Author: Jayne Lawson

Scripture: “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” – 1 John 4:9

Observation: John writes a great deal about the love of God in this book of the Bible, but in reality, God’s love is written all throughout the Scriptures. In truth, the Bible is God’s love letter to us.

Application: If someone asked you, “How do you know God loves you?”, how would you answer? Most likely, the answer would be “The Bible says so.” That is true, but the answer goes deeper than that, and as always, the answer is found in the Scriptures.

In Genesis 1, the story of creation is recorded for us. Almost everything that God created, He spoke into existence. Night and day, earth and seas, celestial objects, birds, fish, and land animals. Everything was created by God’s words, except one: Man.

Genesis 2:7 details the creative process for Adam, the first man. “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” He was not spoken into being. Instead, God was physically involved in the creation of man. His hands fashioned man from the dust. Adam’s lungs were filled with the breath of God, which gave him life.

God did the same when He created the first woman. He didn’t simply speak and she appeared. Instead, Eve was the second hands-on creation. Genesis 2:21-22 states, “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.”

God was intricately involved in the making of mankind. We are more than words; we are the image of God Himself. The Lord invested so much of Himself into our making. Why? Because He loves us. He wanted us to be more than just something He had spoken into being.

The same goes for you and me. Every person who has ever been born was intentional. The Bible records God’s statement in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee…” We were not a random conception. Initially, we were conceived in the mind of God, and HE then chose to bring US into existence because He wanted us to be physically born to have a relationship with Him!

Psalm 139:13-16 explains much of this creative process, and culminates with verse 17, “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!”

God loves each of us so much, He sacrificed Himself to guarantee a way for us to always find our way back to Him when we sin. Romans 5:8 confirms this, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  

If you think you have nothing for which to be thankful today, reflect on how much God loves you. Not for anything you have done or will do; not for anything you have to offer Him. He loves you simply because you are you.

May you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving as you give thanks to God for His great love.

Prayer: Dearest heavenly Father, today when I focus on my blessings, I am most thankful for You! I began as a thought in Your mind, and then You brought me into being because You loved me! And then, as a sinner, You continued to love me, and gave Yourself as a sacrifice to pay my sin-debt, again, because You loved me. Now, You are preparing a place for me in heaven to live with You forever! I am so grateful for Your love! Thank You so much! You are my love now and forever! In Jesus’ name, with eternal thanksgiving, I pray. Amen.

Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in whom his world rejoices;
Who from our mothers' arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us,
To keep us in his grace, and guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills of this world in the next.

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
The Son and Spirit blest, who reign in highest heaven
The one eternal God, whom heaven and earth adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

(from “Now Thank We All Our God” by Martin Rinkart)

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“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” – 1 John 4:16

Scripture: “That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.” – (26:7)

Observation: In this psalm, David is sharing his testimony. He is writing of how he strives to avoid the company of the ungodly. He chooses to follow God and His ways, and will not hesitate to proclaim the goodness of God.

Application: In this season of thanksgiving, it is easy to be thankful, but in truth, we should have that “attitude of gratitude” all year-round. Complaining and grumbling really doesn’t accomplish much. In fact, even 30 minutes of negativity on a regular basis can have potentially harmful physical and mental manifestations!

1. The Impact of Chronic Complaining

The Body: Studies show that constant complaining causes cortisol levels to rise resulting in elevated blood pressure and stressing the cardiovascular system. Additionally, the immune system actually can weaken with all the negative thinking. Headaches, insomnia, and even weight gain can occur with all the grumbling! The brain develops alterations in how the nerves travel, weakening their pathways and the ability to think clearly lessens.

The Mind: With continued complaining, stress levels increase. Anxiety goes up and up! Memory issues and cognitive functioning are dulled. Relationships suffer as complaining can cause others to avoid being around you. This can lead to feelings of isolation and even depression.

On the other hand, replacing the habit of complaining with a thankful mindset can be extremely beneficial to body, mind, and soul!

2. The Impact of Cultivating Thankfulness

The Body: Being grateful enables a person to better handle the stresses in life and lessens the release of adrenalin (the fight or flight hormone), which then leads to a calmer nervous system and helps the cardiovascular system function better. Sleep improves. Thinking becomes clearer. Two brain hormones, dopamine and serotonin, are released when having a thankful attitude and these result in feelings of happiness and joy.

The Mind: Thankfulness produces a greater satisfaction with life which causes anxiety levels to drop and depression is reduced. Along with these changes, the mindset shifts to where an individual begins to see the positive side of life in general generating contentment and peace within oneself.

So, now that we understand the benefits of gratitude, what is there to be thankful for in this chaotic world in which we live? David answered this question in today’s verse. He was thankful for the works of the Lord. Here’s a very short list to help get you started:

Give thanks to God for:

• His everlasting love for you
  • “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love…” – Jeremiah 31:3
• His creation
  • “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” – Revelation 4:11
• His gift of salvation
  • “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” – Ephesians 2:8
• His gift of eternal life
  • “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Romans 6:23
• His help in times of need
  • “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10
• His peace
  • “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
• His mercy and forgiveness
  • “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.” – Micah 7:18

Before you get out of bed each morning, take a moment to thank God for something. Some people keep a “gratitude journal” at their bedside, so they can jot down the things they are thankful for every morning! It only takes a moment, but it will start your day off right with an “attitude of gratitude” and a focus on the One who deserves to be thanked more than anyone else!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for all You are! You are my Father, my Saviour, my Comforter. You are my God, and my heart rejoices in You! Thank You for Your many blessings, first and foremost, my salvation. You forgave my sins and gave me everlasting life! I am so undeserving, yet so blessed! Thank You! Instill in me a heart of gratitude, and help me to see Your hand… Your wonderous works… in everything and everywhere I go! In Jesus’ precious name and with great thanksgiving in my heart, I pray. Amen!

Some thank the Lord for friends and home, for mercies sure and sweet;
But I would praise Him for His grace — in prayer I would repeat:

Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul, thank You, Lord, for making me whole;
Thank You, Lord, for giving to me thy great salvation so rich and free.

Some thank Him for the flow’rs that grow, some for the stars that shine;
My heart is filled with joy and praise because I know He’s mine.

Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul, thank You, Lord, for making me whole;
Thank You, Lord, for giving to me thy great salvation so rich and free.

(from “Thank You Lord for Saving My Soul” by Bessie Sykes)

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“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.” – Psalm 92:1-2

Scripture: “For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.” – (25:11)

Observation: David writes about God’s forgiveness, mercies, and teachings in this psalm. His burdens are great, but he turns to God for leadership, trusting the Lord to forgive and restore, then lead according to the His perfect will.

Application: Lately, I’ve been thinking about the reasons that God does things. In this psalm, David speaks about God forgiving sin. That’s the first step taken toward the restoration of a relationship with the Lord that was broken in Eden. It is all up to God to do; we cannot do anything ourselves to eradicate the sin in our lives and reconnect ourselves to God. So, what compels the Lord to forgive us?

What do I have to offer God that has persuaded Him to save me from sin and abide with Him forever? What can I do for Him that He cannot do Himself? What accolades can I bestow upon Him to deserve His forgiveness? What act of service or penance can I perform to earn everlasting life in heaven? The Bible specifically states in Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

The reality is there is absolutely NOTHING I can offer God to merit His forgiveness. So WHY did He choose to sacrifice Himself on a cross to pay my sin-debt? WHY did He allow Himself to be beaten, tortured, mocked, degraded, and murdered slowly and endure unimaginable agony for me?

The answer is almost unbelievable. God became sin for me because HE LOVES ME! That’s it. The reality is that without His intervention, I am useless to God, but He loves me anyway. I am so unworthy, but He loves me despite that. God knew even after I was saved that I would sin against Him, that I would choose myself over Him time and time again, but He still chose to save me because He loves me unconditionally! In fact, God chose to love me when when He knew everything I would do in my life… the good and the bad… the times I would hurt Him, reject Him, ignore Him… yet He STILL chose to love me. Jeremiah 31:3 is a verse I use often in my blogs because it is a verse that continually amazes me because I know how great a sinner I am. “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

GOD LOVES ME WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE! I have no words to express what is in my heart…

He did for me what I’d never be able to do for myself. He redeemed me… because He loves me. When the Lord looks at me, He doesn’t see the heinous sins I have committed both before and after salvation. He only sees that I chose to place my faith and trust in Jesus, His beloved Son, for my forgiveness, my salvation, my life. The blood of Christ washed away every filthy stain of sin in my life because… He loves me. The Bible says in 1 John 4:19, “We love him, because he first loved us.” God chose me BEFORE I put my faith in Christ.

My desire is to serve Him, and I want Galatians 2:20 to be me. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Paul wrote in Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Offering myself to Him is not an extraordinary act, it’s “reasonable” according to this verse. I have a long way to go, but it’s the least I can do for the One who did ALL for me.

Prayer: My sweet Father in heaven, there are no words that I can say that express the depth of gratitude in my heart. Why you reached down and pulled me from the miry clay of despair and hopelessness to a life of abundant joy, peace, and hope is beyond my comprehension, but I am so very thankful You did. Thank You for paying the price with Your precious blood for my sins. Thank You for saving me from an eternity without You. I know I have Your promise that one day You will come for me, and I will be with You forever in heaven. My heart and soul rejoices in God my Saviour. Thank You is not nearly enough… but it truly is all I have to offer You. I love You and desire to serve You with all my heart, mind, and soul. Empty me of myself and make me a vessel of honor through Jesus that You can use. Empower me with a boldness to tell others about Jesus and His precious gift of salvation and eternal life. In His name, I pray and with eternal gratitude, amen.

The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled, and pardoned from his sin.

O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure: the saints’ and angels’ song!

(from “The Love of God” by Frederick M. Lehman)

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“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

Scripture: “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” – (24:1)

Observation: Here David writes about God as King and Conqueror. He is the One who deserves the glory; He controls all, and only those who are deemed worthy can come into His presence. He writes that everything created belongs to God.

Application: Everything that has ever been or will be was created by God, and as such, belongs to Him. It’s easy to say that the mountains are His; the stars are His, the animals are His, but it isn’t as easy to say that we belong to Him. That requires submission, and that is often difficult to do. However, as Creator, the creation belongs to Him as well, and as part of His creation, that includes us!

The Bible clearly states that we are God’s.

• Psalm 100:3 – “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
• Isaiah 43:1 – “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.”
• Romans 14:3 – “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”
• 1 Corinthians 6:19 – “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

God is our maker, but He doesn’t force a relationship with Him upon us. He gives us free will to choose Him. Even before we do so, He loves us. Even when we choose sin over godliness, He loves us. Even when we fail to please Him, He loves us. The prophet Jeremiah validated God’s love for us when he wrote, “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

Why wouldn’t we choose God? He loved us before we loved Him (1 John 4:19). He sacrificed Himself to have an everlasting relationship with us (Romans 5:8). He promises all things good to us (James 1:17). As Joshua said in the book that bears his name (24:15), “…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

It is a good thing to belong to God and to be loved by Him. As for me, I choose Jesus!

Prayer: Dearest Heavenly Father, thank You so much for loving me, dying for me, living for me, and giving me the promise of eternal life with You! I am truly blessed. I know I am unworthy in and of myself, but through Jesus and His finished work on the cross, I have been saved and adopted into Your family! Thank You so much! There has never been a day, O God, when I have regretted making You my choice! Your goodness to me is overwhelming; Your love for me is unimaginable. I am so grateful for You. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.

Jesus my Lord will love me forever,
From Him no pow'r of evil can sever,
He gave His life to ransom my soul, now I belong to Him

Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me
Not for the years of time alone, but for eternity

Joy floods my soul for Jesus has saved me,
Freed me from sin that long had enslaved me
His precious blood He gave to redeem, now I belong to Him

Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me
Not for the years of time alone, but for eternity

(from “Now I Belong to Jesus” by Norman J. Clayton)

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“My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.” – Song of Solomon 2:16

Scripture: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” – (23:1)

Observation: This is probably the most familiar of David’s psalms. David was a shepherd boy, whose faith in God delivered him from formidable opponents. In this psalm, he writes about God being his shepherd and how the Lord cares for him as he would care for his own sheep.

Application: It is a misnomer to think that sheep are “dumb” animals. Sheep are actually very intelligent. Sheep are able to recognize human faces and voices, retaining that recognition for up to two years! When sheep are ill, they often find plants that can alleviated their sickness. Studies show that sheep even have good memories and learning abilities!

However, sheep do have areas in which they are greatly lacking. Thus, they depend upon a shepherd for several very important things.

1) The shepherd protects the sheep.

• Sheep have no natural defenses. They are unable to frighten a predator that is approaching. Their “baas” don’t really strike fear into the heart of an approaching predator. Additionally, they aren’t the best runners, so fleeing from a predator doesn’t end well for the sheep. Lastly, a sheep can’t fight its enemy. It has no innate weaponry of which to avail itself. No claws, no sharp teeth, no poisonous spines. Therefore, sheep are completely dependent upon the shepherd for protection.

2) The shepherd leads the sheep.

• Sheep also have no internal GPS systems, and they tend to wander off. Their sense of direction leaves much to be desired, and they tend to move in flocks. If you think of how a sheepdog easily herds sheep, you can see that they lack directional skills. Therefore, sheep are dependent upon the shepherd to guide them to where they need to be. While they are often good at navigating through mazes, sheep tend to have a “mob mentality”. If one sheep trots off a cliff, there’s a good chance, others will follow. They depend upon a shepherd to keep them on the right path.

3) The shepherd provides for the sheep.

• Sheep are grazing animals, and they will overgraze an area, depleting it of all resources if left to fend for themselves in an area. The shepherd guides the flock to many different areas providing the sheep with fresh grass and water, Additionally, the shepherd will take the sheep to areas with quiet water for drinking, as the movement of water often frightens the sheep. The sheep depend upon the shepherd for food and water.

The Bible often speaks of God’s people as sheep. Like sheep, we have similar dependencies.   

• We need to be guided to and kept on the right path of life.
  • “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” – Isaiah 53:6
  • “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” – Psalm 23:3
• We need to be fed in God’s pasture.
  • “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” – Psalm 100:3
    • God feeds us from His Word; He protects us from the “junk food” of the world’s sinfulness.
• We need to be protected from sin.
  • “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” – John 10:11
    • Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of the world and to give us eternal life through His gift of salvation.

Like sheep, we also have good qualities. Here are three positive characteristics between ourselves and sheep.

• We know our Shepherd’s voice.
  • “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” – John 10:27
• We have the capability to learn.
  • “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” – Psalm 119:11
• We know to whom to go to find the cure for our sin-sick souls
  • “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” – 1 John 3:5

With Jesus as our Shepherd, there is nothing else we need; we have no want or desire for anything of this world. Jesus has promised to meet all our needs “…according to His riches in glory” (Philippians 4:19). It is good to be a sheep in God’s pasture!

Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for being my Good Shepherd. I rest secure in Your love and care. You are my Saviour and Lord; I am Your little lamb, safe and protected in Your hands. I am blessed! In Your holy name, I pray. Amen.

The Lord is my shepherd; I'll walk with him always.
He leads me by still waters; I'll walk with him always.
Always, always, I'll walk with him always.
Always, always, I'll walk with him always.

(from “The Lord is My Shepherd” by unknown)

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“And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.” – Ezekiel 34:31

Scripture: “Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.” – (22:4)

Observation: This is a Messianic psalm written by David. There are many verses in this psalm where the connection to the Saviour is easily seen. In the key verse for today, David remembers that his forefathers trusted the Lord and that God provided deliverance for His people.

Application: The Lord never changes! Malachi 3:6 also records God’s declaration, “For I am the LORD, I change not…” The consistency of God is quite amazing! Hebrews 13:8 proclaims, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” We can take great comfort knowing that God is unchanging and therefore 100% dependable.

The Bible tells us that God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent! That never changes! God’s attributes never diminish with time, and perhaps the most incredible thing about God’s immutability is that even our sins against Him do not cause Him to change His redemptive love for us. He will never reject us. 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

His mercies do not change; His love never changes; His faithfulness is ongoing… there is so much that we read in the Scriptures about our immutable God that it is impossible to not praise and worship Him! David understood this, and that was why when he faced overwhelming odds against him, he was confident that God would deliver him! The God that consistently protected David from his enemies is the same God that watches over His children today! Isn’t that simply amazing?

Prayer: Dearest Father in heaven, what an awesome God you are! To think that You are unchanging for all eternity is incredible! Your promises are everlasting! Your truth is eternal! Thank You for Your Word that tells me all about You, and I know it is 100% true! Wow! I am in awe of Who You are! I praise Your holy name and lift it high! What a mighty God You are! In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Great is the Lord, He is holy and just,
By His power we trust in His love.
Great is the Lord, He is faithful and true,
By His mercy He proves He is love.

Great is the Lord, and worthy of glory.
Great is the Lord, and worthy of praise.
Great is the Lord, now lift up your voice,
Now lift up your voice! Great is the Lord! Great is the Lord!

(from “Great is the Lord” by Deborah and Michael Smith)

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“Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.” – Psalm 22:23

Scripture: “Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.” – (21:2)

Observation: David writes of how the Lord has blessed him as king. God has protected him from the enemy and secured his throne.

Application: It amazes me how God gives us our heart’s desire! What’s even more amazing is that often we don’t even know what our heart’s desire truly is, but God does! Interesting to note, the Lord doesn’t “grant wishes” like a genie in a lamp, but His giving of our heart’s desire is conditional.

Psalm 37:4 states, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” If you delight yourself in the Lord, your desires will be satisfied through God. How do we delight in Him?

• Trust in the Lord – “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” (Psalm 37:3)
• Commit your ways to the Lord – “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:5)
• Rest in the Lord – “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him…” (Psalm 37:7)

The more we know of God through His Word, the more we learn how to trust, commit, and rest in Him. As we learn how to be more like Christ, we please the Father, and the desires of our heart begin to align with His will for our lives!

Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You so much for Your Word. Your promises are everlasting, and I know without a doubt that You keep your promises! I know also that You’ve given me so much more than I could ever desire, and for that I am so grateful! I praise You for Your great wisdom, and for the promise that whatever You bless me with and however You bless, is according to Your perfect plan for me! Thank You!! In Your precious name, I pray. Amen.

As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart's desire. and I long to worship Thee
You alone are my Strength, my Shield, to You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire, and I long to worship Thee.

(from “As the Deer” by Martin Nystrom)

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“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” – Psalm 84:11

Scripture: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” – (20:7)

Observation: In this psalm, David is writing in response to the deliverance the Lord has given him in difficult situations. Before David was known as a mighty warrior, he was a shepherd. As a young boy, God gave David the strength to overcome the bear and the lion in the protection of the sheep. Later in in life, God gave David victory in battle over the enemies of Israel. In this writing, David acknowledges that the Lord is the One who saves.

Application: People will go to amazing lengths to protect themselves. They tend to place their trust in what they can see. Some trust in massive fortresses; some trust in weaponry. Nations trust in their military might; cities have their peace officers. The show of power through articles of warfare can provide a temporary sense of security until someone shows up to the fight with a bigger gun.

In today’s key verse, David writes that it is the Lord who is the true Deliverer. It is He who saves. Who better to have as your protector than the One who created the universe, controls every element of nature, and is all-powerful? But consider this, as omnipotent as God is, Philippians 2:8 tell us an amazing thing that God did to save us. “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

When Jesus was led to the cross, He knew that He could summon all the angels of heaven to stop the execution that was before Him, and that those angels would wipe out all of His enemies in a heartbeat. After all, He was and is the Son of God! But Jesus didn’t call for the mighty armies of heaven to intervene on His behalf. Instead, He chose to endure the tortuous suffering and unbearable agony of a rugged cross to do what only God could do… save humanity from their sin by shedding His sinless blood. Jesus is the Deliverer, the Saviour of the world. It is through His name alone that we can find true security, protection, and peace for our lives… for our souls.

David ends this psalm thusly, “Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.” Whenever one of God’s own calls His name, He will respond; He will save. He always has; He always will. “The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” – Psalm 121:7-8.

Jehoshaphat stated this truth in 2 Chronicles 20:6, “And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?”

Don’t look to your fellow man for safety; put your faith and trust in the One who never fails… God.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the promise in the Word that You will never leave me nor forsake me. You are my refuge and strength. You are my Protector. You saved me from my sins; You keep me in Your hand. I am Yours and You are mine! You, O Lord, are my Saviour. I love You! In Your sweet, holy name, I pray. Amen.

In heavenly armor We'll enter the land,
The battle belongs to the Lord!
No weapon that's fashioned against us will stand,
The battle belongs to the Lord!

We sing glory, honor, Power and strength to the Lord!
We sing glory, honor, Power and strength to the Lord!

When your enemy presses in hard do not fear
The battle belongs to the Lord!
Take courage my friend, your deliverance is near
The battle belongs to the Lord!

We sing glory, honor, Power and strength to the Lord!
We sing glory, honor, Power and strength to the Lord!

(from “The Battle Belongs to the Lord” by Phil Wickham)

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“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” – Isaiah 54:10

Scripture: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” – (19:1)

Observation: In this psalm, David writes about the glory of God and His Word. He also asks God to guard his thoughts and the words he speaks.

Application: Everything that God created praises His name! Psalm 148 details the parts of God’s creation that praise Him. When Jesus was told to quiet the crowds that were praising Him, His response was “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” (Luke 19:40).

In spite of all the praise coming from these things that God made, He still wanted something even more special. He wanted a personal relationship with His creation, so He made man. Imagine that! God doesn’t just sit on a big throne listening to all creation sing praises to His name, He wants to interact with each one of us!

In the first part of Genesis 3:8, we read that God came to the garden to commune with Adam and Eve. “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day:” Unfortunately, their sin severed the relationship that God had with them and that separation was passed on to all of humanity. But God was not thwarted; He had a plan. You see, more than the heavens, more than the stars, more than any other part of His creation, God loves US with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). Because of that love, He sacrificed His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay for sin… past, present, and future! Through our acceptance of the work Jesus finished on the cross for us, our relationship with the Lord can be restored!

Romans 10:13 states, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” That means when we ask Jesus to forgive us and become our Lord and Saviour, our personal relationship with God begins!! And it will last forever because in John 10:29, referring to His followers, Jesus said, “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” That, my friend, is truly blessed assurance!

Prayer: Dearest heavenly Father, thank You for saving my soul! Thank You for the sweet communion we have through Your Word, prayer, and the Holy Spirit. What a blessing to be a new creation in Jesus! In His precious name and with great thanksgiving, I pray. Amen.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.

(from “Blessed Assurance” by Fanny Crosby)

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“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

Scripture: “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” – (18:2)

Observation: David was known as a warrior king. He fought and won battle after battle because the Lord was on his side. David trusted God and acknowledged Him as the One who delivers.

Application: In Australia, Ayers Rock is a massive sandstone monolith and is the largest single rock in the world. In the United States, El Capitan, in Yosemite National Park, is the largest monolith. This granite rock stands more than 3,000 ft. high. California also is home to Giant Rock, which covers almost 6000 square feet of ground and stands approximately seven stories high! These are three impressive rocks, and it cannot be argued that it would be impossible for anyone to move them! No wonder David often refers to God as his ROCK.

David mentions three times in this psalm alone that God is his rock. Like those huge rocks, God is immovable. He never changes; His Word never changes. He is steadfast, dependable, eternally the same. What God says He will do, He does. What God says will happen, does come to pass. Truly, our God is a rock!

However, there is one thing that will definitely move God, and that is our prayers. When we pray, our words touch the heart of God and He responds. Here are four biblical examples of those whose prayers moved the Lord to act.

• Hannah prayed for a child after being barren for years.
  • “Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.”- 1 Samuel 1:20
• King Hezekiah prayed for healing after being told he would die.
  • “Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.”  – Isaiah 38:5
• Jabez prayed for God to be with him and keep him from evil.
  • “And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.” – 1 Chronicles 4:10
• The early church prayed for Peter when he was imprisoned.
  • “And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.” – Acts 12:7

Never doubt that God does not hear the prayers of His children. He desires our prayers greatly, and even tells us in I Thessalonians 5:17 that we should “Pray without ceasing.” Our God is a ROCK, but praise His name that He can be moved with simply a heartfelt prayer!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You truly are the ROCK of my salvation, and I praise Your holy name! You alone are worthy of glory, honor, and worship! Thank You for wanting a personal relationship with me, and providing that through Your precious Son, Jesus. It is such a comfort to know I can come boldly to Your throne and share anything and everything that is on my heart, and You listen. What a blessing to be Your child! I love You! In Jesus’ precious and most holy name, I pray. Amen.

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge-- take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

(from “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” by Joseph Medlicott Scriven)

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“The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.” – Psalm 18:46