Today's Passage:  Psalm 33-34

What were the last lyrics you sang before you read this?  Chances are it was some pop song from the radio.  After reading Psalm 33, especially the first section of it, I just wondered to myself, "Why I don't have these words on my mind more often."  While I'm a guy who doesn't really like to sing out loud, these really are words I should be singing rather than the latest Billboard chart topper. 

So here is a creative and possibly bold application from today's passage. . . sing (at least in your head) Psalm 33:5-7.  For just a little while, take time to pray this Psalm to God.  After spending time doing some singing and praying 33:5-7, see if you can do that with even more of the chapter.  This is a great way to break through the monotony in your daily prayers and Bible reading.  Additionally, it is another helpful way to be reminded of the great relationship we have with God.

Today's Passage: Psalms 31-32

Psalm 32 in my Bible is titled "The Blessedness of Forgiveness" and the verses in this psalm that seemed to jump out at me were 3,4 & 5.  To me it is such a beautiful contrast between verses 3-4 and verse 5. 

Verses 3 and 4 explain how we feel when sin goes unchecked in our lives.  I have been used by God several times to minister to people in difficult situations and often a reoccurring symptom in each of their lives is the presence of unacknowledged sin.  I find this is so very true in my own life as well, I never feel like life can get any worse than when I'm harboring sin.  For many of us the sins that we harbor are linked to our feelings of entitlement.  Whether it be our circumstances or a relationship with someone we must remember that God and His sovereignty is suppose to be the center of our life. Our relationship with Him should be the most important thing to us. 

When we realize the difficulties of life are a product of 1) our imperfect nature and 2) our troublesome disobedience to the Father we begin to see the benefits from and need for forgiveness.  The simplest fact is we are not perfect, however there are two distinct paths that we can take through life.  One we depend solely on our own flawed abilities to get us through the ups and downs of life.  The other we look to God who is perfect, we admit our imperfection and ask for forgiveness and He makes us perfect through His Son.  To me it's a no brainer which path to take and it's as easy as verse 5 states it. 

Acknowledge, Confess and be Forgiven.  Share this with somebody today that needs it.  Maybe it's a coworker, maybe it's another parent that you see at school, maybe it's your checker at Wal-mart.  Ask God today to reveal to you someone that is struggling through life depending on their own flawed abilities and share the comfort and joy that comes from trusting and obeying God.

The blessedness of forgiveness is unmeasurable...  Amen.

Today's passage: Acts 23

We're in the final stages of Paul's ministry and his life.  At some point in his imprisonment he wrote to Timothy, "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:6-7).

I have been fortunate to know an incredible saint, named Lorena.  She oozed the Holy Spirit  and Georgia sweetness in everything she did.  She fought the good fight to the point of going into a known drug house to look for a young girl trying to break free from drug's bondage and destruction.  She also walked with a friend through neighborhoods that were characterized by drugs, praying for God to get a hold of lost souls.  One of the most precious moments with her was in her final fight with cancer.  I visited her in the hospital and she asked me to read from Psalms.  I fought back tears as she praised God while I read the words.  What a life!  What a testimony!

Paul said to his accusers, "I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!" (v. 6)  Would you be put on trial for your hope and testimony as a Christian?  Are your words and actions consistent in a powerful way that everywhere you go people are being convicted and convinced of the truth of Jesus? As Easter approaches, what will you do to be a witness to Christ's resurrection?

Today's Passage:  Psalms 29-30

Psalm 29 talks about the infinite power of God...but did you notice a not-so-subtle element of the psalm?  The power here is not in the hand of God, but in the voice of God.  God speaks and there is great power!  Powerful and majestic, the voice of the Lord controls the raging sea (and will one day calm raging waters).  The voice of the Lord can bring down the mighty trees of Lebanon (and will one day bring down the mighty grip of sin).  The voice of the Lord shakes the earth (and the earth will one day shake when the voice of the Lord cries out "It is finished!"). 

There is awesome power in the voice of God...which means there is awesome power in knowing the words God speaks to us.  When we read scripture and meditate on what it means in our lives, we are tapping in to the awesome power of God through the work of the Holy Spirit in us.  When David rejoices in the salvation of Psalm 30, it is brought about by the power expressed in Psalm 29.

There is power in the words of God...shouldn't we spend as much time as we can tapping into the strength our Bible can provide?

Today's Passage:  Acts 22

There are two sides of this story today, and both of them involve blindness.  Paul gives a powerful testimony about his conversion experience to help the people understand that he has been called by God to share the gospel message.  As you remember, God used physical blindness to show Saul that he was blind to the truth of the gospel...when that blind spot was removed, he was changed forever into Paul, who had taken the hope of Christ all over the known world at the time. 

Even in the middle of this powerful testimony, however, blindness makes a reappearance...not in Paul, but in the Jews of Jerusalem.  They listen intently until Paul speaks of his call to the Gentiles, and when they hear this, they respond with calls for his death.  They were convinced that God did not and could not love those who weren't a Jew, and in their blind hatred of the Gentiles they raged against this person who thought otherwise.  Only Paul's birthright as a Roman citizen saved him from persecution in this moment.

When we're blinded by something...rage, anger, hatred, bigotry, pride...it's awfully hard to see where God is leading.  Is there something in your life today that is blinding you to the plan God may have for your life?  Is today the day the scales could drop and you could see clearly?

Today's Passage: Psalm 26-28

I remember when I was in high school I was having a conversation with the youth intern at our church. We were discussing what it meant to live a life for God and how it is so easy to struggle with doing that in our world when there is so much going on around us and so many outside forces pulling at us and attacking us from every angle. One of the points made in the conversation is that the struggle has always been there, even for the people back in Old Testament times. The outside influences and culture has change quite a bit since then, however we are in just as hard of times as they were. David is a key example of that. Look at his life and all that he had to deal with...and he dealt with even more than many of us will ever think about having to handle in one lifetime (adultery, murder, children dying).

But take a look at chapter 26...wow. I wish that I could say that about myself. I desire to be able to do so. The youth intern told me that this is one of the many passages of Scripture that he uses in his life to measure his life. That has always stuck with me. But when you keep reading through chapter 27-28, you notice that David had so much adversity and yet he remained focused on the Lord. We can use these chapters as encouragement and as templates for prayers. David desired to see the Lord lifted high and he loved to talk to God in such a personal way.

At the end of chapter 27, David says that we should be strong and wait for the Lord. David knew that God would not abandon him and that he could count on the Lord to vindicate him. How much more so should we do the same today? At the end of chapter 28, David says that the Lord is his strength and the strength of his people. WE are his people. We should be getting our strength from the Lord also. Reading through these chapters together has been such a good reminder to me to focus on the Lord, even when things feel like they are getting tough and then to rely on the Lord for strength and joy.

Today's Passage: Psalms 23-25

Do you ever feel like the Word of God is speaking directly to you in your time of need? While convicting and gently cleansing my soul, these three passages have done exactly that. I hope they will do the same for you. 

"Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your steadfast love Remember me..." (Psalms 25:7) Essentially this is what we desire above all: God's forgiveness and an untainted window for Him to peer into our souls. We want God to see who we are not the evil things we do. Fortunately, this is not a problem for the creator of the universe. Unfortunately, our human nature still falls to sin and naturally there is great shame in this foolishness. Now, God works individually with us all to overcome our guilt but good news, never will God leave a willing hearted christian to rot away in their sin. For we who are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ, are not lost but led in the ways of righteousness. His rod and His staff are our comfort and there is safety in His care. When we surrender ourselves, He is faithful to save. For, "He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble His way." (Psalm 25:9) Praise the Lord!!! 

I encourage you to reread chapter 25. There is great wisdom in this passage. Let it reveal to you how the state of our hearts should be in avoiding the clenches of sin and thus resting in the arms of God. My joyous prayer are with you as you seek His wisdom. For when our eyes are ever towards the Lord, He will pluck our feet from the entangling nets below. (Psalm 25:15)