Author: Dana Hagstrom

Read Psalm 50

Judgment.  God’s judgment.  Do you fear it? Ask, how have I lived, and who do I follow?  Here we hear of how God is tired of sacrifices.  He doesn’t “need” them.  What he wants is US, our “true thanks” and trust.  That doesn’t seem like it should be that hard, does it? I found it interesting in verse 16, it’s like God is totally disowning the “wicked”.  He calls them out, “don’t pretend…”  God sees it all. Everything.  Even those things we do in secret. He knows who is wicked, whether on the outside or in the heart.  We can try to fool ourselves, but then who is the fool?

Trust God, not yourself.  He will provide rescue for us.  I don’t feel especially afraid today in fact, I feel totally blessed by all the beauty that surrounds me. God has given us so much, how can I not trust him? I am awed by his love for me.

We’re coming up on  Lent in less than a week, and there has been an ongoing celebration here in our Mexican town.  It will culminate the night before Ash Wednesday.  The “Chapala Carnaval” has brought in live musicians, rides and entertainment, food vendors, a circus and other attractions.  I see the children’s faces full  of expectation.  I want my face to hold that same joy in the presence of God.

God wants our thanks as our sacrifice.  What things are you thankful for today?  I love giving thanks to God for all that he has done and is doing for me.  Grab a piece of paper and begin a list in your quiet prayer time today, thanking God for each item you place on this list.  Tuck this list into your Bible and refer to it often. Perhaps adding to it when new reasons for thanksgiving manifest themselves.  God wants our thanks!  It honors him greatly.

Let’s pray.  Father God, I thank you and my heart is overflowing.  Your grace and mercy abounds for me, and I am so full of thanksgiving.  I give you my heart and my life.  Do with it what you will.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read Psalm 49

This was an interesting psalm, not one of praise or lament like others we have encountered.  This one was more full of teaching and information.  Much of this psalm focuses on the rich and how they “can’t take it with them.”  We have often heard that said, did you know it was Biblical?  We should take heed to these words and not trouble ourselves with wanting more stuff.

There is a theme of redemption woven in as well that really gave me pause.  To me, these words seem prophetic about the saving grace and loving sacrifice we have in  Jesus.  This psalm was written long before Jesus appears on earth, yet the hope was brewing then that God would redeem.  There had to be a different way of thinking about death, I would think. People thought they could be immortal if they had enough.  Today, people strive for riches out of selfish gain and a desperate search for happiness. It’s fleeting however (the happiness) because true joy is only found in the assurance of eternal life.

How about you – do you look to your possessions or your busy-ness to bring you happiness and fulfillment?  What really jazzes you, is it buying a new car, getting a promotion at work, leaving for a long vacation?  Those are all marvelous things, but we cannot take them with us.  I would suggest that we should get just as jazzed by having our quiet time with God and waiting expectantly for his answer to our prayers.  He is the one in whom we should place our trust and focus.

Let’s pray.  Lord, thank you for this lesson today reminding me to live within my means and to be satisfied with that. Help me to be a good steward with what you have given me.  I am yours.  Use me today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read Psalm 48

The first line of this psalm “Great is the Lord” is striking and it continues, “and how much we should praise him..”  But that thought doesn’t end there in what we should do, it doesn’t even have a comma, but goes right into “in the city of our God, which is on his holy mountain.”  There, on his holy mountain, is that we are to praise him?

Jesus’ discussion with the Samaritan woman comes to mind. (John 4:1-38) You may remember she tells Jesus that her people only worship on the mountain and questions why Jews say Jerusalem is best.  Today’s passage continues and does point toward Jerusalem – Mt. Zion – holy mountain – city of the great King.  But recall Jesus’ words to the Samaritan woman, they come full circle, “true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”  

We can worship God from anywhere and everywhere!  Verse 9 calls us to  meditate on God’s unfailing love.  We should do this 24/7. When I think of what Jesus has done for me, oh the agony, the brutality, and the blindness of people, I am humbled.  Jesus’ victory was all orchestrated for me and for you!  How can we not praise?  How can we not want to give all we have?  How can we continue in selfish pursuits?  Give God the glory!!

So I circle back to the references to Jerusalem, and I don’t know about you, but hose confuse me a bit. We are all aware of the current state of that holy city.  The Book of Revelation speaks of a New Jerusalem where God will live with his people. How tremendous that will be.

Let’s pray.  Lord, I praise you with every inch of me. May you fill me anew this day with your light.  Let me be a beacon and reveal your love to those I encounter. May I act in ways that make it clear I am your follower.  I want the world to see me glowing for You.  This is a dark world in need of a Savior.  Use me to help them find there way.  Let my heart rejoice and praise you continuously.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read Psalm 47

I hope you’re sitting down because this psalm will knock you off your feet with all the praise going on! Verse 2, “for the Lord Most High is awesome” – that’s why we praise.  The word “awesome” is in my vocabulary, and I use it often, but to describe God as awesome feels a little awkward.  I think I (and others) have devalued the word awesome.  For example, I looked in some other translations to see what I’d find, and in place of awesome I found “terrible”, “fearsome”, “to be feared”.  That certainly puts the reference of awesome to a different level.

So how do you describe God?  We can never fully comprehend his “awesomeness”. I look forward to the day when more understanding will be mine  Yet, I don’t want to rush that time.  This passage tries to describe God and all that makes him awesome.  But the big focus is on praise.  I think that is a weakness in  our society — we don’t praise God enough. What does it mean to truly praise God?  Does it look different from person to person?

The first verse invites everyone to come clap their hands and shout to God.  Is that how you praise? Is that what praise should look like?  Have you been involved in a church where clapping and shouting were common?  I didn’t see a lot of that going on until moving to Mexico.  There’s a lot of praising going on here!

But praise shouldn’t just be on Sunday morning, or in the fellowship of other believers, should it? Shouldn’t our lives be lived in praise to our awesome God?  I think I can do a better job of praising God and having enthusiasm for his greatness.  I can’t let circumstances squelch my cheerleader mentality when it comes to my God, my Savior, my Protector. Can you do a better job at praising God in your life?

Let’s pray.  Forgive me, Lord, for taking the quiet side of things, for letting fear of rejection  or persecution squelch my joy and reverence to you. You are mighty and loving and indescribable in power and strength.  You are so worthy to be praised! Thank you for the smile on my face at the thought of you.  Thank you  for the  peace that flows over me when I rest in you.  Help me set aside all my “stuff” and praise and trust You!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read Psalm 45

My Bible study notes indicate that this psalm was written for a historic occasion, possibly the wedding of Solomon, yet also prophecy to Christ and his bride, the church.  Read it through again, with these contexts in mind.  What do you think?  I could see it as a love song to a bride, but I had a harder time seeing it as a reference to Jesus and us, his church.

There are some real nuggets here that do support the latter.  I see it in the following verses, “God himself has blessed you forever” (the church); “You are so glorious, so majestic” (Jesus); “Defending truth, humility and justice” (Jesus); “your throne, O God, endures forever” (both); “you love what is right and hate what is wrong”.

Jesus delights in us, and we need to come joyfully before him.  How do you feel when you imagine Jesus delighting in you?  Do you feel a bit giddy? Do you feel a little guilty and start to think of your behavior, asking yourself, “Am I giving Jesus my best?”  We need to honor Jesus in all we do.

Let’s pray.  Lord it is humbling to know that you adore us.  God of the universe, creator of all, and yet you care for us, love us without abandon. We come to you today on bended knee.  Forgive us when we fall short of your ideal and help us to give you our best at all times.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.