Psalms – Be Still…

Psalm 27:1 – Are You Afraid?

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?” (Psalm 27:1)

This is a great verse to have close at hand to help us make sense of our fear. There’s plenty in our world to make us fearful if we allow it. It’s harder to fear when we picture God as our fortress, providing all the light we need to claim our salvation. Our problems seem so much smaller when we imagine God towering over them.

Context (Psalm 27): The psalmist, presumably David, writes about his fear of being attacked by his enemies. We might have similar fears, yet our enemies will look a lot different. David uses several images in this psalm to conjure up trust in our mighty God who stands to protect and guide. Just as David used this psalm to calm himself, we can as well. Continue reading “Psalm 27:1 – Are You Afraid?”

Psalm 56:3 – Are You Afraid?

“But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.” (Psalm 56:3)

We are all afraid of something. Maybe it’s an upcoming test at school, or spiders hiding in the closet, or getting old, or being left behind, or getting married, or becoming a parent. Depending on our season of life, our fears change. But this verse suggests that whenever fear finds us, trusting in God is the answer.

Context (Psalm 56): This psalm is ascribed to David when he was fearful for his life, having been seized by the enemy. Despite his situation, David’s words are very encouraging. David doesn’t forget to praise God amidst his storm in life. In fact, he praises God in word and deed. I like how David speaks of walking in the LORD’s life-giving light. Continue reading “Psalm 56:3 – Are You Afraid?”

Psalm 103:1-5 – Why Praise God?

“Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!” (Psalm 103:1-5)

While each of these verses could stand alone as a memory verse as well as a shout-out to God. Together, they pack a powerful punch to help us get our praise on! God does all this for each of us. We can’t help but want to sing our praises when we think of God in this way. Can I get an Amen?

Context (Psalm 103) This whole psalm speaks of the wonderful things God does for us. If you ever need a pick-me-up to get you through a tough time, this psalm reminds us over and over of all the benefits we enjoy as believers. We get a good glimpse at the character of our Heavenly Father. You’ll notice there are a number of familiar verses in this psalm to also reflect on. Continue reading “Psalm 103:1-5 – Why Praise God?”

Psalm 40:1 – Are You Patient?

“I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.” (Psalm 40:1)

If you struggle with patience like me, this is a great verse of promise to call on while waiting on God’s timing. The psalmist trusted God, and we, too, can muster up the same belief in our Creator. God always responds, but perhaps his response is different from what we expected or hoped.

Context (Psalm 40): What a beautiful psalm of expectant praise in the midst of trials! The psalmist shares his experiences of patience and how blessings surround him alongside the trials. The confident hope is palpable that God will care and come to the rescue. In the waiting, the psalmist worships and remembers God’s provisions. Continue reading “Psalm 40:1 – Are You Patient?”

Psalm 51:10-11 – Cleanse Me

“Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.”
(Psalm 51:10-11)

This is a great passage to remember when you want to tell God your heart needs cleansing. In those moments of weakness when we have fallen prey to the wiles of the evil one or simply made a bad choice, we, too, can cry out to God.

Context (Psalm 51): This psalm was written after the prophet Nathan had come to King David and confronted him about his infidelity with Bathsheba. The psalm laments and also praises God. David wants to remove the stain of sin from himself, hoping God will redeem him. David seeks forgiveness and mercy, to be purified and restored. Continue reading “Psalm 51:10-11 – Cleanse Me”