Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.

Psalm 146

Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. v3

We are tempted, in this world, to place our hope in ourselves, in others, in financial security, etc.  These are all idols and we are commanded to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, and mind (Exodus 20, Matthew 22:37-40).

Other places in scripture also tell us that, like it does in today's verse, worship of self or others will not save - see also posts here, here and here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God, full of love and compassion for me even though I am not deserving.  Thank You Jesus.  I need You desperately, to save me and to forgive me from my sins and to save me from the sting of sin and death.  Please forgive me for my sin and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Psalm 145

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. v18

We all need God (Romans 3:23) and we should all develop a desire to be close to Him, under His care and protection.  God provides for all of our needs (Hebrews 1:3) and He has a plan for us, not to harm us but to prosper us, for hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).  We just need to call on Him - to be our Savior, to forgive our sins, to answer our prayers and shoulder our burdens...for everything.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what a great God You are!  That You are near to me when I call - I know this!  Thank You Jesus.  I need You desperately because I am broken without You.  I worry, I am full of anger, selfishness, etc.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

Psalm 145

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. v8-9

Even as I am full of anxiousness and worry, God is there.  God is there.  I may place distance between myself and God with my sin (Matthew 6:25) but He is slow to anger, rich in love, and full of compassion.  He wants me to run to His arms to ask forgiveness - just like the prodigal son did with his father.  God came to cleanse me of my sins.  Thank You Jesus!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a gracious God, full of love and compassion for me...even when I sin.  Thank You Jesus.  Please forgive me for my worry and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.

Psalm 145

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. v3-4

As a father I am commanded to instruct my children in the ways of the Lord.  I know I had frustrations growing up and biblical instructions and setting an example of biblical manhood address these frustrations.

Fathers,do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:7

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

 

My Prayer:  Lord, You have instructed me like no other person can.  You do not exasperate me...instead You provide and lift me up...You direct my steps and hold my life together.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I worry...I am selfish.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

Psalm 144

Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them?  They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow. v3-4

The creator of the universe, who holds all things together (Colossians 1:16-18), does not need humans.  Yet He loves us, and does more than think of us; He died for our sins and saves us from the sting of sin and death.  And He protects, provides, guides, etc. We must focus on how we exist BECAUSE of and FOR Him.  We must also think about how we must focus on the eternal - that He is eternal, and we live for riches in Heaven, not here on earth.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19-20

We must live with the end in mind.  See also post here. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who provides, protects, teaches, loves, etc.  All of this for people like me who are undeserving!  Thank You Jesus...for all that You do and all that You are.  I know You always with me.  Thank You.  Please forgive me for my stress and worry.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo. Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God[.]

Psalm 143

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God[.] v10

David seeks to do God's will...although not always - this is a post for another day.  For today, the message from David is the former...that we exist to glorify God. 


They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. Isaiah 60:21

If we exist to glorify God, then we should focus on our energies on understanding and following God's will for our lives.  Paul tells us that by drawing near to God, in prayer, study of His Word, silence, and through other spiritual disciplines, we can better understand Him and His will for our lives.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

My Prayer: Lord, Your Will for my life is to prosper me and not to harm me.  I know this.  And I know that I exist to glorify You and You are worthy of my worship.  You also bless me beyond what I deserve - thank You Jesus.  I am not worthy of Your love, compassion and blessings. I fall short of the man You intend me to be.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo. Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Psalm 142

“You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” v5

God is without a doubt our protector.  He also provides - all things (James 1:17). In times of distress as David was in when he wrote this psalm, he drew upon the only thing he had left - his God.  Matthew Henry's commentary provides great insight into David's experience here.  There will be many times in our lives when circumstances are difficult and others, including those close to you, let you down.  Yet David reminds us that it is in these times when when we have clarity how great God is and how we should place our hope in Him alone - for He is always with us and He will never forsake us.

“Never will I leave you;

    never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are my rock, my provision, and my hope.  You have seen me through many difficult times and You have never forsaken me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love - I know I have disappointed You and let You down but You never will.  Thank You Jesus. I need You desperately for my sins...to cleanse me and to help me defeat the sting of sin and death.  Please forgive me for my worry and stress.  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects of chemo. Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.