S – For I am about to fall, and my pain is constantly with me. 18 So I confess my iniquity; I am anxious because of my sin.
Psalms 38:17–18 CSB
O – David is going through the pain and anxiety of sin which brings him to confession.
A – Sin feels good in the moment but the after affects are challenging. Anxiety, pain, suffering, worry, guilt and shame can impact inwardly and externally. Confession is when we tell God what we did and ask for forgiveness. Freedom comes when we are forgiven and move in a different direction from the sin.
R – Heavenly Father, you are our Savior. Thank you for Jesus dying on the cross as payment for our sin. In confessing our sin, you are “faithful and just” to forgive us. We can walk in freedom because of the price you paid. Help us to move in a different direction from our sin and live a life that brings glory to your name
We need to have faith in the Lord and obey his commands. We need to live each day confidently as children of God. We need to be pliable in our relationship with God and he will provide for us.
A – Bring pliable is an unusual quality. We should align with God’s Word with unwavering commitment. Yet, God want to mold and develop us in our hearts so we combine strength and compassion like Jesus did. Our adaptability allows God to use us with a variety of people and situations.
R – Heavenly Father, you are the Lion and the Lamb. Work with us today to walk in strength and compassion. We invite your Holy Spirit to lead us so we are pliable in your will. We want to emulate a heart that models yours.
A – Our words are powerful and reveal what is in our thoughts. We can “fake it” for a while but eventually, the truth will come out. As believers, we must deal with our heart and core beliefs daily. As that aligns with God’s word and character, our thoughts, words and actions also come into agreement with Him. Then, choosing against evil and moving toward what is good and righteous is easier.
R – Heavenly Father, you are Holy and just. We invite you to search our hearts God and show us where we need to surrender to you. We choose your character and goodness as our “plumb line” to align ourselves. We want to live and model your character and goodness today.
S – Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Psalms 32:5 CSB
O – Commentary:
The psalmist recounts a personal testimony to illustrate the power of confessing sin. During a situation when he was silent and unrepentant, he suffered and continually felt Yahweh’s punishment. Only after he acknowledged and confessed his sins to Yahweh did he enjoy Yahweh’s forgiveness.
John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ps 32:3–5.
A – When we confess our sins to God, we are recognizing our inability to please him with our actions but our ability to please him with our surrender. We are all going to sin. When we acknowledge him in that journey, we invite his forgiveness, compassion and love for us to be real in our lives. We get to walk away guilt free – no shame, no condemnation.
R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you. Thank you for forgiving us of our sins. We confess that our thoughts, words and actions do not honor you at times. We ask forgiveness and invite your compassion and love to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Thank you, God.
S – For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor, a lifetime. Weeping may stay overnight,
but there is joy in the morning.
Psalms 30:5 CSB
O – God has emotions – he gets angry and he delights and gives favor. Life will have challenge and grief but it will also have proclamations of hope, rejoicing and gladness.
A – It makes God more “touchable” when we realize that He has emotions. He feels. If we are created in His image, why would this surprise us. We feel. It gives us another step of cohesion with our Creator. We need to understand and validate our feelings and emotions. We also need to create boundaries for them to express themselves in a healthy way.
R – Heavenly Father, you are the Creator. Thank you for creating us with feelings and emotions – they reflect you. Give us insight and wisdom on understanding and validating these wonderful gifts. Also, help us create a healthy expression of them that honors you, ourselves and others.
S – Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the Lord
Ps 27:14 CSB
O –
“Wait” – qâvâh, kaw-vaw’; a prim. root; to bind together (perh. by twisting), i.e. collect; (fig.) to expect:— gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait
“Strong” – châzaq, khaw-zak’; a prim. root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (fig. courageous, caus. strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate
A – We all have expectations of God. When we wait, our expectations are a combination of all that we believe about God, his character and abilities. The psalmist is tell us to be “obstinate” in this. I love the tenacity in which he tells us to possess. The challenges we face are tough and we need to be tougher in our belief and faith in God.
R – Heavenly Father, you are limitless and hold all things. Empower us today with a genuine tenacity in our faith and belief in you. You have a will and purpose for us that is for our best – help us to hold fast during challenges we face. We choose you today.
S – Test me, Lord, and try me; examine my heart and mind. 3 For your faithful love guides me,
and I live by your truth
Psalms 26:2–3 CSB
O – David asks God to do three things:
Test – Investigate him, examine
Try – Discern, prove
Examine – fuse, refine
He is confident in his heart and mind and surrendered to God’s love and truth to guide (stand boldly) him.
A – We can walk with the same confidence in our relationship with God. When we are consistently faithful to the relationship with him, our thoughts and actions align with his will. By inviting God to examine us, we continue to grow and obtain more of his character. We will live boldly and model God’s love to others.
R – Heavenly Father, you are the Supreme God and there is no other. Empower us today by your Holy Spirit to surrender all of ourselves to you. We want you to test, try and examine us. Whatever doesn’t align with you, we surrender it to you. We want to live by your truth with a pure heart today.
S – Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; I wait for you all day long.
Psalms 25:4–5 CSB
O – Commentary:
The psalmist uses several Hebrew words here for learning or instruction as he asks Yahweh to teach (lamad), lead (darakh), and make known (yada’) His true paths. The psalmist trusts in Yahweh because He guides and protects him (Ps 23:1–3
John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ps 25:4–5.
A – When we invite the Holy Spirit into our day, we are inviting God to interact with us as He sees fit. We want him to make known, teach and guide us. He will not only make known his character and integrity, he will also help us understand his timing and heart.
R – Heavenly Father, you are God. We invite your Holy Spirit to make known, teach and guide us today so we will know you more intimately. We want your character, integrity and heart to be evident in us. We trust and put our faith in you.
S – Lift up your heads, you gates! Rise up, ancient doors! Then the King of glory will come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle
Psalms 24:7–8 CSB
O – Commentary:
The psalmist offered an exhortation (v. 7) and then an explanation (v. 8). If lift up your heads, O you gates refers to the city of Jerusalem then he was calling for the ancient gates to open wide for the triumphant entry. This was a poetic way of displaying the superiority of the one entering. They should lift up their heads because the King of glory is about to come in.
24:8–10. David then gave an explanation. By question and answer he stated that this King of glory is the Lord, who is mighty in battle. The Lord had shown Himself strong by giving them great victories; so He is the glorious King who will enter the city. One can visualize a procession of triumphant Israelites carrying the ark, the symbol of the Lord’s presence, going up to the sanctuary to praise Him. The ideas in the exhortation (v. 7) and the explanation (v. 8) were repeated in verses 9–10. The repetition stressed the point: The Lord is a glorious King who is coming in. Only pure worshipers can enjoy His presence.
Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 812–813.
A – There are many facets to describe God. Strong and Mighty King entering his city as a conqueror is quite vivid. That is who goes with us to face our daily challenges, questions and situations. We can engage with confidence knowing that the Holy Spirit accompanies in all things we encounter.
R – Heavenly Father, You are our Mighty King! Every knew will bow and surrender to the one, true God. Thank you for empowering us in your presence today. We choose to be confident in your presence and gifting to make an impact that demonstrates your love and character.
S – The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psalms 23:1–3 ESV
O – A: This is one of the most widely known scriptures in the Bible. Here are some observations and applications: – God cares for and takes care of us. His leading us fills our needs. Like a shepherd who nurtures his flocks, we can grow to our fullest potential under his nurturing leadership.
– He gives us rest and quiets the noise. Life is busy and chaotic at times. Our relationship with God gives us solace from the distractions and allows our minds to be at peace.
– He replenishes us spiritually. We are physically human but we have a spirit man as well. God’s spirit speaks to our spirit and renews it.
– He leads us in ways that will make us more like his character. We exist to have relationship with him and be part of his family.
R – Heavenly Father, you are a big and unlimited God. Thank you for loving and caring for us in all aspects of our lives. You lead, care for and replenish us. We surrender today to you and step closer to you in relationship.
Just Add Water . Chris Bonham 