The Psalms have brought tremendous comfort and guidance to so many for so long. Join me in taking a fresh look at each Psalm. As you read through them, I urge you to reflect, pray, and apply these devotional bits of encouragement to your own life. Today, we study and reflect on Psalms 112, 113, and 114.
Reflection 1
How would you define a successful life? Would you define it as “serving God faithfully for a long time?” Let me encourage you today that, while the world posits many definitions for success, God is looking for our faithfulness. Don’t give up. Don’t become weary in well-doing. Persevere. Persist. Endure. Keep serving, loving, worshipping, giving, caring, and honoring God. When life gets complicated and full of conflict, look to Christ and follow closely. He will encourage your spirit and strengthen your heart. Keep yourself encouraged by following faithfully. Pray with me, “Lord, today I pray for me and everyone reading, find us faithful during good times and bad. Amen.”
“Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.” — Psalms 112:1, 5
Reflection 2
The word that jumps out to me here will surprise you perhaps. It is the word servants. There is no greater privilege in the universe than to be a servant of the King of the Universe. If you are a child of God, if you’ve received His gift of salvation through Christ Jesus, you are His servant. We live to do His bidding on earth. We are His representatives and ambassadors. We are His hands offering others care. We are His feet, going to the poor and needy. We are His mouth, offering hope and encouragement to all. We are His heart, free from hubris and personal ambition and full of the fruit of His Spirit. We hope to hear one day, “Well done good and faithful servant.” Many of you know I like acrostics as a memory device or teaching tool. Here’s another one that I use to filter my life through.What is a servant?
S—Selfless
E—Encourager
R—Respects everyone
V—Values. Lives out God’s values.
A—Attitude. Has one like Jesus.
N—Needs. Focuses on helping others.
T—Teachable. Learns, grows, matures, and becomes more like Jesus.
Write out your version and filter your life through it as you seek to serve God and others!
“Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?” — Psalms 113:1-6
Reflection 3
Israel was God’s representation then. We are His representation to the world now. Have you thought recently about how God wants you to represent Him? Christ dwells in us as Christ-followers. He wants to shine through us. What picture of Jesus are others seeing in you? Sometimes the love of Jesus shines through us beautifully. Sometimes we stunt, mute, or distort His message by our carnal indulgences. What picture of Jesus do others see when they see you? Is it the picture our loving Savior wants a lost and hopeless world to see? Join me in this prayer today—“Lord, may the fruit of your Spirit be seen in my life by how I live, talk, believe, and behave. May I glorify you today and every day in everything.”
“Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion.” — Psalms 114:2