Light Shoulders

Psalm 38:4 "My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear."

David writes that his guilt, his shame, and his sin are a burden to him.  They are so burdensome in fact, they are too heavy to bear.  They are too heavy psychologically but also physically!  His sins have literally affected his mind and body.  And this burden is simply too much for him.

My sin and shame are too burdensome for me to walk around with.  My baggage and guilt is too much for me.  It is heavy and worrisome and sometimes overtakes my thoughts when I dwell on how sinful I truly am.  So thank God for Jesus!   I am able to come to the foot of the cross and repent of my sin.  On my own I cannot stand with it, so I give it to Christ.  That is his promise.  That is the good news.  He took my burden on his shoulders that day on the cross.  The weight is off my shoulders!  And it feels good! 

Thank you Jesus for taking my sin and guilt.  Amen.

New Year, New Song

Psalm 33:3 "Sing to him a new song..."

The psalmist (possibly the Levitical choir leader) encourages the choir and the people to sing to the Lord a new song.  This psalm was possibly written at a time of transition within the kingdom and it was now time for something new, including a song!

God wants something new from me today.  What I did yesterday was great, but what can I offer today that is new and refreshing?  How can I serve others today in a new way unlike what I did yesterday?  I need to praise God with new eyes, a new voice, and a new song today.  So on my 33rd birthday, in a new year of life, I will sing a new song to the Lord.  Today I will be joyful.  Today I will praise God for the joy in my life and in my family. 

Dear Jesus, thank you that every day you are new to me!  Help me to be joyful in all circumstances.  Amen.

A Good Example

Psalm 30:5 "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime..."

David knows of what he speaks!  He experienced God's anger and God's favor.  He says that God's anger is short-lived, and momentary.  Thank goodness for David!  But God's favor and love lasts. 

I always ask myself how I can be more godly in my life. As a father for example, how can I model myself after our heavenly father?  What can I learn from this psalm?   Does my anger burn too long?  Is my favor with my kids something that sticks, or is my favor conditional and temporary?  I hope someday my kids could write words similar to these about me. 

Dear Jesus, help me be patient with my children.  Amen.

Our Great Shepherd

Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is my shepherd..."

David has experienced pain.  He has experienced loss and tragedy.  And out of this pain, he writes Psalm 23, one of the most memorized, well known, and well loved passages of scripture.  He likens God to his shepherd who is always with him and guiding him.  Even through the valley of the shadow of death, the shepherd is with him.

Yesterday Nick died.  He was 19 and was once one of my core HangTime kids.  As I opened my Bible just now and saw that I was to begin with Psalm 23 I couldn't help but tear up.  These most beautiful of words could not fit any better today.  So often, it is in our loss and in our grief, when God seems closest to us as he carries us and leads us to the still waters.  Today I pray for Nick's family and friends and I hope they know Jesus as Nick did.  Today I pray they are comforted by our great Shepherd.

Dear Jesus, please comfort Nick's family today.  Amen.

Why Have You Forsaken Me?

Psalm 22:1 "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

David writes these words a thousand years before Jesus is born.  He is crying out to God because he feels forsaken, forgotten, and attacked.  Of course, Jesus recites this same plea while hanging on the cross outside Jerusalem.  Jesus cries out to the father because he too feels forsaken, forgotten, and attacked.

It is almost eery to read these words in Psalm 22 and know that generations later they would be spoken again on the cross by my savior.  It's hard to take these words knowing Jesus suffered because of me.  I must keep in mind, the father did not abandon or forsake anyone, rather I abandoned him.  It is because of me Jesus felt this way.  It is because of me he suffered.  My sin drew a wedge between the father and the son.  Today I am reminded of my depravity and what it cost. 

Dear Jesus, thank you for dying in my place.  I am sorry.  Please forgive me.  Amen.

No Chariots Please

Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."

David writes that many people trust in power and security-chariots and horses-that sort of thing.  I suppose that's about all you could trust in three thousand years ago!  But David asserts that he trusts in the name of the Lord, not in military might. 

My hope and trust ought to be found in Christ.  My faith and security does not rest in our government, our military or any form of earthly power. Those powers are temporary.  Jesus alone provides my hope.   How can I trust in him more today? 

Dear Jesus, help me trust you in all things today.  Amen.

Unfailing Love

Psalm 13:6 "I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me."

David begins this psalm in verse one by asking God "How long will you hide your face from me?"  David laments the fact that God seems distant and is not near to him.  However, by the end of the psalm in verse six, David seems to flip flop his attitude and proclaims that God has been good to him.  Why does David think God has been good to him, when six verses earlier he was looking for God?  What gives?

Here's what gives-in verse five, David writes that he will "trust" in God's "unfailing love."  David even in his distress, knew something about God's love and goodness-it never fails.  So David puts his trust in God and this resolves the poem.  Do I put enough trust in God?  Do I believe in his unfailing love?  Do I really?  Today I needed this psalm to remind me that in spite of my distress, my sin, and my failures, God is full of unfailing love towards me.

Dear Jesus, thank you for your unfailing love, and for being so good to me, even when I am ugly.  Amen.