Psalm 46

10 “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

Most religions and philosophies are extremely culturally conditioned. They don’t “travel” well. Not so with Christianity. It reaches all kinds of places with all kinds of people. How fortunate that Jesus is adored in Benin and Boston. What a coincidence?

Pray for the influence of the good news of Jesus with people who have not experienced him before.

Psalm 45

7 You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.

God wants us to be like him. To love the things he loves. To hate the things he hates. God gives us the ability to have influence in our lives for the good of others. Justice or fairness is what he wants. The world asks, “Is it legal?” God demands, “Is it fair?”

We live in both of these worlds. make sure you error on the side of God. More joy.

Psalm 44

1 O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old:

If you have a dad or had a dad full of stories…”When I was a kid…”- I hope some of those stories are about how awesome it was to see God at work in his life. If you didn’t hear those stories and you are a dad- get busy.

Pray for double blessings on dads who share their faith stories with their children.

Psalm 43

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God…

The soul is everything about a person all wrapped up in one. When there is deep depression and anxiety within someone, there is much doubt and despair.

I can face this with or without hope. Well, deep, lasting despair and a loss of hope go together. Hope is what God brings. Rescue is just around the corner.

Pray for a friend experiencing depression and/or anxiety today.

Psalm 42
1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.

I don’t know how thirsty deer get, but if they are anything like our dogs, there is a lot of lapping going on. I know when I am parched I have a singular focus on water. Preferably cold, but it doesn’t really matter. Just quench me.

Pray to just once this week experience God in a like manner.

Psalm 41

1 Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him;

God is like any parent. God is sensitive to his children who have the greatest need. Not that he loves his poorer children more, but differently. He is not a doting Father; as he knows that character, strength, and confidence are built up by circumstances. But he is wise. God uses those he can trust with his influence to be helpful with those who are in need. If you have the ability to be of good influence for those in need, God has blessing for you.

Pray to discover those in need that you can connect with most personally this week.

God uses us as a blessing right where we are

Psalm 34
6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
he saved me from all my troubles.

I never could understand when people get skeptical of people who turn to God when they are in trouble. “No atheists in the foxhole,” and such. As if it is a bad thing to cry out for help when you are at your most vulnerable. Unless you are empty of what gets in the way of God how do you get full of God?

Desperate people can also be focused people. Keep looking to Jesus.

Psalm 33
9 For when he spoke, the world began!
It appeared at his command

Science and the Bible say that time is created at the same moment as existence. Therefore there is no logical concept of “before” creation. Without time, you don’t have “before.” That assumes time. God exists. Always.

Pray that the God who can bring life by speaking, speak to you.

Psalm 32
7 For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory.

What do I need to hide from? Nothing can harm me forever with God covering me with his grace.

God gives hiding for refreshment, not for withdrawal from the world. It is not a cruel, evil world from God’s perspective. It is a world with cruelty and evil in it that we influence for the good. In the end, we win.

List five good things that are happening in your life right now and think on them throughout the day.