All God’s Benefits!
Scripture reading for September 21: Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, Who forgives all your iniquity, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?””
King David wrote this psalm as a worship prayer and aid to remembering and focusing on God and His many benefits. David was thankful for God’s forgiveness of many besetting sins. He had asked for mercy when he committed adultery and then had his partner’s husband purposely killed. (Psalm 51) David had also suffered sickness and God had healed him many times. David also realized that his sins would lead to eternal suffering in the pit and that God’s great mercy had spared him and given him what he did not deserve, steadfast love and mercy. (Psalm 40) David also had declared his faith in eternal life and joy in God’s presence forever. (Psalm 16) This is possibly the reason behind his believing that his strength would be renewed to youth like the eagle.
As Mary and Martha were dejected at the passing of their brother Lazarus, Jesus came and declared that He was the resurrection and the life eternal in God’s presence. Jesus said this at the grave of His friend Lazarus who had been dead four days. He then called Lazarus out of the grave, renewing his strength as a testimony that still speaks to us today. Jesus is the source of all God’s benefits and blessings. He deserves our worship and total trust.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the blessings and provisions given me by grace through believing in Jesus Christ. He has forgiven all my sins, healed all my diseases, redeemed my life from the pit and destruction and given me eternal life in His presence! Bless the Lord, O my soul! Amen!
Standing on the Promises of God!
Scripture reading for September 17: Psalm 91:9-11; 14-16 “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place–the Most High, Who is my Refuge--no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” . . .“Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My Name. When he calls to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”
John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Psalm 91 has been a favorite of soldiers, first responders, and all who face dangers, sickness or demonic attack. The psalm is full of promises from God Himself about how He will act on behalf of those who by faith are depending on Him. The psalm begins with four names of God: Most High, Almighty, Lord, and my God. These names honor God for Who He is and set the tone for this worship song. The psalmist begins to recount all the benefits of trusting in God. Deliverance from snares and traps, escape from pestilence, war, and evil and the evil one are all noted blessings.
God, Himself through the psalmist promises His people in the verses we read today. God will be a Refuge to His people against all forms of trouble, sickness or evil. God as the ‘Almighty’ will command the angel armies to guard them and bear them up. Those who hold fast to God are promised deliverance and protection. They are promised answers to their prayer and God’s personal presence with them in these troubles. Note that the absence of trouble is not promised. In this world we will have tribulation but Jesus promised He has overcome the world. We will have long life–eternal life–in His presence and enjoy His full salvation.
Prayer: Holy Father and Almighty Most High God, thank You for Your promised protection and overcoming grace through faith in Your Son. You are My Father and God forever. Amen.
Rejoicing in Worship
Scripture reading for September 18: Psalm 100:2-5 “Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He Who made us, and we are His; We are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His Name! For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever and His faithfulness to all generations.”
Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
When a person is sick and under attack from disease, it is not easy to rejoice and be glad. Why would God place this psalm in the worship manual for His people? Why would the apostle Paul tell the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord–always? Let’s look into this instruction and see how it helps those who are weighted down.
The psalmist wrote to call God’s people to worship Him. Worship shouldn’t depend on our circumstances, health, or location. God’s people can enjoy His presence at all times under the New Covenant. In the psalmist’s time, the temple was the place to meet with God. A thankful heart always sets the tone for coming before God. We can thank Him because He is God! There is none beside Him! He made us and created us to be His people. As His people, our Lord as a Shepherd, cares for each person. He is a ‘Good’ Shepherd and loves His sheep. He faithfully leads them to green pastures and to quiet waters. He restores each soul and feeds them with encouragement and love. God never changes so this applies to all generations.
The apostle Paul, in Philippians, was in jail and faced possible execution. He wrote to the church to encourage them. As they met together, they became the temple and God was in their midst. This was cause for rejoicing in the Lord! They could rejoice always, because they gave their worries to God in prayer and His peace guarded their hearts. God would meet all of their needs and empower them in difficult circumstances. They must learn to rejoice always to overcome and enter His eternal kingdom.
Prayer: Father God, I cast all my anxieties on You because You care for me. I come thankfully into Your presence with praise and joy, delighting in Your eternal goodness! Amen.
God’s Promised Faithfulness!
Scripture reading for September 17: Psalm 94:14-19 “For the Lord will not forsake His people; He will not abandon His heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers? If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, “My foot slips,” Your steadfast love, O Lord held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, Your consolations cheer my soul.”
Matthew 28:20 “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
This psalmist was worshiping God by recounting God’s presence and help in times of trouble and enemies attacking. His major theme was that God would not forsake His people. God was not fickle, but steadfast in His love through all trials and every valley we might face. Though man may forsake us or turn on us, God will never abandon us. The psalmist even stated that if God had not been with him and helped him, he would now be dead. Even when fear gripped his heart, God sent His steadfast covenant love and held him up. When cares and anxiety multiplied, God sent consolations to cheer his soul. This recounting of God’s presence and care brought consolation and renewed faith and is even now bringing that to believers.
This theme was continued in Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples. He sent them out into all the world to proclaim the Good News through preaching, healing and deliverance through the Holy Spirit, God’s presence with them. They were to help others know God by bearing His presence and heart of mercy. His promise to them was that He would be with them always, even to the end of the age!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your promise of continual presence that has sustained and comforted believers since the beginning. You are the Faithful God Who will never abandon Your people! Hold me up each day and bring consolations that cheer my soul! As from the beginning, You are faithful to the end! Amen!
Establish the Work of our Hands!
Scripture reading for September 16: Psalm 90: 10-12; 16-17 “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who considers the power of Your anger, and Your wrath according to the fear of You? So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” . . .Let Your work be shown to Your servants, and Your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands.”
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
According to ancient sources, Moses wrote Psalm 90. Moses was called by God as the deliverer of God’s people and he led them under God’s direction out of bondage in Egypt, through the Red Sea, and received the tablets of God’s Law. He lived to be 120 years old and was strong and vigorous to the last. We don’t know in what period Moses wrote this psalm, but he would have been around 80 years old at Mt. Sinai.
Psalm 90 is a worship song that considered the shortness of human life on earth and our need to make the most of our time. Moses asked God to reveal His glorious power and works to His servants and to their children. His twice-repeated request was that God would establish the works of their hands. In other words, God would lead them to do His will and that through faith they would walk in the fullness God had promised. Moses understood their struggle with unbelief and the stubborn nature of God’s people. Even he would become angry and dishonor God, forfeiting his entrance into the promised land after 40 years.
The New Testament states that we are God’s ‘workmanship’. God has crafted each person and equipped them to do specific tasks to accomplish His will. If we are looking to establish the works of our hands, the best way is to walk in the works He has prepared for us by faith. God didn’t make a mistake. His workmanship is an eternal masterpiece!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the new creation of my heart. Lead me to do Your will with a generous heart. Amen.
The Healing Power of God’s Smile
Scripture reading for September 14: Psalm 80:1-2, 16-19 “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You Who lead Joseph like a flock. You Who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. . . . .They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of Your face! But let Your hand be on the Man of Your right hand, the Son of Man Whom You have made strong for Yourself! Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon Your Name! Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let Your face shine, that we may be saved.”
Asaph, one of the worship leaders of Israel, wrote this psalm as a testimony to be sung to God by His people. He began the psalm by addressing God as the ‘Shepherd of Israel,’ which would have spoken to the Israelites as many of them were shepherds and King David was also a shepherd. This ‘Shepherd’ was enthroned upon the cherubim in the place of highest honor and power at God’s right hand and His face reflected the unfading glory of righteousness and holiness. The psalmist asked that God would destroy those who had attacked Israel and burned it with fire. He asked that they perish by the rebuke of His face! As God’s smile brings blessing, so also God’s frown of anger means death.
But the psalmist interceded with God to put His hand on the Son of Man Who was seated at His right hand. This Son of Man was made strong to fulfill God’s plans and purposes. This Son of Man would save His people from their backsliding and restore them to eternal life. He would give them His Name to reclaim their lost authority. As the Lord of hosts, having all authority and power, the psalmist appeals to God to ‘let Your face shine.’ In amazing response, God sent the Son of Man, Who is now seated at God’s right hand and transforms believers into His glorious likeness!
Revelation 22:1, 3-4 “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright a crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city, . . .But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face . .”
Guided to Glory!
Scripture reading for September 11: Psalm 73:23-26 “Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my Portion forever.”
Jude 20-22 “But you beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt, . .”
Have you ever envied someone who appeared more prosperous or blessed than you? This psalm deals with the honest confession of a person who struggled with envy and coveting the apparent prosperity and blessing of the wicked. Evidently he was suffering with some affliction as well and he entertained thoughts like “in vain have I kept my heart clean.” (vs 13) But as he continued the psalm, he entered God’s sanctuary and saw the end of the wicked in judgment by the Almighty. Though they had lived in apparent luxury, they would be swept away in a moment at the judgment.
In spite of the psalmist’s doubts and envy, God was with him and held his right hand, leading him with His unfailing counsel. He revealed that in the end, in spite of the suffering and eventual death, he would be with God in glory. God would be the strength of his heart and his Portion forever!
Jude, wrote to the church to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. (vs 3) Jude was aware of the battle for our faith waged by our flesh and our enemy, Satan. Jude encouraged believers not to be deceived by the false, but to build up their faith through prayer in the Holy Spirit. They must faithfully wait for the mercy of God and show mercy on others who struggled. That’s our merciful Father and Lord guiding His church home to eternal glory!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your mercy and the Wonderful Counselor You sent to live in us and help us to pray and stand in our faith. Thank You for empowering Your Church to share that message with the lost and doubting. In Christ’s Love, Amen.
Declaring God’s Power
Scripture reading for September 10: Psalm 71:17-19 “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim Your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim Your might to another generation, Your power to all those to come. Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the high heavens. You Who have done great things, O God, who is like You?”
Mark 16:15-16 “He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation. . . . and these signs shall accompany those who believe: in My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.””
Psalm 71 does not list an author, but from the content we know that it was an older believer who had known God from his youth. Now, later in his life, he offers this hymn of worship and intercession to be sung by the congregation. He declares the wondrous works of the Lord and exalts Him. He humbly asks not to be forsaken in old age, but to become empowered to declare God’s wonder and power to the next generation. Aging has distinct challenges for most people. We sense our abilities physically slowing down and we are aware of the battle against our faith by a deceptive enemy, Satan. This psalmist’s intercession for God’s help was answered and is available to all today.
According to Jesus Christ, the mission of His disciples was one of declaring God’s love and power to those who did not know about it. He would work with them as they were going to demonstrate and declare the Good News of Jesus Christ by deliverance from evil spirits, healing of sick or deformed bodies, being supernaturally protected and showing God’s heart of mercy. In the New Testament, Jesus took disciples from different age groups. He gave them spiritual empowerment to declare God’s power and promised to never leave or forsake them.
Father God, thank You for answering prayers from older believers that may be under physical or spiritual attack. Thank You for empowering Your people to declare your power and love to a lost world. I worship the Ancient of Days and declare Him! Amen.
Make Haste, O God!
Scripture reading for September 9: Psalm 70:1, 4-5 “Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me!. . .”May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You! May those who love Your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! Your are my Help and my Deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!”
John 11:5-6 “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was.”
All people who are caught in a crisis of disease and pain want quick answers. Those who seek God for help soon learn that God hears and answers prayers, but that His timing is not always our timing or our expectation. King David wrote Psalm 70 for the memorial offering and it was given to the choirmaster. This prayer and praise song seeks to entreat God to make haste to bring deliverance and help. David confessed his own need of God, that before God he was poor and needy. He stated that God was his Help and Deliverer. He appealed to God to end the delay and bring the help needed immediately! I have been there and am there now as our family is going through a difficult illness.
John, the apostle, records an incident he witnessed where Jesus was told about a friend’s illness and asked to respond. The family had requested that Jesus come and they were hoping for immediate results. But Jesus knew and loved His friend and delayed coming for two more days. In the mean time, Lazarus had died and his body was placed in a tomb. Mary and Martha were concerned that Jesus had delayed, but still trusted that God would answer their prayers. Jesus wept over the death of His friend, and stood at the tomb and called him to come out. Lazarus got up and came out, decked in the grave wrappings and God was glorified. God’s timing fulfills His purposes.
Prayer: Father God, we ask you to make haste and not delay to help us and deliver us from our current situation. But we trust You as our Healer and Deliverer to be on time! Help me to wait in faith and patience. Amen.