As we continue our Billboard Gospel series we realize that there is a hymn book in our bible. It is the book of Psalms. So during this series we will be using the book of psalms to guide our devotional time. In addition the devotions come from a reflection blog from Frazier united methodist church that can be found at http://transform.frazerumc.org/
Monday:READ: Psalm 11
Have you ever faced something that was so difficult that you just wanted to run away, to throw in the towel, to give up, to quit? Apparently, the Psalmist had some big troubles. In fact, the odds were so stacked against him that his friends told him that the best thing he could do was throw in the towel and “flee like a bird to the mountains.” But the Psalmist refused that advice. He stood his ground. He decided to trust in the righteousness of God. He believed God would do the right thing—that ultimately God would bless what was right and punish what was wrong. The Psalmist decided to trust in the power of God. He believed that God’s power to save him was greater than his enemy’s power to destroy him. Trusting God is not so much holding on to God as it is trusting that God has hold of you and will not let go. The Psalmist decided to trust in the fellowship of God. He believed God was with him.
So the next time you get overwhelmed by the problems that are surrounding you, remember God will do what is right. God’s power to save you is greater than the enemy’s power to destroy you, and God is with you.
Prayer Focus: God’s power to save you is greater than the enemy’s power to destroy you.
Tuesday READ: Psalm 12
When the psalmist begins this psalm with these words, “Help O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly; the faithful have disappeared from humankind,” one can feel the depths of despair his prayer communicates. When times are this bad, something awful must be happening. Nations must be at war. Economies must be spiraling into a depression. Unemployment is running extremely high. Resources are scarce. Violence is increasing. There are a whole host of factors that compel us to solicit help from God, but this prayer is different. The psalmist seems to indicate that real help is needed because there is no one who is godly, no one left who is faithful. This is a prayer that transcends all other issues of the times. Its as if the psalmist knows that all other problems stem from a lack of godliness. In fact, this overwhelming godlessness has the psalmist crying out for help. Can you feel the pain? Can you feel this broken heart? When is the last time your heart broke for the lack of godly people in our city, our state, and our nation?
Prayer Focus: Read Psalm 12 until you can pray Psalm 12 with your whole heart.
Wednesday READ: Psalm 13
It’s summer, and families will undoubtedly be travelling all over. We all remember road trips as children and asking our parents the “mother of all questions” over and over again: “Are we there yet???” Followed by the second most popular question, “How much longer???”
Now that I have children of my own, I have the wonderful blessing of answering those questions minute after minute during every road trip. Psalm 13 begins by asking the same question: “How long, O Lord?” How long until God shows up and makes things right? Its a question that many faithful people have asked during times of need. How much longer daddy? I often tell my children, “Just a little bit farther; it won’t be too much longer.” The truth is when we are going through something difficult we always want the trip to be as short as possible. Yet, over and over again, we find ourselves gaining new revelations long before we reach the final destination. As the psalmist concludes, “But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.”
Prayer Focus: The next time you find yourself asking, “How long, O Lord?” pray Psalm 13 until you can confidently proclaim the final verse.
Thursday READ: Psalm 14
Someone recently said to me in conversation, “There is no God.” I couldn’t help but think about the foolishness of such a statement. To believe such a bold lie takes either an incredible amount of ignorance or an incredible amount of faith! Either way the psalmist calls these people fools. Note the detail of how the fool speaks: “Fools say in their hearts….” That tells me God is deeply concerned about the condition of our hearts. What we believe in our hearts—what we think we know—shapes every other aspect of our lives. What can keep our world from believing in their hearts there is no God? It might simply be to “know” God. And how will people “know” God? They will “know” God when they see God, hear God, and touch God in and through the lives of faithful people who proclaim God’s mighty acts of salvation to yet another generation. It has been said that the Gospel message is only one generation away from becoming extinct. Our lives can change hearts from the place of “no God” to the place of “know God.”
Prayer Focus: Our world needs to “know” God. Psalm 14 is a picture of people that believe there is “no” God. Pray for a world that will “know” God before our world looks like a world with “no” God!
Friday READ: Psalm 15
Someone once said, “Success will come and go, but integrity will remain forever.” Psalm 15 reminds us of the character of a godly person. It is a reminder to us that God isn’t interested in our religious talk, but He is interested in how we walk. The Psalmist gives ten characteristics of what godly integrity looks like. He calls us to walk blamelessly: that simply means to walk consistently. A godly person is the same on Monday at the office as he was on Sunday on the pew at the church. A godly person does what is right, tells the truth, he does not hurt others with his words, he does no harm, he honors those who follow the Lord, he keeps his promises, he treats others fairly, and he can’t be manipulated by money to do something that is wrong. A godly person’s life is marked by great stability. People of godly integrity live unshakeable lives. It’s a good thought to remember, “Success will come and go, but integrity will remain forever.”
Prayer Focus: Ask God to help you be consistent in your walk with Him.
Saturday READ: Psalm 16
I love the New Living Translation of Psalm 16:3, “The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!” At Annual Conference this week, I sat down for a long conversation with one of my true heroes, Dr. Steve Dill. I was his Associate Pastor for five years at Dauphin Way UMC. He was, and still remains, the wisest person I know. Steve Dill is a godly man. His faith in God is so pure and genuine. His life exhibits authentic Christ-likeness. His courage in standing up for truth and justice is inspiring. His compassion and kindness is so genuine. He pointed me to a deeper relationship with God, to a deeper love for my neighbor, and a deeper understanding of what true godliness looks like.
True heroes are not the rich and the famous, movie stars or sports figures or the most talented, but they are those men and women who live simply, humbly, lovingly, and faithfully, and whose lives point others to God. Are you living that kind of heroic life? Can someone say to you, “Thanks for pointing me to God”? Remember that godly people are true heroes.
Prayer Focus: Give thanks to God for the heroes who have pointed you to God, to life, to the best. Ask God to make you a godly hero for someone else