Category Archives: Psalms

Praying the Psalms -Psalm 5-

Posted on by
3
 Shiloh Photography

 

Psalm 5

1 Give ear to my words, O LORD;
consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you do I pray.
3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

 

My King and my God,
when my heart cries and groans,
when it is not easy to see You in the valley;
when the devil comes to tempt me,
let me rest safely,
knowing that You are King.
You reign over all.
You are Sovereign;
You alone rule over every circumstance in my life.
My God and King,
I pray to you this morning,
I come to you and seek your face,
early in the morning,
hear my prayer, O King.

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not dwell with you.
5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;
the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

 

My King and my God,
You resist the sinner, the prideful;
evil can not dwell with you,
you hate sin, and those who speak lies.
My Lord, hear my prayer,
hear me asking You for forgiveness.
Grant me a repentant heart,
and do not take your Holy Spirit away from me.
My King, I confess my sins before your face,
and ask you to forgive me according to your many mercies.
Help me overcome my flesh,
and live openly before your face.

7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
in the fear of you.
8  Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me.

 

O God, your mercy reaches me,
and the abundance of your steadfast love
opens a way for me to come before you this morning.
Knowing that you forgive me,
makes me love you even more,
and fear You more.
Lord, my King, make Your way straight before me;
and lead me in your righteousness.
My King, that I may love your precepts,
your ways, your Word.

9 For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongue.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against you.

 

My God, in these days
in which many deceivers walk among the sheep,
I pray, keep me, keep my family, my children,
keep your people from their lies.
Help us to abide in Your Word.
Help us not to fix our eyes on men,
but on Jesus.
Let your light shine on us,
that we may see clearly.

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD;
you cover him with favor as with a shield.

 

O God, my King,
I take refuge in  You,
I find in You perfect joy,
even in the darkest hour,
I know that your right arm protects me,
that you are for me.
I pray for my sisters and brothers in Christ,
for those who are suffering,
who are crying,
and mourning;
I pray Lord that they will find strength in your joy.
Spread Your protection over them.
Father, that we may raise our voice today
to worship you.
O King, bless your people today,
remember us,
hear our cry,
cover us with your favor as with a shield.
In Jesus’ name, the author of our faith,
Becky

To see more posts in this series go to the Praying the Psalms page.

Praying the Psalms -Psalm 4-

Posted on by
Reply

 

Psalm 4

1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

 

God of my righteousness, God of all grace and mercy,
you have heard my prayers,
and it has pleased you to answer them.
Father, I can say as David said,
“You have given me relief when I was in distress”,
You Father, you alone, are the God of all comfort,
only in You is my soul relieved.
Father, once more I come to you in prayer,
through Jesus Christ, who is my righteousness;
and once more, I plead before the throne of Grace,
Hear my prayer, O LORD!
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

 

2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?
Selah

3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.

 

Father, today I intercede for those who love vain words,
for those who seek after lies,
for those who who dishonor the title that we must bear
with all dignity: “Christian”,
who live professing one faith,
but denying it with their deeds.
O Lord, God of my righteousness,
You alone are the Judge on the throne and not me,
You alone know the hearts of men, and not me.
You alone know whom you have set apart for you,
and LORD, you alone can answer the prayers of your own.
Father, I pray that I will be wise and quick to discern
good from evil,
lie from Truth,
vain words from those that bring life.
But at the same time,
I pray, asking you to deliver me from the temptation of spiritual pride;
remind me every day of the days,
when I too…
loved vain words and sought after lies,
when I was reading the wrong books,
and following false doctrine.
Remind me on how there is always hope in you,
do not let me forget that your Grace,
can reach and transform the hearts of men.

4 Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.
Selah

5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the LORD.

 

Father, forgive me,
forgive me because many times,
seeing those who are walking against you,
I have sinned against them by judging them.
Help me to be bold,
but never sin.
O God of my righteous,
tonight, as I go to bed,
in the quiet  and stilness,
bring all this to my heart,
that I may ponder,
be silent,
and trust in You for their salvation.

 

6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!”
7 You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.

8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

 

Lord of lords, show us today,
as we go and worship you in the company of all the saints,
the light of your face.
That as we hear the Scriptures preached,
we’ll see your light shining upon us.
Fill us with your joy,
fill us with that joy that comes as we see
how mighty is your arm to save the lost!
And when the night comes, LORD,
I pray I will lie down to sleep in peace,
for you alone make dwell in safety.
In Jesus name’
Amen

 

Becky

Praying the Psalms -Psalm 1-

Posted on by
1

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

 

O God, how great you are;
Your love for your own people surpasses all my understanding,
You have called us, Father, out of the darkness and into your light,
You have set our feet on the Way of Life,
and now you bless us for walking on it.
Lord, thank you because your children
do not walk anymore in the counsel of the wicked,
thank you that now they are standing on the Way of Life,
and not in the way of sinners.
Thank you, Father, because we sit no more in the seat of scoffers.
O Father, thank you, because you have transformed our hearts by your grace,
and now we find delight not in the world, but in your Law.
Thank you, because this is not something that we have done,
but you have worked it in us through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Now help us Lord, we pray,
help us not be distracted,
not to fall prey of the snares of the world,
the fears of our heart,
the sorrows of this life,
the prosperity,
and the blessings that come our way,

Help us to mediate with all diligence in your Word day and night.

3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Father, these are wonderful promises for your children,
nothing we desire besides you and yet it has pleased You to give us great promises,
you have promised us that we, those who have been saved by your infinite grace,
will be planted…
planted and not pulled out;
planted by streams of water,
planted in Jesus which is the Living Water.
Than you, because you have promised that we will not have a bare life,
but that we will produce fruit to glorify your name.
Thank you, because even though our physical strength and our health may fall,
in our spirit we will be renewed day after day, and our leaf will not wither.
Thank you that it has pleased you to prosper our way,
to prosper our daily walk with you.
Father, do not let us forget about the wicked who are like chaff,
give us a compassionate heart, so that we may go to them,
and speak to them the Word that can bring them to repentance.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

Lord, we intercede today for the wicked among us,
for those who hate your ways but love their sin,
Father, have mercy on them just as you had mercy on us.
My Heavenly Father, I worship you today,
I worship you because you have love me
and clothed me with righteous.
My God,  I can rest assure in this life,
until I see your face in Heaven,
because I have confidence that You, O LORD,
know my ways.
In Jesus’ precious and perfect name, I pray.
Amen.

Becky

Calvin on Psalm 103

Posted on by
Reply

 

Psalm 103 (ESV)
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
19 The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the LORD, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
22 Bless the LORD, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!

v. 2 “It is our own ingratitude which hinders us from praising God, not his lack of goodness towards us. Although He blesses us so that we may praise Him, our shameful listlessness buries in our hearts his innumerable benefits. The memory of them should cause us to praise.”

 

v. 3 “… reconciliation is the fountain from which all his benefits flow.(and though they do not taste it, his goodness also extends to the ungodly)”

 

v. 4- 5 “…when our physical bodies grow weak and decay, we are renewed to a better life. There is therefore no reason for us to be troubled by failing strength, for we continue to be sustained by the Spirit in our old age.”

 

v. 6 “[W]e are taught patience when we are unjustly assaulted, for God covers us with the shield of his justice.”

 

v.7- 8 “There is nothing better to build up our faith and excite our praise that this knowledge of his goodness, wisdom, righteousness and mercy. Nevertheless, there is no worse fault in us than that devilish arrogance which robs God of his glory.

v.9-10 “If it were not for God’s mercy, our sins would shut the door against God’s goodness… However, this pardon is is the special privilege of his children, for towards those who hate him he is an avenging God  (Deut 5:9 contrast Isa. 54:7)”

v. 11- 12 “(God’s mercy) only reaches us because our guilt is taken away and our sins are blotted out.David makes it clear he is speaking of God’s children -those who fear him- and not humanity in general.”

 

v. 13 “Righteousness is imputed to those who submit to his word.”

 v. 14- 16 “The more despicable  we are -we are but dist- the more inclined is God to be merciful to us.”

 

v. 17- 18 “By taking our children’s children into his care, he shows how precious to him is our salvation.
…Faith and prayer are the required responses to the covenant of grace.
…Many are quick to talk about God’s law’s, but their feet are slow and their hands are heavy when it comes to the reality of spiritual service”

 

v. 19- 22 “by recounting the divine benefits and magnifying the extent of his empire, David’s purpose was to stimulate himself and all the faithful to ever more fervent praise.”

Sisters, let us join the heavenly beings, the heavens, all of God’s creation and bless our Lord’s name who is worthy to be praised!

Alleluia!

Becky

Praying the Psalms -Psalm 40-

Posted on by
3

Psalm 40

My Help and My Deliverer

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

I waited patiently for the LORD;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the LORD.

Lord, teach me to wait patiently on you, to  wait and not sin; to wait in You knowing that You will not leave your children in the pit of despair, or sadness. Thank you because you are our Saviour, You alone can bring us out from the miry bog. You know it is impossible for us to walk out on our own from situations like this one; Lord you remember our nature, our weaknesses and always have mercy on us. Help me wait for you with a humble and submissive heart.


Lord, thank you because you not only draw us out from the pit, but you set our feet upon a mighty Rock; upon Jesus Christ, the everlasting Rock, the foundation of our faith,  the Cornerstone of our lives; and you will, I have hope on this, You will certainly put a new song in our mouths. O God, don’t permit us to remain silent; help us to praise your name, even now.


Father, that your name may be exalted today, that your name may be glorified as I put my trust in you today; I pray that many will see and fear your name, and be saved. Use me a  vessel to bring glory to You.

Blessed is the man who makes
the LORD his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!
You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.

Lord, what a wonderful promise this is, that you bless me when I put my trust in you. O Lord, I long for your blessing. Your blessing that comforts, that strengthens, that fills our souls. Father, open  my eyes to see your wondrous deeds and thoughts toward us and help us say as David said, “none can compare with you!”  Open our mouth not only to sing your praises, but to tell of your wonderful deeds; to proclaim your goodness and rest on you.

In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”

Only Jesus delights perfectly on your Law, only His obedience is perfect, we are so bound to this flesh that so many times find no delight in doing your will. Father, forgive us and work in us that we may be willing to obey with gladness. Father, help us see your glory in the cup You have set before us to drink. Let Jesus be our example and let us gladly walk on the Way He has set before us.

I have told the glad news of deliverance
in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O LORD.
I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.

 God of all mercies, You are faithful, You are my deliverer, my soul finds hope in your steadfast love and faithfulness. You alone, O God are worthy to be praised for ever and ever. I don’t want to restrain my lips from declaring how wonderful you are, how good you are, how merciful you are.

As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain
your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
ever preserve me!
For evils have encompassed me
beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
my heart fails me.

Thank you, Father, because you will not restrain your mercy from me, from your own. What a comfort it is to know that your steadfast love and faithfulness will indeed preserve us through this dark valley.  When my heart fails, yours doesn’t. You are the Great I Am; and your promises are yes, and amen; and those are my only hope.

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me!
O LORD, make haste to help me!
Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
Let those be appalled because of their shame
who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

Yes, Lord, yes. Be pleased to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me! I need you, yes, every hour, every minute, every second, I need you! Come help us! Let all the snares of the devil be futile against me; let me stand firm until I see your face. Don’t let me be ashamed, don’t let Satan hurt me; make haste to help me, O LORD! 

But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, “Great is the LORD!”
As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!

Father, my Father, I seek you. I seek you in the morning, at noon, and in the night. I lift my eyes to you, for only you can rescue me and restore in my heart the joy and peace that surpasses all understanding.  O God, that we may lift our hands and cry continually, “Great is the LORD!” 

Thank you, my God and my King that even though I am poor and needy, you don’t forget my name, you incline your ear and hear my prayer; thank you that you lift me up in your hand and think of me.


You alone, are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!

In Jesus’ precious name,


Amen

Becky