Loving Jesus Style

Scripture: Psalm 91:9-11 (NIV) 9  If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10  no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; Devotion: One of the most comforting promises in the Bible is that God will protect and watch over those who trust in him. Psalm 91:9-11 says, "If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." This is not just an assurance, but a profound declaration of God's unwavering protection. It's a reminder that we are not alone or helpless in this world, but we have a loving and powerful God who cares for us and sends his angels to shield us from harm. But what does making the Lord our refuge and dwelling mean? It means more than...

  Scripture: Psalm 145:17 (ESV) 17           The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. Devotion: How do we know that God is good? How can we trust that he has our best interests at heart? How can we see his kindness in the midst of a broken and hurting world? The psalmist answers these questions by declaring that the Lord is righteous and kind in all his ways and works. This means that everything God does is consistent with his perfect character, holy justice, and tender mercy. For instance, when we experience a beautiful sunrise, we witness God's kindness in providing us with a new day. He never acts out of malice, caprice, or indifference. He never violates his own standards or promises. He always does what is right, fair, and loving, providing a reliable source of goodness in our lives. This truth gives us hope and confidence in every situation. We can rely on God's goodness when we face trials, ...

Scripture: Psalm 51:15 (ESV) 15           O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise Devotion: Psalm 51 is a prayer of repentance from King David, who had committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged the murder of her husband, Uriah. David was confronted by the prophet Nathan and convicted of his sin. He cried out to God for mercy and forgiveness, and asked God to restore his joy and fellowship. This passage is a powerful example of the transformative power of God's forgiveness and the restoration it brings to our lives. Verse 15 is part of David's plea for restoration. He asks God to open his lips, so that he can declare God's praise. This implies that David's sin had silenced his praise. He had lost his ability and desire to worship God, because he knew he had offended God and broken his covenant. He felt ashamed and unworthy to speak of God's goodness and glory. But David also knew that only God could heal ...

  Scripture: Psalm 32:8 (NIV) 8  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.   Devotion: God has a unique, tailor-made plan for your life and He longs to guide you in His ways. He is not a distant or indifferent God who leaves you to figure things out on your own. He is a loving and personal God who cares about every detail of your life and wants to bless you with His wisdom and peace. But how can you hear his voice and follow his direction? Psalm 32:8 gives us some clues. First, God says he will instruct you and teach you. This means that God wants to communicate with you through his word, the Bible. The Bible is not just a book of stories and rules; it is God's living and active word that reveals his character, his promises, and his will for your life. As you read, study, meditate, and memorize the Bible, you will learn more about God and his ways, and you will be able to apply his truth to your...

  Scripture: Psalm 121:7-8 (KJV) 7            The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. 8            The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore. Devotion: Life's journey, with its uncertainties and challenges, often leaves us feeling vulnerable and anxious. Yet, in the midst of our travels, we find solace and strength in the promises of God, as beautifully encapsulated in Psalm 121:7-8. These verses offer a profound assurance of God’s unwavering protection and guidance, speaking directly to the struggles and fears each of us faces in our daily lives. As we delve into these verses, we are reminded that the Lord is not just a distant figure, but our Keeper, a vigilant guardian who neither slumbers nor sleeps. His watchful eyes are always upon us, shielding us against the myriad form...

Scripture: Psalm 130:1-6 (NIV) 1  Out of the depths I cry to you,  Lord ; 2      Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. 3  If you,  Lord , kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? 4  But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. 5  I wait for the  Lord , my whole being waits, and in his word, I put my hope. 6  I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.   Devotion: In today’s scripture, we witness the psalmist's emotional journey, crying out from the depths. They begin by expressing their desperation, their voice echoing from the depths of their soul. We all traverse through moments of darkness, pain, and uncertainty. In those times, we can turn to God, knowing He hears our voice and will act on our behalf. The psalmist acknowledges the weight of our sins, recognizing that if God kept a record, none ...

  Scripture: Psalm 62:1-2 (NIV) 1  Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. 2  Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress; I will never be shaken.   Devotion:                    David, the author of Psalm 62, exemplifies unwavering faith and trust in God for salvation. His words resonate with the church community today, reminding us of our profound gift in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. David's faith, though rooted in a different time, is a beacon of inspiration for us all as we, too, await God's chosen time to reveal His salvation to the world. David never had a particularly easy life. His older brothers probably made him do all the most menial tasks around their property. As David grew up, he showed great courage and resilience as he relied on God for his rest and salvation.          ...

  Why? Scripture: Psalm 42:5 (NIV) 5  Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.   Devotion:                The words above are the refrain to this psalm and Psalm 43. That is only part of the evidence that these two psalms were originally one psalm. This refrain occurs twice in Psalm 42 in verses 5 and 11 and at the end of Psalm 43 in verse 5. What is the psalmist trying to convey in these two psalms?                 The writer tries to convey his and our constant need for God. In Verses 1-4 of Psalm 42, we hear of the psalmist's need and desire to seek and find God. Finding God is for the writer is just as necessary as finding water is for the deer and other animals of the forest. The fact that, for whatever reason, the psalmist is incapable at the moment of co...

  Scripture: Psalm 34:18 (ESV) 18           The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Devotion:             David, the author of this psalm, sends us a word of comfort. David knew about having a broken heart and a crushed spirit. The scriptures record many events in his life that must have been difficult to take in. David remained faithful, however, until the day of his death. This does not mean that David’s life was without sin, far from it. God was faithful to David even when David behaved poorly and fell into grievous sin. David knew this and was thankful and proclaimed the Lord’s faithfulness often.             What can we learn from David’s example? First and foremost, we can learn about God's unwavering faithfulness to us, even in the face of trials and temptations. David acknowledge...

Scripture: Psalm 23:4 (KJV) 4      Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Devotion:             As we have seen, God sees and hears us; today, we explore what it means for God to be with us. These words from the beloved Psalm 23 speak loudly to today’s culture. We live in a world where threats seem to be on every side. No matter where we turn, there are threats to our property, freedoms, and even our very lives. Violence seems to have this world in its grip. Whether it is violence between countries, on our streets, or even in our homes, it seems that nowhere is safe anymore.             David, the writer of this psalm, offers solace and hope with these words. He proclaims that even in the face of imminent death, we need not be afraid. God h...

Scripture: Psalm 86:11-13 (NIV) 11  Teach me your way, Lord , that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. 12  I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. 13  For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead. Devotion:             Today’s scripture comes from the pen of King David, and it is entitled “A Prayer of David.” This psalm begins in verse 11 with a petition. David seeks instruction from the Lord. He asks to be taught God’s ways to increase David’s reliance on God and His faithfulness. Then David asks for an “undivided heart.” This petition asks God to help David be loyal to God and His commands so that David may have an increased respect for the Lord. This leads directly to verse 12.                ...

  Scripture: Psalm 34:17-19 (ESV) When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18      The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. 19      Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.   Devotion:                 The psalmist affirms that God listens to his people. We all want to believe this, but what we see often contradicts these words. So, what is the psalmist saying here? Yet this is in God’s word and is trustworthy. We, as Christians, are called to believe these words. We must listen closely to what is being said here.             God is not saying Christians will have no troubles or their problems will be comparatively minor. Walking with Christ is a journey that ...

Scripture: Psalm 66:1-4 (NIV) 1  Shout for joy to God, all the earth! 2      Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. 3  Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. 4  All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name.   Devotion:               We look today at a psalm of thanksgiving. In a world that seems headed for conflict and destruction this psalm holds out hope for God’s ultimate victory over the forces of chaos and violence which fill our world. We, too often, fall prey to the voices around us that tell us that gloom and darkness are our fate. The anonymous writer of this psalm declares to us a different fate. This prayer begs us to lift our eyes and see that the Lord is doing a new thing among us.              ...

Scripture: Psalm 41:1-3, 11-13 (ESV) 1  Blessed is the one who considers the poor!                 In the day of trouble, the  Lord  delivers him; 2      the  Lord  protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies. 3      The  Lord  sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. . . . 11     By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me. 12     But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. 13     Blessed be the  Lord , the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.   Devotion:                      ...