30 days of prayer

3ODAYS

P R A Y E ROF

30 DAYS OF PRAYERA MONTH OF DEVOTIONS & GUIDED PRAYERS

From the Prayer Ministry of Forest Hills Baptist ChurchNovember 2015

© 2015 by Forest Hills Baptist Church | Sam Boyd, Senior PastorAll rights reserved.

“Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.” - COLOSSIANS 4:2 -

One thing the LORD always honors in His Church is prayer. Our church family here at Forest Hills has felt the call to make prayer a priority in all that we do this year. We desire to be a praying church, full of the power of the Holy Spirit and dependent on His guidance.

Therefore, we have put together this 30 Days of Prayer devotional guide as a resource for our entire church body to use together. Imagine what the LORD might do if all of us commit to fervently praying daily throughout this month!

We have asked FHBC staff members, elders, and prayer ministry team members to write these devotions for each day, using the Psalms passages from our daily Bible readings that our church has been going through this year. Each devotion consists of a few verses from a Psalm, a reflection, and then a guided response.

God’s people have looked to the Psalms as a guidebook in prayer for thousands of years. Three good reasons for us to pray through Psalms (from Redeemer Presbyterian Church, NYC) include:

1. The Psalms teach us to pray through imitation and response. Real prayer is always an answer to God’s revelation. The Psalms are both prayers and revelations about God—the ideal soil for learning prayer.

2. The Psalms take us deep into our own hearts 1,000 times faster than we would ever go if left to ourselves. Religious/moral people tend to want to deny the rawness and reality of their own feelings, especially the darkness of them. The secular world has almost made an idol of emotional self-expression, but the psalmists neither “stuff ” their feelings nor “ventilate” them. They pray them—they take them into the presence of God until they change or understand them.

3. Most importantly, the Psalms force us to deal with God as He is, not as we wish He were. “Left to ourselves, we will pray to some god who speaks what we like hearing, or to the part of God we manage to understand. But what is critical is that we speak to the God who speaks to us, and to everything he speaks to us. …the Psalms train us in that conversation” (from Eugene Peterson’s Answering God).

May you be pulled deeper into God’s will for your life during this month of prayer. May you be refreshed and renewed in your walk with the LORD. May you discover the power of prayer in a very real and practical way. May you grow ever closer to your Lord and Savior through sweet intimacy with the Infinite, for “The LORD is near to all who call upon him sincerely and in truth.” –Psalm 145:18

INTRODUCTION

READ

PSALM 104:1-23SAM BOYD, SENIOR PASTOR

REFLECT

I saw a cartoon recently. There was an elaborate sand castle built on the seashore. Someone had spent a great deal of time designing and building its towers, walls, moats, and inner courts. The caption read,

“The atheist’s explanation of the sandcastle, ‘The waves rushed ashore and when they retreated to the sea, this work of art was formed.’” We who believe in an all-powerful God believe that God is the designer and creator of our world from the largest objects to the smallest details. Every part of creation serves God’s purpose according to His intricate design.

Our reading for the day reinforces: (1) God laid the foundations of the earth (v. 5); (2) God orders the heavens, the waters, the clouds, the wind, and the angels (v. 2-4); (3) God supplies the needs of the animals and man for vitality, productivity, and protection. Do you realize God’s power and love for His creation, especially for mankind, includes you? Do you realize He is willing and able to meet your needs for vitality, productivity, and protection? Do you daily focus your attention on His honor and majesty? Focusing on the LORD reminds us everything in the world and our life is under His control. Therein is peace and rest.

RESPONDPray a prayer praising God for His greatness, power, and beauty. Thank Him for His plan in your life and His daily provision and protection. Confess the anxiety that comes when you take your

eyes off of Him. “Bless the LORD, O my soul!”

DAY

1

READ

PSALM 104:24-35LARRY THRAILKILL, ELDER CHAIRMAN

REFLECT

Thomas, Julianne, and I stand before the gigantic tank. The lights are dim in the room, but light streams through the water. The sharks are identified first, then the rays, then the smaller fishes of many colors,

then jellyfish with opaque bodies, and finally the seahorses, tiny and intricate. It’s the aquarium, and we marvel at the diversity, richness, and beauty of God’s creation. The children run along the window amazed and excited. Around each turn, God presents something new. Oh, how I yearn for that wonder each morning as God reveals His creation anew.

The writer of Psalm 104, likely David or Solomon, begins and ends with, “Bless the Lord, O my soul!” The psalm is often said to be a hymn about the days of creation and these last verses are said to be days five and six of that first week. We can draw the following truths from these twelve verses:

• The Lord is worthy of praise because of His creative wisdom and power. Scientists continue to find that all of God’s manifold works are beyond human intelligence—perfect in design, structure, and function. Intricately and wondrously made!

• The Lord is worthy of praise because of His perfect provision. The verses remind us of the manna given from God’s hand and gathered by the people. It takes us back to the 23rd Psalm where “the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” It takes us forward to the Model Prayer where we ask for our daily bread. It foretells of the Bread of God that came down to save us from our sins and feed us for eternity.

• My prayer should be for God to receive glory and be glad when He sees His handiwork. At the end of the sixth day of creation, He said it was “good.” Ephesians 2:10 tells me I am His workmanship, created for good works which God has prepared.

• My response to God’s awesome creation is to sing His praises because I recognize that the glory of the creation we see now is nothing compared to the glory we will see one day.

RESPONDMeditate on Psalm 8, David’s hymn of praise. Lord, when I see the glory of your creation, I fall down in adoration and lift up my voice in praise for your everlasting wisdom, power and grace.

May you be glad in your creation.

DAY

2

READ

PSALM 105:1-15WAYNE CAUSEY, ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF MUSIC & WORSHIP

REFLECT

One of my most daunting personal challenges is to daily find the joy that the Apostle Paul speaks of through his letters to the Church. Honestly, it is a more natural thing for me to live a reactionary life and just let

the circumstances of my life dictate my daily focus and emotional agenda. However, will this natural approach to life result in anything that resembles the abundant life our Redeemer promises us? Does mere reaction reflect a victorious life that our Creator designed for us? Absolutely not.

In my times of weakness, anger, fear, and depression, I have learned to go directly to the Gospels and Psalms in whose pages I find every emotion common to woman and man. In the Psalms I join with David as he cries and complains in his human condition, and I stay with him as God transposes his laments into praises! David understands that the seedbed of joy begins with thanking and praising God for his everlasting presence and faithfulness in his life. That lesson is for me as well.

RESPONDPsalm 105 provides us with an effective formula for private as well as personal worship. Read these first five verses and notice the pattern God provides us for living a life of joy.

O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore and remember his

marvelous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth!

Turn this scripture into a PRAYER as you call on His name in your personal time of worship.

DAY

3

READ

PSALM 105:16-36MARGARET CARDEN, PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM CO-CHAIR

REFLECT

Have you ever sat down and looked back over your life and realized the amazing series of friends, places, and events that have brought you to THIS DAY in your life? These scriptures briefly describe such a series of

events in two people’s lives, Joseph and Moses (along with Aaron).

My father died when I was very young, and my mom raised my three brothers and me. After high school, while attending college, I went to work with a small business run by a husband and wife. My mom and this couple were instrumental in guiding my educational and career opportunities with Christian principles. Later, they encouraged me to pursue a career with a Fortune Top 10 company. After my first attempt failed, they encouraged me to try a second time when the position became available again. I felt like Moses but did not have an Aaron. My second attempt was successful. I was terrified that I would not be able to achieve the goals expected of me. Within the first year, I literally bumped into a man on the sidewalk while calling on one of my customers. Less than six months later, we were married. After about five years of service, my company offered me a position in Nashville, Tennessee, but I did not feel qualified. I remember my boss saying, “What you know, I cannot teach, and what you do not know, I can teach you.” This offer also came at a time when my husband and I had become “empty nesters.” When Bill had to close his business and start over, there were some very tough years trying to find our way in this “strange country.” During this process, we visited several churches but never seemed to settle on a home church. Then one day an employee of mine said she had visited Forest Hills Baptist Church and thought it might be the worship experience we were seeking. The Spirit of God at Forest Hills wrapped around us. We were encouraged, fed, shepherded, and loved by God’s Light shining through his people at Forest Hills. God had brought us from a church life that had little direction and placed us in his “Promised Land” for us as a couple. With the guidance, encouragement, and abounding LOVE from the body of Christians at Forest Hills, we began to bear fruit. My first area of service was to take an hour in the Prayer Room on Saturday morning. Little did I know that God was getting me prepared to become co-chair of the Prayer Room when the person that started that ministry decided to pass the baton several years later.

Where is God taking you? What hardships are in your life that will make you become a better disciple?

RESPONDPray a prayer thanking God for his infinite wisdom, love, compassion, and forgiveness. Pray for personal wisdom to accept life’s challenges and hard times as an opportunity to grow closer to God in prayer and knowledge through the study of His Word. Thank Him for being patient even when we are not. And most of all, pray that He will continue to guide and use you in HIS

service to expand HIS Kingdom.

DAY

4

READ

PSALM 105:37-45JEFF BOWDEN, ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF EDUCATION

REFLECT

God provides! Psalm 105 is a history of God’s provision for His people. As you read through the chapter, you see the writer stressing again and again how God provided. In this section of Scripture, God provides

for His people in a diverse number of ways. God provides income (v. 37 – silver and gold), direction (v. 39 – cloud by day and fire by night), food (v. 40 - quail and bread), and drink (v. 41 – water). God’s provision for Israel’s need was based on His covenant and promise with Abraham.

God never changes. He still provides for all our needs (Phil. 4:19) through His promises and His new covenant in our Lord Jesus Christ. Just like the writer reviews God’s provision through history, all Christians should reflect on their years and praise Him for His goodness. This has been true for our family. Throughout many years, God has provided income, food, water, clothes, shelter, transportation, and direction for my family. I could tell you many stories of His goodness to us. I know He has provided for you as well. By doing so, God’s faithfulness brings us joy and singing (v. 43) for His provision.

However, there is one more verse to this section. God provides all our needs through His promises and covenant under one condition. God provides so “that they might keep His statutes, and observe His laws” (v. 45). God wants our obedience. Obedience is the one request God has asked of His people from the beginning of time to this very day. Review these Scriptures: Gen. 2:15-17; Deut 12:28; Joshua 1:6-9; John 15:10. We obey His commandments out of love for Him, not out of obligation. It is a love relationship with a grateful heart. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).

RESPONDDuring a time of prayer, give thanks to God for His continual provision. Think back over the years and praise Him for His goodness. Be prepared to share a testimony with others with “joy and singing” of His goodness toward you. From a grateful heart and based on love, commit to

Him your obedience to His commands.

DAY

5

READ

PSALM 106:1-12BOB HAYNES, ELDER

REFLECT

As you read today’s passage, reflect upon God’s love relationship with His people. Scripture tells us He entered into a covenant relationship with His chosen people, promising to love them and provide for

them. Even in their times of rebellion, God’s love for His people endured. He was steadfast!

Psalm 106 recounts the rebellious nature of the chosen people even as Moses led them out of Egypt. Yet God’s love endured, and He saved them by parting the Sea and allowed their escape (vv. 6-12). The psalmist’s response to what God had done was to exclaim, “Hallelujah” (HCSB), “Praise the Lord” (NIV). He said “give thanks to the Lord “because He is good” (v. 1), and His love “endures forever.” In fact, so great is God’s love, no one can adequately praise or thank Him enough for what he has done (v. 2). Nevertheless the Psalmist prays to the Lord, “Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people” (v. 4).

Fast-forward to today and consider our response to God’s grace. Like the Psalmist, shouldn’t we be grateful to the point of excitement over His provision, particularly the gift of His Son to provide for our salvation? Shouldn’t we acknowledge our ongoing sinfulness and His enduring love for us? Shouldn’t we acknowledge our inadequacy before Him? As we consider these things, let’s remember to say, “Thank you, Lord!” Where is God taking you? What hardships are in your life that will make you become a better disciple?

RESPONDPray a prayer of praise, thanking God for His steadfast love for us even when we are not obedient.

DAY

6

READ

PSALM 106:13-31GARY HAUK, ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF ADMINISTRATION

REFLECT

What’s the role of memory and patience in our faith? The Israelites soon forgot. They wouldn’t wait for His counsel. When were you closest to the Lord? What do you remember about your faith story? How

hard is it for us to wait and depend on His counsel? Remember a commitment or decision you made or a time when you were especially close to the Lord? Plan a time to just remember. Has it been too long? Did it come as a result of waiting on the Lord for His direction? Do we need to remember how He saved us, how He has moved in our lives? Do we need to seek Him for counsel and wait for His response? Go back to your childhood or youth or an earlier stage of your life. How has the Lord directed your path?

Memory is the process in which information is encoded, stored, and retrieved. Sometimes we store more that we can retrieve. We know more than we do. We act on our own whims and neglect our dependency on the Lord.

We sometimes notice a tendency, especially among some fragile older persons, to lose short-term memory. If we think of life as a process of adding a drawer to a filing cabinet each year of our lives, by the time we reach 80 or 90, we’ve got a lot of drawers full. We can sometimes remember details from 40–50 years ago but struggle with what we had for breakfast. Spiritually, the Israelites had a memory problem. So do we. They didn’t remember what the Lord had done and what He would do if they sought to experience relationship with Him regularly. They depended on themselves. They forgot. We, like them, have a memory problem.

Have you ever asked for a craving or desire that wasn’t best? Be careful what you ask for; the Lord might give it to you. The Lord gave them the desires of their heart. He let them go.

RESPONDLord, please help us remember. Help us learn from the Israelites. We have a memory problem. We forget what You have done for us and depend on ourselves. Bring people into our lives that

help us remember your role and presence in our lives. Don’t let us go.

DAY

7

READ

PSALM: 106:32-48LEE BOGGS, PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM

REFLECT

How often do we say to ourselves or to others, “What difference does it make? … Who’s it going to hurt? …I’ve got to have it,” or “Everybody else is doing it” These are fairly common statements in

our society. On the surface they don’t seem harmful, but once we dig deeper and reveal the motives behind them, we usually find an obsession (v. 35–39) with things, stuff, and/or people.

Enjoying things, stuff, and people all adds value to our happiness and way of life; it’s our culture. However, taken to the extreme, they can become an obsession with prestige and money, buying just to satisfy, excessive and/or questionable TV/internet/cell phone use or unhealthy relationships, all led by pride, ego, and desires. All such hollow desires separate us from God and living a Christian life.

We’ve learned—though we don’t like to admit it—that satisfying our desires leads to empty happiness, an unbalanced life, and short term satisfaction. So often we experience guilt and ask for forgiveness from those we’ve hurt. It’s not surprising that in our love by contract culture, “I’ll love you only if you treat me right,” that we usually receive punishment or rejection instead of forgiveness. Too much damage and hurt have been done, and we don’t know where to turn.

There is hope and joy in the blessed assurance of God’s unconditional love for us! God has promised us His everlasting love and forgiveness—no matter what (v. 44, 45). Though we all make mistakes, He is always there to listen to our prayers and to lead us to do the right thing.

RESPONDLet us pray our abundant thanks to God for His unconditional love for us. Let us go to Him with our mistakes and apathy and pray for His guidance, asking that we put Him first in everything we do. Let us pray that we be able to forgive others more, just as He forgives us, with a loving,

joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled life.

DAY

8

READ

PSALM 107:1-43 DAVID ALLEN, ELDER

REFLECT

My wife, Nancy, and I were recently eating dinner and listening to music at the Sutler Saloon (yes, elders can go to saloons). I was struck by the Billy Joel lyrics, “For we are always what our situations

hand us, It’s either sadness or euphoria.” In other words, we become a reflection of our circumstances. While it is a provoking thought, I disagree. Too often we believe we are only what life hands us – for good or for bad.

In Psalm 107, God says, “when my people cry to me in their trouble, I hear them and rescue them from their distress.” In God, we are no longer defined by our failures, our illnesses, our fears, our loneliness or our loss of courage. Rather than becoming a reflection of our own crisis, we become a reflection of God’s love within the crisis. His “steadfast love” delivers us, redefines us and provides us with a direction and a purpose.

Mary Evelyn died on September 28th at 7:05 pm. She was married for more than 50 years to Larry. They have three loving children and six great-grandchildren. On September 4th she fell, hitting her head and unleashing a cascade of problems that would end her life. As she took her last breath, Larry stroked her hair and told his wife that he loved her. Tears ran down his cheeks.

Mary Evelyn loved her family, enjoyed gardening and taught Sunday school. She knew Jesus while she was alive. And He knew her – by name. Death has not changed that. His steadfast love has rescued her from pain and welcomed her into paradise. His steadfast love peacefully holds her family as they grieve. Christ’s tears fall beside theirs. No matter how difficult life becomes – God is present. We are not defined by our situation. We are defined by the presence and power of God’s mercy and love.

RESPOND• Are you a reflection of your situation or a reflection of God’s grace and love within

that situation?

• It is okay to cry (Ps 107:6). Sometimes we need to hit the ground with our knees and cry.

DAY

9

READ

PSALM 108:1-13KIMBERLY MACNEILL, MINISTER TO WOMEN

& SINGLE ADULTS

REFLECT

There is nothing like the start of a new day! Morning light has emerged, and the first cup of coffee is brewing. Rain or shine, there is something to look forward to. With this new calendar date just ahead,

the possibilities are endless, and God’s glory seems oh so clear. Praising God, I feel strong. With Him, I am ready for a day filled with peace and joy!

No day commences without incident, though. There is most always a challenge—most always a struggle of some kind. Sometimes these conflicts can add up, and before I know it, peace and joy are accompanied by a battle or two.

After all these years, I probably ought not be surprised, but, the fact is I am just not a person who wakes up thinking that I am in a war of any kind. I don’t wake up thinking I have enemies. Yet, I do.

There are enemies to my spiritual life lurking around every corner. There are things on this earth that threaten my well-being and cause me to be insecure and afraid. There are things of the world that are dead-set on diminishing my commitment to Jesus. Everyday I face foes from every direction whose intent is to thwart God’s purposes in my life.

This new day, if I am not mindful, will slip from spiritual readiness to anxiety. How can I possibly defend myself against these enemies of my life in God?

Herein rests God’s provisions for me. He is the One who will defend and protect. He is the One who will forge a way for me. I don’t have all that is needed to win any battles or wars on my own. He does.

So, no matter what comes in this new day, I will put my trust in Him. I will continue to praise Him. What He has purposed for my life will not be lost. My God is steadfast. My God is faithful. My God delivers. He is the One who gives the win.

RESPONDAsk God to show you the enemies of your life in God that you are facing. Pray against them, trusting God to help you overcome each one. Ask God to take away any anxiety or doubt and

to give you a spiritual readiness. And where you know you need a “win” today, ask him for it.

DAY

10

READ

PSALM 109:1-31T Y HAST Y, PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM

REFLECT

Have you ever woke up in the middle of the night with fear, vengeful thoughts, and disdain for someone who has done you wrong? Probably. So did David. David was probably being pursued by

Saul and his followers when David wrote this Psalm. David felt he was wrongly persecuted and asked the Lord to intervene. David cried out for vengeance. Maybe you have done the same—I know I have.

Sometimes we place biblical characters into a Hollywood characterization of tough, untouchable, and resilient persons who are unaffected by the problems of life—maybe even “bullet proof.” They were not. They were humans. They were subject to and affected by the same pressures, emotions, and spiritual attacks as we are. They got sick, they were attacked without cause, they made mistakes, they were persecuted, they were wrongly accused, and they became desperate—so it was with David, and so it can be with us.

As we read this passage, I think we should remember that we are all vulnerable to the temptation to seek retribution for those who we feel have treated us wrongly. Maybe we, as David did, might even pray for this. Focus on the last part of this passage, starting in verse 21. David lends us an example. He admits his own unworthiness, he admits his brokenness, and he cries out to the Lord for HIS justice and for HIS will to prevail. Here’s the grace part: he prays that his enemies will know who God is and promises thankfulness for the same

RESPONDThis teachingis hard. Jesus says we must allow room for God’s justice. Back off! Our vengeance is nothing in comparison to God’s. God knows wrong, and it is not our job to point wrongs out to Him. Admit your own faults: pray for God to intervene in His own way and let your enemy know who God is. Most importantly, give thanks for who He is and be confident in His sovereign will.

DAY

11

READ

PSALM 110:1–7MIKE ARRINGTON, ELDER

REFLECT

The presidential campaign is heating up. Candidates are on the stump, debates are in full swing, the media is in a frenzy, and the American public (the ones who care) are deeply concerned about the

direction of our nation, as well they should be. Believers in Christ are watching with disbelief as our country is in a rapidly growing downward spiral of disregard for God and embracing the idea that “evil is good and good is evil.” Should we, as God’s people, believers in Christ, be worried and fearful?

From the beginning of the republic there has been a strong sense of God’s “sovereignty” over His people. We were given a wonderful gift by our forefathers in a constitution that acknowledges our mighty God and His divine providence as the basis for life and liberty. At the 2004 National Prayer Breakfast, President George W. Bush stated, “Behind all of life and all of history, there is a dedication and purpose set out by the hand of a just and faithful God.”

King David, in Psalm 110: 1-7, sings a message for the ages. God says to Jesus, sit at my right hand with all power and authority over all those who oppose the Gospel and reject my Kingdom. Jesus, by sovereign appointment, is the King and high priest forever declared by God the Father. We can have full confidence that when Jesus returns He will “judge the nations,” crush the ungodly rulers of all the earth, and reign victoriously forever.

Until Christ returns, what are we to do? Bide our time and hope things get better? Absolutely not! Now is the time to put on the full armor of God and get in the battle. How do we do that?

First, we must know Him as our Savior and Lord! He shed his blood as a sacrifice for our sins once and for all time. Second, we must repent of our sins, deny ourselves, and accept Him as the Lord of our life. Third, now we are ready to be obedient to His leading as we share the Gospel with others, lead unbelievers to Jesus, and take action with boldness, courage, and determination to have a spiritual impact on our home, city, state, and nation.

RESPONDPray a prayer of praise to our sovereign God, confessing and repenting of not living up to His commands and expectations, thanking Him for His grace and mercy through Jesus Christ, and asking Him to show us how we can serve Him and have an impact for the Gospel in our relationships here at home and around the world. Pray that God will lay on your heart two

people that you can impact for His Kingdom.

DAY

12

READ

PSALM 111:1-10CHAD MIZE, MINISTER OF YOUNG ADULTS,

MISSIONS & EVANGELISM

REFLECT

When was the last time you publically praised God for a specific work he accomplished in your life? We tend to think of praise as something we can offer to God in the quietness of our hearts.

We certainly can praise God privately; however, the biblical praise mentioned and demonstrated in this passage involved the entire assembly of believers. Notice how the psalmist declares his whole heart of gratitude to the Lord, “in the company of the upright, in the congregation.” Public praise, declaring the Lord’s gracious intervention, brings glory to Him and encouragement to the ears of all those listening.

Yet, is praise merely lip service to God? The Bible teaches us that heartfelt praise and thanksgiving required sacrificial giving. When believers came to offer public praise to the Lord, they entered the temple courts bearing sacrificial offerings to be given and enjoyed by all in honor of the Lord’s mighty works in their life. These gifts were given willingly out of the overflow of gratitude experienced in the life of the believer. The Apostle Paul recognizes this sacrifice in Romans 12:1 when he says, “I appeal to you therefore brothers, by the mercies of God [the great salvation we enjoy], to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” How has your gratitude to the Lord affected your worship and generosity in your daily life?

As the psalmist contemplates all of the wondrous works (used five times) of God, he reflects on God’s provisions, His gracious inheritance, His redemption, and His covenant. Throughout the Bible, believers are commanded by God to remember and not forget His mighty works. Places, “ebenezer” stones, festivals, and the scriptures themselves ingrained these works in the hearts of His people. When was the last time you retraced the path on which the Lord has brought you and marked all the ways He has worked in your life?

RESPONDMake a list of five specific ways that you have seen God intervene and work in your life in the last five years. Spend time in prayer praising God for His faithfulness, His character, and this specific work in your life. In the next week, ask the Lord to give you one occasion to share one of the wondrous works from your list with a friend, loved one, or Sunday school class. May the

Lord be glorified and the saints encouraged!

DAY

13

READ

PSALM 112:1-10JENNIFER WIDMER, PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM CO-CHAIR

REFLECT

People can always be divided into two groups. There are males and females. There are right-handed people and left-handed people. There are swimmers and non-swimmers. There are people who like

roller coasters and those that do not. There are Republicans and Democrats. There are the end-times sheep and goats. There are the righteous and the wicked.

Today, society tries to smooth out the distinction between righteous and wicked by saying everyone is OK and everything they do is OK. However, Psalm 112 tells us the difference, and God still sees a person as righteous or wicked. His opinion is far more important than society’s opinion.

So, what are the characteristics of the righteous person? He is blessed (v. 1), gracious and compassionate (v. 4), honest (v. 5), and steadfast (v. 7). He respects God as God (v. 1) and he trusts in the Lord (v. 7). God honors him for his good deeds (v. 9). His righteousness can never be taken away; it endures forever (v. 3). However, the wicked person is grieved, gnashes his teeth, and will perish (v. 10).

Which group do you fall into? Which one do you want to be in? It all begins with accepting God and his gift of salvation or rejecting it. If you accept, He puts the desire in your heart to do the right things as you become more like Him. After all, God on earth, as Jesus, had these characteristics of a righteous man.

RESPONDPray a prayer of thanks to God for your salvation. If you are not saved, pray to accept His gift of salvation. Ask Him to change you more and more every day into a truly righteous person. Also

pray for opportunities to share with the wicked so they will not perish.

DAY

14

READ

PSALM 113:1‐114:8DON GREEN, MINISTER TO CHILDREN

REFLECT

In Psalm 113:3 there are two ideas pictured that help us think about praising Him. First it says, “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.” The sun rises in the east and it sets in the west. Think

about that in terms of distance. How far is the east from the west? I think we can agree it’s a long way. From east to west, you might just call that everywhere. Wherever you are, that is the place where you can praise the Lord.

Second, it says, “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.” We covered that already, you might say. Well let’s look at it from a different point of view. The sun rises in the morning, and it sets in the evening. How long is that? All day. We could call that anytime. Whatever the time of day, that is the time when you can praise the Lord.

The second half the verse reminds us that, “the name of the Lord is to be praised.” What’s your favorite way to praise the Lord? You can say a prayer. You can sing a song. You can give him the gift of laughter. You can give him the gift of silence. There are many ways to praise the Lord.

Choose your place. Choose your time. Choose your way, and praise the Lord!

RESPONDPray a prayer of praise. Thank Him for the opportunities He gives to praise Him. Ask His for-

giveness for not always remembering to so. Take time to praise him.

DAY

15

READ

PSALM 115:1-18THOMAS DODD, ELDER

REFLECT

When I was in high school, my church was led by a pastor who had been a missionary in Thailand. He explained how, as missionaries, they had intentionally not purchased a buddha idol. Just as

mentioned in Psalm 115, he knew that the buddha didn’t hold any power and was only made of stone. Having studied the culture, he understood the value that the Thai people placed on the buddha.

In our culture we may not worship a carved image; however, things in our lives, if left unchecked, can become idols. Consider these questions:

• What do I spend my time doing?

• What consumes my thoughts?

• Where do I spend my money?

• What motivates me?

Verse 8 explains that those who make the idols are just like the idol they make—DEAD.

Verse 9 explains that we are to trust in the Lord—“He is their help and shield.”

Verses 12–15 speak of the blessings from God.

RESPONDPray a prayer of confession. Acknowledge those things that are or could become idols. Thank God for giving us the words in Psalm 115 to remind us of His help and shield. Thank Him for

His blessings. All that we have is from Him.

DAY

16

READ

PSALM 116:1‐19KIMBA CAMPBELL, MINISTER TO PRESCHOOLERS

REFLECT

As a mom of three boys, I often hear my name called. I joke with my husband saying, “If I had a dime for every time I heard the word, ‘Mama,’ I could pay for a trip to Disney with just this money!”

Every parent can relate to this. Our children need us. I think about the times when my son just needs one last hug at night before bed—or the times when they are hurt—or even the times they say, “Mama, I am hungry” (which happens a lot in our house). Our children love to call our name. As I read and reflected on Psalm 116, I thought about how much more our Father up in Heaven wants to hear the words, “Father—Abba—Daddy.”

“He heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live” (v. 1 & 2).

So often though we forget to call on His name. Instead of turning to God, we turn everywhere else. God wants us to come to Him, cry out to Him, and let His presence fill us. He alone is our protector, our rest, our strength, and our Redeemer! As my friend JJ Heller sings, “You are the well that never runs dry.” He is always here. Let us never stop calling on the name of the Lord!

Our Father/Abba/Daddy wants to hear His name!

RESPONDSpend time today calling out to your Father. Praise Him. He is here. Whatever you are facing today,

cry out to Him. Reflect on His goodness and let His love speak to you for He is our Father.

You are the well You are the well that never runs dry

DAY

17

READ

PSALM 117:1-2MILTON SMITH, ELDER

REFLECT

During my reading I found it very interesting that in verse 1 the psalmist specifically included us as “Gentiles” immediately following the instruction to “praise.” Our obligation to praise the Lord was

documented long before Peter and Paul shared the Gospel message to the Gentiles. We, as “Gentiles,” have been a part of God’s plan since the beginning. Christianity is not restricted to one race or one nation but is available to all who accept Jesus as their Savior.

We are told to praise and laud Him. Often we “rush” our reading of these short verses and their familiar words of instruction and miss the specific item that God has for us. A little research shows that praise can be either a noun or a verb. In this verse I think that we are being called to action—thus the verb definition is important. Praise as an action means to admire and to glorify.

In 1 Chronicles 16:29 we are given some instruction on “glorifying” God.

“Give to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!” (NKJV)

“Bring an offering.” What offering can we bring to God to glorify Him? Our offering to God, as we come before Him, requires our agreement, obedience, and submission with His will for our lives: cheerfully giving back to His work from the material blessings He has given to us is an additional and appropriate response of praise.

RESPONDOffer a prayer of praise that glorifies God as the all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present Creator of the Universe. Thank Him for including “Gentiles” in His plan and for Jesus who completed the process of your salvation. Praise Him for His ongoing mercy and grace toward you. Ask for His direction in your life today so that what you do and give allows for His plan to be fulfilled in you.

DAY

18

READ

PSALM 118:1-18BARNEY SELF, PASTORAL COUNSELING MINISTER

REFLECT

Our God is awesome, and yet, in His awesomeness, He wants to have a relationship with each of us. That thought is sometimes hard to fathom. That truth, however, is unavoidable. So, how do we foster

that relationship?

The medium that best facilitates that reality is prayer. What a joy, a privilege, an honor, and a responsibility is our prayer life! The psalmist in today’s reading begins in an appropriate place—thanksgiving. Having hearts that acknowledge God’s goodness, His faithfulness, His trustworthiness, and His role as our protector and provider, and with that acknowledgment an overwhelming sense of gratitude, reverence, and love for Him, sends the sweet incense of our worship to His presence.

It is easy in living our frenetic lives to miss the opportunity and thereby ignore the responsibility to connect in a meaningful way with our Lord. If we trivialize that relationship by making God the “In Case of Emergency” number on our phone, we condemn ourselves to a desert place God never intended for us. Instead, He desires daily, hourly, even moment-to-moment awareness and acknowledgment of His presence, His love, and His provision for us. Paul admonishes us to “pray without ceasing.” In so doing, we include Him in every aspect of our lives, and our lives are always richer for His presence. The more we delude ourselves in thinking that we are in charge of our lives and have the capacity to run that life like the CEO of a business, the more we relegate Him to a consultant role. That pattern does not allow Him to be Lord of our lives.

RESPONDOur Awesome God is the source of health, strength, peace, hope, and joy. Commit to enlarge your connection in prayer to honor Him and to experience the blessings He so desperately wants

for your life.

DAY

19

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PSALM 118:19-29VICKIE ALLEN, WORSHIP & MUSIC MINISTRY ASSISTANT

REFLECT

Think about the gate to a backyard or the door to your home. Have skunks, wolves, or bobcats ended up in your yard? If your front or back door is open, can burglars walk in?

Gates and doors provide security. When the psalmist speaks of entering the gates of righteousness, he is thankful that God had saved him. Because of salvation, the gates of righteousness keeps him and all believers forever secure in God.

As I read the Scripture, I am excited about how many songs spring from this text: “Give Thanks to the Lord,” “This is the Day the Lord Has Made,” “Blessed Is He,” “Cornerstone.” Songs help me thank and praise God. What are some of your favorite worship songs or hymns? Think of their words now and speak them in a prayer to God.

The psalmist thought about going into the gates and wanted to praise and thank God mightily. This worship of God was in response to what God had done.

He immediately thanked God for his salvation. In Verse 22 the psalmist was inspired to speak of Jesus. The Cornerstone is Jesus. Acts 1:11 explains, “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.” (ESV)

In Verse 26 the Psalmist uses another phrase that is repeated in the New Testament in reference to Jesus. Matthew 21:9 explains “And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (ESV) Do you know what event this Scripture is describing and what Hosanna means?

We are made to have a relationship with God and to glorify Him through our praise and thankfulness.

RESPONDPray a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for what God and Jesus have done for you. You can use Verses 28 and 29 as a prayer of praise. Verse 29 is about God, so change the wording to “I give

thanks to You, Lord, for You are good; for Your steadfast love endures forever!

DAY

20

READ

PSALM 119:1-16NATHAN PARKER, MINISTER TO YOU TH

REFLECT

Have you ever received a letter from someone you really loved? When my wife, Morgan, and I were in college, she spent a summer in Costa Rica on a study abroad program. We exchanged emails almost

every day for six weeks. Those words were so precious to both of us, so full of joy and love, that she printed each email out and had them bound into a book and presented it to me as an incredibly thoughtful gift. Reading those letters today still fills my heart with amazing joy and love for her!

We as God’s people have all been given a gift of letters—words of love and truth from the author of love and truth. God graciously and lovingly gives us His instructions, His rules, what He wants us to do, etc. in written form, what we call the Holy Bible, God’s Word. The longest chapter in all of our Scriptures, Psalm 119, is a celebration of Holy Scripture itself.

He gives us these Words not as a harsh judge waiting to punish us, but as a loving Father who wants what is best for us. He wants us to experience “delight” (v. 14 & 16) by keeping a steadfast way according to His statutes (v. 5). He wants us to avoid being “put to shame” (v. 6) by learning to live in the way that He describes for us in the Bible.

Do you delight in scripture? Does God’s Word bring you more joy than riches do (v. 14)? Ask the Lord to help you fall in love with Him and His Word more and more.

Do you store up God’s Word in your heart (v. 11)? What verse can you memorize today in this passage? Say it over and over to yourself (and others!) today.

RESPONDPray a prayer of praise, thanking God for giving us the beautiful gift of His written self-revelation, the Holy Bible. Ask Him to forgive you when you seek other things instead of seeking Him with your whole heart (verses 2 &10). Thank Him for not abandoning you to figure things out for

yourself, but instead giving you His instructions.

DAY

21

READ

PSALM 119:17-32RUSS WILLIS, ELDER

REFLECT

We often talk about getting into a rut when it comes to our everyday manner of thinking and acting. Get up in the morning, prepare to go to work, be at work at a certain time, have a lunch break,

continue to do the same thing in the afternoon, leave work at 5 o’clock, have dinner, watch television, go to bed, and start over the next day. Such a routine dulls our senses both emotionally and spiritually. The result is that we begin to live as if this life and this world is all there is. One day we wake up and see that our relationship with the One who created us should have more meaning.

God has provided a map for us to follow. As Christians, we need to meditate on the Word of God that He has given us as our guide. We must also daily attend to our relationship with God if we are to serve His people. We do this by making time in our day to engage with God through scripture, study, and prayer.

As the world around us becomes more and more hostile to the message of Jesus Christ, there are always those who will condemn us. Our duty is to meditate on the Word, act on it, and spend time in it.

The psalmist was weary as we sometimes are. We can cry out to God for help in understanding his words. We need to compare our lives with how God’s Word tells us to live. The more we walk in obedience, the more joy we find.

RESPONDLord, I commit myself to your word. As I journey through this life, help me to follow Your laws so I do not lose my way. Protect me from those who would want to harm my relationship with

You. Keep me in Your Word and guide me by Your Spirit. Amen

DAY

22

READ

PSALM 119:33-48BRET T BRANDEWIE, ASSOCIATE MINISTER TO YOU TH

& ACTIVITIES / ELEVATE PRODUCER

REFLECT

Practice makes perfect, right? No, practice makes permanent. An athletic team purposefully practices in hopes that they will execute a winning game plan with great precision. Likewise, a musician

persistently rehearses a piece of music in order to master the composition. A student continually reviews vocabulary words in order to ace the exam. Practice is important because it provides a greater opportunity for understanding and ultimately creates habits, which is why we say, “Practice makes permanent.”

With all good practice, repetition is key. In Psalm 119, we see the mnemonic device of repetition emphasizing the entire chapter’s central theme: the absolute importance of the Word of God and its place in the life of the believer. In the verses we read today, King David puts his own desire to know, trust, and obey the Word of God on display, and we benefit greatly!

In these stanzas, we see a glimpse of David’s mental rehearsal of repeatedly telling himself that he needs God’s Word and asking God to help him trust and obey. With each poetic phrase, we are then challenged to rehearse these same lines with the king.

Imagine reminding yourself every day of verse 36’s challenge to be attentive to God’s will and not your own. What would it look like for us to obey verse 37 and find our identity and purpose revealed to us in the Word of God, rather than worthless things of this world? How should verse 46 impact your daily life in your home, workplace, school, neighborhood, or wherever you find yourself, when you declare to God that you are willing to shamelessly proclaim His Word?

Reading and rehearsing these incredibly honest words of truth found in Psalm 119 provide us a greater opportunity for understanding God’s Word and its importance in our everyday lives and ultimately will create in us habits of trusting and obeying Him and His Word. Like King David, we won’t be perfect, but reading and relying on God’s Word on a daily basis will help us find our delight in it (v. 47) and obediently “keep it to the end” (v. 33).

RESPONDPray by writing your own psalm to God about His Word and how you desire to know, trust, and obey it. Be honest, like David. This is a prayer you can go back to and rehearse to yourself.

Remember, practice makes permanent.

DAY

23

READ

PSALM 119:49-64HELEN MCDANIEL, PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM

REFLECT

After reading the words of Psalm 119:49–64, I was sitting alone meditating on the words of the psalmist as he talked about the Word of God. In times of affliction and trials, we are to pray and

read God’s Word, which brings great comfort to His children. As we read His Word and spend more time in His presence, we want to know Him better and love Him more, which leads to obedience to His commandments, precepts, and laws. He is so faithful and loving to His children.

As I thought on these things, memories came flowing back into my mind about the flood that occurred in Nashville on Sunday, May 2, 2010. Before the flood I had been asked to discuss with my Sunday school class Exodus 33:7–11 about how God revealed His presence to the House of Israel who were under the Old Covenant. Today He reveals His presence to those who are under the New Covenant. In the Old Covenant, His presence was revealed through the cloud that led them by day and the fire that watched over them at night. Moses would go to the tent of meeting, the cloud would come down and stand at the entrance of the tent door, and the Lord would speak to Moses. Later, the Glory of the Lord rested over the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle and the Temple in the Holy of Holies. Today God reveals His presence through the Holy Spirit for those who are under the New Covenant in Jesus Christ and He comes and lives in our bodies. Sometime on Sunday, May 2nd as the flood continued to rage, the Holy Spirit spoke to me through my spirit. He said, “Child, those scriptures were not for the Sunday school class but were to prepare you for what would lie ahead of you on Sunday, May 2nd.” He told me not to fear but to trust in Him to take care of me and bring me through. Before He spoke to me, I was having some fear and anxiety about what I was going to do as I was losing everything I had in the flood. After He spoke to my spirit, the most wonderful Peace washed over my soul. I can truthfully say I did not worry or fear about what was going to happen from then on. I learned to trust Him because He does what He says he will do: He is faithful. I thank God that He is trustworthy and His Word is absolute. It is the Plumbline for our lives. Today, it is as though the flood never happened.

RESPONDFather, I pray that You will give me an overwhelming sense of your presence and power in my life. I thank You for Your Word, and I pray that my life will magnify You and Your Word. I offer up praise and thanksgiving to You for You alone are worthy. Thank You for all of the wonderful promises in Your Word, “For as many are the promises of God, in Him, Jesus Christ, they are yes,” 2 Corinthians 1:20.

DAY

24

READ

PSALM 119:65-80MAT T LONGWORTH, ASSOCIATE MINISTER OF

WORSHIP & MEDIA

REFLECT

Four years ago I was a senior at Belmont University here in Nashville. All was going well in my life. Everything I had drawn up in my plan of life was being fulfilled perfectly. However, there was one

problem: it was my plan. I had myself in the center of my plans instead of God. Towards the end of my fall semester, things began to not go the way I had planned. I became very sick which ultimately led to one major surgery, a ten-day stay in St. Thomas Hospital, and a diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease. This affliction in my life was definitely not a part of my plan. It was, however, part of God’s plan for my life.

Sometimes, it is hard for us to accept affliction as part of God’s plan for our lives. We have to remember, though, that God is a good God and all that He does is good (v. 68). Even when we do not understand why we are going through what we are going through, we have to remember that He is good. It is good for us that we are afflicted (v. 71). We go astray when we focus on ourselves instead of God (v. 67). God uses affliction in our lives to draw us closer to Him. He wants us to lean on His steadfast love for comfort (v. 76).

God used physical affliction in my life to draw me closer to Him. It reminded me that I can do nothing without Him ( John 15:5), and I need to continually keep Him at the center of my life. What kind of affliction is going on in your life? Have you drawn closer to God through this affliction?

RESPONDPray to God thanking Him that His ways are always the good and right ways. Ask Him to use any affliction in your life to draw you closer to Him. Thank Him for His unfailing love and grace

in our lives!

DAY

25

READ

PSALM 119:81-96ED YARBROUGH, ELDER

REFLECT

There is a lot of excitement these days about the possibility of water on Mars. Sadly, many secular scientists who seem most interested in this deny God as Creator. They worship naturalism and

materialism as if created things were the ultimate reality.

In verses 90 and 91 the Psalmist says God’s faithfulness endures to all generations and He established the earth. Indeed, scripture affirms many times that God spoke the entire universe into existence, so He is obviously the ultimate reality, not the natural world as intriguing as that may be. The heavens declare the glory of God, so when we gaze upon the stars, it is appropriate to remember who made them.

In verse 89 we learn that God’s Word is forever settled in heaven. Yet in today’s culture many words seem to be losing their meaning as sinful man attempts to redefine God’s law to suit himself. One current example is the blurring of lines that define marriage. This blurring ignores what Jesus said in Mark 10:6: “. . . from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female.” No opinion poll will ever change that.

The Apostle John began his Gospel message by asserting that the Word ( Jesus) was present in the beginning and that He made all things. This clearly establishes the supremacy and permanence of God’s laws. Man should acknowledge that and seek to serve Him in all aspects of life. We ignore the Creator at our peril.

Water on Mars won’t save anyone, but the Living Water of Jesus Christ brings salvation to all

RESPONDOn this Thanksgiving Day, set aside a moment to give thanks for God’s mighty Word, which is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). When you admire His creation, remember that it is He who has made us and we should serve Him joyfully. This is

the day that the Lord has made!

DAY

26

READ

PSALM 119:97-112KACI WYAT T, DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL OPERATIONS

REFLECT

The Psalmist says, “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (v. 97). How do you meditate on the Word of God? You might have Bible verses written on notes posted up in your

home or office. They might be written in your calendar or notebook as encouragement for the day. There might be a Bible verse written on a notecard in your car (that you only read at stoplights). Maybe you listen to Christian music. Maybe you use God’s Word as prayers to the LORD. All of these are wonderful ways to meditate on the Word of God.

Music has always been most meaningful for me. Several years ago we made the decision to only listen to Christian radio in the car. This came after my young step-daughter was singing at the top of her voice a song that did not hold Christian values. I knew that was not what I wanted my children to meditate on. Now, five years later, Christian music is all my son has heard in the car. How encouraging it is when I hear him on his own singing lyrics that speak God’s truth—knowing that keeping these words in his mind and heart will help him to keep His Word and “restrain his feet from every evil way” (v. 101).

God’s Word is truly a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (v. 105). If you are like me, you just sang those words in your head. Oh how I pray for all of my kids to know and to live this truth! His Word will steer us in the right direction. Are you in love with God’s Word? Do you believe His Word is powerful enough to guide you?

RESPONDPray a prayer of thanksgiving, asking God to help you fall in love with His Word. Pray that it

would be your meditation all the day. Thank Him for lighting the pathway before you.

DAY

27

READ

PSALM 119:113‐128JAKE DAY, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

REFLECTI hate the double-minded, but I love your law. (v. 113)

Therefore I love your commandments… I hate every false way. (v. 127–128)

Many Christians today are uncomfortable with hate. I even feel kind of icky just typing the word. However, at the beginning and end of today’s scripture reading, the psalmist very deliberately

uses the word “hate.”

As unusual as it may sound, believers have been called to Christian hate. It’s made clear to us here that if we truly love God and His law, then we will also hate anything and everything that is opposed to God and His law.

Our problem—my problem—is that in my fallen nature, I often try have it all. I try to love God and love that which is opposed to God. James 4:4 gets straight to the heart of the matter: “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” What a picture! We are married to Christ but having an affair with the world and in doing so, we have become God’s adversary.

Are you one of the double-minded today’s scripture talks about? Do you claim to be a Christian but don’t actually live like the Christ you say you follow? Do you try to seek both God’s kingdom while building your own kingdom here on earth? Remember, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Matt. 6:24). You can’t love the Lord your God with all of your heart and be friends with the world in your spare time. You can’t have it both ways.

RESPONDPray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of your life where you’ve been double-minded—limping between two gods, going back and forth, indecisive as to who you’ll worship (1 Kings 18:21). Then ask God to forgive you for not being totally committed to Him. Thank God for the

opportunity to learn to love His law and commandments.

DAY

28

READ

PSALM 119:129-152BERT CLOUSE, ELDER

REFLECT

Before becoming a Christian, I lived my own life doing the things I wanted to do. I did not have God in my life and did as I pleased. Then one day God took away all of my things or at least allowed it to

happen. When you are at rock bottom and there is no place to go, you’ll try anything. I went to church and began to read God’s Word. The more I read the more I began to believe in God. Verses 129–136 talk about man’s faith in God’s Word as the source of light and prayers as guidance to walk in the light. These verses remind me about understanding God, longing for God’s commands, redemption, and making my steps steady.

Verses 137–144 deal with man realizing the true character of God’s Word being pure and righteous and how a person conforms his life accordingly. Verse 143 talks about trouble and anguish in one’s life, but these do not necessarily cause one to turn from God or His Word.

Verses 145–152 state that man depends upon God’s Word as the true source of strength in life and conduct. Each morning I read God’s Word and spend time with Him in prayer or just rest in the quietness of being in His presence.

RESPONDThank You, Heavenly Father, for your written Word which allows us to come to You each day knowing that whatever comes our way, we belong to you. I thank You for the indwelling Holy Spirit that guides us and brings us closer to You. Thank You for loving me when I was not lovable. Verse 136 says, “My eyes pour out streams of tears because people do not follow Your instructions.” I know I have disappointed You, but You have loved me in spite of that. Thank You

for Your Son’s blood covering my sins.

DAY

29

READ

PSALM 119:153-176TODD CARTER, PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM

REFLECT

Would you agree that, as Christians, we know “the right thing to do” in our daily lives? Should we pray daily? How many times? Do we read God’s word and ask Him to grant us understanding?

Is God’s word entirely true? Do we acknowledge and follow God’s commandments? Do we tell God how much we love His word, His law? Do you long for God’s salvation? These are serious questions. We probably think about these things and ask ourselves many of these questions more than we realize.

Too often we tend to measure ourselves to the standard of those around us. “I’m not perfect, but I don’t do the things that he does,” or “I’m a better person than her.” God doesn’t want us to compare ourselves to someone else. He wants us to love and pray for others. He wants us to focus on Him, seek Him, depend on Him, and rely on Him. I find the more I am in God’s word and the more I pray, the more peace I experience in my daily life. As verse 165 says, “Great peace have those who love Your law. And nothing causes them to stumble.”

In these verses, the psalmist talks about having many enemies and being persecuted without a cause. We know that being a Christian in today’s world is not easy. It is hard to turn on the television or open a newspaper and not see where Christians are being made fun of, ridiculed, or even killed for our faith. Our world is pulling farther and farther away from God. But don’t lose hope! The words in today’s reading remind us to keep our focus on God despite all of the lying and treachery going on around us.

RESPONDPray to God for the strength and determination to be in His word daily. There is not one speck of untruth in scripture. Ask God to allow you to keep and follow His commandments. Tell God

how much you love Him. He loves you and will give you peace!

DAY

30

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NOTES

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