God’s Word is described as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

Yesterday I replaced 12 little auto lamps in the tail section of my wife’s car. These little lights are behind a red or amber lens which is critical for sending a signal to stop or turn.

God’s Word not only shows us the path of where to go, but it tells us when we should slow down, stop, or turn. There is also a back-up light … sometimes we need to back-up and head in a different direction.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for telling us through Your Word where to go, when to stop, and when to turn.

READ: Ps. 119:17-176

The Psalmist declared that he found delight in God’s Word. It, no doubt, took him a period of time to acquire this mature emotion about God’s laws. We learn this delight from our parents or mentors who have likewise found it, or from the ups and downs of life.

Billy Graham found it at an early age, preached it his entire lifetime, and passed it to his children.

Pastor Larry Lea described the spiritual progression of decision-discipline-delight in reference to assisting Christians to acquire a dedication to prayer.

This lifetime provides us the opportunity to reach the joy of delight in God’s Ways.

PRAYER: Father in heaven, we want to draw closer to You everyday of our lives. We desire to make You our greatest joy and goal.

READ: Ps. 117-119:16

Everything God does has an eternal impact. His promises and benefits to us last forever. So should our praise be of Him.

“From the rising of the sun to its going down, our Lord’s name is to be praised.” [Ps. 113:3] Not only all day, but for our entire lifetime, we should praise the Lord.

“The dead don’t praise Him, neither those in the grave. But we will praise the Lord NOW and FOREVERMORE.” [Ps. 115:17,18]

PRAYER: Lord, we lift our praise to You all day long, and for our entire life. You are deserving. You’ve done so much for us.

READ: Ps. 110-116

Do you know what irks God? Grumbing. It signifies discontent, which is essentially ingratitude. After all God had done for the Children of Israel in the deliverance from the bondage of Egypt, they grumbled and complained about the provisions God had made for their journey.  They wanted flesh to eat!  He GAVE them flesh to the point that it made them sick.

God can be trusted to provide everything we really need. Our grumbling is picked up by others and draws them down. It’s akin to sowing discord.

God forbid.

PRAYER: Lord, forgive us for our complaining and ingratitude. We want to only speak life and health rather than death and destruction.

READ: Ps. 106-109

Sometimes we’re tough. Sometimes we’re tender. God’s compassion is abundant when we need His tender care.

In times of pain and despair, the Lord extends His tender mercies to us. He knows we are but dust. He knows how we are wired.

As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” [Is. 66:13]

READ: Ps. 103-105

There are certain life conditions that grant us an immediate audience with the God of the Universe … brokenness, being destitute, being in prison, suffering injustice.

Jesus gives a catalog of life conditions that get God’s attention in His Sermon on the Mount, Matt. 5:1-12.

You may think life stinks, not realizing that God is VERY NEAR to your plight. Cry out to Him and wait, in faith, for Him to act.

May I repeat, “Don’t throw away your train ticket while you’re still in the tunnel.”

PRAYER: Lord, hear our cry for help. You are the only one who can deliver us.

READ: Ps. 99-102

The Psalms provide the Christian with instruction on how to please God with our praise. There are actually seven different words in Hebrew that are translated “praise” in English. Singing, shouting to God, lifting up of the hands, thanksgiving, bowing, accompanying oneself on an instrument … these are all examples of how God wants us to praise Him. The spiritual health of a church is strengthened when the saints are taught and encouraged to give God scriptural expressions of praise. After all, a good portion of every church service is devoted to praise.

READ: Ps. 93-98

“If” clarifies a condition. “If you say … the Lord is my Refuge,” and dwell in Him, no harm or disaster will come your way. This points up the imperative of what we say and believe in to fully realize God’s provisions.

When I went into the Army in ’69, the Vietnam war was still raging. Patty and I both memorized Ps. 91 to keep our faith up and to hide in God’s protection. As God would have it, half of my infantry training company went to the Canal Zone. I was in that group.

It’s comforting to memorize God’s promises and speak them out of your mouth.

READ: Ps. 90-92

Investments can fail. Marriages can fail. Job security can fail. Friendships can fail. Bridges can fail. Your health can fail you.

Wow! Failure can circle you and bring you down.

God’s love will NEVER fail. Like the warm rays of the sun, His love keeps coming to you, and NOTHING can separate us from it. We can reject it and ignore it, but it keeps coming.

ONLY God can make an offer like that.

READ: Ps. 85-89

The Psalmist declared, “No good thing will I (the Lord) withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

That verse should provide all the motivation we ever need to try to please the Lord with our lives. What’s more, God’s blessing and His favor spills over from His saints to their offspring. Little do we realize how closely God watches our daily lives.

Another characteristic of God is that He gives back to us what we do to others … we reap what we sow. The kindness and blessing we share with others comes back to us and our children.

It pays to serve the Lord.

READ: Ps. 79-84