July 8 - Psalm 98 | Psalm 99 | Psalm 100 | Psalm 102 | Psalm 104

Good morning everyone, 

Oh my word, some more really great psalms this morning, right? Starting of with beautiful praises, “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things,” “The Lord reigns,” “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.” That reminds me of the song by Chris Tomlin, “Shout to the Lord, all the earth let us sing, power and majesty, praise to the King,” but no time for that right now because I want to get to Psalm 102 where we read, “Hear my prayer, Lord; let my cry for help come to you,” let’s read that again but slower this time, “Hear my prayer, Lord; let my cry for help come to you,” an equally beautiful psalm but in a different way. 

The author of Psalm 102 is unknown so we can’t really attach a situation to it, you know what I mean, but I think we can all agree that at one time or another we have all felt this very same way, overwhelmed with grief or despair, humbly pouring ourselves out to the Lord. Yes? In verse 2 he says, “Bend down and listen,” verse 8, “All day long my enemies taunt me.” This caught my attention because the enemy doesn’t necessarily have to be a person or even something you can see. Recently I was having a conversation with a friend about her child, who is a young adult, and the struggle this person is having with fighting alcohol and drug addiction, her words “the enemy relentlessly torments and entices her child.” It gave me pause because, I am confident that this young adult is not the only person out there who fights a persisting adversary, a conflict which could look like, as my friend’s child, drugs or alcohol (or both) but it could also be sex addiction, (porn or abstinence) or it could be food, or gambling or lying or cheating or smoking or so many other battles that we all fight on one level or another each and every day. Friends, be encouraged! Proverbs 18:10 tells us, “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” With every attack of the enemy we need to run to the cross, sometimes this may be minute by minute, and that’s okay, just continue to ask your Abba Father to bend down and listen, tell Him, “I need a little help here,” and He is very honored to see you through that moment and the next and the next. Psalm 28:7 says, “Blessed be the LORD, Because He has heard the voice of my supplication. The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.” Right?!

Psalm 104, LOVE this psalm. Any of you who know me know that I am a “see this in your mind’s eye” type a gal and this is a wonderful piece of writing for just that. So I would encourage you to read it again, drink up this psalm, let your mind’s eye guide you through the verses that appreciates God and some of His many creations. Personally, I can totally picture God robed with honor and majesty, oh not His face of course, but the long white flowing robe of light stretched out across the heavens and with but a whisper the winds carrying the messages He gives through the trees, my brother was in awe of that just yesterday, commenting on how beautiful a sound it is. I can so clearly see the earth flooded with water then God with a sweeping motion of His arm commands the mountains to rise and assigns boundaries for the waters. Can you? Our God is such an awesome God, and while I love all the beautiful imagery this psalm offers, what I love most about psalm is the promise of verse 27, “But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” Hebrews 13:7 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Friends … Our God is the real deal, he is alive, He hears you, His yes is yes, His no is no, He is forever constant and forever there for you and for me. Amen? Amen!

Have a great day and to God be the glory.

God bless you all…