Ps. 24, 25 [The Message]

I have grandchildren who are beginning their adult journey to follow the Lord. One of the most fulfilling aspects of my present life is praying for and encouraging them in their quest.

This is one role grandparents can surely play in the lives of their grandchildren. They’ve already been down that road and they have a good idea of what’s to come. It is a great joy to have them respond to that attention you give them. Example: Luke is a camp counselor at Kamp Kanakuk this summer. They are encouraging the team to begin memorizing scripture. Luke texted and said, “Hey grandpa. What’s a good scripture for me to memorize?” Do you think I am glad I encouraged him to do so before he left?

Let’s know, let’s press on to know the Lord; whose appearing is as certain as the dawn; who will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that give drink to the earth.” [Hosea 6:3 CEB]

Ps. 23 [The Message]

Eugene Peterson paraphrases verse 6 like this;

Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.

I love that! As I have grown older, I have come to appreciate God’s presence as my “home.” Wherever I am when His presence is near, I am home. This life is just a tune up for the Hereafter. There’s no better way to live here on earth.

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [Jn. 14:2]

Ps. 19-22 [The Message]

The sufferings of Christ were foretold even by David in Ps. 22. It was the Heavenly Father’s plan for Him to suffer and atone for our sins. He was sent as a Sacrificial Lamb to the slaughter. Christ prayed, “If possible, let this cup of suffering pass from Me, … Nevertheless, not My will be done but Thine.”

Is it possible that our suffering is also foreordained? Our pain can unfold God’s plan in our lives. As much as it may distress us, there is a reason for the pain and suffering we endure.

Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. [Heb. 12:11]

Ps. 17, 18 [The Message]

Ps. 18 is a warfare Psalm. God did not permit David to build the Temple because he had too much blood on his hands. However, his Psalms about warfare instruct us on how to achieve spiritual victories through prayer and praise. Whenever we read about his fighting, we apply it to spiritual warfare.

We don’t use carnal weapons We use spiritual ones. [2 Cor. 10:4]

When we sense conflict, we praise the Lord and immediately begin praying. Some battles are longer than others. We don’t give up. We pray continually day and night until we get victory. [Luke 18:7] (This is a key passage. Christians should have it memorized)

Ps. 12-16 [The Message]

Happiness is often a surface emotion. You can look happy on the outside and be miserable on the inside. The goal – to be peacefully happy on the inside.

Shalom peace is a peace that only comes through everything being all-right or taken care of. For instance, I don’t have complete peace because my garage is a mess. (My mess, not Patty’s) If it was all organized and straightened up, I would be happier from the inside out. I would have more peace. If I have an unpaid bill, I don’t have peace. When it gets paid, I have peace.

Christ took upon Himself the penalty of our sin. He died, was sacrificed so that we don’t have to die because of our unforgiven sin. We can have peace through Christ. He is the Prince of Peace. David said, “Mercy and Truth are met together, Righteousness and Peace have kissed.” [Ps. 85:10] That’s Christ’s impact upon our lives.

Ps. 11 [The Message]

Wow! THIS is a Psalm for NOW. Please read it today in The Message.

God searches every heart. He knows what we’re thinking and what our motives are. He wants to affect our motives. They are critical.

I once heard a person give testimony to their out-of-the-body experience of going to heaven. (Note: this is not doctrine. It’s a person’s account of what they experienced) They said the motives of men resound louder in Heaven than their actual words do. That’s interesting. Man looks on the outside, hears the audibly spoken words, but God looks at their heart and the motivation behind what they are saying.

Please let the evil of the wicked be over, but set the righteous firmly in place because you, the righteous God, are the one who examines hearts and minds. [Ps. 7:9 CEB]

Ps. 8-10 [The Message]

When evil and corruption seem to go unpunished and unreproved, we take heart that God sees all and will respond. David’s prayer was that God would break the arm (power) of the wicked and uncover the evil they had done. Nothing escapes His eye.

Chuck Colson was a political figure in Richard Nixon’s presidency. He was convicted of obstructing justice in the Watergate Scandal in 1974. God got ahold of his life, he became a Christian, and started a powerful ministry called Prison Fellowship. He is an example of how God can upend the table of corruption and use it for good.

Lord, we need your powerful presence in our nation right now. We want some more Chuck Colsons.

Ps. 5-7 [The Message]

David sounds this warning to men … your mischief will backfire on you.

As the Headmaster of Trinity Christian School, I held a goal of training young boys to behave and conduct themselves appropriately. If we could help the mischief be ironed out of their soul, we could be preventing the consequences of mischief in their future … when their wives, mothers, children, employees etc. could be spared the devastation caused by mischief.

This is why children need to learn (even the hard way) that mischief is penalized and good behavior is rewarded.

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. [Pr. 22:15]

Note: I didn’t spank any children. Hopefully, some of them got it when they went home to parents who were Biblically focused on how they would turn out.

Psalm 1-4 [The Message]

“Hear me WHEN I call.” How quick is when? With God it’s instant. He has the ability to seemingly stop time and do everything He needs to do to obtain the result He wants. It’s as if He can halt time and do an overhaul on your situation.

Examples:

• When someone is in an automobile accident and they can instantly see their life is in danger. They cry out to God and He sends His angel to rescue the believer.
• A Christian is in a foxhole or other war-time situation and he cries out for God for saving. Miraculously his life is spared and he lives to see another day.
• You are a painter on a tall ladder. The ladder slips and you begin falling You call out to God and He prevents your from certain injury.

Many years ago my teen-age son Mark (now 49 years old) was caddying for my dad when we were out golfing together. My dad was hitting a chip shot to the green. The ball went into the hole. Mark jumped up and down celebrating. He said, “I just asked the Lord to put it in the hole.” God answered his split-second prayer to build his faith.

Job 42 [The Message]

In spite of his deep trials (losing his children etc.), Job later was doubly blessed by God. He appropriately navigated his period of affliction and testing. God asked him to forgive his friends for their misguided criticism. When he did, God turned on the spigot of blessing as only HE can.

Lessons learned; God’s refinement only lasts a season, He will pull you through if you can endure the pull, and He can more than repay you for what you think you lost.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. [1 Peter 5:10]