosted on April 26, 2011 by Nancy Castillo

Read Psalm 59.

This Psalm was written by David during a time in which he was being persecuted by King Saul. He hadn’t done anything wrong (verse 3). Imagine how that would feel. Some of you may have experienced that in one way or another. What do we do when people rise up against us? Do we stand and try to fight against them? Or do we let God fight for us? So often, we try to take matters into our own hands and forget that God is in control. Some times praying and seeking God is the last thing on our mind when a situation arises.

We must learn from David. God was truly his fortress and strength. When God called him to fight a giant in His name David did it without hesitation. When God called him to not kill the king, even when he had the “right” (in our eyes) and opportunity, David obeyed God (read 1 Samuel 26). David feared God and knew who God personally. He knew that God had the power to do as He pleased. He knew that God would deliver the righteous and trusted in Him.Do I know that God will deliver me? Or do I still trust in my own strength? Can I truly say that God is my Strength and fortress? Or do I rely on myself? Friends? Family? Money? What is the Lord saying to you today? Take some time to confess any sins. Ask the Lord to be your refuge and your fortress. Start getting to know Him. Seek Him daily. You will see, that when you truly know God, you would have to be silly not to trust Him fully.

Psalm 60 Short Devotional by ChadPosted on April 29, 2011 by admin

“Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.” (Psalm 60:5)

David wrote this song during a desperate time of fighting. He called out to God, that he and his army would be saved and delivered.

How closely this story and this song parellels the gospel. God created us to know him personally and have an everlasting relationship with him, but we broke God’s heart by choosing to live our lives independently from him. God didn’t just give up on us, though. He sent his one and only son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins so that we could be eternally delivered from death and brought into the family of God. If we desperately cry out to God as David did in this Psalm and acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are saved!

The story doesn’t just end there, though. Once we are a part of God’s family, we can often forget our identity in Christ if we fail to trust and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. If we don’t spend time with God and walk intimately with him, we cease to live life the way it was meant to be lived – abundantly in Christ. Apart from Christ, life really isn’t life at all, and we trade our abundant love, joy, and peace in for a broken life full of frustration and without satisfaction.

By continually crying out to God the way David did in this passage, and by confessing our sins and surrendering our lives to Christ, we can live a Spirit-filled life and experience intimacy with God. Read Psalm 60:5 above again, and confess any sin the Holy Spirit reveals in your life. Ask him to fill you with his presence and to take control of your life, making you the person he created you to be. Thank God that he is always here with us, ready to renew our relationship with him and allow us to experience real life abundantly, the way it was meant to be lived. Praise him for loving us even when we don’t love him.

Psalm 61 Devotional by Chad Young – “God Can Cheer Us Up” Posted on November 16, 2011 by Chad Young

“From the ends of the earth I call to you,I call as my heart grows faith;lead me to the rock that is higher than I.For you have been my refuge,

a strong tower against the foe.I long to dwell in your tent foreverand take refuge in the shelter of your wings.” (Psalm 61:2-4, NIV)

You can hear the desperation in the words of David as he began this song. By the end of the song, however, he was uplifted and joyful. It’s almost as if David’s spirit was lifted as he wrote this song and reminded himself who God was. Bible commentator Matthew Henry said of these verses: “David begins with prayers and tears, but ends with praise. Thus the soul, being lifted up to God, returns to the enjoyment of itself.”

When you are faced with trials, how do you respond? Do you respond with anger or bitterness, or do you immediately turn to God in prayer like David? When we turn to God during our struggles, we are reminded that he is in control. He is sovereign over all of our circumstances, and anything that happens to us only happens because God allowed it. If we turn to God, he uses our trials and struggles for our good and helps us to grow. He restores our joy.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” (James 1:2-3, NIV)

Spend some time in prayer thanking God for your trials, both big and small. Ask him to give you joy, strength and peace in the midst of your trials. If these verses bring any sin to your mind, confess your sin, and turn back to God. Only by being in close fellowship with God like David can we experience the joy of our salvation – the good news that Christ died for us so that we can spend eternity with God.

Psalm 62 Devotional by Chad – “Rest in God” Posted on November 17, 2011 by Chad Young

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;my hope comes from him.He alone is my rock and salvation;he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.My salvation and my honor depend on God;he is my mighty rock, my refuge.Trust in him at all times, O people;pour out your hearts to him,for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:5-8, NIV)

I really need rest, and this Psalm connected with me this morning. I’ve taken 2 trips to Ohio (12-13 hours) with my family in the past three weeks. A few weeks ago, I attended a conference in Knoxville, TN (8 hours away). I had a men’s camping retreat a couple of weekends ago, and I’ve driven to Coastal Carolina University (more than 2 hours each way) on the past three Wednesdays to coach students in our ministry there. Oh, and tomorrow, I’m driving my family to Black Mountain, NC (5 hours away), to a conference.

If I didn’t get up each morning and spend at least an hour with the Lord, I probably would have passed out from exhaustion by now, and yet each morning the Lord has given me strength to thrive throughout the day. I did almost fall asleep at the wheel on my way to Ohio this past weekend, but

mostly I’ve been energetic and full of joy. There’s no logical explanation for why I’ve had energy except that God has given me the strength to persevere.

Does this Psalm connect with you? Have you lacked energy and joy in your life? Spend time reflecting on this passage. Confess any sin the Holy Spirit reveals in your life, and surrender your heart completely to God. Sin grieves God and keeps us from experiencing intimacy with him, and real rest can only be found when we’re right with God. Pray and ask God, the giver of peace and joy, to fill you with his presence and allow you to experience satisfying rest in Jesus.

Psalm 63 Devotional by Chad – “Prayer Revives Us” Posted on November 21, 2011 by Chad Young

I was at a conference this past weekend, and I met with a small group of men to pray together for an hour on Saturday and Sunday mornings before we started our day. I invited all of the men at the conference to meet with us and pray (I even made an announcement to more than 100 men), but most of the guys said that 7am was too early to get up and pray. They respectfully declined.

Yesterday morning as five of us were praying, one of the men opened his Bible to Psalm 63 and prayed through it. This may have been more than coincidental since I was planning on studying Psalm 63 this morning and writing about it during my time with the Lord. Listen to the opening words to this song:

“O God, you are my God,earnestly I seek you;my soul thirsts for you,my body longs for you,in a dry and weary landwhere there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1, NIV)

After our group of men prayed on Saturday and Sunday mornings, we were so refreshed! It was the perfect way to start our day with energy and nourishment from the Lord. As I reflected on it this morning, I thought about how some of those men who declined to join us were wrong. They said they needed to sleep in and get rest, but those of us who prayed found our rest in the Lord. Jesus gives us the rest that our souls desire. Listen to his invitation to find rest in him:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29, NIV)

In what ways do you seek to find rest? What is your prayer life like? Do you read the Bible daily? Spend some time today finding your rest in Christ. Spend extended time praying and reading over Psalm 63 a few times. Allow Christ to nourish you and give you the rest your soul desires. If there is any sin in your life you haven’t confessed, confess it to God and turn away from it. Sin keeps us from experiencing intimacy with God and finding that rest. Make it a point to add prayer (both individually as well as corporately) to your schedule daily so that God can cleanse you, revive you, and make you the person he created you to be.

Psalm 64 Devotional by Chad – “Our Tongues Can Hurt Others” Posted on November 22, 2011 by Chad Young

“Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint;protect my life from the threat of the enemy.Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,from that noisy crowd of evildoers.

They sharpen their tongues like swordsand aim their words like deadly arrows.They shoot from ambush at the innocent man;they shoot at him suddenly, without fear. (Psalm 64:1-4, NIV)

This morning as I was reading this Psalm, I was reminded of how dangerous our tongues can be. In fact, as I was studying David’s prayer of protection from others plotting against him, I was convicted that my tongue can sometimes be harsh. I sometimes speak poorly of other people.

One of my friends, Brandon, is one of the most positive people I know. Whenever things aren’t going the way we’d like for them to go in our ministry, Brandon is the first to see things in a positive light. Whenever a student in our ministry struggles or doesn’t do something they say they will do, Brandon is the first to give them grace and speak highly of them, even when they’re not around. Brandon is my reminder that I need to speak well of everyone at all times. If God has given me grace and has accepted me after I’ve sinned thousands of times, how much more do I need to give others grace? I need to use my words to build others up, not to hurt them or tear them down.

How are you doing? Are you a positive person who is always building others up, or do you speak poorly of others when they’re not around? Confess any sins these verses reveal in your life, and make a commitment to be encouraging and uplifting today. Thank God for sending his Son Jesus, who died for us and gave us the opportunity to have an eternal relationship with God. Even though we sin daily, God still forgives us time and time again because of Christ’s death. Because God forgives us, we should constantly forgive others and use our words to encourage them toward Christ.

Psalm 65 Devotional by Chad – “I’m Thankful for Forgiveness” Posted on November 23, 2011 by Chad Young

In Psalm 65, David is thankful for many things: God’s awesome deeds, the mountains and seas, and God’s provision. However, there is one major thing in these verses that stands out to me:

“When we were overwhelmed by sins,you forgave our transgressions.Blessed are those you chooseand bring near to live in your courts!We are filled with the good things of your house,of your holy temple.” (Psalm 65:3-4, NIV)

As I’ve grown to thank God for his forgiveness every day – for sending his Son Jesus to die for me, I’ve grown tremendously in my faith. When I remember the gospel, I’m reminded of who I am in

Christ. I’m God’s child, completely forgiven for all of eternity! Everything else in life (every worry, priority, blessing, or gift) is minute compared to the gift of salvation because this gift is eternal.

Thank God and praise him for sending Christ to die for our sins. When we accept God’s free gift of salvation, we begin an eternal relationship with God. Confess any sin God reveals in your heart, and surrender everything to him. Pray through the rest of Psalm 65 and thank God for his creation – the sky, the sun, the stars and the seas. Praise God for all of his goodness, but most of all, thank him for his forgiveness!

Psalm 66 Devotional by Chad – “God Answers Sometimes” Posted on November 25, 2011 by Chad Young

When I was younger, I heard from someone that God always answers everyone’s prayers. But does he? Does God always answer our prayers? This Psalm from David gives us part of an answer to that question.

“If I had cherished sin in my heart,the Lord would not have listened;but God has surely listenedand heard my voice in prayer.” (Psalm 66:18-20, NIV)

Of course, all of us would like to think God answers everyone’s prayers, but that’s not what the Bible says. When I think about it, I guess it makes sense. Why would a God who created the universe for his glory answer the prayers of someone who doesn’t love him? According to the Bible, God clearly doesn’t answer the prayers of those who don’t have an authentic relationship with him.

“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2, NIV)

So how can we be sure God hears us and answers our prayers? The answer is simply that we need to get our hearts right before the Lord, and then he hears us. “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you.” (John 15:7)

Do you have an authentic relationship with God? Are you remaining in him? Confess any sin these verses reveal in your life, and surrender your heart completely to him. When we confess our sins, turn away from them, and submit to Jesus as a lifestyle, we can begin to hear God’s voice in our lives (not audibly, but in our conscience). He hears us as well, and we can communicate with God through prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God. It’s not like rubbing a genie lamp or asking a restaurant waitress to take our orders. It’s simply having a conversation with the living God, the One who created us to have a relatationship with him. When we have this intimate relationship and pray according to his will, he always answers our prayers.

“Rethinking the Way We Pray” – A Devotional from Psalm 67 by Chad Young Posted on November 26, 2011 by Chad Young

How do you feel about prayer? How often do you pray?

How we pray reveals our view of God and also affects our view of God. If we were truly convinced that “everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened,” then we would probably be praying all the time!

Most of us can be classified as a cat or dog when we speak to God in prayer. A dog says, “You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, you must be God,” while a cat says, “You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, I must be God.”

Does that sound familiar? Cats pray for the things they desire, the things that will make life more comfortable and easier. John Piper has referred to this type of prayer as a domestic intercom, by which a family can ask for requests from the kitchen. For example, the prayers of someone with cat theology (me-ology) usually begin with phrases like, “Dear Lord, please give me…please let me…please bring me.”

Dogs, on the other hand, pray for the things God desires, the things that please him and bring glory to him. Someone with dog theology would pray: “Father, let your glory shine in this sickness. Allow your glory to shine in how I’m dealing with my family, my friends and the decisions concerning my future.”

A great example of someone who prayed like a dog is David in the Psalms. He didn’t just ask for blessings, but he asked God to bless him so that God would be glorified. Do you notice the difference? See the first two verses of Psalm 67 below:

“May God be gracious to us and bless usand make his face shine upon us,that your ways may be known on earth,your salvation among all nations.” (Psalm 67:1-2, NIV)

If David had only sang verse 1, it would have been a “cat prayer.” However, by adding verse 2, he made the song about God and his glory, not about David or his glory.

Are you more like a dog or a cat in the way you pray? Turn to one of your favorite passages of Scripture and practice praying through it using dog-like prayers, putting God’s will and His desires first. Confess any sin these verses reveal in your life, and make a commitment to grow in your prayer life. Ask God to transform your prayer life this week – to help you make prayer more about him and his will.

Psalm 68 Short Devotional by Chad Posted on November 28, 2011 by Chad Young

Many scholars believe Psalm 68 is one of the most difficult Psalms in the Bible to interpret, and for the purpose of this website, we’re not going to go too deeply into it here. Most Bible scholars believe the song was written using the story of the ark of the Covenant being transported by Moses from Obed-Edom to Mount Zion in Numbers 10:33-35. Ultimately, this Psalm, written by David, is about Jesus.

“When you ascended on high,you led captives in your train;you received gifts from men,even from the rebellious –that you, O Lord God, might dwell there.

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,who daily bears our burdens.Our God is a God who saves;from the sovereign Lord comes escape from death.” (Psalm 68:18-19)

Isn’t it neat how David was singing songs about Jesus hundreds of years before Jesus was born? It shows how the entire Bible – Old Testament and New Testament – fits into one big universal story about God’s plan for his creation.

Spend time praising God for being a God who saves. Thank him for sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Without Christ, we would be hopeless, like sheep without a shepherd. Confess any sin that’s keeping you from experiencing intimacy with God, and turn away from it. Surrender your heart today to the One who daily bears our burdens and allows us to escape death. He’s worthy of all our praise!

Psalm 69 Short Devotional by Chad – “For Times of Trial” Posted on November 29, 2011 by Chad Young

Psalm 69 is a lament psalm written by David. Lament songs are good psalms to sing or pray to God when we are going through times of struggle. Are you discouraged? Is your church going through a difficult time? Are you wondering why things are not going as well as they should? Psalm 69 is a good song that helps to teach us how to pray to God in the midst of trials.

“Save me, O Godfor the waters have come up to my neck.I sink in the miry depths,where there is no foothold.I have come into the deep waters;the floods engulf me.I am worn out calling for help;my throat is parched.My eyes fail,looking for my God.” (Psalm 69:1-3, NIV)

I can relate to this Psalm this morning. For the past two days, I’ve had a stomach bug. Yet I’ve had so much to do. I have a seminary class in Austin, TX, starting this coming Monday. I’m trying to wrap up a semester of ministry and plan for next semester. I’m giving 5 major talks in the next few weeks in front of big groups. I have upcoming trips to Denver, CO, and Austin, TX, again in a month.

There’s so much going on around me, and yet Jesus is the only one who can give me strength and help me to be satisfied today. This song speaks to me this morning because David turned to God,

the Rescuer, in his time of need. “Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink (v. 14).” Ultimately, when I was drowning in my sin, Jesus died on the cross for me so that I could have eternal life. He’s the Hero I need to turn to every day!

Spend time praising God for being the great Rescuer! If you’re going through a time of struggle or you’re facing a trial, ask God to help you out in the same way that David asked God for help. Confess any sin that comes to mind, and surrender your heart completely to Jesus. Thank him again and again for never leaving us, never forsaking us, and for helping us in our times of need!

Psalm 70 Devotional by Chad – “Someone to Turn To” Posted on November 30, 2011 by Chad Young

“Yet I am poor and needy;come quickly to me, O God.You are my help and my deliverer;O Lord, do not delay.” (Psalm 70:5, NIV)

Last night I was at Charleston Southern University and ran into a friend, “Joey,” who isn’t a follower of Christ, but he asked me to pray for him. He said he has a huge project in one of his classes due in two days, but his class partner for the project stopped attending class and hasn’t started working on his part. Joey finished his portion of the project two weeks ago and doesn’t know what to do. In addition, Joey said he has a speech to give for a final exam in the next couple of days, and he doesn’t know how to start it.

I felt a deep compassion for Joey, not only because he’s facing dilemmas in his classes, but mainly because he doesn’t have someone to turn to who can overcome these problems. I was so limited in how I could help Joey. I could comfort him, offer words of encouragement, and a little advice. However, I could not overcome his problems. He needs a Savior who is greater than everyone and everything – a Hero who has conquered the world!

Please pray for Joey. I’ve shared Christ with him, and so have other believers in Christ. He’s open to listening to our views, but he’s not yet ready to give his heart fully to God. Is there someone in your life who is hurting? Do you have family members or friends who don’t have a relationship with Christ?

Thank Jesus that he is someone we can always turn to in times of struggle. He died on the cross for our sins when we didn’t deserve to be saved from the consequences of our sin. Confess any unconfessed sin in your life, and take time today to pray for your friends and family members who don’t have a relationship with Christ. Can you imagine what life would be like with no one great to turn to? Have compassion for others who don’t know God the way that Jesus had compassion for us when he died for us.

Psalm 71 Devotional by Chad – “All Day Long” Posted on December 1, 2011 by Chad Young

“For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord,my confidence since my youth.From birth I have relied on you;you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.I will ever praise you.I have become like a portent to many,but you are my strong refuge.My mouth is filled with your praise,declaring your splendor all day long.” (Psalm 71:5-8, NIV)

Does this Psalm express the gratitude in your heart? God made us to have a relationship with him forever. He was with us when we were children, and he was always there taking care of us as we grew up. Yet time and time again, we turned our backs on God and chose to live our lives independently from him. When we deserved to have God turn his back on us, God did something even more amazing. He sent his Son Jesus to die for our sins so that we could once again experience eternal life with him.

When I remember the simple truth that Christ died for me, I want to praise him all day long! Thanking God for his sacrifice only causes me to be more joyful, which increases my intimacy with God. Remembering the gospel – the good news of Jesus’ sacrifice – is, therefore, the key to my intimacy with God.

How are you doing? Are you experiencing intimacy with God, or have you felt dry spiritually? Try remembering the gospel throughout the day today, and watch as it helps you with your intimacy with God. Be sure to confess the sin in your life that God reveals throughout the day, and turn away from it. Sin grieves God’s Spirit, and it keeps us from being intimate with him. Surrender control of your life to Christ again and again, and you will feel yourself drawing closer to God throughout the day. Through your joy of experiencing God, you will want to praise him all day long.

Psalm 72 Devotional by Chad – “The Wise King” Posted on December 2, 2011 by Chad Young

How often do you pray for wisdom? King Solomon, the author of this Psalm, had many faults, but the one thing about him that pleased God is that he prayed for wisdom.

“Give the gift of wise rule to the king, O God,the gift of just rule to the crown prince.May he judge your people rightly,be honorable to your meek and lowly.” (Psalm 72:1-2, The Message)

I confess I often go hours throughout the day without praying and asking God for wisdom and direction. When I do, I’m choosing to live life on my own terms without surrendering control of my life to Christ. Instead of asking, “Lord, what would you have me do?” I just do whatever I want.

When I am intimate with God and pray to him throughout the day, it’s almost as if I can hear him talking to me through my thoughts. I’m more sensitive to the Lord’s leading; I can sense his direction. The Lord leads me to pray for certain people (they just pop into my head – I don’t always know why I’m praying for them), call certain people to see how they’re doing, give money to some

Christ-centered cause, etc. When I don’t surrender my life to God, I usually don’t think of doing good things for others. Most of my thoughts are self-centered.

How are you doing? Do you feel like you have a close, intimate relationship with Christ, or do you desire more? Spend some time in prayer, thanking God for Jesus, who died for our sins so that we could be close to God. Confess any sin that’s keeping you from experiencing Christ. Sin grieves God’s Spirit. When there’s sin in our lives, it’s impossible to hear God’s direction. Give control of your life to God, and ask him to make you wise, like King Solomon was, so that you can stay in the center of his will and do the things you were created to do.

Psalm 73 Devotional by Chad Young – “God is All We Need” Posted on December 3, 2011 by Chad Young

Wow! I love this Psalm, and it speaks to me! This song is about envy. The author, Asaph, is confessing how he was envious of other people because it seemed like evil people had all of the money and blessings from God. Then, however, Asaph, spent time with God and shared his heart, and God revealed that only the people who know him will be blessed eternally.

I wish I could share every verse of this Psalm, but here are some of the highlights from Psalm 73 taken from The Message:

“No doubt about it! God is good – good to good people, good to the good-hearted. But I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness. I was looking the other way, looking up to the people at the top, envying the wicked who have it made, who have nothing to worry about, not a care in the whole wide world.” (vs. 1-5)

“What’s going on here? Is God out to lunch? Nobody’s tending the store. The wicked get by with everything; they have it made, piling up riches. I’ve been stupid to play by the rules; what has it gotten me? A long run of bad luck, that’s what – a slap in the face every time I walk out the door.” (vs. 11-14)

“Until I entered the sanctuary of God. Then I saw the whole picture: The slippery road you’ve put them on, with a final crash in a ditch of delusions. In the blink of an eye, disaster! A blind curve in the dark, and – nightmare! We wake up and rub our eyes…Nothing, there’s nothing to them. And there never was.” (vs. 17-20)

“You’re all I want in heaven! You’re all I want on earth! When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithful. Look! Those who left you are falling apart! Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again. But I’m in the very presence of God – oh, how refreshing it is! I’ve made Lord God my home. God, I’m telling the world what you do!” (vs. 25-28)

This Psalm makes me want to pursue God even more than I do. It makes me want to run from sin, and it makes me want to tell others about Christ so they can be satisfied in him as well.

What do these verses say to you? Do you fall into the category of people who ignore God and live for yourself, or do you fall into the category of people who run after God and are blessed with spiritual riches? Confess any sin these verses reveal in your life, and surrender your heart

completely to him. Make a commitment to enter his sanctuary every day (set aside time to spend time with God) and to follow him with all of your heart! He’s all our hearts desire, and he’s all we need!

Psalm 74 Short Devotional by Chad Posted on December 4, 2011 by Chad Young

God made a covenant with Moses, saying that if the Israelites followed him, they would be prosperous all of the days of their lives. He also said if they turned away from him and worshipped other gods, he would allow them to be destroyed. For a while, Israel worshipped God and enjoyed prosperity, but ultimately they turned their backs on him and were destroyed by Babylon.

In this Psalm, Asaph is asking God to once again have mercy on the Israelites and do something about their dire situation.

“You walked off and left us, and never looked back.God, how could you do that?We’re your very own sheep;how can you stomp off in anger?” (Psalm 74:1, The Message)

God hadn’t permanently left the Israelites, but he wanted them to experience the consequences of their sins against him. After all, the Israelites had chosen to live life on their own terms, independently from their Creator. It’s almost as if God said, “Okay, you don’t want me? You’ve got it. Now you’ll experience what life is like without my loving protection.”

In a similar way, we make choices every day that affect our intimacy with God. Hopefully, as we grow in our faith, we will spend more and more time with God and enjoy his intimacy. However, if we choose to live life on our terms like the Israelites, we will lose our intimacy with God and experience frustration. There are consequences for our sins, just as the Israelites had consequences for theirs. Even though all true followers of Christ have eternal life, we cannot experience that abundant life when we are not intimate with God.

Where are you spiritually? Are you walking closely with Christ, or are you like the Israelites, living life independently from God? Spend time confessing any sin that comes to mind, and allow God to have complete control. Ask him to help you develop habits (such as praying throughout the day, setting your alarm to spend time with God, etc.) which will help you grow closer to Christ. It’s only when we are close to Jesus that we experience his protection and the true joy we were created to experience.

Psalm 75 by Chad Young – “Jesus the Lion and the Lamb” Posted on December 6, 2011 by Chad Young

I’m in Austin, TX, this week taking a seminary class, and it’s been fun because everything in the class is centered on Christ. Yesterday, we read a chapter in a book entitled Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper. In his book, Piper talked about how Jesus is both the Lion of Judah and

the Lamb of God. At times in our lives, we view Jesus as a Lion or a Lamb, but we don’t view him as both often enough.

When we view Jesus as a Lamb, we experience his grace. He created us so that we could know God personally, and even though we have sinned by living life independently from God, Jesus sacrificed his life for us so we could live forever. Jesus, the Lamb, loves his followers unconditionally. He is kind, gentle and forgiving. He gives us favor when we don’t deserve it.

When we view Christ as a Lion, we have a healthy fear of him. He is in control at all times, and he is a powerful, just God. He judges each of us according to our obedience. In this Psalm, the psalmist Asaph praises God for being just – for being the Lion of Judah!

“At the set time that I appointI will judge with equity.When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants,it is I who keep steady its pillars.” (Psalm 75:2-3, ESV)

Do you have a healthy view of God? How do you view Jesus? Do you view him as a Lion, a Lamb, or both? Do you have a healthy fear of a just God who judges us and who makes sure there are consequences when we sin?

I think sometimes we forget that apathy is a sin. When we get too caught up in our own lives and fail to reach out to others to share our faith, provide for the needy, or help others to grow spiritually, that is sin as well. It’s being selfish with the time and resources God has given us while we live on this side of heaven. We will be judged if we are apathetic just as we will be judged if we are rebellious.

Spend time praising Jesus for being both a Lion and a Lamb! Confess any sins these verses reveal in your life, and make a commitment to be obdient to him. Think of an action point you can take this week to be more obedient to Christ. It could involve sharing your faith with a loved one, making a donation to a missionary, or serving in some way in your church. Because the Lamb of God gave his life for us so that we can have eternal life, we should want to follow the Lion of Judah and continue to expand God’s kingdom until the day that Christ returns.

Psalm 76 Short Devotional by Chad – “Fearing God” Posted on December 7, 2011 by Chad Young

This Psalm, which was written by Asaph, describes God as being someone we should fear:

“But you, you are to be feared!Who can stand before youwhen once your anger is roused?From the heavens you uttered judgment;the earth feared and was still,when God arose to establish judgment,to save all the humble of the earth.” (Psalm 76:7-9, ESV)

In my personal ministry, I encounter a lot of college students who have a problem with passages like this one. They can’t understand how God can judge people, especially how people can experience eternal death.

While I don’t have the time this morning to delve deeply into why there’s a hell, I’ll just say that God is who He is. He’s perfect, holy and just. Because of who he is, he cannot stand sin. The real question is not, “How can a loving God allow people to experience eternity away from him?” The real question is, “How can a perfect, just God allow us to spend eternity with him?” God is just, but he’s also merciful. He didn’t want us to die, and therefore, he sent Christ to redeem us! He wants everyone to be saved from death, and Jesus is our hero if we only allow him to save us.

Spend time thanking God for his mercy and praising him for being a just God. Remember that there are consequences to sin, and allow yourself to fear God in a healthy way – a way that keeps you from sinning. Confess any sin these verses reveal in your life, and surrender your heart completely to him. God can change us from the inside out, making us who he created us to be, people who love mercy and hate sin as much as he does.

Psalm 77 Devotional by Chad Posted on December 11, 2011 by Chad Young

This Psalm is a lament written by Asaph. At first, he cries out to God for help, and then he praises God for his greatness.

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord;yes, I remember your miracles of long ago.I will meditate on all your worksand consider your mighty deeds.” (Psalm 77:11-12, NIV)

Spend some time today reflecting on what all God has done for you. Even though we are all sinful and have neglected God time and time again, he still loved us enough to send his Son Jesus to die on the cross for us. Not only did he forgive us, but he has a lavish love for us. He has adopted all true believers as his children, and he has given us an eternal inheritance.

Like Asaph, meditate on the other blessings God has given you. Do you need to thank God for your family? Are there friends God has placed in your life who have made a difference?

Pray through Psalm 77, praising God for his blessings and asking him for help in your current circumstances. Confess any sin in your life that’s keeping you from experiencing intimacy with God, and surrender control of your life to him. Only he can lead us through times of struggle and allow us to experience joy in both the good times and the tough times. He’s worthy of our praise!

Psalm 78 Devotional by Chad Young – “Yet He Was Merciful” Posted on December 12, 2011 by Chad Young

This Psalm is one of the longer Psalms in the Bible, but it is very, very good. In it Asaph, the author, recaps most of the Old Testament from Exodus through 2 Samuel. The theme is that God blessed

the Israelites, but after a while they forgot about God’s blessings and turned away from him. For a while, God would allow something bad to happen to the Iraelites so they would remember him and turn back to him. They would turn to him temporarily, but then they would soon forget, starting the cycle over again.

There is one major redeeming theme in this Psalm, and it can give us encouragement today:

“Yet he was merciful;he forgave their iniquitiesand did not destroy them.Time after time he restrained his angerand did not stir up his full wrath.” (Psalm 78:38, NIV)

Isn’t it amazing how God poured out his extravagant mercy onto the Israelites? What would become of us if God wasn’t so merciful?

As I’ve grown in my faith during this past decade, the one thing that has helped me to resist sin in my life and grow more intimate with God is the gospel – the good news that Jesus died for us so that we can have eternal life. He died just once so that all of our sins are forgiven if only we accept that free gift by making him our Savior and Lord. As I’ve learned to “preach” this gospel to myself every day, in the same way that Asaph, David and other psalmists did, I’ve fallen in love with God.

Spend time praising God for being so merciful to us when we deserve his wrath. Although we’ve chosen to live our lives independently from our Creator time and time again, still he is merciful. Confess any sin that comes to mind, and turn away from it so that you can experience God’s intimacy. Only God, our merciful Creator, can help us to find the joy and satisfaction our hearts desire. Thank God he lavishes his mercy on us!

Psalm 79 Devotional by Chad Young – “Christ-Centered Prayers” Posted on December 16, 2011 by Chad Young

This Psalm was written by the psalmist Asaph after the Israelites had been taken into captivity. Notice how Christ-centered the prayer to God is:

“Help us, O God our Savior,for the glory of your name;deliver us and forgive our sinsfor your name’s sake.Why should the nations say,‘Where is their God?’Before our eyes, make known above the nationsthat you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants.” (Psalm 79:9-10, NIV)

I like how Asaph didn’t just pray, “Help!” He made the prayer about God’s glory by saying, “Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name.” When you offer up prayers of supplication, do you follow Asaph’s model by making the prayer about God’s glory and his name? When we make our prayers about Christ, we have an accurate view that our lives are not all about us. We were created for his glory!

Fortunately for us, we know the end of the story. God did indeed answer Asaph’s prayer by sending a Savior. Several hundred years after this Psalm was written, a baby boy was born in Bethlehem, the City of David. This child was no ordinary child. He would live a sinless life, and he would die on the cross for our sins. Three days later, he would come back from the dead, and today he sits at the right hand of God the Father. He is the King of kings, and one day soon he will return to bring heaven to earth so we can live eternally.

Spend time reflecting on Psalm 79 and thanking God for answering the prayers of Asaph – for sending Jesus to die for our sins. Confess any sin that is keeping you from experiencing God, and make a commitment to pursue Christ during this Christmas season. Jesus wasn’t just a baby born in a manger. He was the Son of God who came to save us and give us eternal life. Jesus is absolutely everything we need, and only he can give us the satisfaction our hearts desire!

Psalm 80 Devotional by Chad Young – “Jesus the True Vine” Posted on December 17, 2011 by Chad Young

One of the most common metaphors that God used in the Old Testament to describe his people was “the vineyard” or “the vine.” In Psalm 80:8-15, the psalmist Asaph used this metaphor as he was crying out to God for help.

“You brought a vine out of Egypt;you drove out the nations and planted it.You cleared the ground for it,and it took root and filled the land.The mountains were covered with its shade,the mighty cedars with its branches.It sent out its boughs to the Sea,its shoots as far as the River.

Why have you broken down its wallsso that all who pass by pick its grapes?Boars from the forest ravage itand the creatures of the field feed on it.Return to us, O God Almighty!Look down from heaven and see!Watch over this vine,the root your right hand has planted,the son you have raised up for yourself.”

Throughout the Old Testament, the vineyard (God’s people) produced bad fruit because they didn’t stay obedient to God. Time and time again, they would turn away from their sin when they experienced the consequences from it. However, their repentance would only last so long, and they would sin again.

Does that sound familiar? How many times have we as Christians turned away from God to live life on our own terms? How many times have we been selfish with our time, talents and treasures?

The good news is that God knew we could never produce good fruit on our own, and he sent his Son to help us to bear good fruit. In one of Jesus’ last conversations with his disciples before his crucifixion and resurrection, he said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, NIV)

Spend time in prayer, thanking God for sending his Son Jesus, the true vine. Because we could never please God or bear good fruit on our own, Jesus died for us so that we could have eternal life and bear good fruit eternally. When we were dead in our sins, Jesus redeemed us and gave us life! Confess any sin that is keeping you from experiencing Christ, and surrender your heart completely to him. When we are closely connected with Jesus, we can’t help but bear good fruit. He is the true vine, and in him we can impact the world in a positive way for God!

Psalm 81 Short Devotional by Chad – “Sing for Joy” Posted on December 18, 2011 by Chad Young

Listen to the opening of this song written by the psalmist Asaph. The Israelites had recently been taken into captivity as a punishment for their sins. This was a tough time of trial for God’s people, which is reflected in the last half of the psalm. However, Asaph still opens by praising the Lord.

“Sing for joy to God our strength;shout aloud to the God of Jacob!Begin the music, strike the tambourine,play the melodious harp and lyre.Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon,and when the moon is full, on the day of our feast;this is a decree for Israel,an ordinance of the God of Jacob.” (Psalm 81:1-4, NIV)

It’s as if Asaph was saying, “No matter what trials or struggles we’re going through in our lives, God is still sovereign, and he’s still worthy to be praised. Our lives are not about us. We were created to bring God glory, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Later on, God rewarded his people’s praises by sending them a Redeemer. A few hundred years later, his one and only Son would be born in a manager. His name was Jesus, and he would die on the cross for the sins of the world. By accepting Jesus’ free gift of salvation, we can be set free from the slavery of sin for all of eternity. Because of Jesus, we can live forever in relationship with God.

What kinds of trials are you facing? Spend time today thanking God for your trials and praising him the way Asaph and the Israelites did during their captivity. Thank God for sending Jesus, the Savior of the world who sacrificed his life for our sins. Confess any sin that’s keeping you from enjoying fellowship with God, and commit yourself to following Christ whole-heartedly today. Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!

Psalm 82 Devotional by Chad Young – “God Judges in His Timing” Posted on December 19, 2011 by Chad Young

In this short Psalm, Asaph complained to God, asking why Israel’s captors, who worshipped other gods, were allowed to go unpunished for their sins.

“How long will you defend the unjustand show partiality to the wicked?Defend the cause of the weak and the fatherless;maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.Rescue the weak and needy;deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” (Psalm 82:2-4, NIV)

Have you ever wondered why so many people who don’t have a relationship with God are so wealthy and prosperous (by the world’s standards)? Why does it seem like so many followers of Christ go through so many trials and have less money than worldly people?

Our God is a God of justice, but to him a thousand years is like a split second. We can be sure that in his timing, everyone will be judged accordingly. You see, many years before Asaph wrote this psalm, God made a covenant with Moses and the Israelites. He said that if they followed the Law and obeyed every commandment, they would be prosperous. However, he also made a promise that if they didn’t follow the Law, they would be destroyed and taken into captivity. By allowing the Isrealites to be taken into captivity, he was fulfilling his promise.

The good news we can take from this psalm is that even though we don’t deserve mercy for our sins, God lavished mercy on us by sending his Son Jesus to die for us. This week we celebrate the birth of Jesus, but we must not forget why Jesus came. “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” Jesus came because we needed a Savior. He came to rescue us!

Spend time both praising God for his justice and thanking God for his mercy. Confess any sin that he reveals in your life, and make a commitment to celebrate Christ and not just Christmas this week. Jesus’ birth meant everything to us. It was a new beginning for mankind. No longer would we have to flounder and struggle when we couldn’t obey the Law on our own effort. Now we have a Savior who saved us from our sins. He died on the cross so that we could have eternal life! That’s something that is worth celebrating about.

Psalm 83 Short Devotional by Chad Posted on December 20, 2011 by Chad Young

This psalm is a cry for help from Asaph the psalmist. The enemies of Israel had formed an alliance to destroy them. Asaph appeals to God to act in the face of Isreal’s imminent danger.

“O God, do not keep silent;be not quiet, O God, be not still.See how your enemies are astir,how your foes rear their heads.

With cunning they conspire against your people;they plot against those you cherish.” (Psalm 83:1-3, NIV)

“Make them like tumbleweed, O my God,like chaff before the wind.” (Psalm 83:13, NIV)

What are the trials you are going through right now? Psalm 83 is a good song to pray to ask God for help in times of trouble.

A couple of days ago, I attended the memorial service of a young friend of mine who was apparently murdered. He was a very strong believer in Christ, and he had led many people to the Lord. It’s difficult to understand why God allows bad things to happen to good people. Although my friend’s death is a terrible tragedy which has been hard on his family and friends, the memorial service was incredible and inspirational. Knowing that our friend is with Jesus, the family and pastors in the service reminded us he is in a place where he will never experience sorrow or pain again, and he will be rewarded for his faithful service to God.

You see, eventually God did answer the prayer of Asaph in Psalm 83. He sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. In the Old Testament, God’s people were incapable of following God on their own. There was only one solution, and that was the sacrifice of Jesus. He lived a perfect life that we could not live, and his sacrifice serves as a payment for our sins if we only place our faith in him. Through Christ, our spiritual enemies are conquered once and for all!

Spend time thanking God for sending Christ as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. Through him, we can experience joy even in the midst of struggles and trials. He gives us hope when all seems hopeless. Confess any sin that comes to mind, and give God control over every area of your life. Surrender your heart to him so you can experience his joy.

Psalm 84 Devotional by Chad Young – “Better is One Day” Posted on December 22, 2011 by Chad Young

A decade ago, songwriter Matt Redman released a song based on Psalm 84 entitled Better is One Day. The song was a hit on Christian radio, and it became one of the most popular praise and worship songs sung in churches during the next five or six years. See if you recognize the lyrics to this psalm written thousands of years ago by the sons of Korah:

“How lovely is your dwelling place,O Lord Almighty!My soul yearns, even faints,for the courts of the Lord;my heart and my flesh cry outfor the living God.” (Psalm 84:1-2, NIV)

“Better is one day in your courtsthan a thousand elsewhere;I would rather be a doorkeeper in the houseof my Godthan dwell in the tents of the wicked.” (Psalm 84:10, NIV)

I remember singing this song so many times in church services, and it was so easy to “get into it.” There was a part of me that was ready to be in the house of the Lord forever.

This Psalm strikes a cord in every true believer in Christ because there is a part of us that longs for heaven. In this world, there are so many trials, tears of sorrow, and so much sin. Turn on the news, and you will find no shortage of headlines reminding us just how broken this world is. “Housing crash in U.S. worse than originally thought.” “Stock market tumbles.” “Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries announce they’re getting a divorce.”

One day, before we know it, our lives here on earth will come to an end. This would be very bad news, but that’s what makes Jesus’ birth such wonderful news for us. When Jesus was born, hope came with him. No longer would we have to try to do good and be good on our own. Now we have a Savior who died for our sins once and for all.

Spend time praising God, thanking him for sending Jesus so that we can have eternal life. Confess any sin that is keeping you from experiencing intimacy with God, and surrender control of your life to Christ. Throughout the day today, remember this Psalm and allow it to give you encouragement and hope for your future. Soon every follower of Christ will be in heaven, and better is one day there than a thousand anywhere else!

Psalm 85 Devotional by Chad Young – “God Answers the Sons of Korah” Posted on December 24, 2011 by Chad Young

Happy Christmas Eve!!

This morning, I studied Psalm 85, a prayer by the Sons of Korah asking for God’s deliverance.

“Help us again, God of our help;don’t hold a grudge against us forever.You aren’t going to keep this up, are you?Scowling and angry, year after year?Why not help us make a fresh start – aresurrection life?Then your people will laugh and sing!Show us how much you love us, God!Give us the salvation we need!” (Psalm 85:4-7, MSG)

Several hundred years after the Sons of Korah wrote this song, God answered them by sending his Son Jesus to die for our sins. God’s people asked for salvation, and Jesus was the one who brought it to them. Jesus said that everyone who believed in him would not perish but have eternal life. Listen to the words of the angels on Christmas Eve two thousand years ago.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.’

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’” (Luke 2:8-14, NIV)

Spend time throughout the day today praising God for sending his Son Jesus. Sometimes we get caught up in buying and opening presents, decorating Christmas trees, and enjoying holiday lights and music, but we forget where the holiday came from. It was all about a promise from the Old Testament. God promised he would send his son to redeem mankind and save us from our sins. On Christmas Eve, that prayer was answered. By accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior, we get to spend eternity with God. What a Christmas gift!

Psalm 86 Short Devotional by Chad Posted on December 27, 2011 by Chad Young

This song is a lament – a request for help from David. I love how David praises God for who he is right in the middle of the psalm.

“There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,nor are there any works like yours.All the nations you have made shall comeand worship before you, O Lord,and shall glorify your name.For you are great and do wondrous things;you alone are God.” (Psalm 86:8-10, ESV)

No matter what our circumstances are, God is worthy of our praise. Whether we’re going through good times or bad times, it doesn’t change who God is. He’s our Creator, and he created everything to be good. It’s only because of the fall of mankind that pain and sorrow was brought into the world.

God is good, and he’s in the process of making things on earth whole again. Christ has come and has died for our sins, and after the message of the gospel (the good news that Christ died for us) spreads throughout the world, Jesus will come again. Very soon, those who have received Christ as their Lord and Savior will be in heaven for eternity.

Spend time in prayer today, thanking God for his goodness and praising his for the good things he’s done for us. Confess any sin that’s keeping you from experiencing God’s grace, and surrender your heart completely to him. There is no one like him!

Psalm 87 Devotional by Chad Young – “Born Again” Posted on January 2, 2012 by Chad Young

“The word’s getting out on Zion:‘Men and women, right and left,get born again in her!’God registers their names in his book:‘This one, this one, and this one-born again, right here.’” (Psalm 87:5-6, The Message)

I would imagine there was a lot of confusion among God’s people when this song was written by the Sons of Korah. What does it mean to be born again? That phrase sounds strange, and it wasn’t explained (at least in scripture) until Jesus came and explained it in John 3:

“In reply Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’

‘How can a man be born when he is old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!’

Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.’” (John 3:3-5, NIV)

Jesus and his disciples made it clear that only those who place their faith in Jesus are born of the Spirit. “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13, NIV)

These explanations of Psalm 87 from the New Testament make it clear that only those who are born again by receiving Christ as their Savior and Lord have their names written in God’s book (of life). Is your name in there? Have you surrendered your life to Christ? If you haven’t but desire to be born of the Spirit, you can do that anytime simply by praying and asking Jesus to come into your life to forgive your sins and make you the person he wants you to be.

If you have received Christ, then this Psalm is a song of celebration! Pray it back to God, thanking him for sending Jesus to die for our sins. We could never be good enough to earn salvation on our own, and therefore, we owe our eternal gratitude to God. Praise him and thank him again and again. When we remember the gospel (the good news that we have been given eternal life), it reminds us to live for him and be the person God created us to be. It gives us life!

Psalm 88 Devotional by Chad Young – “Peace When We Need It” Posted on January 5, 2012 by Chad Young

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by trouble or grief, like you are going through trials that are almost too much to bear? That’s what the writer of this song was going through, and it’s a good Psalm to pray to God when you are going through trials.

“God, you’re my last chance of the day. I spend the night on my knees before you. Put me on your salvation agenda; take notes on the trouble I’m in. I’ve had my fill of trouble; I’m camped on the edge of hell. I’m written off as a lost cause, one more statistic, a hopeless case. Abandoned as already dead, one more body in a stack of corpses, and not so much as a gravestone – I’m a black hole in oblivion.” (Psalm 88:1-5, The Message)

This song sounds pretty bleak and hopeless, doesn’t it? It’s pretty extreme, but life can be challenging at times. I know sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the pressures of life.

The biggest difference between the author of this Psalm and us is that he lived during a time before Christ died and sent us the Holy Spirit. After Jesus was resurrected, he ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God. Before he ascended, however, he promised he would send a helper. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NIV)

Today every true follower of Jesus has the Holy Spirit living inside of them. We no longer have to feel hopeless and afraid in times of trouble. By confessing our sin, turning away from it, and giving God control of our lives, we can be filled with the Holy Spirit and can live our lives empowered by God. The Spirit gives us peace and comfort even in the hardest of times. In short, the Spirit is the key to joy and satisfaction for every believer.

Are you living your life on your own strength, or are you constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit? Confess any sin in your life that’s keeping you from experiencing intimacy with God. Surrender every area of your life to Christ, and ask him to make you the man or woman he created you to be. As we are filled with God’s Spirit, the overwhelming trials of life just don’t seem as overwhelming. Somehow God gives us joy and comfort when we need it the most!

Psalm 89 Devotional by Chad Posted on January 8, 2012 by Chad Young

This is a community lament. It celebrates God’s faithfulness to David and his promise to David that he would establish his offspring forever and build his throne for all generations. At the time this Psalm was written, Israel was going through a trial, and the song is a cry for help. It’s appropriate for us today to sing this song or pray it back to God during times of trial.

“But now you have cast off and rejected;you are full of wrath against your anointed.You have renounced the covenant with your servant;you have defiled his crown in the dust.” (Psalm 89:38-39, ESV)

“How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself forever?How long will your wrath burn like fire?Remember how short my time is!” (Psalm 89:46-47a)

Our God is in control at all times. All blessings come from him, but he also allows us to go through trials and tough times as well. What is our response when we go through trials? Do we get bitter

toward the Lord or struggle with self-loathing? During times of trial, we must turn to the Lord, who is sovereign and is able to rescue us and help us to persevere.

Spend time praising God for his sovereignty, and thank him for times of trial. It seems weird to thank God for tough times unless we understand a father’s love. A good father disciplines his children, and our loving God can use our trials to help us to grow if only we turn to him. Confess any sin that is keeping you from experiencing God’s love, and surrender your heart to him today. Our time on earth is short, as the psalmist said in Psalm 89, and we need to use every opportunity to know God and bring glory to him on earth!

Psalm 90 Devotional by Chad Young – “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” Posted on January 10, 2012 by Chad Young

This psalm was written by Moses (possibly one of only two written by him), and therefore, it must be one of the oldest. It’s a lament that was written in the midst of some unspecified disaster, and it’s a good song for us to sing when we are going through trials and want to ask God for help. This song is the basis of a popular hymn entitled, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.”

“So teach us to number our daysthat we may get a heart of wisdom.Return, O Lord! How long?Have pity on your servants!Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,and for as many years as we have seen evil.Let your work be shown to your servants,and your glorious power to their children.Let the ‘favor’ of the Lord our God be upon us,and establish the work of our hands upon us;yes, establish the work of our hands!” (Psalm 90:12-17, ESV)

Ultimately Jesus is the answer to the prayers of the Israelites. He saves God’s people and satisfies us in the morning with his steadfast love. He lets his work be shown in and through his servants, and he gives strength and power to his children. He died on the cross and sacrificed his life so that we can live.

Spend time reflecting on how great the depth of your sin is and how great God’s love and forgiveness is when we put our trust in Christ. When we realize how great our sin is and how we don’t deserve God’s love, it makes us experience God all the more. Confess any sin that is keeping you from getting close to God, and ask the Lord to make you the person he created you to be. Jesus loves us and gave his life for us, and he is the ultimate helper in the midst of disaster or trials. He is our strength!