Psalms – Prayers of Honesty and Praise
We get confident in doing life until something happens that is out of our control. It is those times that remind us that we were never in control. We should, like Jesus said about the Father, only do what the Father does and say what the Father tells to say. We are not as perfect as Jesus so we tend to go our own way for awhile until we realize once more that it is all about God.
Our Psalm is the perfect reminder of all God is and what He does. He builds a place for Himself in our hearts, minds and souls if we let Him. If we don’t our “house” will fall. He guards us from the enemy whose desire is to keep us from God while destroying our faith, trust and hope in God. When we don’t let God be the guardian of our souls, the enemy comes in while we are napping. When we work to please only humans we grow weary. When we work to please our Father, He gives us strength, wisdom, insight, understanding AND rest! His work is for His glory. He knows when we need to rest and we must follow His prompting to do so. Our passage says he ENJOYS giving rest to those he loves! Wow.
He gives us children to birth, to teach, to adopt, to care for in every way. Children are God’s best gift to us. Yes, indeed. It’s our responsibility to give them what the Father gave us…unconditional love and care, always pointing them to God, our Father and Creator. How blessed we are to have Our Father in Heaven! We are his children. We are cared for and protected from the enemy. Yes, life is all about God…when we let Him have His way with us!
Psalm 127, The Message
A Pilgrim Song of Solomon
127 1-2 If GOD doesn’t build the house,
the builders only build shacks.
If GOD doesn’t guard the city,
the night watchman might as well nap.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late,
and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?
3-5 Don’t you see that children are GOD’s best gift?
the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows
are the children of a vigorous youth.
Oh, how blessed are you parents,
with your quivers full of children!
Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you;
you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed and holy is Your Name. May YOUR Kingdom come and reign in us and all around us today. May YOUR will be done in everything we think, say and do. Give us this day a revelation of Who you are and what you want us to be and do. Show us the way and we will follow. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who hurt or offend us. Lead us not into temptations to follow the enemy, but deliver us from all evil and evil’s schemes to bring us down. For you have all power. Life is all about You who gives Life abundant to all who believe in You. So to You be all glory, honor and praise! You are God and we are not!
In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.
And we’re singing….Great Are You Lord
You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore
Every heart that is broken
Great are You, Lord
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only…
1-3 It seemed like a dream, too good to be true,
FROM THE HEART
Think about a time that was challenging, maybe even horrible, for you as a believer. Say this out loud, “If God hadn’t been for us, we ________. Think about how God walked you through the high waters of worry, right through the enemy’s clutches, out of the trouble with a solution. Think about how He grew your faith in the process. Think about how His rescue was unforgettable. This is God’s story of power and majesty in us! NOW, praise God with all that is in you! SING it out loud like the Psalmist!
Our Father,
1-4 I look to you, heaven-dwelling God,
1-2 When they said, “Let’s go to the house of God,”
“Do all that you can to live in peace with 
A Pilgrim Song
All these thoughts are swirling in my mind as I read Psalm 120. I can feel the broken heart of the writer. He is calling on God to help him wade through the high waters of gossipers and liars. He is crying out to God to help him as he “camps among quarreling neighbors.” The writer is crying out for peace.
God is amazing, powerful, compassionate, and all knowing, I love it when God shows up and declares His sovereignty. To those who expectantly believe, God’s glory bursts into our daily lives causing nothing but pure praise back to Him, knowing we really had no control in the first place! There is nothing we can imagine or accomplish without God being the extreme Creator and Implementer of it all. Our dreams come from the Dream Maker who had a vision to create us! We are His and He is ours. Stop and thank God for who He is right now.
The adventures of each part of Psalm 119 has restored the joy of God’s salvation in me, cleansed and prepared my heart, given me more dreams to dream, courage to follow God wherever He leads, with knowledge of how to go about a life of obedience and trust in God for every step I take. God’s Holy Spirit is still teaching me. Like any good book that I finish, I will miss being a part of it. But unlike other books, I can visit this Book and get a new perspective each time I come back to learn and grow. AND there’s still the rest of Psalms to be tasted and devoured!
Let my cry come right into your presence, God;
Promises and praises.
Reveal yourself to us as we expectantly wait, work and watch for you daily. Guide our every thought and action. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who offend or hurt us. Lead us not into temptations, but deliver us from evil and evil’s schemes to hinder us from doing your will.
Faithful you are
Galatians 5, The Message
“I wait expectantly for your salvation; God, I do what you tell me.”
