God’s Spirit leads and His Word clarifies His wisdom for life.  When we get off the path, His rebukes bump us back to His purposes.  We are wise when we allow His rebukes to bring us back to obedience and right relationship with Him.  We are foolish when we ignore His rebukes and follow the path of sin.

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”  [Heb. 12:5,6]

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, thank You for Your unfailing love that rebukes us when we err, and leads us back to a worship relationship with You.

DAILY READING:  Ps. 146-50; Pr. 1,2

Life gets overwhelming at times.  The Psalmist sometimes described these seasons of life as being “When my spirit grows faint within me.”  It was then that he learned to cry out to God for mercy.  He termed God’s consistent relief as “Sure Mercies.”  I believe this was a prophetic description of Christ Jesus.

God is the source of our relief.  He takes care of our enemies.  We don’t!  He gives us the good things we don’t deserve and withholds the consequences we do deserve.  That’s God’s mercy.

We merely need to cry out for it.   Just say, “Jeeee-suuuussssss!”

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we NEED You .  Send help from Your sanctuary right now and deliver us from the predicaments we find ourselves in.  Thank You for Your unfailing mercy.

DAILY READING:  Ps. 141-5

“Surely the righteous will praise Your name.”  The Psalmist also said, “I will sing to the Lord because He has blessed me so richly.” [Ps. 13:6]

If we knew how  much the Lord loves to hear us sing, we’d be singing all the time.  Have you ever tried it?  As you are driving down the road, let Him hear you sing instead of you listening to the radio … or whatever.  When we sing praises, we are lifted into His presence, because He lives in our praises.

That’s the best way to live.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, inhabit my praise as I lift my voice to You in song.  If I don’t praise You , the rocks will cry out.

DAILY READING:  Pas. 135-40

Psalms 120-134 are known as the “Psalms of Ascent,”  or “Pilgrim Psalms.”  They were sung by those who journeyed (ascended) to the temple for the annual festivals.  Each psalm represented a “step” toward Jerusalem, the highest elevation in the area.

We are assured by the Lord that He always watches over us as we journey through this life.  Whether sleeping, on the surgery table, at the beach, or in our car, He has His watchful eye out for our well being.  We can rest in His love.

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, thank You for Your care and Your diligence to keep us safe.  Watch over those we love today.  We trust You above all else.

DAILY READING:  Ps. 120-34

“… they are the joy of my heart.” So declares the Psalmist in ch. 119:111, another insight into building a family heritage that will last forever.

Jesus likened a wise family builder to one who used the bedrock of God’s Word to provide the foundation necessary to endure the challenges of this life.

Look for creative, consistent methods of weaving the fabric of God’s Word into your family’s tapestry.

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, Your statutes are eternal.  We choose to build our lives upon the words of life You give.

DAILY READING:  Ps. 119

Christian descendants enjoy protection, provision, and perpetuation.  These are all  made very clear in the reading of Ps. 112:

A Godly Heritage is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children.

Wise parents, empowered by God’s grace, follow Joshua’s example by proclaiming “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  Josh. 24:15b

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, keep our children under Your umbrella of blessing.  Help us to be Godly parents and daily demonstrate to them how to trust You fully.

DAILY READING:  Ps. 111-8

Although our challenges may be different than those of the Psalmist, we can experience the same deliverance.  Financial straights, health challenges, relational struggles … all can be remedied by assistance from the Lord.

“But I am a man of prayer” was the specific way the Psalmist identified his course of action as he experienced the height of his challenge.  Can we begin appropriating our deliverance by doing likewise?

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we commit ourselves to prayer concerning our challenges.  Forgive us for trusting in our own resources or devices.  You alone are our Deliverer.

DAILY READING:  Ps. 107-10

Psalm 104-6 provide the worshiper with a summary overview of God as Creator and Controller of the elements.  “How many are your works, Lord!  In wisdom you made them all.” [104:24]

When we maintain a healthy perspective of the Lord’s greatness through consistently reading His Word, we are less inclined to fall into the stupor of unbelief and spiritual apathy which rob us of the abundance of life offered through His Spirit.

“Remember the wonders he has done.”  [Ps. 105:5]

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord of creation, we are in awe of Your greatness.  Show Your mighty power through our lives and let us live a miraculous existence.

DAILY READING:  Ps. 104-6

Really? Just read Ps. 101 and tell me if it doesn’t describe today’s TV.

• ^“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:”  v. 3a
  
• “I hate what faithless [Hollywood] people do;  I will have no part in it.”  v. 3b
• “The perverse of heart shall be far from me;  I will have nothing to do with what is evil.”  v.4
  
• “Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret [late night],  I will put to silence [turn it off];”  v. 5a
  
• “whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart [well, duh…],  I will not tolerate.” v. 5b

I’m guilty, too.

DAILY PRAYER:  Help us, Father.

DAILY READING:  Ps. 98-103

In 1969, I was drafted into the U.S. Army.  The Viet Nam war was still in full swing.  As I went off to basic training, Patty and I memorized Ps. 91 together so we would have God’s Word to hold onto for protection.  It worked.  He was faithful.

Although trained for combat as an infantry foot soldier, I was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone where we were blessed to live off base.  Julie was born there.  The Lord had diverted my orders from the war.

He showed us His ability to protect.  In His care is the safest place in the universe.

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, You are our shelter and hiding place. In You we take refuge from every danger we experience.  We live in faith.  We live without fear.

DAILY READING:  Ps. 91-7