God’s Promised Faithfulness!
Scripture reading for September 17: Psalm 94:14-19 “For the Lord will not forsake His people; He will not abandon His heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers? If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, “My foot slips,” Your steadfast love, O Lord held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, Your consolations cheer my soul.”
Matthew 28:20 “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
This psalmist was worshiping God by recounting God’s presence and help in times of trouble and enemies attacking. His major theme was that God would not forsake His people. God was not fickle, but steadfast in His love through all trials and every valley we might face. Though man may forsake us or turn on us, God will never abandon us. The psalmist even stated that if God had not been with him and helped him, he would now be dead. Even when fear gripped his heart, God sent His steadfast covenant love and held him up. When cares and anxiety multiplied, God sent consolations to cheer his soul. This recounting of God’s presence and care brought consolation and renewed faith and is even now bringing that to believers.
This theme was continued in Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples. He sent them out into all the world to proclaim the Good News through preaching, healing and deliverance through the Holy Spirit, God’s presence with them. They were to help others know God by bearing His presence and heart of mercy. His promise to them was that He would be with them always, even to the end of the age!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your promise of continual presence that has sustained and comforted believers since the beginning. You are the Faithful God Who will never abandon Your people! Hold me up each day and bring consolations that cheer my soul! As from the beginning, You are faithful to the end! Amen!
Establish the Work of our Hands!
Scripture reading for September 16: Psalm 90: 10-12; 16-17 “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who considers the power of Your anger, and Your wrath according to the fear of You? So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” . . .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.”
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
According to ancient sources, Moses wrote Psalm 90. Moses was called by God as the deliverer of God’s people and he led them under God’s direction out of bondage in Egypt, through the Red Sea, and received the tablets of God’s Law. He lived to be 120 years old and was strong and vigorous to the last. We don’t know in what period Moses wrote this psalm, but he would have been around 80 years old at Mt. Sinai.
Psalm 90 is a worship song that considered the shortness of human life on earth and our need to make the most of our time. Moses asked God to reveal His glorious power and works to His servants and to their children. His twice-repeated request was that God would establish the works of their hands. In other words, God would lead them to do His will and that through faith they would walk in the fullness God had promised. Moses understood their struggle with unbelief and the stubborn nature of God’s people. Even he would become angry and dishonor God, forfeiting his entrance into the promised land after 40 years.
The New Testament states that we are God’s ‘workmanship’. God has crafted each person and equipped them to do specific tasks to accomplish His will. If we are looking to establish the works of our hands, the best way is to walk in the works He has prepared for us by faith. God didn’t make a mistake. His workmanship is an eternal masterpiece!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the new creation of my heart. Lead me to do Your will with a generous heart. Amen.
The Healing Power of God’s Smile
Scripture reading for September 14: Psalm 80:1-2, 16-19 “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You Who lead Joseph like a flock. You Who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. . . . .They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of Your face! But let Your hand be on the Man of Your right hand, the Son of Man Whom You have made strong for Yourself! Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon Your Name! Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let Your face shine, that we may be saved.”
Asaph, one of the worship leaders of Israel, wrote this psalm as a testimony to be sung to God by His people. He began the psalm by addressing God as the ‘Shepherd of Israel,’ which would have spoken to the Israelites as many of them were shepherds and King David was also a shepherd. This ‘Shepherd’ was enthroned upon the cherubim in the place of highest honor and power at God’s right hand and His face reflected the unfading glory of righteousness and holiness. The psalmist asked that God would destroy those who had attacked Israel and burned it with fire. He asked that they perish by the rebuke of His face! As God’s smile brings blessing, so also God’s frown of anger means death.
But the psalmist interceded with God to put His hand on the Son of Man Who was seated at His right hand. This Son of Man was made strong to fulfill God’s plans and purposes. This Son of Man would save His people from their backsliding and restore them to eternal life. He would give them His Name to reclaim their lost authority. As the Lord of hosts, having all authority and power, the psalmist appeals to God to ‘let Your face shine.’ In amazing response, God sent the Son of Man, Who is now seated at God’s right hand and transforms believers into His glorious likeness!
Revelation 22:1, 3-4 “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright a crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city, . . .But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face . .”
Guided to Glory!
Scripture reading for September 11: Psalm 73:23-26 “Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my Portion forever.”
Jude 20-22 “But you beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt, . .”
Have you ever envied someone who appeared more prosperous or blessed than you? This psalm deals with the honest confession of a person who struggled with envy and coveting the apparent prosperity and blessing of the wicked. Evidently he was suffering with some affliction as well and he entertained thoughts like “in vain have I kept my heart clean.” (vs 13) But as he continued the psalm, he entered God’s sanctuary and saw the end of the wicked in judgment by the Almighty. Though they had lived in apparent luxury, they would be swept away in a moment at the judgment.
In spite of the psalmist’s doubts and envy, God was with him and held his right hand, leading him with His unfailing counsel. He revealed that in the end, in spite of the suffering and eventual death, he would be with God in glory. God would be the strength of his heart and his Portion forever!
Jude, wrote to the church to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. (vs 3) Jude was aware of the battle for our faith waged by our flesh and our enemy, Satan. Jude encouraged believers not to be deceived by the false, but to build up their faith through prayer in the Holy Spirit. They must faithfully wait for the mercy of God and show mercy on others who struggled. That’s our merciful Father and Lord guiding His church home to eternal glory!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your mercy and the Wonderful Counselor You sent to live in us and help us to pray and stand in our faith. Thank You for empowering Your Church to share that message with the lost and doubting. In Christ’s Love, Amen.
Declaring God’s Power
Scripture reading for September 10: Psalm 71:17-19 “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim Your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim Your might to another generation, Your power to all those to come. Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the high heavens. You Who have done great things, O God, who is like You?”
Mark 16:15-16 “He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation. . . . and these signs shall accompany those who believe: in My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.””
Psalm 71 does not list an author, but from the content we know that it was an older believer who had known God from his youth. Now, later in his life, he offers this hymn of worship and intercession to be sung by the congregation. He declares the wondrous works of the Lord and exalts Him. He humbly asks not to be forsaken in old age, but to become empowered to declare God’s wonder and power to the next generation. Aging has distinct challenges for most people. We sense our abilities physically slowing down and we are aware of the battle against our faith by a deceptive enemy, Satan. This psalmist’s intercession for God’s help was answered and is available to all today.
According to Jesus Christ, the mission of His disciples was one of declaring God’s love and power to those who did not know about it. He would work with them as they were going to demonstrate and declare the Good News of Jesus Christ by deliverance from evil spirits, healing of sick or deformed bodies, being supernaturally protected and showing God’s heart of mercy. In the New Testament, Jesus took disciples from different age groups. He gave them spiritual empowerment to declare God’s power and promised to never leave or forsake them.
Father God, thank You for answering prayers from older believers that may be under physical or spiritual attack. Thank You for empowering Your people to declare your power and love to a lost world. I worship the Ancient of Days and declare Him! Amen.
Make Haste, O God!
Scripture reading for September 9: Psalm 70:1, 4-5 “Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me!. . .”May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You! May those who love Your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! Your are my Help and my Deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!”
John 11:5-6 “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was.”
All people who are caught in a crisis of disease and pain want quick answers. Those who seek God for help soon learn that God hears and answers prayers, but that His timing is not always our timing or our expectation. King David wrote Psalm 70 for the memorial offering and it was given to the choirmaster. This prayer and praise song seeks to entreat God to make haste to bring deliverance and help. David confessed his own need of God, that before God he was poor and needy. He stated that God was his Help and Deliverer. He appealed to God to end the delay and bring the help needed immediately! I have been there and am there now as our family is going through a difficult illness.
John, the apostle, records an incident he witnessed where Jesus was told about a friend’s illness and asked to respond. The family had requested that Jesus come and they were hoping for immediate results. But Jesus knew and loved His friend and delayed coming for two more days. In the mean time, Lazarus had died and his body was placed in a tomb. Mary and Martha were concerned that Jesus had delayed, but still trusted that God would answer their prayers. Jesus wept over the death of His friend, and stood at the tomb and called him to come out. Lazarus got up and came out, decked in the grave wrappings and God was glorified. God’s timing fulfills His purposes.
Prayer: Father God, we ask you to make haste and not delay to help us and deliver us from our current situation. But we trust You as our Healer and Deliverer to be on time! Help me to wait in faith and patience. Amen.
Jesus’ Shining Face!
Scripture reading for September 8: Psalm 67:1-3, 6-7 “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You!” . . . “The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear Him.”
John 20:21-22 “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.“
Today’s psalm comes from a worshiper in Israel and was sent to the choirmaster as a song. It was a prayer for God’s grace and favor to be made known among His people. The Aaronic blessing was part of this song, and asked God to turn His shining and glorious face towards His people. This wasn’t just for a supernatural experience, but to fulfill God’s stated purpose of showing His saving and healing power to all the nations of the earth. As Israel sang praises to their Lord, Who was smiling on them and pleased with them, they would enjoy the blessings of His grace in salvation and forgiveness of sins, deliverance from their enemies, and healing of their sicknesses and diseases. All the ends of the earth would be drawn to the God Who smiles and blesses His people. The earth would yield its increase and God would pour out more blessings on all who praised Him. As praises go up, blessings come down.
God answered the prayer of this worshiper in the sending of His Son to reveal the smiling and gracious face of the Father Who wanted to pour out blessing on His people. God the Father sent His Son to heal the sick, deliver the bound, and seek and save the lost. He recruited disciples who would take His blessing to the ends of the earth. To equip them, He looked each one in the face and breathed on them, giving them the Father’s blessing–the Holy Spirit. They were sent in His peace to do as Jesus did!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for turning Your smiling face upon us and giving us grace and blessings. May we who have believed obey Your simple instructions to take this Good News to all the earth! Amen.
Prayer for a Clean Heart
Scripture reading for September 7: Psalm 51:10-12 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
Mark 7:20-21 “And He said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All those evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Heart disease is one of the major health issues of our culture. Most people are treating it as a medical condition only and there are vast specialists who major on treating a great variety of heart problems. There are real physical issues and the heart is a vital organ in our body, controlling the blood supply to each cell and member. Physical issues call for a physician.
But Scripture focuses on the heart of man as the source of evil and sin. When we allow our hearts to focus on our flesh and its demands, trouble and sin flows out from our heart. It is the center of our control of mind and body and the residing place of our spirit and the Holy Spirit if we are saved. This worship psalm was composed by King David when he was confronted by God through Nathan the prophet about his own sexual sin and the murder of his army commander and friend. David confessed his sin and took responsibility before God. He asked God to create in him a ‘clean heart’, one free from sin and evil. This request for a ‘new heart’ would be granted by God by ‘new creation’. David knew that the Holy Spirit dwelling in him could bring this about.
If you are suffering from heart disease as described by Jesus in Scripture, why not humble yourself and confess your need of God’s mercy and creative ability to give you a new heart and a right spirit? This is the only thing that can restore the joy of salvation and uphold you in this walk through earth.
Prayer: Father God, I have sinned against You and others. I need a clean heart and a willing spirit. Please send me Your Holy Spirit to create a clean heart in me. Amen.
God: I Will be Exalted!
Scripture reading for September 4: Psalm 46:8-11 “Come, behold the works of the Lord, how He has brought desolations on the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Fortress.”
Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name that is above every name, so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Psalm 46 was written by the sons of Korah, a Levite worship leader. This psalm extols the virtues of God and His mighty works. It recognizes that God Alone promises to bring peace to His people by breaking the bow and shattering the spears and burning up the chariots. God is a Warrior and commands a mighty heavenly army. His Name is the Lord of hosts, which refers to the hosts of waring angels that do His will on earth as heaven directs.
In order to begin to understand God, His people are exhorted to be still before Him and begin to truly know the God Who fights for them. They are to exalt Him in worship as an example to the nations who God also desires to come under His authority and know His goodness and grace.
God fulfilled His own declaration by sending His own Son and exalting Him to the highest place of total authority. At the Name of Jesus, every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth. Every tongue will confess that He is Lord- God with us! He truly is our fortress and defender and will quell all our enemies–even death itself!
Prayer: Jesus, I bow my knees to You as King and Lord! I confess You to be my Fortress and Deliverer from all forces of evil. I exalt You on earth! May all be still and know You are God! Amen.