Numbering My Days

Tag: daily

  • Psalm 119:1-8

    How happy are those whose way
    is blameless,
    who walk according
    to the LORD’S instructions!

    So begins this wonderful Psalm – a Psalm that celebrates the Word of the Lord.

    Thank you, Lord, even for the faithful witness of the Psalmist who used his own gifts and talents to lead us in celebration of your Word, your wisdom, your commands, your revelation.

    I enter into the next many days with this Psalm with my heart open to your Word.

    May I enjoy the wisdom and enlightenment here. Lord, shine on me the light of your Word that shows me when I am not following your way, your Word, your precepts.

    I will seek you with all my heart.

    Lord, bring me the joy and gladness of your salvation through your Word and through your servant, Jesus Christ.

    In Him, we abide.

    I tried several ideas for the illustration of Ps 119:35 – I painted through on this one, just started here (more of it later) – but didn’t settle here. The idea, of course, a choice: the Lord’s path or a different direction.

  • Psalm 118

    It is better to take refuge in the LORD
    than to trust in humanity.
    . . . than to trust in nobles . . .
    The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.

    Here are competing philosophies – competing ideas for how to invest my life, to find security, to trust for the future.

    In humanity: Take refuge in the innate goodness of all men. Common. Here’s the problem, we know by Scripture, by observation, and by experience: men are not innately good. We are full of sin.

    In nobles: Trust the government – especially those political leaders who will provide and care for you. Don’t make me laugh! The worst of the worst. A vain pursuit filled with evil people.

    Instead: Trust in the rejected cornerstone. This is Jesus Christ. I choose to build my life on the foundation He provides. The cornerstone of Truth. The Way to eternal life. Supported and buit up as part of His people.

    Praise the Lord!

    This illustration (for Psalm 119:35) has been frustrating. It started here – I’ll share several different versions during the week of where this illustration went before it ended where it did.

  • Psalm 117

    Praise the LORD, all nations!
    Glorify him all peoples!
    For his faithful love to us is great;
    the LORD’S faithfulness
    endures forever.
    Hallelujah!

    Lord, indeed you are faithful.

    You have always been faithful, and have treated me and everyone I know with faithful love.

    Lord, You are:

    • great!
    • wonderful!
    • mighty!
    • loving!
    • faithful!

    Help me see, experience, understand your faithful love in all that is for me.

    In my joy, in pain, in sorrow, in love, in every moment, Lord, shine your faithful love so I may embrace it. For I know you are for me.

    Not at all because I deserve it – but through Jesus Christ, by your merciful, faithful love.

    Praise God!

  • Psalm 115

    Our God is in heaven
    and does whatever he pleases.

    God almighty deserves all the glory.

    All the praise.

    And of course, we deserve none.

    As it should be.

    Lord, you are mighty, wonderful, the creator and sustainer of life – of our lives. You are not at all like what others worship.

    • You create – other god are created.
    • You speak – they are silent.
    • You see – they are blind.
    • You hear – they are deaf.

    You have complete use of all your senses while the idols of the world are nothing but unfeeling, unmoving creations of flawed, mortal man.

    I put my trust in you, Lord!

    You are my great wonderful God, worthy of all my worship.

    Praise the Lord!

  • Psalm 114

    Tremble, earth, at the presence
    of the LORD . . .

    God is always at work in the world.

    Granted, much of the time I don’t realize His hand of mercy and justice moving, working.

    But He is.

    And, I suppose, some people never realize it is God almighty who is at work.

    But, when I do look, with the eyes of faith and wonder, I can see the hand of God. He’s at work in my life – to call me to Himself, to move me along toward His destination for me.

    To renew and revive me.

    Even the earth trembles before Him. He is mighty. Able to move mountains or provide streams in the deserts.

    O Lord, give me eyes to see you at work today that I might enjoy the work of your hands and be moved toward your land of promise – through Jesus Christ,

    My Lord!

    A different version; I moved past this one pretty quickly, didn’t really like the way it was turning out – but it led to that selected image.

  • Psalm 113

    Let the name of the LORD
    be blessed
    both now and forever.
    . . . Who is like the LORD our God . . . ?

    God is unique. There’s no one, nothing like Him.

    He is exalted.

    He is enthroned on high!

    We worship Him because He is above and beyond everything, everyone else we know. And He rules!

    Praise Him!

    Bless His name!

    Let His reputation be known, praised, adored far and wide!

    Why?

    Because He uses His unique, complete power and authority to raise up the most vulnerable and needy. He doesn’t ignore or forget them. Squash them. Rise up on them.

    No.

    He raises them up and seats them with the nobles, giving children to the childless.

    Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

    He is our God!

    Who is like Him?

    No one!

    After many attempts, this became the choice for illustration of this verse. I have always enjoyed watching moms at the beach, having fun with their children. Seems like the most joyous they could be! (Some other iterations of this idea in the next few days.)

  • Psalm 112

    Light shines in the darkness
    for the upright.
    He is gracious, compassionate,
    and righteous.

    The one who fears God – that person is “the upright.” A person who stands before other people, and before God, with complete assurance. Not bowed by guilt or shame. No hint of sin or scandal weighing Him down.

    Upright:

    • Gracious: displaying the abundant beauty of God’s gifts. The wonder of majesty on full display. Truly gracious.
    • Compassionate: but not arrogant, proud, removed, or untouched. Full of compassion, love that never fails for those around Him. Those who need His grace, who are bowed by their lack and the burden of sin and shame.
    • Righteous: clean, pure, holy, right before God and man.

    Only Jesus fits this description. He is the upright One!

    Full of wisdom, the fear of the Lord, and full of grace, compassion, and righteousness.

    Jesus Christ.

    A second sketch. Headed in the intended direction.

  • Psalm 111

    The fear of the LORD is the
    beginning of wisdom.

    I think about wisdom – not because I think I have it, but because I do long for it. In my life, some have said I display wisdom. I don’t know . . . sometimes I do have insight that I believe seems wise. I still think I want to write about wise leadership – and I may yet do it.

    I do know this, because it is served up easy to see, for all who would notice. Wisdom begins with “fear of the Lord.” Reverence before Him. Recognition of His power, authority, righteousness – His justice and ability to deliver it.

    Most of the time we forget the Lord instead of fear Him.

    Lord, bring yourself to my mind and fill me with your Holy Spirit.

    May I know you,

    fear you,

    and may that begin to give me a start on wisdom.

    This sketch is one of several I did to try to bring Psalm 113:9 to life – we’ll see it develop, and the final illustration in a few days.

  • Psalm 110

    This is the declaration of the LORD
    to my LORD:
    “Sit at my right hand . . . “
    “You are a priest forever
    according to the pattern
    of Melchizedek.”

    This is the triumphant and righteous Christ – ruling and leading His people.

    The victorious King, sitting at the Lord’s right hand. Victorious.

    And, serving His people as priest, not a priest bound by the Law, but a priest like Melchizedek. A priest who is right before God, who represents God to His people and the people to God. One with direct access through His sacrifice – His life, victorious on the cross.

    We rejoice, celebrate, honor this King the Priest. We know this is Jesus Christ, Son of God, Son of Man, ruling, reigning for us.

    Lord, be our King,

    Our Priest.

    Save us by your compassionate love – in Christ!

  • Psalm 109

    Help me, LORD my God;
    save me according to
    your faithful love
    so that they may know that this is
    your hand
    and that you, LORD have done it.

    This Psalm reveals David’s heart, at its rawest, to us. Sorta hard to read and understand. David calls on God to absolutely crush, destroy, wipe out, and curse the wicked one who has accused him and treated him poorly.

    But, as David turns to ask God also for blessing on his own life, he does so with the humility that recognizes an important truth: salvation from God is “according to His faithful love.” God saves us, not because of our righteousness or anything that is due us.

    God saves us out of His faithful love toward us. Salvation is ours only by grace through the mercy of a God who loves us.

    Lord, may my prayers, my attitude be like David’s in that moment. Save me according to your faithfulness.

    Praise the Lord!