Psalm Study Thread

That is amazing Tante Belle. We are doing them in order but I am not going to worry about it. Any addition to the thread is a blessing.

Psalm 29

A psalm of David.

1 Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

To ascribe is to attriute. I can ascribe many things. I can ascribe my bad morning to not drinking any coffee. I can ascribe my happiness to having my morning coffee. I can ascribe many things in my daily life but do I ascribe it God? Do ascribe my wonderful, listening students to the Lord? Do I ascribe my day at the beach relaxing to the Lord? Do I ascirbe my afternoon completing set tasks to the Lord? Do I ascribe my ability to share my life with others to the Lord? I do live a remarkable life. I live a life that I never thought I would have lived and I do ascribe it to the Lord. There is nothing I can do on my own.

3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD strikes
with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

Oh how amazing is it to hear the voice of the Lord. It is mightier than anything we could ever imagine and it controls all here in this world even the water. Many times we choose not to listen to the words of the Lord especially when they go against what we want to do. There has been many times I have felt the Lord calling my name and I have chosen to ignore it. However, if I had of waited to hear His voice, I would have found power and strength. I would have known Him and, ultimately myself as everything I am is in Him, better. I cannot change the past but I can change the future. I will open my heart and mind more so that I can hear Him frequently. I will call on Him name and listen when He replies.
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
11 The LORD gives strength to his people;
the LORD blesses his people with peace.

What a blessing peace is. There is something in knowing peace. It is that feeling you get when you want to do all that is ahead of you. It is the moment that you realise that you can do all things. It is the moment that you stand strong in who you are. It is the moment when you live your life outside of those around you. That you can see clearly though the drama in other people's lives and keep going on with your own. It is the moment when you realise you are living the life that God wants you to. You realise that God is pleased with you and cares for you. It doesn't matter if you are failing, hurting, or not where you want to be. The peace of the Lord covers all of that and much more. It is knoing Him and trusting that, in all things, He loves. you.

Psalm 30

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple.Of David.
1 I will exalt you, LORD,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 LORD my God, I called to you for help,
and you healed me.

The Lord healed me. There is not many times I have said that. I have called for help in the midst of my troubles but still I carry my scars. The Lord can heal us. He can take away the scars ang the pain. He can heal the past if we leat us. That is something that I am slowly learning.

3 You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
you spared me from going down to the pit.

4 Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Weeping is nothing we look forward to but it still happens. The choice we have is whether we hold onto it or not. There are things that have not worked out the way I planned this year. There are things that have made me cry and want to hide from the Lord and the rest of the world. But the wonderful thing about this life that the Lord has given us is that He blesses us. His favour is upon us in the most amazing way. The things that brought us once the most pain end up bringing us the most joy. There are moments we just have to trust the Lord that His favour is in it. When the heart ache passes, when the storm blows away, when the moment is reconciled and understanding is found, that is when we rejoice. For the Lord has been with us the whole way.

6 When I felt secure, I said,
“I will never be shaken.”
7 LORD, when you favored me,
you made my royal mountain stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.


When I had everything that I wanted, when I saw a way through everything, when there was an enfing to my fairy tale, I was at peace with the Lord. I was strong and faithful to the Lord and I knew His name as if it were my own. Then it all fell away and I was filled with sorrow. I thought that I had lost everything. I felt that I was no longer loved and there was no way through. I felt rejected and changed the path before me.

8 To you, LORD, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 “What is gained if I am silenced,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me;
LORD, be my help.” 11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

Then, when I had nothing, I cried out in my pain. I called for the mercy of the Lord to be filled in my life. I prayed that we would help me. Then, in His mect, He changed my life. He changed all there was of me. He filled me with the goodness, the joy, the happiness that is only found in Him.

12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
LORD my God, I will praise you forever.

Psalm 31

For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1 In you, LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.

Dear Lord,
You are my refuge. You are where I need to be right now. I walk with You and talk with You. Please help to walk with You so that I am never put to shame. May my walk be blameless so that no one can attack me. Lord, I know that I don't always get it right so please deliver me for in You righteousness and love when I fall short.
Lord, I need You to be fortress and my rescuer. I need You to surround me with Your love so that I do not fall into the trap that surrounds me. My enemy lays a plan to capture me and I know that it is only through Your guidance that I will come through this. Lord, I need You. Please listen to me tonight.

5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;
deliver me, LORD, my faithful God.

6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols;
as for me, I trust in the LORD.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
for you saw my affliction
and knew the anguish of my soul.
8 You have not given me into the hands of the enemy
but have set my feet in a spacious place. 9 Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am in distress;
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my soul and body with grief.

Dear Lord,
I commit my life into Your hands. I commit all that there is to me. All that I am is in You. Lord I trust You and the path that You have set before me. I trust in Your love and Your mecy. Their is nothing in this world that I want more than You.
Lord, You know the distress and the pain that I am going through in this moment. YOu know that I am not as strong as I once thought I was. I am not able to do all that I thought I could. I can no longer rescue myself. I need You Lord to uphold this body and this life. Lord, You have lifted me up and have saved me from my enemies. Lord, I thank you that Your love is enough.

10 My life is consumed by anguish
and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,
and my bones grow weak.
11 Because of all my enemies,
I am the utter contempt of my neighbors
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;
I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many whispering,
“Terror on every side!”
They conspire against me
and plot to take my life.


Dear Lord,
The years have gone by. I look at the path that I have come down and realise that this is not where I wanted to be. I am conflicted and afflicted in this place I now find myself in.
Lord, I feel forgotten and alone. The ones I once called friends have turned their back on me. They have left me alone to fight. The people who once uplifted me now have rejected me. They have forgotten me and have left me to cry in the pain and the emptiness. Close friends have turned into enemies. They plot against me in their hearts that I may not grow and change. They let their own desires control me.

14 But I trust in you, LORD;
I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hands;
deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
17 Let me not be put to shame, LORD,
for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
and be silent in the realm of the dead.

Lord, You are all I have left. You have never forgotten me. You have never turned away from me. I trust You that this too will come to pass. My life is in Your hands not in my enemise. Though they work to hurt me, they cannot for You are my fortress. You are my defender. I have asked You and You will answer me. You will hide the shame and heal the hurt. Shine Your face upon my life and may it overflow with You blessing.

18 Let their lying lips be silenced,
for with pride and contempt
they speak arrogantly against the righteous.

19 How abundant are the good things
that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,
on those who take refuge in you.
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from all human intrigues;
you keep them safe in your dwelling
from accusing tongues.

Thank you Lord that my treasure is not here on earth! Thank you that my treasure is in You. There is nothing that can cause it to rust or disappear. You will provide for me an abundance of goodness that is beyond measure.

21 Praise be to the LORD,
for he showed me the wonders of his love
when I was in a city under siege.
22 In my alarm I said,
“I am cut off from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help. 23 Love the LORD, all his faithful people!
The LORD preserves those who are true to him,
but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the LORD.

Dear Lord, I am thankful for all that You have given me out of Your love for me. You have have heard my cry for mercy and You will provide all of my needs. Lord, there are enemies throughout this world turning my head away from You but You have a path for my feet that always leads back to You. You have been faithful to me all these years. When others have deserted me. When they have rejected me You have held me closer. Lord, I will continue on this path. I will continue to lean on You and find my strength in You. I will continue braverly along this path for You are faithful to me and will be forever with me.
Lord, ruler of my life, no matter where I am You are always with me. For this I am thankful and I lift my hands up in praise. There is nothing more than I can offer You than the love You have freely given me.

Psalm 32

Of David. A maskil.

1 Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
whose sin the LORD does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.

Sometimes it is easier to hide from our sins than face them. It is easier to run from the truth than to acknowledge it and ask for forgiveness. It is easier... in the short term. But the long term side effect of sin is a heaviness in our daily life. We feel lethargic, as if we had nothing that we really want to do. We get so cught up in our sin we forget the Lord and His goodness. It is never easy tor repent but we need to do for our own sake. God will forgive our sins. We don't need to live with our sin. We have the choice to let it go to Jesus. It is a blessed moment when we feel released from our sins. We are blessed to be fogiven. Don't forget that the Lord's blessing includes forgiveness. All we need to do is admit that we need it.


6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

The Lord has loving eye on us. He sees where we are going and guides us on the right path. It may not seem like it some days but He is watching over us. He will be our hiding place, our strong hold, our place of refuge and strength. He can be all this and more in our lives as long as we are willing. All the pain and misery will never overcome us. Though the waters rise around us, we will never drown. We will be delivered.

9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the LORD’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Psalm 33

1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

How do we sing joyfully in the midst of trials and pain? How do we change our focus from our needs and focus on the Lord. We may not want to do it but God is worthy of it. We do it becuase He deserves our praise even in the midst of our answered prayers. It is not always easy but it is worth it.

2 Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.

Lord I love thee and I praise you daily by:.... How do you praise the Lord? What do you do? I can't play a musical instrument and, truth be known, I am not the best singer in the world (though I pass 3rd Grade music). So how do I praise the Lord? I am not sure but there are many ways to praise Him. I just need to find the one for me.


4 For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love. 6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars;
he puts the deep into storehouses.

Lord You are worthy to recieve praise. You made the mountains and the valleys. You made the resting places and the places of peace. You made the places of beauty and the places of pain. You made the places of challenge and growth. You made these all and enabled me to walk through them all with Your guiding hands. You controlled the winds of defeat and the rains of destruction. You control the light of happiness so that it can shine Your glory onto the whole world. You alone are Lord of all there is in this world. When I am alone and afraid, I know You control those moments too. There is nothing in this world or in the heavens that is beyond You. Lord I love You and I praise Your Holy Name for You never leave us. There is nowhere that is out of Your reach. Everything that there is is known by You.

8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the people of the world revere him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Your plans, O Lord, are Your promise to me. You have made everything in this earth and it belongs to You. From the tiniest creature to the largest mammal You created them as part of Your plan. You created this world. I stand firmly in this plan of Yours, in this world of Yours, in this life of Yours. This is all I know - we are all created by the one Maker and He has a plan for us all.


12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance.
13 From heaven the LORD looks down
and sees all mankind;
14 from his dwelling place he watches
all who live on earth—
15 he who forms the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine. 20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.

Dear Lord,
I know that somedays I am running low on hope. I see the pain and anguish around me. I find myself longing for the distractions this world has to offer so that I can renew my happiness. Yet, Lord, these things fail me. They fail me and I see what really is. Lord, renew my hope. May I rise up on the wings of eagles. May I soar on the wind of Your love and Your plans for me. Guide my path. Help me today to rejoice in You. I long to see Your will be done in this land. renew these relationships Lord, Bring hope to this day Lord. Encourage us all in Your love.

Psalm 34

Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.

All times???? I think I need to work on that one. Lately, it hasn't been good.

2 I will glory in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

Can I really be a role model to other people in my position? It may not be much comfort right now but there will be a time when I can use all the wisdom I have gained to help others. They will hear my stories and take courage that if I, as pathetic as I am, can overcome this situation they will too.

3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.

Let us unite in our rejoicing! Let us glorify His name together. We can do this together. We don't need to be alone. Rejoice with me for the Lord is good to us. His mercy is open us. He will lift us up and answer our prayers. Rejoice with me!

4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.

For I was scared of the future and worried about the past. I didn't know where to go. I was lost in a sea of a doubt but I called on His name and He answered me. He showed me the way.

5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.

To radiate the Lord's love in all that I do. That would be a wonderful way to live. To not have to worry about my words and actions. To know that all I have done is good in the sight of the Lord. What a blessed life that would be.

6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.

It doesn't matter who you are or where you are from. It doesn't matter how much money you have. All you need is to call upon the Lord. He will answer you.

7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

The Lord sends His angels. They guard us day and night. We have nothing to fear for we are never alone.

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Taste and see, spend some time and learn. Seek and find the Lord. Walk in His ways and you too will find that we are blessed to be with Him.

9 Fear the LORD, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.

Lacking in nothing? What does that mean? There are many things I think that I am missing but the truth is I am missing nothing. I am blessed to live this life regardless of what I don't have.

10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

What is a good thing for me? I could righta list of things I lack but that doesn't meant that are good for me. I am a blessed woman of the Lord. I lack nothing that is good for but if I am lacking now that is because those things aren't good for me in this moment of my life. There may be a time when they are good for me. I will wait for that moment.

11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

I may not be able to speak the word of the Lord in class but that doesn't mean I can't teach my students about the Lord in all that I do.

12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,

How can I do this?

13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.

Control what you say

14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

Control your actions
Create resolutions rather than problems

15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;

The Lord listens to those that belong to Him. Like a parent listening to their child - when He hears our cries He listens.

16 but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.

However, if you don't belong to Him, then He won't.

17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.

God does answer our emergency prayers. It may seem to take a long time and it may seem like nothing is happening but He is listening. Don't think that we can't call on the Lord when we need Him. We do need to pray everyday and spend time with Him but we can also seek Him at other moments too. He is always there for us.

18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

I have had many broken hearts and the truth is the Lord has been through them all. I have felt alone and unheard many times. I have had people make promises that they couldn't be bothered to keep. I have had my spirit crushed so badly that I thought I wouldn't make it through. The Lord has been with me. He is the only really God thing I have some days. Heart ache hurts but the Lord will renew your Spirit. I know because He has always renewed mine.

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;

We may not like to admit it but being a Christian doesn't automatically mean we have an easy life. The only added bonus we get is the hope that the Lord will be with us and He will deliver us.

20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.

Our lives are protected. We will feel pain but it will never break us. The pain will never overcome us. We will survive it even though, for a time, it will hurt.

21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

There will be payback for our enemies. We don't need to worry about that.

22 The LORD will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

We are safe in the Lord. There is no better place to be.

Psalm 35

Of David.

1 Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take up shield and armor;
arise and come to my aid.
3 Brandish spear and javelin
against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
“I am your salvation.”
4 May those who seek my life
be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot my ruin
be turned back in dismay.
5 May they be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the LORD driving them away;
6 may their path be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
7 Since they hid their net for me without cause
and without cause dug a pit for me,
8 may ruin overtake them by surprise—
may the net they hid entangle them,
may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD
and delight in his salvation.
10 My whole being will exclaim,
“Who is like you, LORD?
You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,
the poor and needy from those who rob them.”
11 Ruthless witnesses come forward;
they question me on things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good
and leave me like one bereaved.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth
and humbled myself with fasting.
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14 I went about mourning
as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
as though weeping for my mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
They slandered me without ceasing.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;
they gnashed their teeth at me.
17 How long, Lord, will you look on?
Rescue me from their ravages,
my precious life from these lions.
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
among the throngs I will praise you.
19 Do not let those gloat over me
who are my enemies without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason
maliciously wink the eye.
20 They do not speak peaceably,
but devise false accusations
against those who live quietly in the land.
21 They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha!
With our own eyes we have seen it.”
22 LORD, you have seen this; do not be silent.
Do not be far from me, Lord.
23 Awake, and rise to my defense!
Contend for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, LORD my God;
do not let them gloat over me.
25 Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”
or say, “We have swallowed him up.”
26 May all who gloat over my distress
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The LORD be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant.”
28 My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,
your praises all day long.

Dear Lord,
I know that You have a path for me. You have a way for me through this life. Lord, I know that you want me to succeed in all that You have laid before me. However, there are people who are trying to stop me. They fill me with fear. They try and stop me from walking Your path. They seek to divert me and gloat over my failings. Lord, help me to overcome this. Fight for me. Help me to know that Your mighty hand is at work. Release me from my suffering at the hands of others.
Lord, I thank you and praise You for all that You do for me.
In Jesus name,
Amen

faithgirl37 said:

I have had to pray Psalm 35 a few times in my life. I need to seriously commit the entire passage to memory.

Click to expand...

I can understand that! It definitely was a Psalm I could pray. There was not much I could add to it.

Psalm 36

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD.
1 I have a message from God in my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God
before their eyes.

2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves
too much to detect or hate their sin.
3 The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;
they fail to act wisely or do good.
4 Even on their beds they plot evil;
they commit themselves to a sinful course
and do not reject what is wrong.

Evil is a very wicked thing indeed. It makes us think that we are doing the right thing even when we are doing the wrong thing. We may feel justified in our actions but the truth is we may not be. I have fallen victim to this way of thinking. We muct be careful for our own thoughts can deceive us.

5 Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light. 10 Continue your love to those who know you,
your righteousness to the upright in heart.

Who can measuire the love of the Lord? Who can measure His righteousness, justice or faithfulness? We think that we can measure a man by his actions or words, but how do we measure God? Can we measure God with the same ruler that we use to measure men? Many times we think of our own hurt and think that God will do the same to us as the people around us but this is far from the truth. We can;t even imagine who God really is. He is more than we can ever conceive. All I know that is if you love the Lord that He will continue His "love to those who know you" and his "righteousness to the upright in heart."

11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise!

Psalm 37

Of David.

1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away. 3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Sometimes it doesn't look like we are in the right place, living the right life for us. We look at others and make comparisons. We start to complain to the Lord and find ways to get ever closer back to the boundary, back to the fence and the gate we passed through when we chose to be children of the Lord. We walk back through the fences, wanting to join those on the other side, enjoying their wonderful grass and life.
It may not seem like it but we are on the better side of the fence when we are with the Lord. It is not always easy to recognise when we see others getting what they want and achieving all their hearts desire whilst we are still waiting. Hold firm to your convictions - trust in the Lord! It is good and safe where we are. You will see.

4 Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.

What are the desires of your heart? I have pondering that a lot lately. What is it that I really want from the Lord? You know it is really hard to ask God for something when we are not really sure what we want ourselves. I do, however, have committment issues. It is hard to trust the Lord for the answers when I am not sure what the question is and if I am willing to wait for the answer. But this something that I am working on now. I will let you know when I have the answers (well the question at least!)


7 Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.

Worrying only leads to evil. It is the opposite of trust. There is something to be learnt here. If we continue to worry about the past, present and/or the future, we will miss out on our inheritance in the Lord. Paitently waiting is not always the easiest thing but it will get us to where we are going.

9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.
12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18 The blameless spend their days under the LORD’s care,
and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

The Lord will always provide you with enough for your survival. True, it may not get you everything that you desire/want but you will always have what we need. That is the problem we face - when is enough really enough? I have seen poverty. I see how the locals live. Their days are not filled with the same worry as I have: they worry about not having enough, I worry about having more. All my needs are meet so why is it then not enough?

20 But the wicked will perish:
Though the LORD’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;
22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses will be destroyed.
23 The LORD makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

It may seem like we are getting nowhere, that the Lord is letting our lives slide but He isn't. He is with us. He is holding our hands. We may still stumble, we may not have it perfect yet, but we will never be lost. We will never fail so much that we cannot recover. We will always be able to get ourselves back up again with the help of the Lord. Even though everything looks bad now, there will be a time when it comes good again. Trust in the Lord! He is with you, guiding your footsteps and making your path straight.

25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be a blessing.
27 Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.
28 For the LORD loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;
the offspring of the wicked will perish.
29 The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.
30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;
their feet do not slip.

How is your mouth and tongue going? What does your path look like? These are questions we chould think about everyday. If someone asked you could you honestly say "my words are from the Lord and my path leads straight to Him"?

32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
intent on putting them to death;
33 but the LORD will not leave them in the power of the wicked
or let them be condemned when brought to trial.
34 Hope in the LORD
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found. 37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
a future awaits those who seek peace.

Who is the person for you? Mine is Corrie Ten Boom. I like to consider her life and her path, and wonder if I could live the same. Could I be a tramp for the Lord? Could I loose everything and still hold onto Him? Could I let the past go and allow forgiveness, love and faith fill my life? Could I live my life like she did?

38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
there will be no future for the wicked.
39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

Psalm 38

A psalm of David. A petition.

1 LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Your arrows have pierced me,
and your hand has come down on me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;
there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed me
like a burden too heavy to bear.

It's funny how our sin makes us feel and act. It is so easy to hold onto it and then find it overwhelms us. It is something that I am having to face at the moment. I can either change my sinful ways or continue to live in its misery. The choice I have to make is not the easiest one. I am trying to start every day a fresh, knowing that I can make new choices when confrounted with the opportunity to continue my sinful path.

5 My wounds fester and are loathsome
because of my sinful folly.
6 I am bowed down and brought very low;
all day long I go about mourning.
7 My back is filled with searing pain;
there is no health in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;
I groan in anguish of heart.
9 All my longings lie open before you, Lord;
my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds, my strength fails me;
even the light has gone from my eyes.
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;
my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,
those who would harm me talk of my ruin;
all day long they scheme and lie. 13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,
like the mute, who cannot speak;
14 I have become like one who does not hear,
whose mouth can offer no reply.

Our sin not only effects us but how other people interact with us. We become the people we try to avoid.

15 LORD, I wait for you;
you will answer, Lord my God.

I love this - in the middle of the misery there is hope. There is a hope that no matter how bad off we feel, God will come to us. He will answer us. He will never leave us alone no matter how far we fall away from Him. He is amazing, more than we can ever imagine. There is no hope without Him.

16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat
or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”
17 For I am about to fall,
and my pain is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;
I am troubled by my sin.

Amen. My sin troubles me. It keeps me awake at night. There is no hope for me outside of the Lord's mecy, love, grace and forgiveness.

19 Many have become my enemies without cause;
those who hate me without reason are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil
lodge accusations against me,
though I seek only to do what is good.

21 LORD, do not forsake me;
do not be far from me, my God.
22 Come quickly to help me,
my Lord and my Savior.

Psalm 39

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

1 I said, “I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
while in the presence of the wicked.”

Oh if only it was so easy! I should have put a muzzle on my mouth approximately 30 years ago (as soon as I started talking). I should carry a spare one with my just in case because there are so many times when I say things without realising it or worse say things when I forget whose presence I am in. It reminds me of a story from my days working in Korea. I had some students repeat something that was very amusing to another teacher. Of course it was something that they should not have repeated! It was all very innocent and funny but at the same time it reminds me now just how many people actually can listen (and understand) what we are saying when we think noone is!

2 So I remained utterly silent,
not even saying anything good.
But my anguish increased;
3 my heart grew hot within me.
While I meditated, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Show me, LORD, my life’s end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
even those who seem secure.

Somedays feel like an eternity. It feels like I have been single forever, alone, pathetic, exhausted, stick in the same situation, with the same problems... the pity party keeps on going. It feels like nothing will ever change. The problem is that it will. It will change one day but we may not be prepared for it. Life is fleeting. It is here one day gone the next. There is a number on how many days I have left to live in Dili. There will be a change. It may seem like it will take forever to get here but it will come and when it does will I be ready? Will I have done all I need to before then? I hope so.

6 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;
in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth
without knowing whose it will finally be.
7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.

There is something that I have been missing. I am not sure if I will find it but I hope in the Lord that He will reveal it to me. All that I need is in Him.

8 Save me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the scorn of fools.
9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth,
for you are the one who has done this.
10 Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow of your hand.
11 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin,
you consume their wealth like a moth—
surely everyone is but a breath.
12 “Hear my prayer, LORD,
listen to my cry for help;
do not be deaf to my weeping.
I dwell with you as a foreigner,
a stranger, as all my ancestors were.
13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
before I depart and am no more.”

Psalm 40

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.

I waited. What a brillaint way to start the next chapter or the next story of my life. I waited for the Lord. He heard my cry. He looked at me. He came to me. He took hold of me. He lifted me up. He put a rock underneath me. I was standing on His word.

2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the LORD
and put their trust in him.

My life had changed. There was a song in on lips. There was a dance in my feet. I stood up and sang. I stood up and danced. People came to see. They wanted the song. They wanted to dance. So they called on the Lord. They trusted Him to give them a song and dance too. He did.


4 Blessed is the one
who trusts in the LORD,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.
5 Many, LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare. 6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—
but my ears you have opened —
burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.
8 I desire to do your will, my God;
your law is within my heart.”

9 I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips, LORD,
as you know.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
from the great assembly.

What a blessing it is that we do not have to hide the Lord. We can share Him with the whole word. Our words and actions can flow from Him as He lives inside of us. We don't need to control our mouths but allow God's words to flow freely through it. There is the sin of saying the wrong thing and the sin of not saying anything at all. It is sometimes hard to have our voice heard but that doesn't mean we should not saying anything. Everyday I am trying to proclaim the Lord more and more. It is not always easy and sometimes I fail miserably, but everyday I try. Teh Lord knows that.

11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, LORD;
may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
13 Be pleased to save me, LORD;
come quickly, LORD, to help me.

Are you happy help others? Do you think that the Lord is happy to help you? Your attitude towards God has a big impact on your relationship with Him. I know that sometimes I get tired of saying the same thing to my students. Some moments I am busy and don't really want to help. Then I remind myself that I can't expect to have students willing to ask me for help and wanting time with me if I never give it to them. Sometimes I think of God as an overbearing teacher whom I have to come yet again with the my messed up problems and situations. I see Him looking at me with disdain saying "you should have listened! How many times have I told you ..." lol. However, I am realising that it is my perception of Him and not really who is. Just as much as my students have a perception of me and an idea of who I am, I have one of God. Like my students, sometimes I can get it wrong. I forget who God actually is focus on only who I think He is. There is a lot of learning still to be done.
14 May all who want to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
be appalled at their own shame.

16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The LORD is great!”
17 But as for me, I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
you are my God, do not delay.

Psalm 41

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;
the LORD delivers them in times of trouble.
2 The LORD protects and preserves them—
they are counted among the blessed in the land—
he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.
3 The LORD sustains them on their sickbed
and restores them from their bed of illness.
4 I said, “Have mercy on me, LORD;
heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
“When will he die and his name perish?”
6 When one of them comes to see me,
he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander;
then he goes out and spreads it around.
7 All my enemies whisper together against me;
they imagine the worst for me, saying,
8 “A vile disease has afflicted him;
he will never get up from the place where he lies.”
9 Even my close friend,
someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
has turned against me.
10 But may you have mercy on me, LORD;
raise me up, that I may repay them.
11 I know that you are pleased with me,
for my enemy does not triumph over me.
12 Because of my integrity you uphold me
and set me in your presence forever.
13 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.

Dear Lord,

Somedays I want to scream at all the injustice done in this world. It saddens me when I see what this world values and how little regard for others people have. We live in a worlds that values the self. When we see weakness we cover it up. In ourselves and in others. We choose to ignore it in the hope that it will go away. It breaks my heart.

Lord, I uplife all those who are weak around me today (including myself). I pray that you will hold them in the palm of your hand, that you will encourage them each day and that your blessing will pour onto them. I may not be able to strengthen everyone here. I can barely carry my own burdens, however, I know that you can carry all of ours. Lord protect us and preserve our lives. Help us not to let go of our hope that we have in you. Lord sustain us, enable us to keep going even though we are emotionally, physically and mentally exhausted. Be with us all.

Lord, I thank you that you have never let my burdens overcome me I know that your love surrounds me everyday. I have the victory everyday because of you. I thank you that with you I have overcome. I thank that your love has brought me through the darkness of this life. Lord I thank that you love me for I have no hope without you.

In Jesus name,

Psalm 42

For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.
1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?

Have you ever panted or wanted after something or someone? Have you ever just enjoyed watching a movie, reading a book, playing a game or talking with someone that you just can't wait to get back to doing it again? I have. There is someone I love to spend my mornings with. I miss him when I don't get our chats. It makes my day and he makes me smile. I love spending my mornings with the Lord. Of course, sometimes we just don't meet up but it is my fault. Like this morning. I was busy finishing report cards. It is a legitimate excuse but not one I am proud of. So instead of taking time out to talk to Him, I talked to Him whilst doing it. I reminded myself I work for Him and He has given me a job to do (no matter how much I didn't like writing report cards on the wekend!) I prayed about other problems and rejoiced in Him when He answered me by helping me finish all of them in time (and find my keys which I happened to lose which was worrying me). It was a blessing to spend so much time with and I know that I would have missed it if I hadn't. I long to spend time with the Lord.

3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

Bad days, poor choices, not getting done the things I wanted to... there are a lot of reasons lately I have been downcast. I feel like my heart is breaking some days and I am not sure what to do about it. It is not easy doing what I am doing, dealing with the problems I face and I am one of the blessed ones. It is hard to be happy when you see nothing to hope in. Yet I have a hope. I have a hope because I have a God. I am (finally) understanding what it is really like to trust in the Lord. I am understanding how to pray and let God have control. It is bringing me the greatest hope I have ever imagined and yes, I am still able to rejoice. I don't rejoice in my life or my circumstances but I rejoice in the Lord. For I know in Him that there is hope that this season will change soon.

6 My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
8 By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.

I am the Lord's love. He loves me, I love Him. I love Him, He loves me. I am His love. There is no question about it and because He loves me He guides my path. He leads me to where I need to be. It is not always where I want to be, but it is where I need to be. Everyday He is walking with me and every night He sings me to sleep with songs of His love and His hope in my life. There is no greater blessing than this - to walk each day with Him and rest each night in His loving arms.

9 I say to God my Rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?”
10 My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?” 11 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
A prayer for me to remember each day this week as I struggle through all the drama here. I don't trust this world any more, it has no hope for me, but my trust and hope is in the Lord.