Category: Daily Thought

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Donut Day

Daily Reading

Psalm 86-89

Daily Thought

I am writing this on a Saturday. It’s Donut Day, and always has been. When we were little, my brother and I went with Dad to help him choose the right donuts. Later, the teen years, we preferred sleeping in. Still, Dad disappeared each Saturday, before we or the sun arose, and came home with a pink box. I liked the maple bar and there was always a maple bar. I could count on it. Now I am Dad and Saturdays are Donut Day, and as soon as I finish writing this, I am off to get donuts. 

Psalm 89 proclaims the steadfast love of the Lord, forever. Steadfast, firmly fixed, does not change, a love you can count on. God’s love is bonded to his faithfulness, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you” (Psalm 89:14). Even when we were in trouble, and we often were, Saturday was Donut Day. Ethan, the writer of Psalm 89, says of God, “If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules, if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments, I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness” (Psalm 89:30-31, 33). Ethan knows what Israel has done, that they are in trouble, but he looks to the heavens, to the sun and the moon, “a faithful witness in the skies” (Psalm 89:37), and knows that God is forever faithful, even when Israel is not. 

To be honest, this is a bit of silliness and not a perfect illustration, but still it speaks of family and faithfulness. Today is Saturday and there are donuts on the counter and I know I am in the right house.

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are faithful and true, and I am not. I am so glad that Your love depends on You, not me. I know I let You down, I blow it, and mess up, yet You are always there, forever true. Thank You. I don’t deserve it, but that is the way of grace.

As I draw closer to You, my God, I pick up Your ways. I learn Your love, Your faithfulness, Your grace. Draw me close, then, that I might reflect Your goodness to this world around me, so that people will know Your steadfast love and faithfulness, and that heaven is home.

Amen

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God’s Smile

Daily Reading

Psalm 80-85

Daily Thought

God made the nation of Israel out of a promise to Abraham, raising her and caring for her, delivering her from Egypt and planting her in a land of her own. “I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves” (Leviticus 26:12-13). Israel was the family of God, and in all families, there are rules, “But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments…” (Leviticus 26:14). Israel had broken a lot of rules, important rules like, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3), and now they were in trouble.

“No throwing a ball in the house,” was one of our rules. My son threw a ball. It broke a vase, so he hid the pieces, but he was 5 years old and 5-year olds do not hide well. “Go to your room,” I growled, holding the pieces in my hand.

I waited. Five minutes feels like five hours when you are five. Opening his door, I walked in with my mad face. He was sitting on the top bunk, frightened, but not of being punished. His damp eyes met mine with one question: “Are we still okay, Dad? You and me?” We were and I smiled and then he wasn’t scared anymore. He knew he was still in trouble, but trouble is okay as long as he knows Dad and Son are still okay.

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts!
Let your face shine, that we may be saved! ~Psalm 80:3, 7, 19

Daily Prayer

My God, though I turn away and do my own thing, and break rules, and wander off the path, Your grace is still before me. When I turn back to You and see Your love and say, “I’m sorry and I’ll stop,” You forgive me. Even when I do it again. And again.

God, I don’t want to take You for granted, and I’m sorry when I do. I do what I don’t want to do a lot, but less often as I grow in my trust and faith in Your goodness. I’m amazed that You still smile down on me, and forever I thank and praise You. You are my refuge, my strength, and my salvation.

Amen

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His Story

Daily Reading

Psalm 78-79

Daily Thought

Psalm 78 steps back and reflects on God’s goodness and greatness. The stories of God’s mighty work present a big picture of life and should be told to our children, “so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments” (Psalm 78:7). Verse 13, God parted the sea so Israel could walk on dry land; verse 14, God led his people through the wilderness by cloud and fire; verses 15-16, God spilt rocks and water gushed out, quenching their thirst; verses 24-25, God rained manna for food, the bread of angels; verse 27, and quail; verses 42-53, God delivered his people from slavery in Egypt by, verse 44, turning Egypt’s river to blood, verse 45, sending swarms of flies and frogs, verse 46, destroying crops and cattle with locust, verse 47, and hail and frost, verse 51, and finally God struck down the firstborn, verse 52-53, and led the people to safety; verse 54, God established his people in a new land; verse 72, and cared for this new nation.

And still Israel thought life is a game of chance. They questioned, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness? Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?” (Psalm 78:19-20), undecided yet if they should bet on God. Faith is lost when we see history as our story rather than God’s and we are players in his plot. 

Daily Prayer

Mighty God, there is no one like You. You alone are Almighty, You alone are Sovereign. Your will be done.

It is so hard to trust, to release my illusion of control and turn my life completely over to You. The greatest commandment, the greatest life-giving act I can do is to love You with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, all my strength. I know that You are God, that whatever You say will happen will happen. I know it. God help me trust in what I know.

Amen

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I Can’t Sleep

Daily Reading

Psalm 74-77

Daily Thought

“I can’t sleep!” That’s what Psalm 77:1-4 says, and we’ve all been there. Something is troubling and turning over and over in Asaph’s thoughts, “You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled I cannot speak” (Psalm 77:4). He is focused on the problem and he cannot figure it out. The problem is a big one, Babylon has captured Judah and there is no more Israel. It seems God no longer cares, “Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” (Psalm 77:9). Israel’s constant rebellion has finally taken its toll and God has given up and is no longer listening.

Then change comes, not in God, but in Asaph. His focus shifts–from his problem to his God, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old” (Psalm 77:11). He stops thinking about Babylon and remembers Egypt. Babylon is about captivity, Egypt is deliverance. God does not give up. He hears his people and we are his people.

Now, Babylon, like Egypt, did not fear God.“The skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side. The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook” (Psalm 77:17-18). You do not fear God, are you kidding? Water fears God! Clouds obey him, and you don’t fear God? The seas parted and Egypt met God. You should fear God, Babylon. 

I fear God and it lets me sleep because, “Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.” ~Psalm 77:13-14

Daily Prayer

My Creator, You are Lord of all. You establish justice and promote righteousness. You have made Your ways known, Your Laws are clear and they are good.  May I ever remember that You do not change, and that is good. You are always holy, always good, always just, and always gracious, so no matter how bad my circumstances, they will change before You do. I can count on You God, always. May I always remember that.

I will walk in Your ways, God, because Your path is straight. It gets me where You want me to go, and that is a good place.

Amen

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Grateful for Everything

Daily Reading

Psalm 70-73

Daily Thought

I keep a cartoon of Charlie Brown dancing and leaping and holding hands with his dog, Snoopy, and the caption reads, “What if today, we were just grateful for everything?” I’m almost halfway through the Psalms, and the recurring theme has been, “What if today, we were just grateful for everything?” Here’s why:

God is great. “May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, ‘God is great!’” (Psalm 70:4).

God is good. “My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.” (Psalm 71:15-16; 73:1).

God is in charge. “May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!” (Psalm 72:8-11).

God is not done. “For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come” (Psalm 71:5-6, 17-18).

What if today, we were just grateful for everything? “Amen and Amen!” (Psalm 72:19).

Daily Prayer

My God, You are my rock, my fortress, my shelter, my strength, an ever present help in times of trouble, the joy of my salvation. There is nothing today that can rob the treasure of eternity.

May I live in constant praise with a heart of peace and contentment at rest in Your hands. You are my God; my faith, my hope, and my love are in You.

Amen

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Talk Your Walk

Daily Reading

Psalm 66-69

Daily Thought

‘Walk your talk’ is an important reminder. The church is rightly accused of hypocrisy when we say one thing and do another. The book of James asks, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:14, 18). But what about when we live rightly and say nothing? We must earn the right to be heard, of course. living godly lives. But at some point say something. We must explain ourselves, talk our walk. Here’s what I mean.

Carlos sat down to lunch with Jack. “I made a huge decision this weekend,” Carlos shared. “I am now a follower of Jesus Christ.”

Jack was thrilled. “Wow!” he cheered. “That’s fantastic, Carlos.”

“Really? I wasn’t sure what you’d think.”

“Why not?” Jack looked puzzled. “I’ve been praying for you for years.”

“You have? Jack, you’re a big reason it took me so long to seek God.”

“What? Why? I’ve always tried to live a good life and be an example,” Jack protested.

“That’s just it,” explained Carlos. “You are a really good man, but you never talk about God.  I always figured if you could be good without God, so could I.”

“How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10:14). 

This is where the Psalms shine:

Come and see what God has done:
he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for my soul. ~Psalm 66:5, 16

Daily Prayer

You entered this world and spoke to me, God. When I open Your Word, I hear Your voice. Your Son, also called the Word, shows me who You are. Your Spirit speaks to my Spirit. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God, teaming up for my salvation. Thank You.

Thank You, also, for those servants of yours, my friends and acquaintances, who knew You ahead of me. By their lives and their witness, they led me to You. God, use me to introduce others to You. I pray I will live godly and speak boldly and love fully, so that Your gospel will be seen and heard and received.

Amen

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Draw Close to Shore

Daily Reading

Psalm 58-65

Daily Thought

David often begins a psalm with chutzpah, an audacious honesty which almost oversteps the bounds of creature to Creator. “O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!” (Psalm 58:6), he demands of God toward the wicked who would wrong him. “Deliver me from my enemies, O my God,” he cries; “save me from bloodthirsty men” (Psalm 59:1-2). He then anchors himself to the one firm foundation he can trust, “the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves” (Psalm 65:6-7). “For God alone, he only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken” (Psalm 62:6).

After he spews, he then listens. In his psalm, in his prayer, he pulls on his anchor, an anchor secured to the mighty rock, to his God of strength. When you anchor to the shore and pull on the rope, the shore does not move, rather you are drawn closer to the shore, and this is prayer. No longer are the wicked David’s concern, but God’s. David’s heart becomes God’s heart, and he finds rest in God’s goodness, satisfaction in God’s justice and grace. “Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!” (Psalm 65:4).

Daily Prayer

My God, You are the One I turn to when the world around me is in turmoil. In You I find strength and security and peace. I can give my worries to You. My concerns over trouble pale in comparison to Your care over me. I just need to remember, O God, not my will, but Yours.

You have already saved me from sin and death. On the cross you conquered all. What else is there for me to fear? In You, my forever is certain, so what can harm me today? I will walk this world with the confidence, not of my power, but of Your Name. You are my Savior and my Lord, and for me to live is Christ.

Amen

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Ding

Daily Reading

Psalm 51-57

Daily Thought

David displays a desperate desire to deal with his sin and be restored to righteousness. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me,” he pleads. “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:10, 12). You hear in his cries the shame of sin, but it is not that which drives him. He misses his Father, “Against you, you only, have I sinned” (Psalm 51:4). Inside all sin is a sadness, a scarred remembrance of the holy wonder of our creation.

A friend in college, Craig, bought a sporty little 1978 MG Midget. Sweet car, nice looking, good paint. And then he got a ding, a 4-inch gash on the left front fender. Several weeks passed and I asked if he was going to fix it, but it was a lot of money and his insurance would go up, and, “well, no,” he said. “Maybe I can put up with it.”

“How often do you notice it?” I asked.

“Every single time I get in the car,” he said. 

“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” (Psalm 51:3). 

I gave him the number of a good body shop. 

“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Psalm 32:1).

Daily Prayer

My God and Savior, what an amazing love You have for me. You sent Your only Son, the only sacrifice sufficient for my sins, so that I might be made righteous. You created me in Your image, and yet I turned to the pleasure of sin and away from the joy of paradise. Still You are willing to forgive me, to invite me back in the family, to create in me again a clean heart.

Restore right desires in me. Renew my love for righteousness and justice. I am sorry for my sins. I will turn away from them and follow You. Make me new again.

Amen

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All of Me

Daily Reading

Psalm 46-50

Daily Thought

In Psalm 50, God says he wants everything because he wants nothing. He wants your sacrifice because he doesn’t need your sacrifice. This makes no sense; or it makes all the sense in the world if you understand that religion and worship are not the same thing.

God calls Israel to judgment, “Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me” (Psalm 50:8). Okay, you are religious, says God. Let’s examine your religion. “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me” (Psalm 50:14-15). Your religion is a formula: give God what he wants and he will give you what you want. You are using God to serve yourself. But, “every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills,” says God. “I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine” (Psalm 50:10-11). God doesn’t need anything. The formula doesn’t work. Now what?

Now you can worship. You can give God everything because he needs nothing, and, therefore, you can trust him fully. What are you giving him that is not his already? Yourself, and that is worship.

Daily Prayer

Father in Heaven, The world is Yours, and all that is in it. You are the source of every good and every blessing, and the greatest blessing is I am Your child. You have adopted me back into Your family by making me righteous again through the saving work of Your Son. You call it grace. I call it good news.

You have given me everything, God. I give it all back. It’s yours, all of me. Now tell me what to do!

Amen

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Great Sinners

Daily Reading

Psalm 40-45

Daily Thought

David begins the 40th Psalm, “I waited patiently for the Lord” (Psalm 40:1). That seems proper, but by the end of the psalm, David’s mood had changed, “O Lord, make haste to help me!” (Psalm 40:13). What happened to patience?

Verse 12! “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.” David counted his sins.

David warns against the proud, “those who go astray after a lie” (Psalm 40:4). The lie is, “I am not so bad,” and therefore their god is not so big. Great sinners, on the other hand, need a great Savior, and David’s sins were countless. He was that bad, he needed God, and he needed him now.

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! ~Psalm 40:17

Daily Prayer

My God, keep me from comfort in sin. May I love Your righteousness so much that I never delay to confess and turn away from the wrong I do. Thank You that Your mercy is endless because my sins are countless, and I need your never-ending forgiveness.

Develop in me a habit of goodness, that I would desire to do what is right all the time. When I fail, pick me up and set me on the right path again, and I will do the next right thing. I want my life to reflect Your glory, so others will desire the same salvation You have given me. I love Your salvation!

Amen