Walking Through the Psalms“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” – Psalm 62:5 (NIV)“Resting in Chaos” A few years ago, a bird built a nest inside the light fixture right outside our front door. The only way I noticed it was that one of the tiny eggs had fallen out onto our front step. At first, I thought it was a silly place for a bird to set up a home. It’s right outside the do...

Walking Through the Psalms“With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.” – Psalm 62:4 (NIV)“Living Inside-Out” “Sin starts in the heart.” I want you to say that out loud. Then I want you to say it again. The reason this is so important is because we tend to think of sin as something we “do.” If we kill somebody, that’s sin. If we cheat on our spouse, that’s sin. If we rob someone,...

Walking Through the Psalms“Then I will sing praises to your name forever as I fulfill my vows each day.” – Psalm 61:8 (NLT)“From Rules to Relationship!” As I look back on my journey of faith, I often shake my head at how legalistic our churches were when I was growing up. I was told that going to movies, playing cards, dancing, and listening to rock music were all things Satan used to grease the s...

Walking Through the Psalms“From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” – Psalm 61:2 (NIV)“Higher Ground” Isn’t it crazy how much rain we’ve been getting here in Oklahoma? For the past few weeks, the forecast has been like the movie “Groundhog Day.” Storms. Tornadoes. Rain. The same thing day after day after day. Lakes and ri...

Walking Through the Psalms“But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.” – Psalm 59:16 (NIV)“Lord, I Need Your Strength!” “Lord, I need your strength!” Is that your prayer today? It’s mine. Today is another one of those days when I’m made aware of just how much I need the strength of God. It’s not that I don’t ne...

Walking Through the Psalms“In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me.” – Psalm 58:10 (NLT)“God Will Stand with You” God will stand with you. He will stand with you no matter what you’re facing today. He will stand with you in your relationships. He will stand with you as you have that hard conversation with your spouse. He will stand with you as you draw those hard boundaries with an interf...

Walking Through the Psalms“Then at last everyone will say, ‘There truly is a reward for those who live for God; surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.’” – Psalm 59:11 (NLT)“Payday Isn’t Always on Friday” Payday isn’t always on Friday. I think we forget that sometimes. David is crying out to God in this Psalm to avenge the injustices he’s faced. He wants his foes to taste the wrath ...

Walking Through the Psalms“Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth.” – Psalm 57:11 (NLT)“Go Be God’s Glory!” In the Old Testament, whenever the Presence of God came down to visit His people, it was described as His “glory.” It was a mysterious, powerful radiance of God. Once, when Moses came down from visiting with God, he actually glowed with that rad...

“Walking Through the Psalms”“For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.” – Psalm 57:10 (NLT)“A Grandparent’s Love” We love our grandkids. A LOT. Though they know that on some level, they really don’t understand how much. At their young age, they don’t understand that we’ve spent hundreds of dollars just to spend a few days with them when they lived ...

Walking Through the Psalms“My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises!” – Psalm 57:7 (NLT)“Sing with Confidence!” When I read this verse, I thought of one of my favorite stories from the book of Acts. In Acts 16, you find the Apostle Paul and his friend Silas enjoying some late-night worship. They’re praising God and singing some of their favorite...

Walking Through the Psalms“He will send help from heaven to rescue me…My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.” – Psalm 57:3 (NLT)“When God Shows Off” I attended college in Houston, Texas. Since I lived in Springfield, Ohio, it was a long trek back and forth to go home. Of course, this is decades before GPS or cellphones. One time, when I was driving back to school after a Chris...

Walking Through the Psalms“I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.” – Psalm 57:2 (NLT)“God Is Bigger!” Have you ever doubted yourself? I sure have. And what’s funny is how quickly those feelings of doubt can come! You could have several straight victories, but then, after a crushing defeat, it can feel like all those victories mean nothing, and you’re shaken to the ...

Walking Through the Psalms“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by.” – Psalm 57:1 (NLT)“Come Out of That Cave!” The notes at the beginning of this Psalm say that David wrote it reflecting on the time when he was hiding in a cave. That description struck me. I’ve had my own “caves” I’ve hidden in befo...

Walking Through the Psalms“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” – Psalm 56:8 (NLT)“God’s Diary” My wife is all about memories. Pictures and souvenirs are everywhere in our home. We have knick-knacks, coins, and ornaments from every place we’ve been. But this is not a recent habit or even a hobby she developed as...

Walking Through the Psalms“But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” – Psalm 56:3-4 (NLT)“Stop Trembling and Start Trusting” Several years ago I interviewed at a church for a Senior Pastor position. In the interview they asked me if I was easily intimidated. I laughed and said...

Walking Through the Psalms“Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you.” – Psalm 55:22 (NLT)“Let Go and Let God” “Let go and let God.” Have you ever heard that statement? It’s one of the great statements you learn in the recovery process. And it encompasses a LOT. It means we have to let go of the lies we’re telling ourselves and let God lead us into truth. It means letting go of o...

Walking Through the Psalms“As for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises. His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!” – Psalm 55:20-21 (NLT)“The War Within” In our passage today, David circles back to talk about the friend who betrayed him. He points out how his friend looks and talks one way on...

Walking Through the Psalms“But I will call on God, and the LORD will rescue me.” – Psalm 55:16 (NLT)“Blessed Assurance” Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all t...

Walking Through the Psalms“It is not an enemy who taunts me—I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.” – Psalm 55:12-14 (NLT)“When Church People Hurt You” Not long ago, someone told me about getting hurt at...

Walking Through the Psalms“Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness.” – Psalm 55:6-7 (NLT)“When You Need to Get Away” Do you ever feel like this? I’ll bet there are a WHOLE BUNCH of teachers who feel this way right now! By the end of summer, there will be a whole bunch of parents who will be right there with them!! Let’s ...