Psalm 68:11 - A mighty throng of women

The Lord announces the word,
     and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:

Because I am a female, I love it when the Bible speaks of women. In this verse, I can just see "a mighty throng of women" standing together, proclaiming the word, perhaps in song. A choir of women of every color and shape. I didn't really care for the word throng, so I checked some other versions to see if there was a synonym I liked better. Most of the other versions just refer to a huge group of people and don't specify women. That was disappointing. I checked the internet and found more information. (Click here.) It kind of sounds like it could go either way. Well, today I read "women" in my NIV and it was a powerful image for me, so I will just thank God.

Lord, thank you for speaking of women in the Bible. Please help us to always proclaim your word. Amen.

Psalm 68:4 - Riding on the clouds

Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,
     extol him who rides on the clouds;
     rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.

I am an actor and an artist: a creative person. I appreciate creative writing and this psalm is full of beautiful word pictures. I love the image of God riding on the clouds. (I am picturing something like a cowboy on a bucking bronco.) There are so many things to praise God for and the Psalms give us things to praise God for we would never even think of.

Lord, thank you for the creative imagery of your Word. Please help us to continue to find new beauty in your Word every day. Amen.

Psalm 67:1-2 - Gifts with a purpose

May God be gracious to us and bless us
     and make his face shine on us—
so that your ways may be known on earth,
     your salvation among all nations.

We all want good things from God, but his purpose in giving us good things is greater than just a blessing towards one who loves him. When God is gracious to us, blesses us and shines his face on us, we become a reflection of God's goodness. We shine a light on God's paths and plans. We expose the world to the salvation God offers to everyone.

Lord, thank you for giving us your blessings. Please help us to allow you to use those blessings to reveal your ways and salvation to the world. Amen.

Psalm 66:18 - Can you hear me now?

If I had cherished sin in my heart,
     the Lord would not have listened;

When we pray to God, how do we know he is listening? How do we know we can expect an answer? The Bible gives us some perimeters regarding prayer and this verse is one of them. In order for God to hear us, we need to be in a right relationship with him. If we have sin in our lives we are not willing to part with, God won't hear us. So if we are praying and feel like we are not getting a response, maybe we need to examine our lives and look for cherished sin.

Lord, thank you for loving us and hearing our prayers. Please help us to cherish no sin in our heart. Amen.

Psalm 65:11 - Happy fall

You crown the year with your bounty,
     and your carts overflow with abundance.

Psalm 65 is a psalm of praise, especially for the harvest. This verse made me think of fall and all the bounty it brings. This is a time of year for thankfulness. In our ladies class we just started reading the book "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. I have not yet even begun the book, but have been told she suggests we keep a journal of all the things we are thankful for. I think that is a great idea!

Lord, thank you for the bounty of the fall. Please help us to be mindful of all the things we have to be thankful for. Amen.

Psalm 64:2 - Ignorance is bliss

Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
     from the plots of evildoers.

I am not sure if my thinking is right, but I like to be ignorant...of some things. I rarely watch the news, but last night I was near a TV broadcasting the rioting in North Carolina. I felt like this was only continuing news because the cameras were on. If there was no one to film the situation, maybe people would have just gone home.

Lord, thank you for your loving protection. Please help us all of us to be respectful, kind and loving to everyone. Amen.

Psalm 63:7 - Success

Because you are my help,
     I sing in the shadow of your wings.

The picture below is of my husband and I on Texas Flip and Move. For a year I have been chasing a crazy dream to be an actress. I haven't had my "big break" yet, but things are moving along pretty well. This verse made me think of two things. First, no matter what happens, I only want what is in God's will.  I will only succeed in acting as a career if it is what God wants for me, with his help and in the shadow of his wings. Second, I thought about the support my husband has given me. We have been on set together as extras and he has come to volunteer for and watch live performances. Thank you John!

Lord, thank you for allowing us to "sing". Please help us to remember, success within your will comes from your help, in the shadow of your wings. Amen.

Psalm 62:8 - I Trust You God

Trust in him at all times, you people;
     pour out your hearts to him,
     for God is our refuge.

Sometimes my mind just races 1000 miles an hour. It seems impossible to sit quietly and focus on God. Sometimes I am anxious about something and can't seem to focus on anything else. A wise teacher once told me to use a mantra. For me he chose, "I trust you God." In those moments when my mind is racing, I just repeat this over and over in my head. God is my refuge!

Lord, thank you for being our refuge. Please help us to trust you at all times. Amen.

Psalm 61:4 - Home

I long to dwell in your tent forever
     and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.

I want to go home. It is a phrase which means so many things. Sometimes home means an actual place. Other times it means family or a comfortable feeling. Home is something we all long for. Our true home is in heaven. There is nowhere on this earth which can compare. "This world is not my home, I just am passing through."

Lord, thank you for giving us a taste of home here on earth so we know what to look forward to in heaven. Please help us to always remember our true home is with you. Amen.

Psalm 60:10 - Rejected?

Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us

     and no longer go out with our armies?

Just like David, there will be times in our life when we feel like God has rejected us. When we are not winning and we are struggling. There can be many different reasons for the struggle. God might be trying to teach us something, or it could just simply be the result of a fallen world. Even though we may feel like God has left us, he has not. Call out to him. Question him. He is listening.

Lord, thank you for loving us enough to hear us. Please let us feel your presence all the time. Amen.

Psalm 59:16 - Ending with praise

But I will sing of your strength,
     in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
     my refuge in times of trouble.

As happens many times in the Psalms, this Psalm is about David's enemies trying to kill him, but always, without fail, he ends his songs with praise and trust. He is secure in the Lord.

Lord, thank you for being our fortress and refuge. Please help us to always sing praise to you in all circumstances. Amen.

Psalm 58:7 - Wicked Rulers

Let them vanish like water that flows away;
     when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.

This Psalm focuses on wicked rulers. David acknowledges wicked rulers, but he knows they will vanish and be swept away. He asks God to foil their plans. They have no real power, so we have nothing to fear. Ultimately God is the only ruler who maters.

Lord, thank you for being our one true ruler. Please help us to trust in you, Amen.

Proverbs 23:2 - Never saw this verse before

and put a knife to your throat

     if you are given to gluttony.

Honestly, I have never seen this verse before. Ok, well I guess I have, I went back and looked at my study in December of 2014 and Proverbs 23:1-3 was highlighted. My focus in that study was the idea that all the food these days is deceptive with chemically altered ingredients, which is true, but... Wow! verse 2 is a strong verse. I came across this when reading my sister's blog and it has stuck in my head for days. I have struggled with overeating my whole life. I'm having trouble coming up with motivation to eat healthy...I think I found it!

Lord, thank you for giving us healthy things to eat. Please help us to use food for the purposes you intend. Amen.

Psalm 57:5 - Praise

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
     let your glory be over all the earth.

David was the king of praise. He never runs out of words of praise to God, even in time of terror and sorrow.

Lord, thank you for the example we are given in David. Please help us to never run out of words of praise. Amen.

Psalm 56:3 - When I am _____, I put my trust in you.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

When I am anxious, I put my trust in you.
When I am sad, I put my trust in you.
When I am sick, I put my trust in you.
When I am angry, I put my trust in you.
When I am betrayed, I put my trust in you.
When I am marginalized, I put my trust in you.
When I am belittled, I put my trust in you.
When I am hurt, I put my trust in you.
When I am depressed, I put my trust in you.
When I am worried, I put my trust in you.
When I am happy, I put my trust in you.
When I am loved, I put my trust in you.
When I am comfortable, I put my trust in you.
When I am ______, I put my trust in you.

Amen.

Psalm 55:12-13 - Betrayed

If an enemy were insulting me,
     I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
     I could hide.
But it is you, a man like myself,
     my companion, my close friend,

Have you ever been betrayed by a friend or someone close to you? This is a pain deeper than most. David and the Lord both know this pain. In verse 22 we are reassured, "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken."

Lord, thank you for sustaining us, even through betrayal. Please help us to remain righteous, always. Amen.

Psalm 54:6 - Do I have to give?

I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;
     I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good.

When this was written, David was under the Jewish law. There were very specific rules about giving. Here David is ready to sacrifice a freewill offering. He wanted to give beyond what was required by the law. As Christians, we have no set rules for giving. All of our giving is a freewill offering. We simply sacrifice (money, time, etc.) out of our love and appreciation for God.

Lord, thank you for giving us the freedom to choose to give to you. Please help us to give with a sacrificial and generous heart. Amen.

Psalm 53:2 - Look for the seekers

God looks down from heaven
     on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,
     any who seek God.

Do you ever get fed up with the sins of the world? Do you wonder if there are any good people out there? Apparently David felt this way frequently. We need to look for those who understand and seek God.

Lord, thank you for looking for those of us who seek you. Please help us to understand and remain faithful. Amen.

Psalm 52:8 - Flourishing

But I am like an olive tree
     flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love
     for ever and ever.

Thank you God for allowing me to flourish in your house. I trust in you. Amen.

Psalm 51:2 - Finding forgiveness

Wash away all my iniquity
     and cleanse me from my sin.

We all sin. We all make mistakes and do things we regret. Without God, there is really nothing to do with that sin other than forgive yourself and move on...but the offense is still there. True forgiveness has not taken place. We still bear the guilt of the sin. With God we can receive true forgiveness. There may still be earthly consequences for our actions, but we are purified in the eyes of the Lord,

Lord, thank you for the forgiveness you offer us. Please help us to seek your purification. Amen.

Psalm 50:23 - Thankfulness

Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
     and to the blameless I will show my salvation.”

Last night in the Ladies Class I attend, we discussed how being grateful is the solution to the problems we face. It was suggested that we keep a journal to list things we are thankful for. This is helpful while we are writing it down as well as when we reread it it times of struggle.

Lord, thank you for loving us and teaching us. Please help us to honor you with our thankfulness. Amen.