Author: Dana Hagstrom

Psalm 124 – What If?

Read Psalm 124

This psalm may be short but what a message! How do you fill in the blank today?

What if God _______?

The psalmist was certainly full of thanksgiving for how God intervened in their situation. There are many times in our lives, I am sure, where we are unaware of God’s hand at work. Other times, when it is quite obvious that divine intervention has just taken place.

What if God had been looking the other way when I was in an abusive marriage? Could I have died?

What if God had left us alone when we were seeking a new call, and we had chosen the wrong place?

What if God didn’t love and care for me and want a relationship with me?

What if when my loved one died I had not had my faith?

Take some time today to think about some of your great accomplishments and successes. Do you really think you did this on your own?

I think this gives us an opportunity to take pause in our hustle and bustle. We need to have a heart of thanksgiving and praise for our God who has NEVER left us alone. Our God is merciful. Our God is kind. Our God is all-knowing. Our God loves us without measure.

If you heart is overflowing with amazement and gratitude, as mine is, take a moment to give a shout of praise to God. If you’re in a public place, you might need to shout “quietly”. How about a big “WA-HOO – THANK YOU GOD!!”

Here’s another what-if. What if we didn’t believe? Imagine all that we would be missing out on if we were not in a relationship our creator and heavenly Father.  There are many who fall into this very category. We have been called to tell the world. We better get busy.

What if we never shared our faith?

Let’s pray. Father, we lift your name up high and give you all our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. Forgive me for not seeing your hand in all that you have done for me. I feel your presence and know you are near. Give me a boost in the discipleship department and help me to be more open with others about my faith. Use this devotion as a means of reaching out to others to share your truth. I seek to be a better version of me today than I was yesterday. Thank you for gifting me as you have. Use me today, Lord, and may your name be glorified! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Psalm 123 – Have Mercy

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I lift my eyes to you Lord.

We need our focus to be on God and everything else will fall into place. We need to cry out for mercy, and it will be given to us.

When I imagine true attention on God, I picture our dogs during training exercises. Those sweet little faces looking up at me, wanting to please and obey. They are so eager for the treat that awaits them as an reward for the appropriate response. There is almost a pleading in their expression.

How does it look when we look to God? Are we smiling with thanksgiving? Are we scowling with anger? Are we laughing with joy? Are we pleading for forgiveness? Are we expectantly waiting for direction?

We are probably all waiting for answered prayer of some kind or another. Maybe it’s for restored relationships, for healing from sickness, for clarity on a job change, for rescue from a dangerous situation, for peace, for financial security. We are all in the waiting boat. Where are our eyes while we wait?

Don’t you love how God’s word is always fresh? We may have read this same psalm a billion times, but each time there is something new, something fresh that is revealed. That’s why Bible studies with others can be so beneficial. We all see the same passage through different eyes, coming from different backgrounds with perhaps differing perspectives. We can learn so much from each other and how God is revealing himself to them.

So where are your eyes focused today? Do you want to do something about it? For me, I’m going to work harder at keeping my focus on God and not on the struggles or frustrations of the day.

Let’s pray. Lord, I cry out to you with thanksgiving for giving me life and breath. May I serve you and bless you with my words and actions today. Help me keep my focus on you. Help me shut out distractions. Use me to touch lives today. Have mercy on me and my household. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Psalm 122 – Be Glad

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I like how David starts this psalm, “I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” He was glad. When is the last time you felt “glad” about something?

David’s heart was so in tune with God. The very thought of going to God’s house, in this case the temple in Jerusalem, made him glad. He was happy to go. Do we have that same excitement about going to worship in our own church? If not, what is holding us back from unleashing pure joy at being in God’s presence?

Did you notice his word choice here, “let us go”, not just “go”. That would seem to infer the privilege of being able to worship our God. That is a freedom we often take for granted. Many people around the world do not have that freedom to be open about their allegiance to Jesus. You may even know someone that is currently hiding their faith. How they must wish they were able to go and worship publicly. That would certainly make them glad.

We often lose sight of what is important. It is not so much the “where” we worship, but it is certainly about the “who”. Who are we worshiping? What does our worship look like? Have we lost that joy that comes with the privilege of being in God’s presence together with other believers? Search your heart today for a true answer to these questions.

Let’s pray. Lord, you are a mighty God. It is such a privilege to know you and sing praise to you. I do get giddy when it’s time to lead worship. To feel your spirit coursing through my veins is a feeling of contentment and joy I can’t put into words. It is the perfect time of communion with you, our hearts are as one. I thank you for letting me have those times and look forward to the next opportunity. I pray for those who do not know you. May my life be such a reflection of you that those lost souls see you and can be rescued by you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 121 – I Need You

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As I write this, I am actually looking at the mountains that surround our home. Beautiful. Majestic. Listen to this song based on this psalm from Brian Doerksen, HERE.

We do need you Lord, more than we even know ourselves. And there should be no question where our help comes from – it comes from the Lord. We may try and fool ourselves that we can overcome on our own, or we have the answers, but we need our Lord. He is our problem solver.

It’s like calling customer service. How many times have you gotten stuck with an appliance, with a product you’ve just purchased, or even a new service on the internet. I know I’m always happy to have a 24 hour customer service number to call. Too many times I’ll get a recording only to realize that I’ve missed the hours of operation by only a few minutes. God isn’t like that. He is available to us 24/7.

What an assurance to know that our God, creator of the universe, has our backs and is ready to help us when we call. I love this psalm and the picture of God watching out for us. That doesn’t mean nothing bad will ever happen because there is evil running rampant in this world. But God is watching and there to protect.

Let’s pray. Father, thank you for your watchful eye that never rests. Thank you for the protection you offer and the reassurance your presence affords. Help me today to rest in that blessing. I pray for those around me who may not know that reassurance. Open up doors and conversations to allow your name to be glorified. Give me your wisdom today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 120 – Peace or War?

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The psalmist is crying out to the Lord for rescue, and his prayer was answered. There is no greater joy than experiencing answered prayer. Especially when the answer is what you were hoping for. Unanswered prayer may really be answered prayer, just not the outcome we were hoping for.

I don’t know about you, but I have found myself telling God how he should answer my prayers. When I catch myself doing that, I correct myself and claim it as my desire, but that the will of God is what I truly long for. God knows best. God has a better plan in store for us. We need to trust him.

I had to smile to myself as I read verses 6-7. Peace vs. War. This is a struggle that is as old as the hills. And we all know people who seem more content when they are picking a fight or stirring the pot,, so to speak. Do you have someone in mind, too? I want everyone to be happy all the time; I am a people pleaser. I avoid confrontation at all costs. I would not have been a good trial lawyer, even though I was an amazing paralegal getting ready for trial. So I can identify with the psalmist.

In the bigger picture, in our world today, peace is hard to find. There are so many countries at war with each other. Over what? Some battles have been raging for decades. Can those fighting even remember what they are fighting for? Even within the same country you’ll find tension, differences of opinion, and evil words are being bantered around like a tennis ball. While not full blown warfare, there are casualties, hurt feelings, and broken hearts. What happened to peace? Are there any peacekeepers left in the world?

Let’s pray. Father, stir in our hearts the desire for peace. Help us to love each other despite our differences. You have created each one of us, and we are all special to you. Thank you for how you have made us. Give the leaders of countries wisdom and a desire for peace and not war. Reveal yourself to me today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

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