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 118, 119, and 120.
Reflection 1
When hard-pressed, take refuge in the Lord. He is your strength and defense. His love endures forever. That’s worth repeating over and over. We are all hard-pressed from time to time. In fact, you could say that life is one series of challenges after another. Hard decisions. Surprising setbacks. Financial hurdles. Physical problems. Family pain. What do you do when hard-pressed? Take refuge in the Lord. He will be your strength and defense. His love for you is absolute and will endure forever. Be encouraged today and have faith in God! He is with you always!
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” — Psalms 118:1, 5-9, 14, 29
Reflection 2
Is it any surprise that the longest chapter in the Bible speaks to us over and over about the importance of God’s Word? Not really. The importance of scripture’s impact on our lives cannot be overemphasized. There is one thing we must always ask: am I eager to obey or eager to get my way? The phrase “turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain” is crucial to consider. Many people take their biases and desires and impose them onto Scripture. In other words, they pick and choose what to believe or emphasize so they can do believe and do whatever they want. God wants Scripture to impact our lives in such a way that God’s Word and God’s Way determine our steps and beliefs. So the question is, do I go to Scripture with the desire to learn and do what it says and find God’s Will? Do I impose my will onto Scripture and do what I want? Here’s a great daily prayer—“Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end.”
“Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.” — Psalms 119:33-36
Reflection 3
There is a reason the Bible tells us not to lie. Untruth, dishonesty, lying—in its various forms—destroys relationships with and confidence in others. Truth-telling and honesty build relationships and confidence. It is really a question of integrity and character. Living a virtuous life means we eliminate deception, manipulation, and guile from our lives. Leaders must be truthful. The most important aspect of leadership is self-leadership. We all must seek truthfulness. If we do, we will build our marriages, families, relationships, and more. Truthfulness builds trust.
“I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me. Save me, Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues. What will he do to you, and what more besides, you deceitful tongue? He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom bush.” — Psalms 120:1-4