Category: Psalms

Remember & Trust Yahweh our God

Psalm 20

1 Chronicles 19

2 Samuel 10

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we remember the name of Yahweh our God.  – Psalm 20:7 (REV)

It is very easy to rely on our modern technologies for help. The United States spent around 1 trillion dollars on defense last year, and it is easy to look at that high spending and have some confidence that the US would have an upper hand in any conflicts that it is engaged in, and that soldiers might enjoy a higher level of safety. We can look at medical technologies and pharmaceuticals and have confidence that something out there can diagnose and treat our potential maladies.

Yet despite these great resources, soldiers still die, and people still get sick and do not receive the diagnosis or treatment that they want or need. Confidence can lead to letdowns when placed in earthly things.

In 1 Chronicles 19, we see King David extend kindness to his potential foes, only for it to be repaid with treachery and opposition. When the Ammonites realize that they have put themselves at odds with David, they amass a significant force of chariots to fend off any attacks. They put confidence in the technology of the day to help deliver them from the potential conflict with Israel.

As Psalm 20:7 says, some people put their trust in chariots and horses, but we remember – or put our trust in – Yahweh. David trusted his God to deliver him and his armies from whatever his enemies devised as a means of attack or defense strategy. David recognized God as sovereign and that God is capable of anything. Historically and personally, David knew that God used underdogs and laughably small forces to conquer the enemies of his chosen people.

We do not have promises from God that we will never suffer or experience pain, death, or illness. God does promise us redemption through the blood of his son Jesus. We have a promise of restoration for the earth, which is something that has never been accomplished by human effort, whether governmental or environmental.

-JJ Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. What will you put your trust in?
  2. Who will you put your trust in?
  3. Why is God’s provision so much more powerful than earthly promises?
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God’s Desire

Psalm 50, 53, 60, & 75

Psalm 50 cuts through the noise of empty ritual and gets to the core of what God truly wants from us- genuine worship. 

God doesn’t need us to sacrifice animals to him- he already owns all the beasts of the forest and all the cattle of the hills and all the birds of the sky.  God doesn’t need anything that we can give him, there is nothing we can offer him that he doesn’t already have.  

Verses 14-15 say, “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and  perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.“  God’s desire is for our hearts to be turned towards him. He asks for thanksgiving and for us to call on him when we’re in trouble, to remember that we depend on him so that He can help us.

This Psalm is a great reminder that there is no use in just going through the motions.  Our spiritual practices shouldn’t be a show to look good in front of others, nor is our faith a series of boxes to check to make sure we’re being Christian enough.  Our faith is a relationship with a real and true God who loves us and wants us to come to him.

-Hope Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. What does God desire from you?
  2. How would you describe your relationship with God right now? Are there changes you think God would like to see? Describe. Are you wanting to make any changes? Describe.
  3. What will you give thanks to God for today? And tomorrow? And next week?
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Help for the Struggle

Psalm 25, 29, 33, 36 & 39

With the rates rising steadily over the years, I can bet that about 20% of you reading this now are struggling with anxiety of some kind.  I understand this struggle personally, having navigated periods of severe anxiety that required medication and endured panic attacks with lingering effects, to feeling totally and completely normal.  I won’t pretend to have any fabulous cure-all to share with you, but I can tell you something that has helped me and others. 

Cultivating gratitude can shift your perspective and reduce stress. Experts confirm that gratitude releases dopamine, lowers cortisol levels, and improves sleep. While gratitude won’t eliminate life’s challenges, it can provide balance and stability.

If you’re searching for things to be thankful for, explore the Psalms- many of which sing praises about the great things God has done. Psalm 33 is one worth bookmarking to have handy when you’re searching for things to be grateful for.  

Psalm 33 reminds us that we can praise God because his word is upright, and he is faithful.  We can be thankful that by His words, God created the heavens and the earth and knows the depths of the sea.  We can be grateful that God shares his wisdom with us and that it is unchanging and reliable.  What’s more, we needn’t worry because everything is in God’s hands. Even kings can’t guarantee their safety, just like the strongest among us can’t guarantee our success.  The same God that created this world is the same God that created you.  Throughout our anxiety, we are encouraged to “wait for the Lord” and trust that our creator can handle it.

-Hope Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. When do you feel anxious?
  2. Practice gratitude. Remember back to a difficult time in your life. What can you be grateful for even during those troubles? What can you be thankful for today?
  3. Read through Psalm 33 again. Look for all the things God has done and all He is that you can give thanks for and that can give you peace. What will it look like to wait on Him today?
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The Blameless Way

Psalm 89, 96, 100-101, 105 & 132

Integrity is a part of your character that you can’t develop overnight- it involves a lifetime of good, honest, and moral decision-making. In Psalm 101, we read words written by David telling us how he desires to live with integrity in both his personal life and in his rule. Though none of us are likely to ever be kings, we can still apply a lot of this wisdom to our own lives, but you should probably leave the destruction of the wicked to others.

So, how can we walk with integrity like David? First, we see that he will “ponder the way that is blameless.” It’s a good practice to consider what it means to live in a way that glorifies God.  Ponder your life and seek to be blameless in the way you live and make changes that you need to make. 

Then, “I will not set anything worthless before my eyes.” What are you focusing on?  What gets most of your attention throughout the day?  Do me a favor and take a moment to check your Screen Time Report on your phone.  Now, answer honestly- how many of the things you set before your eyes are worthless?  Replace these worthless things with things that will improve your life, your mental health, and your relationship with God.

We also see that David is actively avoiding “perverse hearts,” “those who slander their neighbors,” “those with a haughty look and arrogant heart,” and those who “practice deceit.” Take a look at the people you allow to influence you, the people in your inner circle. Are they fostering your growth or hindering it?  Surround yourself with people who will offer you godly advice and support.  Build a community around you that will carry you when you can’t carry yourself.

-Hope Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. What do you see as the importance of pondering the way that is blameless? What in your life this month has brought glory to God? What has not?
  2. What is worthless? What is not? “What are you focusing on?  What gets most of your attention throughout the day?”
  3. “Take a look at the people you allow to influence you, the people in your inner circle. Are they fostering your growth or hindering it?” Who could you intentionally spend more time with in order to work towards your own godly growth? Set up some time together with this person/these people and pray about your time together.
  4. How can you be a good influence to others?
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Who Shall Dwell on God’s Holy Hill?

Psalm 1-2, 15, 22-24, 47, & 68

Today, in Psalm 15, David gives us some great advice for living in a way that glorifies God.  The things listed here are kind of no-brainers, but are also things that I think are so simple that perhaps we tend not to think of these things as being important.  

Be honest. All the time.  And not just with the words that come out of your mouth- make sure your intentions and motivations are truthful as well.  Being honest in your heart is just as important as being honest with your words.

Don’t talk poorly about others. Even when everyone else is venting about that annoying co-worker that you all can’t stand.  Or even if it’s your dorky sibling that just won’t leave you alone.  Protect the reputation of others by holding your tongue.

Keep your promises.  Even if a more appealing offer comes up, stick with what you’ve agreed to do.  Even if it becomes costly to you, honor your agreement.  Let your “yes” be “yes” and your “no” be “no.”

Be generous with people- be compassionate and share with others without wondering how they can pay you back.

This Psalm reminds us that true Godliness is woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. It’s about choosing honesty, kindness, integrity, and generosity in every interaction, big or small. These qualities, though simple, are the very things that shape us into people who are fit to dwell in God’s presence.

-Hope Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. Of these four characteristics which one do you struggle with most?
  2. When have you recently missed the mark of “true Godliness”? What could you have done instead? What difference would this have made – to yourself, others and God?
  3. Next time you find yourself in a similar situation how might you steer yourself towards the “true Godliness” response?
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God’s Wonderful Works

Psalms 106-107, 133

Thank you for joining me this week as we examined Scripture together!  Let’s close out with a few more Psalms, written by David.

The word ‘wonderful’ primarily means “very good”, but can also mean “astonishing”. Today’s Psalms are beautiful reflections of God’s wonderful works. Despite some of those works being consequences of rebelling against God, and certainly not our definition of “good”,  there is no denying they are still wonderful in the sense of the astonishing, awe-inspiring, power God displayed in these moments. 

All people were created by the omnipotent God, whether or not they acknowledge Him.  All people experience God’s wonderful works, whether or not they know those works are done by God alone.  In our world today, there are plenty of people that either do not know or choose to deny God’s power.  But that lack of understanding does not change the undeniable truth that God is the Almighty, and that someday, every knee will bow in acknowledgment of Him.  And oh what a glorious day that will be! 

Until then, as Christians, we should be remembering God’s wonderful works, and sharing them with others regularly. We should praise the doer of these works, giving thanks and announcing them with shouts of joy (107:22)! Our God is truly an awesome God, and worthy of all praise and recognition.  In our day to day, it can be challenging at times to pause and reflect on how God is working in the world and in our life, but it can make so much of a difference in our day when we simply say, “Thank You, awesome God.”.  

Sarah Johnson

Reflection Questions

  1. From today’s reading, which verse stuck out to you most? 
  2. As we close out the week together, I challenge you to not only take some extra time to give God praise for all He has done, but find a brother or sister to share in all His wonderful works, together!
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Personal Prayer Journal

Psalms 102-104

1 Chronicles 9-10

Today we are reading three brief, but powerful, psalms, totaling 85 verses.  The phrase “Praise God” (or some similar variation) is found 12 times in these passages.  And that’s just that phrase, not the verses describing why God is worthy of praise, which make up the majority of the text!  

Much of the praises today are focused on God’s compassionate character as the Creator of the world and everything in it.  The praise is focused on God’s works, and forgiveness, despite humanity’s faults. Even in Psalms 102, where the author is lamenting over their life circumstances, they still give praise and recognition to an eternal and compassionate God before the psalm ends!

Most Psalms have all these similar themes of praise and recognition of God’s character, just phrased differently and from different perspectives in different life situations.  They are not written to recount a story from long ago like most of the other books in the Bible, but are written by people experiencing very real, raw, emotions.  It’s basically like reading someone’s personal prayer journal!  Because these authors were real people, there is a strong likelihood you resonate with their real feelings of real life situations.  And because we praise an unchanging God, we can have confidence that we too, can experience the same comfort and joy when we praise Him.  No matter if you are in a time of lament, a time of needing redemption, or a time of awesome recognition of our creator, you can find a way to Praise Yahweh.  

Sarah Johnson

Reflection Questions

  1. How’s your “praise life” been lately? Are you taking opportunities to Praise God instead of just petition Him in your prayers? How can you improve this week?
  2. Pick your favorite “praise” verse from today’s reading to focus on this week.  Consider memorizing it to add to your own prayers! 
  3. In our 1 Chronicles passages today we read about the death of Saul due to his unfaithfulness towards God.  Saul began consulting others instead of God, and certainly did not praise Him for all the provision he had been provided.  Read Psalms 103 again, keeping this story in mind.  What can you apply from the message of this Psalm to Saul’s life and death?
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The Same God

Psalms 81, 88, 92-93

1 Chronicles 7-8

Today’s reading takes us across several different life experiences many (if not all) Christians also experience in today’s modern world:

  • Psalm 81 is a reflection of God’s provision for Israel, and a reminder of the good things they could be experiencing if they would only listen to Him.  
  • Psalm 88 is an example of low places so many of us have experienced in our Christian walk.  The writer is calling out to God to save them from suffering, to answer their prayers, and to bring them comfort in a place of loneliness. It is a lamentation and pouring out of a soul that is broken and hurting.  
  • Psalm 92 is a psalm of praise and excitement over the wonderful works of God!  This author is experiencing joy and astonishment over a Heavenly Father, and being sure to sing it loud and proud!
  • Psalm 93 is another praiseful psalm that focuses more on the sovereignty of God and His mighty power, recognizing the strength of God and His position over the entire earth. 

While each of these Psalms hold different perspectives of a human’s viewpoint of God, we can also see how in each of these, God’s unchanging, steadfast, supreme authority remains.  No matter what our current reflection of God is, He has never become anything but God.  Whether we are disobedient, hurting, praising, or fully recognizing His power, God is still, and has always been, the Creator, Yahweh, the One True God.  The God who formed and controls every aspect of the earth, that pulled the Israelites out of Egypt, and held them accountable to His commands, is the SAME GOD that you and I worship today.  

This fact can (and probably should) be both comforting and convicting.  Comforting because there is an amazing God who loves us with an everlasting love that will never change from that! Convicting because there is a powerful God, who has high expectations for believers, that won’t change from that either.  As Christians today, I believe we must consistently balance these feelings of comfort and conviction in order to best live out our days.

-Sarah Johnson

Reflection Questions

  1. Using the four options listed, what would you classify as your current reflection of God in this season?  Are you content to have that reflection?
  2. What verses most stood out to you from the reading?  Why do you think those verses impacted you the most today?
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Remember – and Share

Psalms 73, 77-78

1 Chronicles 6

Another Psalm, another author!  Asaph was a Levitical musician appointed by David.  As a musician, it makes sense why the Psalms in his name invoke quite a bit of feeling!

In each of these Psalms we see components of the author’s experience that we have likely felt in our own lives.  For example, Psalm 73:12-14 highlights the feeling that it seems the wicked seem to prosper while the pure in heart still experience suffering!  Has anyone else had that thought cross their mind?  I know I have. Or from Psalms 77:7-9, the feeling that God has withheld His love and compassion from you? Or, in recounting the Israelite experience in Psalm 78, have we been in moments of testing God, and ignoring His redemption from our enemies?

Throughout these chapters, we see a theme of remembrance.  Whether this is people finally remembering God’s awesome power, generations being reminded of God’s miracles, or God ‘remembering’ that people are only people, remembrance is a prominent component to these musical psalms.  

When people remember God, it is after they have experienced hardship, caused by the complexities of life, or God’s wrath towards their sin.  It comes with recognition of God’s mighty works and requires humility.  Remembering God then brings about a change from a destructive path, back to a path of righteousness and holy pursuit of God’s presence.  Forgetting God and His wonders results in separation from Him for as long as someone forgets.  Remembering Him correctly as the omnipotent Creator is what brings us back to His gracious and compassionate presence. 

However, when God ‘remembers’ His people, it is not because He at some point forgot the way people forget, but rather He re-extends His grace yet again after His people have sinned; He acknowledges them (us!) in their sinfulness.  God’s remembrance is not for His benefit, but for the benefit of His people.  And without it, it wouldn’t be possible for people to experience redemption.  

Remembering God, and His remembrance or compassion towards people is something worth sharing!  Psalm 78:1-8 describes how important it is to tell others, future generations, about God’s works and power.  Whether or not you have children of your own, you do have the opportunity to impact the next generation of believers.  You can do this by reminding believers of our awesome God – reminding them of the importance of following His commands and pursuing His presence in their own lives.  No matter your age, you may feel like your generation has forgotten God.  But you, yes YOU, have the ability to start remembering Him today, to impact yourself and those around you, tomorrow.

-Sarah Johnson

Reflection Questions

  1. Are there seasons in your life that you have really remembered God?  What stood out to you during that time? How could you carry that over to all seasons of life, especially ones where you may be more likely to forget Him?
  2. What could you share about God’s works in your life with people in your circle that would help you or them remember Him today?
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Yearning for God

Psalms 84-85, 87

1 Chronicles 5

Have you ever yearned for something?  

I recently had a baby boy, who decided, after about 3.5 weeks of false labor contractions and me walking around 4cm dilated for a week, he would grace us with his appearance 2 days after his due date.  For comparison, my firstborn came a week early with only those pesky Braxton Hicks contractions leading up to his debut.  Anyone who has known me over the past 9 months knows that I was fully convinced this second baby was coming early.  It felt like my entire mind was consumed by thinking about going into labor every moment of every day!  I was grouchy, distracted, and mentally exhausted.  My yearning brought me no closer to my baby, and really only made me more distant from everything positive going on around me. 

The sons of Korah write in Psalm 84:2 “My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” (NIV).  The NET translation phrases it as “with my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God”.  This verse paints a picture of absolute, consuming, desire for closeness with God.  The chapter continues on to describe a blessed happiness that can be found when focused on praising the Almighty, when trusting in the Lord of Hosts! (v. 4, 12).  

Psalm 85 continues this picture of desiring closeness with God, but takes a slightly different perspective.  In Psalm 84, I get this imagery of excitement, anticipation, energized passion for God, whereas Psalm 85 depicts an image of peace, protection, and righteousness in relationship.  There is still a deep longing for a connection, but it’s like comparing the honeymoon, “puppy-love” phase of a new marriage, to a secure, content, lifelong covenant marriage.  

Verse 9 describes this type of relationship through salvation by fearing God.  This “fear” is derived from the Hebrew word “yare”, which means to revere, or be afraid of because of profound respect .  It’s not meant to be a fear that causes us to avoid approaching the throne, but rather a fear that places us in rightful, humble, submission to an awesome God, worthy of being revered, and yearned for.  One that should make us say, “my whole source of joy is in you” (Ps. 87:7). 

Even though babies are one of the greatest gifts, my yearning to deliver my son began to impact my relationship with God (and others!) as I began to prioritize birth over my spiritual relationship with the One who made life.  I wanted to control the timing, and I wanted it to be now!  But, when I started to misplace my priorities, I felt less joy, less excitement, and less peace about the whole situation.  How often does this happen in our lives?  We begin to place closeness to someone or something above our desire for closeness with God… and unsurprisingly, we don’t get the same satisfaction we may have been hoping for.  We can become bitter, resentful, stressed, you name it… anything but joyful.  Yearning with such intenseness for the wrong things in life, even when they are good things, will never lead to a joy-filled life.  BUT, when we keep ourselves yearning intensely for a relationship with God, and when we humble ourselves to Him, we experience true joy, true peace, and true satisfaction, only He can deliver!

(And baby boy arrived healthy and happy, just when God intended him too 🙂)

Sarah (Blanchard) Johnson

Reflection Questions

  1. Evaluate your faith walk right now – would you describe yourself as yearning for a relationship with God?  What other aspects in your life might you be misplacing above your relationship with Him?  
  2. What steps can you take to practice fearing, or revering, God today?
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