Promise for Today - Start and End

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, a harp, and the melody of a lyre.
You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. O Lord, what great works you do! 

Psalm 92:1-5a NLT

Psalms is a fascinating collection of poems, full of praise and pain and even prophecy. And contrary to general public opinion, David did not write all of them. In fact, one-third of them are anonymous. 

According to the Bible Project, "The whole book of Psalms has been divided into five books or sections (Psalms 3-41; Psalms 42-72; Psalms 73-89; Psalms 90-106, and Psalms 107-145). The reason for these divisions is that each section has a final poem, which concludes with a similar line that looks like an editorial addition, “May the Lord, the God of Israel, be blessed forever. Amen and Amen." (These are found in Ps. 41:13, Ps. 72:19, Ps. 89:52, and Ps 106:48.) 

In Book 5, chapters 146 - 150 all start and end with "hallelujah" or "Praise the Lord" depending on which Bible translation you read. In explanation for what may seem like a difference that is actually the same, Hallelujah in the Hebrew language means Praise Yah (short for Yahweh).  Going back to our text for today, it is good to proclaim God's unfailing love in the morning, and His faithfulness in the evening... 

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for Your inspiration to mankind to write with such transparency about the struggles and triumphs of human nature. Help us to grasp the wisdom that, through it all, our only hope is in You. And just like our Promise for Today, we are thrilled with all You have done for us! We sing for joy because of what You have done. O Lord, what great works You do! No matter the circumstances, Father, we want to start and end our day in praise for You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - And Yet

Lord, save me from people who are evil. Protect me from those who are cruel, from those who plan to do evil and always cause trouble. Lord, you are my God. Lord, listen to my prayer. My Lord God, you are the powerful one who saves me. You protect my head in battle.
Psalm 140:1-2, 6-7 ERV

Lord, help me control what I say. Don’t let me say anything bad. Take away any desire to do evil. Keep me from joining the wicked in doing wrong.
Psalm 141:3-4 ERV

Being a follower of Christ is the greatest privilege and blessing, but it does not exclude us from trials or tribulations. That's why I love the Psalms - especially those written by David both before and after he was king. David is known as a man after God's own heart. He is one of the most "real" prophet kings in the Bible, and yet, he has some very strong opinions and emotions.

David acknowledges his feelings and the issues he wrestles with, and he is quite transparent about what he'd like to happen to those who are plucking his last nerve. And yet, in the process, he always comes back to acknowledge God. Adonai. David always recognizes who God is, no matter what. Psalm 142:5 NLT, he writes, Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life."

That, too, is my prayer for all of us. 

Father, 

         Save us from evil people. Protect us from those who are cruel, from those whose plans are evil. You are our God, protecting our heads - our thoughts, feelings and desires - when we are in battle. Make us ever mindful of the words we are about to say.Let only Your Words come out of our mouths, those words which are good for building up and not tearing down, good for speaking life and not death, to encourage and not discourage. Please put Your hand over our mouths and help us to choose and SPEAK gratitude and thanksgiving. Father, You truly are our place of refuge and all we really want in life. Holy Spirit, please continue to guide us into all Truth with spiritual understanding. For this and SO much more, we give You praise and glory and honor. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Psalms for Pilgrims

I lift my eyes to you,
O God, enthroned in heaven.
2 We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy,
just as servants keep their eyes on their master,
as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.
3 Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy,
for we have had our fill of contempt.
4 We have had more than our fill of the scoffing of the proud
and the contempt of the arrogant.
Psalm 123 NLT

1What if the Lord had not been on our side?
Let all Israel repeat:
2 What if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us?
3 They would have swallowed us alive
in their burning anger.
4 The waters would have engulfed us;
a torrent would have overwhelmed us.
5 Yes, the raging waters of their fury
would have overwhelmed our very lives.
6 Praise the Lord,
who did not let their teeth tear us apart!
7 We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap.
The trap is broken, and we are free!
8 Our help is from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 124 NLT

Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for being on our side when anyone is against us! We know our help is only from You. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy, for we have had our fill of contempt. In Jesus' Name we pray.

Musical Gratitude

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24 KJV

I used to have a plaque that read, "He who sings, prays twice".  As a child, I didn't know how true that was. For when I was a child, this verse was the foundation of one of my favorite hymns, written by J. Edwin Orr, titled Cleanse Me yet more commonly known as Search Me, O God. I didn't know back then that it was taken directly from the Bible, I just knew it touched my heart and became a prayer that I have sung countless times since. 

I am so grateful to God for music. He knew. Ephesians 5:18-20 NLT reads, Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.  And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the good times, for the bad times, there's nothing like a song to draw hearts together.

It was Bob Benson who said, "There has to be a song. There are too many dark nights, too many troublesome days, and too many wearisome miles. Somewhere deep in the forgotten corner of one’s heart - there has to be a song. Like a cool, clear drink of water and like the gentle warmth of sunshine, and like the tender love of a child, there has to be a song!"

Yes, I'm so grateful to God for music - for one more intimate, powerful way to come into His presence where there is fullness of joy. 

Prayer:

Father,

           We reiterate the continued prayer of J. Edwin Orr, and thank You for the words You gave him to write. Lord, take my life and make it wholly Thine. Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine. Take all my will, my passion, self, and pride! I now surrender, Lord, in me abide. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reasons to Praise

Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion. 

Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Psalm 103:22 NKJV

Praise the Lord!

I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with his godly people.
How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
All who delight in him should ponder them.
Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
His righteousness never fails.
He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
How gracious and merciful is our Lord!
He gives food to those who fear him; he always remembers his covenant.
He has shown his great power to his people by giving them the lands of other nations.
All he does is just and good, and all his commandments are trustworthy.
They are forever true, to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.
He has paid a full ransom for his people.
He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.
What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.

Praise him forever! 

Psalm 111 NLT

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for salvation. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for all this and so much more! We give You praise. Grow our grateful hearts, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

When My Heart is Overwhelmed

When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:2b NKJV

When I have only the desire to be an encouragement, but no words, I turn to the only One whose words never fail. Whose words are always Truth, no matter the circumstances, and I thank Him for them.

Psalm 3:3-5 NKJV 
But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah
I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.

Psalm 86:11-13 NLT
Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.
With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
I will give glory to your name forever, for your love for me is very great.
You have rescued me from the depths of death.

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for having it written down for our reference. Thank You that it is everlasting Truth - alive and active in us to make us into who You would have us to be and able to accomplish all that You have planned for our lives. We pray as St. Francis of Assisi prayed "Lord, make us instruments of Thy peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy." Let it be so, Father, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

How to Praise *

Sometimes, we just need to praise our God.  Psalms 148 & 150 from the Message.

Hallelujah!

Praise God from heaven, praise him from the mountaintops; Praise him, all you his angels, praise him, all you his warriors, Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, you morning stars; Praise him, high heaven, praise him, heavenly rain clouds; Praise, oh let them praise the name of God— he spoke the word, and there they were!

He set them in place from all time to eternity;
He gave his orders, and that’s it!

Praise God from earth, you sea dragons, you fathomless ocean deeps; Fire and hail, snow and ice, hurricanes obeying his orders;
Mountains and all hills, apple orchards and cedar forests; Wild beasts and herds of cattle, snakes, and birds in flight; Earth’s kings and all races, leaders and important people, Robust men and women in their prime, and yes, graybeards and little children.

Let them praise the name of God - it’s the only Name worth praising. His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky; he’s built a monument—his very own people!

Praise from all who love God! Israel’s children, intimate friends of God.

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Praise God in his holy house of worship,
praise him under the open skies;
Praise him for his acts of power,
praise him for his magnificent greatness;
Praise with a blast on the trumpet,
praise by strumming soft strings;
Praise him with castanets and dance,
praise him with banjo and flute;
Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum,
praise him with fiddles and mandolin.
Let every living, breathing creature praise God!
Hallelujah!

Prayer:

Father,

           It's been said that she who sings prays twice. Lord, I pray the words from the old song, Calvary's the Reason Why. I was lost but YOU knew where to find me. I was hungry, YOU were bread for my soul. I was thirsty and YOU gave living water. YOU were my shelter when I had no place to go. And that's why sometimes I just want to praise YOU. Sometimes just to speak YOUR name. Oh sometimes I just want to thank YOU, Without asking YOU for a thing. Oh sometimes I lift my hands to YOU. And sometimes all I do is cry. Everything that I have I owe to YOU, LORD, and Calvary's the reason why. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen