Psalms For Psalms- Day 32

Psalms For Psalms- Day 32

So often my hard heart doesn't want to go to God and ask for forgiveness when I have sinned and missed the mark. But God is waiting there patiently for us, like the good Father He is. 

I know He is good because of His mercy and forgiveness. When I look at my own life and sin, knowing that God went before me and gave His only son Jesus, it becomes even more wonderful. How could He love a sinner like me?

Yet Yahweh does, every single day. Reminds me of the old hymn that we need to sing to ourselves daily. 

"Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear

and grace my fears relieved

how precious did that grace appear

the hour I first believed"

God, remind of how good your grace is. Give us a sweetness that cannot be surpassed by anything else in the world. Lead us every day and may we run the Straight Race after You.

Psalms 32- Every Day (God Forgives)

Like a child getting into trouble

How quickly we fall away

But we can go to Jesus

Who forgives us every day

That child runs to his father

Straight into his arms

Knowing that no matter what

He is safe from harm

That's how it is with God

When we are prone to sin

He cleanses our iniquities

When we run to Him

To anyone who seeks Him

Come to God in prayer

He is merciful and forgives

Our sins He does bear

Show me where to run Father

God, I need You today

Draw my heart close to You

Would You guide me along the way

Psalms For Psalms- Day 31

Have you ever seen a battleship be built? It takes 3-4 years to be built. Every single part has to be made perfect and ready for battle; a single mistake could be catastrophic to the ships men. 

After the ship is built, the ship must be steered correctly and focused on its mission. What happens if the rudder is off keel? The ship slowly and surely drifts off course. But not immediately, it’s a process that happens by a single degree being miscalculated. 

And such is the case with our lives. We are fashioned perfectly by God as Psalms 139 talks about. But our own selfish desires can steer off course by a degree and lead us into shipwrecks.

I pray that God would guide our course, turn the rudders of our hearts back to Him, and we could rely on the Lord in all things!

Psalms 31- Turn Our Rudders God

Turn your ear to me Father

Rescue me with haste

That I might draw near to you

To get a glimpse, a small taste

You have redeemed me

Brought me from nothing

Fashioned my dying heart

Turned me into something

Be gracious to me God

For I am like a ship

Whose rudder is pointed the wrong way

And bow is about to tip 

Only You can calm the waters

Easing the stormy sea

You take broken vessels like myself 

Fixing the innermost of me

Your goodness is stored up abundantly

Like a farmhouse full of grain

In the middle of the summer heat

Your love pours out like rain 

Love the Lord your God 

All you who call Him friend

It is Him who preserves the faithful

Steadfast through the end

Psalms For Psalms- Day 30

It’s hard to believe it’s been a month of writing short, simple praises to God. Grateful to get to do so. 

As I read Psalms 30, I continue to be reminded of what God has done and what He will continue to do.

Before Christ, I was a porn addict, addicted to myself, put all my identity in who I was as an athlete, selfish, prideful, among a handful of other things. 

While I still struggle with some of these sins, Christ has transformed my life. I spent 15 years running, training, racing, yet never found full satisfaction in what I did. I loved it, but it wasn’t the end. Walking with Christ, I realize that deep satisfaction can only come from Him. And when we realize that, it changes everything. 

I pray we would be reminded of how God has brought us from the low of lows to the highest of highs. That we get to walk with God and run the race of life with Him. What a joy it is to run with God! 

Psalms 30- Christ Drew Us From Death

I will praise You forever and ever

For God has pulled me out of trouble

Like a fisherman drawing up his net

Keeping me in His bubble 

My soul was set on Sheol

Until You set me free

You restored my life from the pit

You Father have healed me

Sing praises to God this joyful day!

Our songs ever adorning

Weeping may tarry for the night

But joy comes in the morning

I was once sad and in despair

Not knowing what to do

Your love has made me dance

Your Glory always shines through

Psalms For Psalms- Day 29

The very first word in Psalms 29 is ascribe. Throughout the history of the earth, scribes have existed to document various events and happenings. They have told the story of man, and we get a front row seat to learn from these men who carefully documented stories of old.

In a similar fashion, the Bible serves as a storybook of old, following God’s great providence in the lives of His people. It testifies to God’s kindness, mercy, grace, strength, and all the facets of who God is.

Psalms 29 urges us to do the same. Ascribe to God the glory and work He has done in our lives. Remind others of God’s faithfulness. 

When Catherine and I lost our daughter Grace at 20 weeks and had to deliver her as a stillborn, it was considered a great tragedy and we rightly grieved and mourned her loss. We had a funeral for her in our backyard on May 14th, 2023. 

But our good God had great plans for us. By His faithfulness our daughter Merritt was born on May 14th, 2024, one year to the date of our loss of Grace. Only God could write a story like that. Only God could turn our tragedy into joy. 

We named Merritt after a Shane and Shane hymn, “All Sufficient Merit” to remind of us God’s continued faithfulness in our lives, that Christ is our “all sufficient merit” everyday. 

I pray we would ascribe the wonder, the beauty, and the faithfulness of God to the ends of the earth, proclaiming His name that all may hear and see how good God is. 

Psalms 29- Ascribe

Ascribe to God all He has done 

Don’t leave out a single bit

He deserves all the glory

That we will never forget 

Sing from the mountaintops 

Declare it from the waters wide

Worship God in the splendor of His Holiness

Draw near to His side 

Who is God and what has He done?

The One over the sea

His mighty voice Thunders

He is full of majesty 

He can flash full of fire

Or care for the deer

He is King Forever

Oh come all to hear

He cared for us at our lowest 

When life seemed very grim 

From ashes He made beauty

Springing joy in our hymns

Psalms For Psalms- Day 28

Two things come to mind reading Psalms 28.

One- this idea of God as our Rock. Not one that is silent like the rocks on earth, but a loud and zealous God who is our Protector, and Savior. 

Have you ever been through a mountainous road and wondered how hard it must have been to blast through rock to clear the road? When I think about God, He is even mightier than the strongest rock on earth. He is impenetrable, unmovable, unshakable. That is the God we serve.

Two- God is our Shepherd. Not just any shepherd, but a good one like Psalms 23 talks about. He carries us, guides us, leads us past areas we assumed would lead us to certain death. When we trust in Him, our paths our straight. When we follow our own wants and desires, we end up in ditches and dens of wolves.

God, remind us today that You are both our Rock and Shepherd. Strong and mighty, yet gentle and caring for our souls. Thank you for saving us and loving broken people like myself.

Psalms 28- Mighty Rock & Shepherd

Rocks are often quiet

But not the Rock I trust

You protect me from harm

Turning evil men to dust

Blessed is the Most High

He is my strength and shield

You heard every one of my cries

My scars You have healed

Be our Shepherd forever

Guide our hearts every day

Would You rod and staff comfort us

Leading us the right way

Psalms For Psalms- Day 27

As a lighting guy, I love seeing the contrast that the Bible has between light and darkness. Simply stated, nothing outlasts darkness. Light has won. Jesus is King on the throne who has defeated death itself.

Do we forget this truth? Has The Light shined through us into our lives in our every day life?

My prayer is that we can approach the throne of Grace confidently, knowing that Christ has gone before us and paved the way for us, because of His deep, rich, vast love for us. How sweet it is that our Father loves us more than we could ever imagine 

Psalms 27- Better Than The Morning Dew

When God is my light and salvation

Whom shall I fear?

Will evil men overtake me?

Not when my God is near!

My heart is confident in Christ

Nothing compares to Him

Let me dwell in Your sanctuary

When things seem dim

Gaze Your eyes to me Father

That You might take me in

Guard my heart Lord

Keep me away from sin 

Teach me Your ways God

For I will not lose heart

Trusting in You

From the very start

Wake us up Lord

We need you now

To look upon Your beauty

Gazing at Your brow 

Your love is deeper than I can imagine

Wider than the ocean blue

How sweet is His precious Grace

Better than the morning dew

Psalms For Psalms - Day 26

In my many years of running, it was a 365 day relentless pursuit towards being better. Every ounce of my heart and soul was poured out into being the best runner I could be. 

I think about that now as a husband and father. Am I pouring out myself sacrificially for them in the way I did for running? 

Often times I miss the mark. But pursuing righteousness and integrity is something always worth pursuing. Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, we can honor God.

God, help me pursue excellence and righteousness in everything I do. Help myself and friends pursue You with our whole heart like Jeremiah 29:13 talks about. Help us keep running the Straight Race after You.

Psalms 26- Relentless Pursuit

I’ve run many miles

Chasing integrity with my strides

Prove me and try me God

For You have been my Guide

When I run, I feel your pleasure

My eyes are fixed on Your Faithfulness

I hurry away from evil men

Pushing aside those You do not bless

With loud shouts I proclaim You

Stopping everyone to hear

Your deeds are worth sharing

God of Jacob, in You I fear

Every mile is harder than the first

Yet, I’ll never stop pursuing what’s right

Be gracious to me Father

I’ll never leave Your sight