August 14, 2023!

Day 226 of 365
God is saying to you today,
“When you encounter challenges,
view them as opportunities for
growth. Your faith is refined in the
fires of adversity, and your
character is strengthened
through perseverance. Trust that I
am using every circumstance to
mold you into the person I
created you to be.”

God is saying to you today,
“Do not let fear hold you back.
I have not given you a spirit of
fear, but of power, love, and a
sound mind. Step out in faith,
knowing that I am by your side.
Even in the face of uncertainty,
cling to the truth that I am with
you, and I will never forsake you.”

Today, I simply wanna share with you a song that has really touched me.
At times when I’m overwhelmed and I wanna pray, but I can’t find the words to speak.
I simply read this song, and I offer it as a prayer to the And as I read it, I want you to keep something in mind.
David mentions enemies. However, when I apply this song to my life, the enemies I’m talking about are not physical enemies, but rather I sometimes have to face an enemy called discouragement.
Sometimes it’s called anxiety or worry. These are all enemies.
So for the next few moments, As I read this precious Psalm from the Word of God, I encourage you to open up your heart to the lord.
And cast all your burdens on him. Psalm twenty seven verses one through fourteen.
The lord is my light and my salvation. So why should I be afraid?
The lord is my fortress. Protecting me from danger. So why should I tremble?
When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
The almighty army surrounds me. My heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.
The one thing I ask of the lord The thing I seek most is to live in the house of the lord all the days of my life, delighting in the lord’s perfection, and meditating in his temple.
For he will conceal me there when troubles come. He will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary.
I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the lord with music.
Hear me as I pray o lord. Be merciful and answer me.
My heart has heard you say. Come and talk with me. And my heart responds.
Lord, I am coming. Do not turn your back on me.
Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me alone now.
Don’t abandon me. Oh god of my salvation.
Even if my father and mother abandoned me, the lord will hold me close.
Teach me how to live o lord. Lead me along the right path.
For my enemies are waiting for me. Do not let me fall into their hands.
For they accuse me of things I’ve never done. Whatever breath they threaten me with violence.
Yet, I am confident. I will see the lord’s goodness.
While I am here, in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the lord.
Be brave and courageous. Yes. Wait patiently. For the lord. Now, let us pray.
My lord, my savior. Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the one and only son of the living god.
King Jesus, you are my light and my salvation. And because of that, whom shall I fear?
What shall I be afraid of? When Jesus Christ our lord is our refuge and the fortress of our lives.
Whom shall we dread? If god is for us, who can be against us?
No one because we serve an almighty, all powerful, all conquering God.
Even if the wicked come up against us, we will not fear.
Even if an army encamps against us, Our hearts will not fear because Jesus Christ holds all power.
Lord, you’re the one who has the final say.
Father, my prayer is what your word says in Psalm twenty seven verse four.
One thing I have asked of the lord, and that I will seek.
That I may dwell in the house of the lord in his presence, all the days of my life.
To gaze upon the beauty, the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur of the lord, and to meditate in his temple.
Lord, I trust you because in the day of trouble, you will be my shelter.
You will always be my hiding place. You will lift me up on a rock.
Because of this, I will sing praises to your name, oh lord.
Your word in Psalm ninety five verses one through seven.
It says, come let us sing for joy to the lord.
Let us shout aloud to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extoll him with music and song.
For the lord is the great god, the great king above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth. And a mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his for he mated, and his hands formed the dry land. Come.
Let us bow down in worship. Let us kneel before the lord our maker. For he is our god.
And we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
Lord Jesus, we thank you for bringing us out of the darkness.
And we thank you for shining your light on our hearts.
We can now declare that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.
We were once lost, but you have now called us to be yours.
May your light shine within our lives, lord? Let your light be seen in our character.
Let your light be seen in our words and in our actions. Father each and every day.
May it be all about you? May we live to exalt you?
May we live to praise you and worship you? Because you are an awesome god.
You are the almighty god. Lord Jesus be praised.
Let your light shine and be seen in how I walk in this life and how I conduct myself.
Thank you for your word, dear God. For it says in Micah, chapter seven verse eight.
Do not rejoice over me my enemy. When I fall, I will arise.
When I sit in darkness, the lord will be a light to me.
I pray that in all I do. May I reflect your love?
May I reflect your mercy to those around me.
Thank you, lord, for inviting me to be a part of your plan. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen. For a moment,
I wanna courage you to meditate on Psalm twenty seven today.
In its entirety, Psalm twenty seven encapsulates David’s deep trust in god’s protection, guidance, and presence.
And I believe that this is a passage that invites us to place our confidence in golf.
Even in the face of challenges, and to seek him with all our heart.
Just as David found comfort and courage in his relationship with God, we too can draw strength from our faith in the mists of life’s trials.
And so Psalm chapter twenty seven. Verse one. The lord is my light and my salvation.
Whom shall I fear? The lord is the stronghold of my life.
Of whom shall I be afraid. David begins by proclaiming his unwavering trust in god.
He uses powerful metaphors, light and salvation to convey that god illuminates his path and rescues him from danger.
David’s confidence in god’s protection leads him to ask a rhetorical question.
If god is on his side. There is no one to fear.
This verse sets the tone for an entire song emphasizing the strength of his faith in god’s guidance and refuge.
Verse two. When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.
Here, David acknowledges the existence of enemies and challenges that may come up against him.
However, He firmly believes that god will cause his enemies to stumble and fail in their attempt to harm him.
This verse reflects David’s assurance that god’s power is greater than any threat he faces.
Verse three, Though an army besieged me, my heart will not fear.
The war break out against me, even then, I will be confident.
David’s confidence in god’s protection continues to shine through.
He uses strong imagery of an army besieging him and war breaking out, emphasizing the severity of the challenges he may encounter, yet He remains unshaken in his faith declaring that his heart will not fear.
And he will maintain his confidence in god’s deliverance. Verse four.
One thing I ask from the lord This only do I seek that I may dwell in the house of the lord all the days of my life.
To gaze on the beauty of the lord and to seek him in his temple.
David expresses his deepest desire. To be in the presence of god.
He longs to dwell in god’s house not just for a moment, but for all the days of his life.
This reflects David’s thirst for intimacy with God and his eagerness to experience the beauty and wonder of god’s presence.
Verse five. For in the day of trouble, he will keep me safe in his dwelling.
He will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
David reaffirms his trust in god’s protection and refuge, he believes that in times of trouble, God will provide safety and shelter.
The image of being set high upon a rock symbolizes being placed above danger and adversity.
Verse six. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me.
At his sacred tent, I will sacrifice with shouts of joy.
I will sing and make music to the lord.
David envisions a future where he will triumph over his enemies.
He anticipates offering sacrifices and praises to god with shouts of joy, celebrating god’s faithfulness, and deliverance.
Verse seven. Hear my voice when I call lord. Be merciful to me.
And answer me. In this verse, David shifts to a heartfelt plea.
He calls upon god to hear his prayers and to spawn with mercy and grace.
David recognizes his dependence on god’s compassion and desires an intimate connection with him. Verse eight.
My heart says of you, seek his face. Your face, lord. I will seek.
David’s heart prompts him to seek god’s fakes.
He responds to the call of his heart expressing his determination to seek god’s presence with zeal and devotion.
Verse nine. Do not hide your face from me Do not turn your servant away in anger.
You have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, god. My savior.
David acknowledges his reliance on god’s help and pleads for god’s continued presence.
He asked god not to turn away from him, recalling the history of god’s guidance and salvation in his life.
Verse ten. Though my father and mother forsake me, the lord will receive me.
David acknowledges that even if his earthly relationships falter, he is confident that god will never abandon him.
This verse reflects David’s deep conviction in god’s unwavering love and acceptance. Verse eleven.
Teach me your way, lord. Lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
David desires to know god’s ways and seeks his guidance.
He asks for direction and wisdom to navigate his challenges, knowing that god’s guidance will lead him on the right path.
Verse twelve. Do not turn me over to the desires of my foes.
For false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.
David recognizes the threats posed by his enemies and false witnesses who spread lies against him.
He pleads with god to detect him from their schemes. Verse thirteen.
I remain confident of this.
I will see the goodness of the lord and the land of the living.
Despite the challenge, David holds on to his confidence in god’s goodness.
He anticipates witnessing god’s blessing and provisions in his current life, not just in the distant future.
Verse fourteen. Wait for the lord. Be strong.
And take honked and wait for the lord. David concludes the song with a message of encouragement.
He encourages him self and others to wait patiently for the lord’s guidance, strength, and deliverance.
In times of uncertainty, he advises taking heart and finding strength in the lord’s promises.