God Lifts Us Out of the Pits

 Scripture:

“He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭40‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The Psalmist declares here that it was the Lord who lifted him out of the pit of despair. He realized it was God and not himself. He understood that it was God Almighty that put his feet on solid ground and steadied him as he walked along life’s path. This sets a great example for us on how to come out of bad places and trying times. 

Application:

Our place is to realize, like the Psalmist, that it is God who lifts us up when we are down. It is God who puts our feet on solid ground and it is God who steadies our steps as we walk. Our trust must be in God to get us out of every trouble life brings us. Rather than staying in despair, we must turn to God completely and let Him lift us out of that pit as well. We cannot pull ourselves out of certain situations, we must trust God and rely on Him. He is able!

Prayer:

Father, last night I lost my mother. Don’t let me live in a put of despair, but help me to walk through this time with strength that only comes from You. You are my source and my everything. Speak to me this morning and steady my steps. Let me take only the steps You want me to take and walk on the path You have set for me. I am Yours forever.

Your Son,

Jeff

Heart’s Desires

 Scripture:

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This simple verse is quoted throughout a believers years. It is a verse that many stand on to get what they want from the Lord. What I observe about this verse is that when I have truly delighted myself in the Lord and He is the center of everything in my life, my heart’s desires are not selfish and usually don’t have much to do with what I want, but with what He wants. My desires change as I pursue God and His purpose and plans for me life.

Application:

Periodically we need to ask ourselves, “Am I pursuing what I want or what God wants for me? Am I delighting myself in the Lord and His plans or am I pursuing my own plans?” We need to ask God what He wants us to do and allow Him to transform our desires, then we will get to the heart of His will. Make God the center of everything in your life and He will then give you what you desire.

Prayer:

Father, You are great and glorious. I come to You this morning and give You my heart, my mind, my soul, and my strength. I want Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done in my life. As I make You the center of my life and I answer “yes” to Your heart and desires, bless my life and everything I touch. Demonstrate Your goodness in and through my life. I am Yours. I’m all in. I delight myself in You.

Your Son,

Jeff

Close to the Brokenhearted

 Scripture:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The Psalmist in this passage tells us that the Lord is close to those who are brokenhearted, but also that He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. God is always close to us, but He may allow us to feel His presence more when we are brokenhearted. He also doesn’t like to see His children crushed. He doesn’t always stop us from having our spirits crushed, but he does rescue us in those times.

Application:

As my mom lies between life and death today, my heart is broken. My mother is such a special woman of God. My heart is broken today, but I have felt the closeness of the Lord over the last couple of days. He has never left me nor forsaken me. My heart feels crushed at times, but the Lord is my rescuer. He is the source of my strength and the one who will bring me through. My brother asked me if I was going to be able to preach my mom’s funeral, which will be hard, but I know God will be close and will give me the strength I need during this time.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for reminding me of just how close You are during my difficult season. I love my mom with all my heart. She has been an incredible example of a godly woman t me and everyone around her. Give me strength each day and teach me to lean on You more and more. My strength is in You. You are my rock and my redeemer. You are my everything.

Yours,

Jeff

Favor and Joy

 Scripture:

“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭30‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The Psalmist declares here that God’s anger only lasts a moment, but His favor lasts throughout our lives. God does get angry, but His anger never lasts long. His favor, though lasts throughout our lives. Favor makes things go right for you. He closes this verse with saying that weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning. In other words, there will be times when we weep, but those times also won’t last forever. Joy always comes again.

Application:

We will go through seasons of grief and sorrow, but we can be confident that joy will come again. We also need to know that God’s favor is not temporary in our lives, but something that He bestows upon us for a lifetime. In order to walk in something, you have to believe it. You can only walk in what you know in your heart, not your head. I want to walk in confidence concerning God’s favor in my life. He has put favor on my life, but I have seen it as a temporary blessing rather than seeing it as a permanent part of my life. I want my faith to increase to believe deep inside that God’s favor is on my life and never goes away.

Prayer:

Father, as I walk through a difficult time this morning and go see my mother, who may die today, let me be confident that weeping is okay, and may last for a season, but that joy will come again. Let me have a heart revelation that I walk in the favor of God every day of my life. Let me expect it based on Your word and not my feelings. Help me to walk by faith and not by sight. 

Yours Forever,

Jeff

He Renews My Strength

 Scripture:

“He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

The Psalmist declares that God renews his strength and guides him along right paths to bring honor to God’s name. When we are tired, God renews our strength. He is the source of our strength. He will lead us in the direction we are to go if we allow Him and seek Him. 

Application:

I often try to renew my strength personally. I try to sleep in and or to the gym to render my strength, but the Lord is really the source of my renewal. I need to rest and work out. These are good for the body, but when our spirit is renewed, we are flooded with strength in every way. Real strength comes from our spirit. As I align my spirit and follow God’s guidance on His paths, I will be renewed and strengthened.

Prayer:

Father, renew my strength. Sometimes I get tired and weary. Fill me with Your Spirit and guide my life. Show me how to walk with You each and every day so my life may bring You honor. Lead me along the paths that lead to You and Your strength. I need You to fill me with strength in this season of my life. All that I have is Yours. Let me find my strength.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

Victory and Unfailing Love

 Scripture:

“You give great victories to your king; you show unfailing love to your anointed, to David and all his descendants forever.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭18‬:‭50‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

David wrote this Psalm to the Lord. In this verse he declared that God gave him great victories and unfailing love to him and his descendants. What a powerful statement! He understood that it wasn’t his great leadership abilities or his great armies that won him victories, but the God that he served. He understood that it was God who brought him the victory every time. He also understood the love of God.

Application:

God has been so good to me. He has supplied for me over and over again in my life. He has blessed me and given me great victories that are too many to recall. He has done things in my life that are too wonderful for words. God is incredible and serving Him is fantastic. It is the greatest adventure there is. God has loved me with His unfailing love. My application is that I must continue to offer Him my life, my love, and my obedience.

Prayer:

Lord, You have been so good to me through the years. You are incredible and it is an honor to serve You. I surrender my life to You completely. Let Your good hand be upon my life. Help me to walk in victory over every foe and let me walk in Your unfailing love. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for giving me so many victories. You are worthy of my very best.

Yours Forever,

Jeff

My Shelter and My Refuge

 Scripture:

“The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭9‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Observation:

This simple verse says much to a person going through a difficult time. It tells me that God is a shelter for those who are put down my others and oppressed. When we feel pushed down, He is there for us. He is also a refuge in times of trouble. A refuge is a place of safety. God is my safe place when things are troubled around me.

Application:

If God is my shelter and my refuge, then I can trust that I am safe in His arms. God is my safe place when things are difficult around me. Therefore, I can run to Him in any and every situation. I need to trust and seek God more and rely on self less and less. I need to trust that He will protect me instead of wanting to defend myself. I must trust God more each day.

Prayer:

Lord God, You are great and glorious. You are awesome and amazing. You are my defender, my shelter, and my refuge. You are my hiding place and my safe place. Help me to run to You instead of trying to find refuge in my own ways. Help me to trust more in You and less in me. You are my shelter when things gets difficult. Hide me in Your arms.

Yours,

Jeff