275th Week, Psalm Chapters 135-139 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

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 Click on Title for Video Intro


Monday, Psalm Chapter 135
Psalm 135
Verses 15-18
Kristin Strayer

Verses 15-18:  The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but they cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. 

THOUGHT
We all probably have had times when we have not felt very close to God or been able to figure out what God’s will is. I think these verses give us one thing that can cause us to feel disconnected from God, and that is having idols in our lives. In my opinion, some of the idols of today include success, power, pleasing others, comfort, appearing perfect, living to have fun, etc. 

As the above verses say, idols will keep us from speaking, seeing, and hearing, and they will suffocate us. All these things are necessary to communicate with God and to know where he is at work.

PRAYER
God, help us to recognize the idols in our lives and to be willing to let go of them so that we may grow closer to You and know Your Will more clearly. We also thank You for showing us grace in the times we have turned to other things when we should have turned to You.  In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN


Tuesday, Psalm Chapter 136
Psalm 136
Verse 23
Matt Strayer

Verse 23:  “to the One who remembered us in our low estate, His love endures forever.”

THOUGHT 
When we are the most unlovable, God’s love for us does not change. I think knowing this truth in our heads is much easier than knowing this truth in our hearts. So much of our culture is performance based. It is hard to understand that our actions do not change God’s love for us. 

We cannot make God love us more or less.  His love is unchanging!

PRAYER
God, we praise You for always loving us the same. Thank You for loving us when we are unloving towards others, when we have a bad attitude, when we are lazy. Thank You for loving us when we do the right thing, when we are salt and light in Your world, when we serve others. Thank You for never changing! Help us to love like You love. AMEN


Wednesday, Psalm Chapter 137
Psalm 137
Verse 4
Mindy Strayer

Verse 4:  How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?

THOUGHT
In times of struggle, in whatever form it takes, we can still sing about the goodness of the Lord.  We make a decision to praise Him in every situation and circumstance.  We focus on Him and not our struggle. When we focus on God, His goodness we will be reminded of, and His mercy and grace
will fill us up. If you think about it, we do this all the time.

Are we not in a foreign land right now?  Heaven is our home.  We are just journeying through earth, preparing for eternity with Jesus Christ and all who love Him.

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for always being with us. Thank You for all that You are and all that You do. Lord, we bless Your Name today. I pray that no matter what each of us is faced with today in the foreign land that we are in, God, that we would remember You through it all. May our lives be a song of joy to You today. We love You, Jesus. AMEN


Thursday, Psalm Chapter 138
Psalm 138
Verse 4
Mindy Strayer

Verse 4:  May all the kings of the earth praise you, O Lord, when they hear the words of your mouth.

THOUGHT
Being that it is an election year, this should be one of our daily prayers.  It is so important for us to pray for God to show us the political candidates that most closely match up with Him and His values so that we may vote for them. We want the people that govern this nation to be people who praise the Lord and have ears to hear Him speaking.

We are privileged in this country to elect our own people into government. It is our responsibility, not only as US citizens, but also especially as the people of God, to be wise about who we choose. Our wisdom will come from the Lord. The Holy Spirit will lead us and reveal the righteousness or unrighteousness that exists within each candidate.

PRAYER
Lord, we praise and honor You this day. Thank You for all of the righteous leaders that are serving in our country. Help us, Lord, to make wise choices this election year. Please be with us today in our daily walk, wherever each of us is at, so that Your purposes would be fulfilled in our lives.  AMEN


Friday, Psalm Chapter 139
Psalm 139 
Mindy Strayer

THOUGHT
If I have already spoken about this issue in the past please forgive me, but every time I come across this scripture I am reminded about not only a specific attitude and issue, but about the attitudes of my heart during the teenage and college years of my life.  They were prideful and selfish and arrogant at the same time. It is good to look back and see how the Lord has changed you.

This is actually the scripture that God used to reveal to me the truth about abortion, that it is definitely wrong. I was all in the attitude of pro—choice in my teenage and college years. My argument, which all pro—choice people use, was that no one had the right to tell a woman what she could do with her own body. This scripture really showed me that a person is a person from the very beginning, so that would mean abortion is murdering a person. Though we may not be able to see the baby being
formed inside, God sees them. 

When I look back at my attitude back then, I feel very foolish, because now the issue of abortion and the truth surrounding it seems like such a no-brainer. Of course, it is wrong. There is also the scripture where the apostle Paul tells us that we are not our own.  We were bought at a price. Jesus Christ owns our bodies.  If we do things to them that go against Him, we are sinning and grieving Him. 

I am so grateful that the Lord has taken my prideful and foolish heart and has gently humbled me, bringing me truth and wisdom through His Word.

PRAYER
Lord, thank You, thank You, thank You for caring about our character. I am so glad that You do not want us to live life as a fool, drowning in pride, selfishness, arrogance and all the other sinful characteristics that we can take on. Even though the changing of our inner selves can be painful at times, we are so grateful that Your highest goal for us is to make us Holy.  Thank You for rescuing us from sin, Lord Jesus. We love You so much.  AMEN



















 

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