Numbering My Days

Tag: jesus

  • Psalm 42

    As a deer longs for flowing streams,
    so I long for you, God.
    I thirst for God, the living God.

    Some days.

    Sometimes.

    It just feels like God’s presence is far away.

    I long for it – like a deer looking for a bit of water on a hot, dusty day.

    How may I quench this thirst for the presence of the living God in my life? For the stirring of the Holy Spirit, reviving me again?

    I know – this dry space is a place of my own making. I marched confidently off into this desert, thinking, “I have plenty of God, enough resources, all I’ll ever need.”

    But I find I don’t. I don’t have nearly enough.

    I want God’s living water poured out over me, streaming into my desert.

    Lord, my hope is in you.

    My Savior. My God.

    Note: The above illustration, inspired by this Psalm, v. 7 is where I’ve temporarily halted waterfall illustrations. Although I started another one . . . I may never be satisified with this image. I have something in my mind that I want to convey, just can’t seem to get it to come out right. I’ll keep trying. If I ever get a waterfall that makes me smile – I’ll share it. Meanwhile, “deep calls to deep . . .”

  • Psalm 40

    I waited patiently for the LORD,
    and he turned to me and heard my cry
    for help.

    David had deep trust – even when surrounded by enemies, when he was beset with troubles and even sin, he did not abandon his hope in the Lord. Instead he called out to Him, waited expectantly.

    And God heard.

    And responded.

    How often do I give up before the Lord makes His response known to me?

    I do believe He hears.

    I know He responds.

    Sometimes, though, my trust and hope falter, especially when I am aware of my sin which has turned my heart from the Lord.

    Lord, thank you for your mercy and grace that is always there, awaiting this penitent, needy man.

  • Psalm 35

    LORD, who is like you,
    rescuing the poor from one
    too strong for him.

    David’s look to the Lord for deliverance from his enemies seems, at first glance, to be self-serving, conceited, arrogant. After all, why should God choose to defend him, to destroy his enemies?

    The heart of this, for my benefit, is to realize that David’s relationship with the Lord was real, healthy, faith-filled, and based on the Lord’s character and holiness, not his own.

    So too, his enemies defied righteous, holy God almighty.

    David recognized his deliverance was due to God’s righteousness (v. 24), not his own.

    Last, for me, my enemies include the enemy – Satan – who longs for the destruction of anyone who trusts in Christ.

    Lord, rescue me!

  • Psalm 33

    The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
    the plans of his heart from generation
    to generation.

    God, creator and sustainer of all life, worthy of our worship and praise, is always – and always has been – pursuing His plan and purpose for His creation.

    He will not be thwarted.

    He cannot fail.

    He does nothing haphazardly.

    He intends for His creation to be subject to Christ and to Himself.

    There are days, moments, eras even, when this seems ludicrous: God in charge? In charge of this mess?

    But His plan,

    His counsel,

    His purpose will not falter or fail.

    In His time, according to His plan, He will fulfill all He has in mind.

    We put our hope in you, Lord!

  • 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.

  • Psalm 22

    My God, my God, why have you
    abandoned me? . . .
    Their descendants will serve him; . . .
    they will declare what he has done.

    Jesus, on the cross, quoted this Psalm.

    Yes, I think He was alone, abandoned by all – even the Father who could not bear to be in the presence of sin. And He carried all the sin of the world, including mine, to that moment on the cross.

    This Psalm also declares the victory won by the righteous one, the suffering servant. I’m certain this was on Jesus’ mind as He quoted this Psalm.

    And so today, along with generations before me, I will “declare what He has done.”

    Sin and death defeated.

    The grave overcome.

    The good news of a restored relationship with the Father because of the faithful Jesus on the cross.

    My God!