Zion was the fortress that David lived in. He speaks often of the security it provided to him and his family, yet he ultimately pointed to God’s presence as his true source of protection.

In March, I hope to stand on the streets of Zion and peruse what I can of David’s city. As exciting as that will be, it is just a geographic location. David knew his place of refuge was in the shelter of God’s wings. You and I can find that place of refuge anywhere in the world … as we call upon the saving name of Jesus.

PRAYER: Lord, Your presence overwhelms us and provides all we need. In Your presence is fullness of joy, and at Your right hand, pleasures forevermore.

READING: Psalm 69-72

The Psalmist declared, “From your bounty, God, you provided for the poor.”

Truth is, so many of us have enjoyed God’s bounty our entire lives. We often see it as a chance to save up, to get ahead. Yes, God has been so good to us, but this verse indicates that some of that bounty is already designated for the poor.

We are wise to look for opportunities to share God’s abundant bounty with the poor and needy around us.

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, forgive us for heaping up to ourselves the countless blessings You have showered upon us. Open our eyes and hearts today to see the poor and needy around us.

READING: Ps. 62-68

Ps. 61:8 changed my life many years ago. It has been instrumental in forming my daily devotional life.

In this verse we see David’s daily commitment to lifting his voice to the Lord. David is the NT Christian’s pattern for devotional life.

Paul says, “Speak to yourselves in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in you hearts to the Lord.” [Col.3:16]

PRAYER: Father, may we be a people who show forth Your praises from day to day. If we don’t praise You, the rocks will cry out.

READING: Ps. 56-61

In his Psalm of repentance after committing adultery with Bathsheba, David makes reference to the importance of faithfulness.  He says, “You desired faithfulness … Renew a steadfast spirit within me … (and) Grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

For whatever reason David lapsed into unfaithfulness, he quickly understood the value of maintaining a faithfulness of devotion to the Lord so he wouldn’t have another moral fall.

Faithfulness in devotion prevents unfaithfulness in morality.

PRAYER:  Father, You are faithful. We want to be like You and display to this world a steadfastness in our devotion to You and Your ways.

READING: Psalm 51-55

In March, I am fortunate to be able to visit the Holy Land for the first time. One of my greatest goals is to see Zion, the city of David. Ps. 48 will come alive as I gaze upon the restoration model of the city once built there. I will indeed be pinching myself on that day.

As glorious and significant as Zion is, it more importantly represents the Church, the Real City of God. He prefers to dwell in the hearts and lives of His people.  WE are Zion. WE are the true “Joy of the whole earth.”

PRAYER: Father, open our spiritual eyes to see not just buildings of men, but Your True Building, the Church. We are Your building, Your tabernacle, Your dwelling place. Let Your glory rest upon us that we might show forth Your praise.

READING: Ps. 46-50

Ps. 41 takes on so much personal meaning for me since I have severe medical challenges like the author of this chapter. One of the keys I see to his healing and restoration is described in verse one … this man has regard for the weak. Other translations say, “Blessed is the man who considers and cares for the poor and needy.”

Actually, there are very few in our society who do this. Prayerfully, this is an activity worth pursuing. It obviously brings healing.

PRAYER: Father, open our eyes to opportunities to care for the poor. Give us the grace to respond with appropriate action.

READING: Ps. 40-45

Psalm 37 is packed with glorious promises for the person who delights in the Lord. One such is for those who don’t have the strength to sustain their motion … they stumble and run the risk of falling. With four joint replacements and being overweight, stumbling and falling is one of my greatest fears. But, this Psalm declares that the Lord will uphold me with His hand, that I WON’T FALL.

I’ll take that. Thank You, Jesus.

PRAYER: Lord, You are my EVERYTHING. With You, I can walk through life with confidence. Through You, I can be an overcomer. You are my Helping Hand.

READING: Psalm 36-39

As a student of the Psalms, I have been impacted by David’s lifestyle of praise and worship. He is the Bible’s primary author on the subject. Any young Christian who feels called to a ministry of music should likewise become very familiar with David’s life and writings.

Noteworthy also is David’s running commentary on leadership principles. He was also one who modeled exemplary trust and dependence upon the Lord for protection and direction. He declared, “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” [Ps. 34:19]

PRAYER: Lord, even though life gets challenging at times, I will trust in You to help me through the tough times. You are my deliverer.

READING: Ps. 30-35

David asked the Lord not to remember the sins of his youth, nor his rebellious ways. Man of God that he became, still there were obviously developmental stages of his life that he was not proud of.

Consider Paul’s beginnings … chief of sinners, murder etc. Mary Magdalene had been forgiven much (seven demons cast out), but she loved much. Such were early periods of the lives of people Jesus forgave and cleaned up.

While we were yet in our sin, Christ Jesus died for us. Can we also display unconditional love for those who may still be in the “sins of their youth?”

PRAYER: Father, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Give us loving hearts of understanding to prayerfully believe for the lives of those who have yet to come to You in salvation.

READING: Psalms 25-29

In today’s reading portion, there are several references to what the king’s heart’s desire is. When we ask wisely, we can become a pipeline of God’s blessing. Solomon asked for wisdom and God gave him everything.

God gave the souls of men to Jesus. Believers are encouraged to set their affection on things above, not on things of the earth. [Col. 3:1]

“Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.” [Matt. 7:7]

PRAYER: Father, You are giving us because You are a giving God. Teach us to desire eternal things rather than temporal. Allow us to navigate life without becoming carnally covetous.

READING: Psalms 19-24