Walking Through the Psalms“The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear.” – Psalm 118:6 (NLT)“God Is for You!” Look in the mirror and say this out loud: “God is FOR me.” Do you understand what that means? It means God is on your side! He WANTS you to succeed. He WANTS you to be happy. He WANTS you to live a full and fulfilling life. That’s important for me to say because I know that there are many w...

Walking Through the Psalms“In my distress I prayed to the LORD, and the LORD answered me and set me free.” – Psalm 118:5 (NLT)“If You Can Face It, God Can Fix It!” A few years ago, I was talking with a young man who had a very traumatic childhood growing up. He witnessed his mother being abused and experienced abuse himself in a variety of ways. He told me that while talking to a young woman about...

Walking Through the Psalms“For his unfailing love for us is powerful” – Psalm 117:2 (NLT)“The Hysterical Strength of God’s Love” Lauren Kornacki was looking for her father to borrow the car. She went outside where she thought he was, but didn’t hear him. She then went back inside and asked her mother where he was. “He’s outside working on the car,” her mother said. So Lauren went back outside agai...

Walking Through the Psalms“I will keep my promises to the LORD in the presence of all his people.” – Psalm 116:14 (NLT)“Promise Maker Or Promise Keeper?” Say this out loud: “I will keep my promises.” The psalmist is talking about keeping promises to God, and that’s a great place to start. We often make promises to give more, serve more, read His Word more, and share Christ with our friends more. A...

Walking Through the Psalms“What can I offer the LORD for all he has done for me?” – Psalm 116:12 (NLT)“It’s Not Enough” “It’s not enough.” This Sunday I will go to church. I will sing songs. I will pray prayers. I will tithe. I will preach a sermon and do my best to convince people that their lives will never be what they can be until they surrender to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. But even aft...

Walking Through the Psalms“I love the LORD because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.” – Psalm 116:1 (NLT)“A Judge Who Listens” Many years ago, I was sitting in a traffic court waiting for a friend. A name and case number were called, and a man walked up to the podium. “How do you plead?” the judge asked. “Not guilty, Your Honor,” the man replied. “Can I explain why?” he asked the judge. “...

Walking Through the Psalms“O Israel, trust the LORD! He is your helper and your shield.” – Psalm 115:9 (NLT)“The God Strugglers” The name “Israel” literally means, “He struggles with God.” What a fitting description for God’s people. It’s one I can certainly relate to. Can you? I struggle sometimes to understand what God is up to. I struggle sometimes trying to be comfortable on paths I believe Go...

Walking Through the Psalms“Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands.” – Psalm 115:4 (NLT)“Laying Down Our Idols” Idol worship was a common practice in the days of the psalmist. People would make ornate images out of wood, silver, or gold and decorate them with precious jewels. Then they would pray to them, create rituals to perform for them, and look to them in times...

Walking Through the Psalms“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness.” – Psalm 115:1 (NLT)“We Fight the Battle, But HE Wins the War!” There’s a great story in Exodus 17. Israel is at war against the Amalekites. The young, brave general Joshua is leading the army into battle. While Joshua is leading the fight in the valley, Moses goes...

Walking Through the Psalms“When the Israelites escaped from Egypt—when the family of Jacob left that foreign land—the land of Judah became God’s sanctuary, and Israel became his kingdom. The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away.” – Psalm 114:1-2 (NLT)“God Happens” I love how the psalmist describes God’s ability to get His people out of Egy...

Walking Through the Psalms“Who can be compared with the LORD our God, who is enthroned on high?” – Psalm 113:5 (NLT)“Jesus and AI” I saw a disturbing conversation this morning on the Today Show. They were discussing how AI is impacting faith and spirituality. Obviously, there has been much good that has been developed in the last several years in the way of Bible apps, apps for churches, and how t...

Walking Through the Psalms“Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom.” – Psalm 111:10 (NLT)“Wise Up!” One of our fatal flaws as human beings is believing we’re smarter than we really are. A great example of that was in a survey that San Diego State University did with its graduating seniors some years ago. They asked the question, “What do you believe is your greatest asset as you head out...

Walking Through the Psalms“He has paid a full ransom for his people. He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever. What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!” – Psalm 111:9 (NLT)“The Deal of a Lifetime!” There are unscrupulous car dealers that will let people buy cars that they know the customer can’t afford. Usually, they are customers who have bad credit and a track record of not being able to ...

Walking Through the Psalms“How amazing are the deeds of the LORD! All who delight in him should ponder them.” – Psalm 111:2 (NLT)“God Is AMAZING!” Amazing. That’s the perfect word. God is simply “amazing.” Some time ago I was having lunch with a friend of mine, and we got talking about all of the incredible ways that God has worked. I was reminiscing with him about a prayer that I prayed some year...

Walking Through the Psalms“The Lord stands at your right hand to protect you. He will strike down many kings when his anger erupts.” – Psalm 110:5 (NLT)“God Can Strike Down Many Kings!” David’s confidence, as he went into battle, was not in his skill as a warrior or the army that stood behind him. The enemies David faced were often more numerous and better supplied and armored. But David knew some...

Walking Through the Psalms“Let them see that this is your doing, that you yourself have done it, LORD.” – Psalm 109:27 (NLT)“That Has to Be God” What in your life can only be explained by saying, “God did it”? Where is the evidence of His life-changing power? Where is the evidence of His redeeming grace? Where would someone say is the undeniable mark of God upon you? Those are the questions that I...

Walking Through the Psalms“For I am poor and needy, and my heart is full of pain.” – Psalm 109:22 (NLT)“The God of Our Broken Hearts” When I read this part of David’s prayer in Psalm 109, my mind flashed back to Genesis. Adam and Eve sinned, and God’s beautiful world that He made began to quickly become dark and ugly. Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden. Cain killed Abel. And as mankind began...

Walking Through the Psalms“But deal well with me, O Sovereign LORD, for the sake of your own reputation! Rescue me because you are so faithful and good.” – Psalm 109:21 (NLT)“Because of Who HE Is!” David was handpicked by God to be the king of Israel. He became the “standard” by which all other kings were measured. He was a passionate, unashamed worshipper who danced for God like nobody was watchi...

Walking Through the Psalms“I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations even as I am praying for them! They repay evil for good, and hatred for my love.” – Psalm 109:4-5 (NLT)“It’s Not About You. It’s About Them.” Several years ago, a homeless guy stopped at our church to ask for help. We had helped him before to get some food, and on this particular day, he wanted to know if he could ...

Walking Through the Psalms“With God’s help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.” – Psalm 108:13 (NLT)“With God’s Help” I want to give you some FANTASTIC news: Whatever it is that you are facing this week, you can overcome it! It doesn’t matter what it is. Look at the statement that David makes here. “We will do mighty things.” And David should know! This is the guy who took...