Numbering My Days

Tag: gospel

  • Psalm 65

    (Closer to the image in my mind than the earlier version.)

    You visit the earth
    and water it abundantly,
    enriching it greatly.
    God’s stream is filled with water,
    for you prepare the earth in this way,
    providing people with grain.

    My devotional reading today is fascinating. Two other passages I’ve read, plus this one, all use water from God as a promise of His blessings and provisions – AND it is raining outside my window, for the first time in quite a while.

    The Word of the Lord:

    • He provides. His blessings and provisions flow to me like rain, causing all that is around me to flourish in the goodness He gives.
    • I can be a source of His blessing to others. Because I receive blessings beyond measure from a gracious God, I can be a conduit, source, vessel that He uses to bless others.

    Lord, for those who will be blessed BY YOU – may I be your servant to them; a channel of your living water.

    Through Jesus Christ our Lord!

  • Psalm 54

    God is my helper;
    the LORD is the sustainer of my life.

    This is such a simple truth – it has become for me a core of my faith, a foundation for my peace and for my daily existence.

    God is my helper.

    He sustains my life.

    This is not hyperbole for me. So often, my life has been in jeopardy. For some reason, whatever He intends, thus far He has sustained my life.

    I don’t know why.

    Not because I deserve anything from Him. It is only by His mercy and grace.

    And the day shall come when my mortal life is done.

    No worries!

    He will sustain me in life eternal.

    I will serve Him.

    To God be the glory!

    The first steps of creating this image. . .

  • Psalm 53

    The fool says in his heart,
    “There’s no God.”

    Utter foolishness. That which seems educated or secure, self-reliant and logical; an utterance designed to end hopeful reliance in the face of any circumstances. “All I can rely on is me, what I see, what I know.”

    But this is utter foolishness. The words of one whose eyes are blind – blind to creation. Blind to compassion. Blind to the wonders of life, joy, security, purpose, love for all.

    Every bit is sourced beyond me – it emanates from from – what? The universe? An unknown, unknowable “higher power?” Coincidence? Hunch?

    There is indeed God almighty.

    He may not act like I think He should or intervene directly when I believe He ought. His ways are not my ways.

    So, believe.

    The Lord exists.

    He rules.

    He reigns.

    He is not distant or retired.

    He will accomplish His purpose!

  • Psalm 50

    Our God is coming; he will not be silent!

    Yes – as this Psalm promises, I may call on God in a day of trouble and He will rescue me.

    I count on that.

    But is is also true that He comes to judge. And He is not appeased with the insignificant “sacrifice” I make. It is already His and much more besides.

    He has no need of it. And His judgment is made, finding me, “flinging my words behind,” “associating” with the people of this world who have no fear or interest in God almighty.

    I must turn to Him. With thanksgiving for His unfailing mercy, His gracious gifts, and determine to live in a way that honors His presence.

    The heavens proclaim His righteousness!

    So must I.

  • Psalm 39

    Now, LORD, what do I wait for?
    My hope is in you.

    In the midst of my enemies, or

    the trials of life, or

    in recognizing the brevity of life –

    and the vanity of wealth

    and the mire of sin with righteous judgment:

    in all these – right at the heart of all them – there is hope.

    I hope in the Lord.

    He guards my steps and makes my path. He sees my sin and both holds me accountable and offers redemption from the deserved end.

    So there is hope . . .

    And in the hope of Christ I wait for the gracious mercy of my Lord to rescue me from self – and the enemy.

    (If you haven’t already, take a few moments to read the entire Psalm 39. It’s a powerful reminder of the hope we may have.)

    On the way to the final image.

  • Psalm 32

    How joyful is the one
    whose transgression
    is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered!

    Forgiven sin results in joy because of the true nature of joy.

    Joy is the absence of conflict – especially the absence of conflict between me and God.

    My sin causes that conflict to erupt, and maintains the state of chaos until I’m able, again, to be at peace with the Lord, to rest in His presence.

    I cannot manufacture this state of restored peace with God. I’m unable, because of my sin, to do anything to resolve the conflict because His nature is Holy and He can have nothing to do with me.

    Unless He covers my sin.

    Praise the Lord!

    I can have that peace,

    experience that joy –

    because He forgives and the sacrifice Christ has made, of Himself, covers my sin.

    What joy!

  • Psalm 31

    LORD, I seek refuge in you;
    let me never be disgraced.
    Save me by your righteousness.

    One of the adversary’s favorite, oft’ believed lies is that somehow we – I – can live in such a way that I have earned or deserve salvation.

    The Word of God is so clear on this point, however.

    From the mercy shown to Adam, to the wisdom of David, and especially in the gospels, it becomes very clear.

    Very plain.

    The salvation I enjoy is from God’s righteousness – not my own.

    That He deigns to bestow it as a gift is so obvious. Yet we humans too often believe that we can or must live our way into His good graces.

    Only Christ has completed the journey fully righteous. In Him and in Him alone is my refuge.

    Praise Him!

  • Psalm 26

    Test me, LORD, and try me;
    examine my heart and mind.
    For your faithful love guides me,
    and I live by your truth..

    David had amazing confidence in his relationship with the Lord – and must have been diligent in his spiritual life. Amazing: to challenge the Lord to examine him, to test him because he was certain of his integrity before the Lord.

    This must have been “the David” – the man after God’s heart.

    Lord, my confidence is only in Jesus Christ.

    In Him I stand before you and can withstand the scrutiny of your righteous judgment.

    Without Christ I am guilty.

    Full of insecurity.

    I know my heart is not pure.

    My confidence, though, is in Christ!

    In Christ alone, my hope is found.

  • Psalm 25

    Remember, LORD, your compassion
    and your faithful love,
    for they have existed from antiquity.
    Do not remember the sins of my youth
    or my acts of rebellion;
    in keeping with your faithful love,
    remember me
    because of your goodness, LORD.

    This is my prayer: that the Lord would remember His own faithfulness and love, and somehow forget my sin and rebellion.

    I know that God does just that – through Jesus Christ. He is faithful, and He recalls His faithfulness because He is good.

    Not me.

    He doesn’t remember because of my need or deeds, but because of His nature.

    He is faithful.

    He is love.

    He grants mercy for His sake.

  • Psalm 24

    The earth and everything in it,
    the world and its inhabitants,
    belong to the LORD;
    for he laid its foundation on the seas
    and established it on the rivers.

    This is a powerful Psalm of praise to Creator God.

    A recognition of His power,

    creativity,

    holiness,

    divine providence,

    and righteousness.

    It calls all of us, and all of heaven and earth, to worship Him.

    Yet it also recognizes my unworthiness to stand and worship in His presence, because He is holy; I am not.

    Still, on the return of the Ark of the Covenant, the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem, and at Christ’s wonderful ascension – all creation pauses to lift up heads, hands, hearts, and voices to recognize the Great King of Kings:

    Jesus Christ.