Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

Psalm 145


This Psalm is rich in praise of the Lord:

⁴ 

One generation commends your works to another;

    they tell of your mighty acts. 

⁵ 

They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—

    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

⁶ 

They tell of the power of your awesome works— 

    and I will proclaim your great deeds. 

⁷ 

They celebrate your abundant goodness 

    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

⁸ 

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, 

    slow to anger and rich in love.

⁹ 

The Lord is good to all;

    he has compassion on all he has made.

¹⁰ 

All your works praise you, Lord;

    your faithful people extol you. 

¹¹ 

They tell of the glory of your kingdom 

    and speak of your might, 

¹² 

so that all people may know of your mighty acts 

    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 

¹³ 

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, 

    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises 

    and faithful in all he does.

¹⁴ 

The Lord upholds all who fall

    and lifts up all who are bowed down. 

¹⁵ 

The eyes of all look to you,

    and you give them their food at the proper time.

¹⁶ 

You open your hand

    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

¹⁷ 

The Lord is righteous in all his ways

    and faithful in all he does. 

¹⁸ 

The Lord is near to all who call on him, 

    to all who call on him in truth.

¹⁹ 

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; 

    he hears their cry and saves them. 

²⁰ 

The Lord watches over all who love him, 

    but all the wicked he will destroy.

My Prayer: Lord, You ARE awesome and I have seen the greatness in my own life - the love, grace, compassion, blessings, protection, etc. - it is more than I can describe and as it is written is even more than can be fathomed.  For all of this I am not worthy because of my sin.  I thank You of course for all of this but I need You to forgive me for my sin today and help purify and refine me.  Help draw me nearer to You to be more like You and to glorify You.

Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them?

Psalm 144

³ Lord, what are human beings that you care for them,
    mere mortals that you think of them?
⁴ They are like a breath;
    their days are like a fleeting shadow. 

Even on a day when we might be more righteous than on other days....there is still nothing we do or say to be worthy of the love of Christ.  Christ is everything (and we are nothing in comparison):

⁴ For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. (Hebrews 3:4)

I need to remember how great God is.


My Prayer: Lord, in this moment I know You are a great God who is the builder of everything.  You have done everything for me, You have DIED for me and You think of me (ME!) all the time.  I am not worthy of such love and grace yet You provide it anyway - even though many times or most of the time I place my trust and faith not in You but elsewhere.  I DO thank You for everything that You are and what You have done for me specifically, including dying on the cross for ME.  Today I ask that You forgive me Lord Jesus.  Please build me up.  Purify me.  Refine me.  Strengthen my heart and desire for You Lord Jesus.

 

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.

Psalm 141

³ Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;    keep watch over the door of my lips.
⁴ Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
    so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
    do not let me eat their delicacies. 

My heart is pierced by the above words, particularly verse 3 but also verse 4.  I am prone to lash out when under stress and my words cause harm to those around me at home, work and elsewhere.  I need the Lord's help to protect me from stress and lashing out. 


I think of the words of James as well:

⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (James 3:6)

...

Help me stay near to the Lord Jesus and have His words - heavenly words and wisdom - firmly in my heart:

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:17).

My Prayer:Lord, only You are pure, holy, and right.  You are the standard and You are truth.  I fall because I lack a strong faith - and I am deeply sorry for this Lord Jesus.  Thank You for all that You are, all that You do, and for Your love and grace towards me.  I don't deserve Your love - yet of course You provide it anyway.  Please forgive me Lord Jesus for harsh words towards others and also Lord Jesus purify and refine me of this sin.  Help me embed Your words in my heart.  Help me strengthen my faith and trust more deeply in You.

How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!

Psalm 139

¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand[.]

While this Psalm is most often discussed in the context of how God from our very birth and even before, has great plans for us and that we should never doubt this.  Today's reading says to me and reveals to me the extent to which God thinks of me...a sign of the depth and breadth of His love for me.  That God's thoughts of me outnumber the grains of sand...that is an amazing amount of love!!

My Prayer: Lord, wow!  I don't think I have ever understood the depth and breadth of Your love in such terms!  I am amazed that You think of me and love me so much...I am not deserving of such love.  I am lazy, mean, selfish, and prideful.  I thank You for the love You have for me and I need it NOW.  I pray Lord Jesus that You forgive me for my sin today.  Purify and refine me - transform both my heart and my life Lord Jesus.  Help me be more like You.  Help me recognize Your love for me so that I can more fully love You with all of my heart, soul and mind.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

Psalm 139

¹ You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

When I read this it begins to sink in the depth and breadth of who God is and His presence.  I don't ever have to worry about God not being available to me.  God's had is always upon me:

- and you lay your hand upon me v5

- if I settle on the far side of the sea, ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast v9-10

What comforting thoughts...that God's hand is always on me, no matter where I go!

My Prayer: Lord, how awesome You are...that You are everywhere and with me, no matter where I go.  I am not deserving of such love and attention Lord...for I am full of sinful behavior: lust, envy, pride, anger, etc.  I thank You for all of the rich blessings You provide yet I beg of You that You forgive me please for these sins.  Please also refine and purify me of these sins and make me more like You.  Help me seek You out more often.

Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly, though lofty, he sees them from afar.

Psalm 138

⁶ Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
    though lofty, he sees them from afar.

We have a God that knows all the details of our lives and desires deep intimacy with us - this means all things big and small.  Not only are we not too small or insignificant for Him, nor are the minor details of our lives too small or insignificant for Him.  He wants us, all of us, all of the time.  

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38)

My Prayer: Lord, You are truly an awesome God in that You already know everything about me yet you STILL love me!  I confess to you now that I am guilty of sin - of lustful thoughts.  I thank You Lord Jesus for Your love and grace and I come to You now to forgive me today for my sin.  Please also purify and refine me Jesus.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind. 

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him.

Psalm 128

¹  Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
    who walk in obedience to him.  
² You will eat the fruit of your labor;
    blessings and prosperity will be yours.
³ Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
    within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
    around your table.
⁴ Yes, this will be the blessing
    for the man who fears the Lord. 

I seek blessing all the time...I mean c'mon...I am a selfish being.  Yet rarely do I reflect on blessing in the eyes of the Lord.  He knows what is good for me and produces fruit.  The wisdom and truth here is that blessing is the product of obedience, and perhaps grace...not of my hand and not certainly of luck.


My Prayer: Lord, Your truth and Your wisdom is infinite.  My wisdom, on the other hand is lacking and it often leads to sin.  Lord, I need You greatly and daily.  I thank You for Your grace and love as I am not deserving...and that You will provide it anyway.  I come to You know asking for grace and forgiveness once more for my sin today and for my disobedience.  Please purify me and help me be more obedient in You and seek blessing in Your eyes and to glorify You alone.

14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.

Psalm 119

¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.
¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.
¹² Praise be to you, Lord;
    teach me your decrees.
¹³ With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth.
¹⁴ I rejoice in following your statutes
    as one rejoices in great riches.
¹⁵ I meditate on your precepts
    and consider your ways.
¹⁶ I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.

Though it is not clear who the author is, the author speaks to me on the subject of keeping God's word.  I must ready, study, recount, reflect, and obey God's word - all with a joy that is unequaled relative to earthly endeavors.  What ends up striking me as well is the promise not to "neglect your word."

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know that You love me no matter what I do yet I seek to be more like you.  I marvel in the love that You have for me and I thank You for all of the love and grace that You have for me - yet I desire for You to build me up, and to refine and purify me.  Transform both my heart and my life - take me I am Yours.  Forgive me for my sin today and let me run back to Your welcoming arms.

Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.

Psalm 115

Everything is for the glory of God and we should live in fear and reverence of God who is the beginning and the end and everything in between.  We need to see God in all things.

¹ Not to us, Lord, not to us
    but to your name be the glory,
    because of your love and faithfulness.

...

¹² The Lord remembers us and will bless us:
    He will bless his people Israel,
    he will bless the house of Aaron,
¹³ he will bless those who fear the Lord—
    small and great alike.

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God as I have personally seen Your hand and works both in the world and in my life.  I am in awe that You are so powerful yet You care deeply about me and are willing to meet with me.  I am weak and neglect You and do not come to You as You desire.  I thank You for all of Your love and grace and I need it now once again - forgive me for my weakness and neglect of You and and my weakness as a member of the church.  Help me be a more fruitful member of the church.

Yet he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented.

Psalm 106

The theme I gather from this Psalm is one of forgiveness, grace, and love of a God so great that He will always welcome us back if we yield to Him.

⁶ We have sinned, even as our ancestors did;
    we have done wrong and acted wickedly.
⁷ When our ancestors were in Egypt,
    they gave no thought to your miracles;
they did not remember your many kindnesses,
    and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.^[b]
8 Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,
    to make his mighty power known.
⁹ He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up;
    he led them through the depths as through a desert.
¹⁰ He saved them from the hand of the foe;
    from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.
¹¹ The waters covered their adversaries;
    not one of them survived.
¹² Then they believed his promises
    and sang his praise.  

...

⁴⁰ Therefore the Lord was angry with his people
    and abhorred his inheritance.
⁴¹ He gave them into the hands of the nations,
    and their foes ruled over them.
⁴² Their enemies oppressed them
    and subjected them to their power.
⁴³ Many times he delivered them,
    but they were bent on rebellion
    and they wasted away in their sin.
⁴⁴ Yet he took note of their distress
    when he heard their cry;
⁴⁵ for their sake he remembered his covenant
    and out of his great love he relented.
⁴⁶ He caused all who held them captive
    to show them mercy.  

...

 As well we have the parables of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15:11-32 and of the Lost Sheep from Luke 15:1-7.

My Prayer: Lord, You are a God full of love, grace, and forgiveness and it is unimaginable that You love me as You do.  I am imperfect and broken and sinful.  I thank You SO much for Your love, grace and forgiveness and I seek Your forgiveness today for my worship of other idols and for my easily distracted heart.  Please refine and purify me Lord Jesus and transform my heart and my life.  Please make me more like You.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90

Once again I am drawn to the words of Moses spoken here that we are to make the most of our time on earth.

Teach us to number our days,
    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.  (v12)

Similar sentiments are echoed through scripture, including 2 Peter 2:

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles...(2 Peter 2:11)

We are only on earth as foreigners and exiles (temporarily) and we are to make the most of our time....so that we can bring others to Him and dutifully fulfill our roles and purpose for Him.
 
My Prayer: Lord, You are Truth and Your plans and wisdom are great.  I know that You have great plans for me and I confess to You now that I am weak and I question my own ability to follow You and to be used by You.  I thank You for Your faith, trust, and love of me - yet I feel I am not worthy.  Please build me up and help me lean on You so that I can more boldly do Your work for You here on earth.

You reward everyone according to what they have done.

Psalm 62

David continues to feel the weight of his sin and seeks refuge in god.  The nugget I pick out for me from God is this:

¹¹ One thing God has spoken,
    two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
¹²     and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
    according to what they have done.” 

Elsewhere in Psalms it is written:

Teach us to number our days,
    that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

Bottom line for me is that God is reinforcing that I need to continue to do His will - to serve and to minister to others.  Our days are numbered so we better get going...

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have ministered to me with unfailing love and grace.  I am not worthy of all this - as I confess that I don't act as You desire me to and as You tell me to.  I thank You that You love me unconditionally but please forgive me in my weakness and laziness.  Help me be more bold and help me follow and serve You wholeheartedly.