Author: Dana Hagstrom

Psalm 135 – Above All

Read Psalm 135

This psalm reminds us of the greatness of God. It’s common in Scriptures to have a piece of history retold in another completely different book. Sometimes even a New Testament passage may take us back to the Old Testament. (After all, we can’t have the New without the Old.). I think it’s powerful when we read of those remembrances, and this psalm is full of them.

Powerful and affirming. This really did happen, and God shows us his power in these examples. His power is still alive and well and available to us. Maybe we need to remember how powerful he is?

We might be going through something really hard. It’s during those times that we struggle to even open our hearts to God’s message. Our minds can be so full of uncertainty, sadness, hurts, what ifs. It is so easy to beat ourselves up for something that is really out of our control.

Control. I have issues with it, do you? Do you like to have things work out just the way you want? What happens when there is adversity? What happens when your cozy little world turns upside down?

When those times come, it is important to rely on the one with the power. Our God. Verse 5 reads, “I know the greatness of the Lord—that our Lord is greater than any other god.” (A little different than in the graphic above, but worth repeated out loud several times.) Our God is great and worthy to be praised. We need to be ready to praise him no matter what’s happening in our lives.

If you’re having a hard time focusing due to a situation that is out of your control, ask God to help. Ask him to calm your heart. Ask him to help you set aside this struggle so that you can spend time with him. You’ll be amazed at how quickly he will respond. He wants to spend time with you.

Let’s pray. Father, help me to set aside what is distracting me today. Restore to me the joy of my salvation. You are a great God, and you deserve my whole heart. Calm my fears and help me trust in your provision. Walk with me and show me who needs a touch from you today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 134 – Praise

Read Psalm 134

This may be the shortest reading yet. It’s the last in the series “songs of the ascents”. The people are returning to their homeland. This will be the first time most, if not all, see their land. For years, family members have kept the memory alive. It’s possible there have been some embellishments, too. Much like our “fish stories” of today. Each time our stories are told, the facts get a little bit more amplified.

But the focus here is praise, or bless, or thank, all synonyms for the tone of this psalm. There is a call to bless the Lord, and a request that the Lord bless his people. The identity of the “who” in this psalm has been up for debate.

I’d like to see this as a pattern for us to follow. God has delivered us, and what is our response? We should give him praise and blessing. As would be human nature, we will also turn around and ask for continued blessing or help in another endeavor or plan.

Thank first, ask second. We should always focus on the supremacy of the Lord and what he has done for us first. Maybe that’s all we do is spend time lifting up the name of the Lord. Certainly never as an afterthought.

Before any petition for help, rescue or provision, we need to be on our knees in gratefulness.

Think of your own situation, maybe at work. Is there a co-worker who is always nagging or asking for things but never thanks or lifts up those around him/her? Are you that person who expects everything to be given to you, yet fall short in giving thanks?

Think on that for just a moment. Think of a time when someone shared something of great importance with you. Did you take this information, treasure it, and give that someone your adoration and praise? Were you truly grateful?

When we are overflowing with thanks, our gratefulness easily takes the form of praise. When we spend time worshiping God, that is why we often recall God’s history, the mighty things he has done for his people, for us. It helps us to sing praise when we focus on our thanks. The trick is praising and worshiping when in the middle of our trial, not yet delivered. All the more important to sing praise with a grateful heart.

What does your prayer life look like? Is it one of rejoicing for all that the Lord has done?

Let’s pray. Lord, thank you for your many blessings on my life. Many go unseen, and I thank  you for those, too. May I always have a heart full of gratefulness to you and to those in my life who pour into me, share with me, lift me up. Thank you for the people you have brought into my life. May you use me to be that light for those needing light. Help me to listen for your voice and your leading. It is perfect. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 133 – Harmony

Read Psalm 133

Harmony in music is a beautiful blending of different tones, played simultaneously, to give the music a richness and sophistication not found with just a single note being played.

Harmony among people can be just as beautiful. The psalmist describes it as wonderful and pleasant. When God’s people are in harmony, there is a unity. We all have the same goal, to be more and more like Jesus.

Unfortunately unity is not constant. We have all been at odds with someone during our life. Maybe a disagreement left a wedge or differing viewpoints have caused tension. It’s a sad truth that people hurt people. You may have hurt someone without even knowing it. Just as likely, you may have been hurt by someone who had no intention of doing so.

To have harmony in a relationship is a beautiful thing indeed. How we do we handle it when our relationships are not harmonious, when dissonance and hurt take over?

Having served several churches over the years, I remember praying time and again for harmony and unity. Certain individuals would seem to thrive on stirring the pot, so to speak. There is one in every crowd, a church is no different.

Because people are people with their own ideas, experience, desires, and expectations, it is impossible to please everyone all of the time. That may be one of the hardest lessons I have had to learn over the years.

When things are going well and people are getting along, there is harmony. As soon as something happens to shift that, it is no longer wonderful and certainly not pleasant. It would seem that God’s intention for us is to live in unity, in harmony with one another.

The psalmist reminds us that harmony is precious. Harmony is refreshing. Indeed it is. As something that is precious, we need to care for it. I see here that keeping harmony should be a goal for each of us.

Are you struggling with issues of unity today? Are you feeling connected and in harmony with those you love?

Let’s pray. Lord you call us into relationship with you. Thank you that that is a safe place for us. Cleanse my heart of distractions and voices that do not speak your truth. I pray that you will help restore my relationships that are less than harmonious. Prepare our hearts for your reconciliation. Thank you that you are our mediator and guide. May I follow in the footsteps you lay before me today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 132 – The Messiah

Read  Psalm 132

I don’t know about you, but did you sense the presence of Jesus throughout the words of this psalm? So I did a little searching, in my husband’s library and the internet. I now have a better understanding of the time in history this psalm was written. I also learned that it is sometimes referred to as a messianic psalm.

You may have noticed it’s positioned amidst the “psalms of ascents” – i.e. psalms 120-134. The the last several psalms have been quite short. This psalm is much longer and would require a little more reflection. For that reason, it’s good that it is included with the other shorter psalms. We sometimes need to slow down and take the longer route if the shorter route is too short! (Although I love shorter psalms too, because the message is more compact.)

The psalm speaks of David to begin, and I got the feeling David’s heart was really in the right place to raise up the Lord. He saw God as represented by the Ark of the Covenant, and it was his life’s desire to bring the ark home. And where? To Jerusalem.

There was such devotion to the ark, that is, God, and David’s deep desire to be in its presence. Much like our feelings of desire for God today, as we sit in our quiet time. David was obsessed with having the temple, it only fitting that this dream would be lived out through his son, the next promised king, Solomon. Do we have an obsession that we need to give to God to either bless or help us stop?

Moving generations ahead, our king, Jesus, also a descendant of David, steps forward for us. He died, yes died, on the cross and made the perfect sacrifice for all who believe. He fulfills the prophecy of verse 12, descendants on the throne forever and ever.

How does this speak to us today? We are still connected to this story are we not? We are sisters and brothers who believe in Jesus, that he is the son of God. He’s a lot more than that, but that one is key. He is our Friend, and He is God, the forever king.

Let’s pray. Lord we are in awe of you. We bow before you today and empty our hearts before you. Lord thank you for your provision, for your direction, for your presence, for your unfailing love. Just everything Lord. You are everything. My everything. May your finger prints continue on my life as my footprints walk with you! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 131 – Calm Yourself

Read Psalm 131

Short and sweet. I found a profound message here, and I hope you did, too.

Simplify. Calm your soul.

Those are both great messages for me today, how about you?

Do you struggle with trying to do too much? Maybe you’re juggling a full time job, lots of side projects, and oh yes, we’re supposed to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night? How do we fit it all in?

I’ve heard the lament from many friends and family members. We have so many options and alternatives available to us now. The internet has opened up a whole new avenue of ways to occupy our time.

Time. Quality time. It’s one of the five love languages made popular by Gary Chapman. If you’ve never taken the assessment, you can do so here. It can be eye opening in some ways. Be sure to have your friends, children and especially your significant other take the assessment, too. You may be loving them all wrong! Sorry for the bunny trail here. Back to our psalm.

How we spend our time is up to us. If we listen to  our psalmist, we will simplify. We’ll make the best use of our time. Keeping God in the forefront should ALWAYS be a priority. When we do, all other things seem to fall into place. If you’re struggling, take a step back and look, where is God in your time equation?

How do you calm your heart? Do you exercise, take a long walk or run, call up an old friend and talk, write in your journal? How about read your Bible? Setting aside a time each day to spend with God, shutting out the world, is probably the best way to calm your heart. You will need to be intentional. Make the time. This is one relationship you shouldn’t ignore.

There is more freedom in being in a relationship with God than you might imagine. It starts with you. He is there waiting for you. Enjoy him. Be refreshed by him. This is your special time, don’t short yourself.

Let’s pray. Thank you God for bringing me to this place. I long to have these quiet moments with you each day. Help me to shut out the noise of the world and my own busyness.  I want to focus on you, and you alone. Open my ears to hear your voice. Open my eyes to see what you want for me today. Bless all encounters I have with others. May your radiance in me be unmistakable. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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