Daily Devotional from Psalm 54–

Verse 6
“I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good” (KJV).

Loving and serving God is our natural response to the wonderful gift He has given to us. His sacrifice set us free and reconciled us back into a loving relationship with God. He brings us out of darkness into His marvelous light. 
We can offer praise through prayer, service, worship, music, or simply thanking God for his blessings. 

Lisa Hamilton

Daily Devotional from Psalm 53– 

Verse 3 
“They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”
  
Every single one of us has been corrupted by sin. It functions like a genetic disease that spreads from person to person. No amount of “good” we do can cure us of it. 
Paul refers to this verse in Romans 3:10. He then says in verses 23-24, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption of Christ Jesus…” 

This means that we have been cured of our corruption through Jesus as a gift to us—because of his death and resurrection! We are now “good” because we are now clothed with the goodness of Jesus. The corruption of sin has no power over us now and is no longer a death sentence. How great is that?! 

Robin Miller

Daily Devotional from Psalm 52–

Verse 9
“I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.”

David wrote this after his hiding place was betrayed to Saul, who was trying to kill him. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been in quite that bad of a spot! But check out the language David uses here: ‘I will thank you BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE IT.’ Done what? He’s thanking God in advance, believing that God will rescue him from his enemies! What faith!

He also says, “I will wait for your name” - what does that mean? It means David trusts fully in God’s character - in who He is - and he is choosing to believe, again, that God WILL act. So David will wait!

Whatever tough spot you may be in today, trust that God is good. Remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). Wait on Him. Trust in Him. Rely on Him.

Audrey Rogers

Daily Devotional from Psalm 51–

Verse 6
“You delight in truth in the inward being.”

This verse has always stuck out to me like a sore thumb. It bothers me. It screams for attention. 

It’s easy to commit to truth on the outside. People are watching, after all; so give them what they want to see. Give them what makes you look good. But cover up the things that make you look bad! Don’t let anybody see it! That would not bode well for anybody! (Or so we think.)

But what if we were to fool those around us? Well, that’s where the sore thumb comes in. Our conscience should be screaming at us. It should bother us deeply, because although we may fool everyone around us, we’re not fooling God. He delights in truth (honesty and integrity) in the inward being. 

So when your thumb is throbbing, don’t stuff it in your pocket. Bring it to the doctor. Let God examine it, and let a friend put a bandage on it for you. 

Demetrius Rogers

Daily Devotional from Psalm 50– 

Verses 14-15
“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 shall deliver you and you shall glorify me.”

We are called to come to God with thankful hearts, do what we promised him, and call on him when we are in trouble. It means looking for all we have to be thankful for, even in dire circumstances. It means remaining faithful to our word to him, even when it’s hard. The Lord wants us to cry out to him when we face difficulties, with the assurance of faith that he will carry us through. Though we may struggle and stumble, he is there to pick us up. The incredible result is he is glorified. It’s all his doing! What a privilege it is to be loved and accepted by such a merciful Savior!

Matthew 11:28-30 
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Carol Wong

Daily Devotional from Psalm 49– 

Verse 16-17
“Be not afraid when [an ungodly] one is made rich, when the wealth and glory of his house are increased; For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not descend after him.”

There are four kinds of riches:
Riches in what you have (material wealth).
Riches in what you do (service for Jesus)
Riches in what you know (wisdom from God)
Riches in what you are (character).

The riches of what we have basically amount to nothing. We take nothing with us when we go to our eternal life. Where we go matters; our relationship with Jesus, our service for Jesus, the knowledge and wisdom we receive from God, and the character we have matter greatly. 

Beginning today, let’s focus on serving God, receiving knowledge and wisdom from Him, and developing our character so that it reflects Jesus. Let’s focus on Holiness,
Humility, and a hunger for Jesus to increase as we decrease. And let’s never be afraid when we see a person prosper.

Marci Ellis

Daily Devotional from Psalm 48–

Verses 12-14
“Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God
forever and ever. He will guide us forever.”

Mt. Zion is an incredibly special place — a high hill within Jerusalem, a place where King David brought the ark, and Solomon built the temple, the symbolic dwelling place of
God, a hub of worship. It symbolizes the city of the living God who dwells within and actively watches over his children forever, and provides us with a place of refuge and communion. 

This is our limited portion of inheritance today, but one day we will enjoy the fullness of God’s presence in the eternal Zion. 

Rick Bolesta

Daily Devotional from Psalm 47–

Verse 5
“God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.” 

The Psalmist makes a clear point throughout the psalm: God is the king over all nations. Yet He is not some far-off, distant, or fantastical ruler. Instead, He is deeply personal, relating to his subjects, and this is a cause for joy. For God to ascend, He must have descended. The psalmist recognizes that the Lord is a King who wishes to relate to His people. We attest to this in the incarnation of Christ. Just as the psalmist calls for shouts of joy at the King’s ascension, so we should carry on the sound of praise.

Ray Mandish

Daily Devotional from Psalm 46–

Verse 10
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Sometimes being still can sound counterintuitive in a culture where striving is normal. It’s necessary that we let God be God over our lives and not try to muscle our way into that position. One of the greatest things we can rest in is knowing that God is going to handle it, and by “it,” I mean everything! Jesus gave us a great example of this. In the midst of His busyness and ministry, He constantly withdrew to quiet places to sit and pray with God.

Being still isn’t just recommended; it’s necessary for how our nervous systems are wired. Practice sitting with God in silence. Surrender your worries to Him and be still. 

Because when we stop striving, we experience the peace that comes from knowing God is in control.

Michelle Carrancho

Daily Devotional from Psalm 45–

Verse 1
“My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.”

Something about verse one of this chapter just makes me want to sing! Maybe it’s because Psalm 45 is a wedding song, addressed to a mighty king and his bride; a beautiful princess. The song describes the king’s might and power, and the uprightness with which he rules. Then it describes the bride, in all her beauty and wealth. We could just leave it there and be content with the awesome establishment of marriage that God created, but there’s an even deeper meaning. 

When you look for Jesus in this wedding song, you will find him as the groom! God appointed Jesus to be the Mighty Warrior, full of truth, meekness, and righteousness (see verse 4). And he invited us, the Church, to be His beautiful bride! We may not see ourselves that way, but God does. He looks at His Church and sees beauty, adorned in royalty. Who are we to argue? I am encouraged today to remember that I am deeply desired by Jesus, and so are you!

Zoe Deming

Daily Devotional from Psalm 44–

Verse 23
“Awake Lord! Why do you sleep?”

Psalm 44 is a lament. It’s a song born out of crises. At one point during the psalm, the writer asserts that they had not forgotten God or broken his covenant, and he wants to know why God would allow the current calamities. He wonders, “Why now, when we are at our greatest need, is he quiet? Haven’t we been good?” even going so far as to accuse God of sleeping on the job.

This psalm shows us that we don’t have to hide our pain or confusion. We can boldly cry out “Awake, Lord!” Through this psalm, God invites honest, unfiltered prayer. He validates our grief and confusion at times of hardship.
I love the way the psalmist ends the psalm, not by blaming or demanding, but by appealing to God’s mercy: “Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.” (v.26)

This is a reminder that my ultimate hope rests on God’s character rather than my performance. And this is true whether I feel His presence right now or not – whether I understand what He’s doing right now or not. 

Thank you, Mighty God, for loving me. I trust you to get me through this difficult time.

Chris Ford

Daily Devotional from Psalm 43– 

Verse 3
“O send out thy light and thy truth: Let them lead me; Let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles” (KJV). 

How blessed we are to have the living word of God, which brings us light and truth. While waiting for God’s justice and deliverance, we can remain confident that God will guide us. 

Like King David, we can look back to our Savior who will settle our heart and mind. He will give us his peace in every trial and keep us on the narrow path. 

Lisa Hamilton

Daily Devotional from Psalm 42–

Verse 8a
“The LORD will send his faithful love day by day; his song will be with me in the night—”

Sometimes it is so good to remind ourselves that the LORD’s love is FAITHFUL. The writer of the Psalm is going through something heavy. They feel dejected, sad, and forgotten by the LORD. Yet, they hold on to the hope of God’s faithful love. 

Are you in a place where you feel dejected, sad, or forgotten? Sometimes, even in our darkest moments, the hope of God’s faithful love is all that sustains us as we keep moving forward. 

Grab something to write on. For the next few minutes, write down all the ways God has been faithful to you, or times you knew God loved you. Put this list somewhere safe, so when you are walking through something difficult, or you’re feeling down or depressed, you have this list to remind you of God’s faithful love. 

Robin Miller

Daily Devotional from Psalm 41–

Verse 1
“Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him…”

Throughout God’s word, we see a very strong focus on caring for the poor and needy. We are told to give generously, defend the vulnerable, and view kindness to the needy as a direct act of honor toward God. In Matthew 25, Jesus teaches that when people care for the hungry, thirsty, or naked, they are doing it directly to Him. There are also severe spiritual consequences for NOT caring for ‘the least of these’. 

There are so many ways in our region that we can fulfill this call to action, and I love that we have made a very easy way for anyone in our church to directly bless a large group in need, through the Diaper Depot! It’s so easy to grab a pack of diapers or wipes at the store, or contribute an extra ten or twenty bucks, or help with handing out diapers each month! 

I hope you will let vs 1-3 of this psalm encourage you to be regularly proactive in caring for those in need!

Audrey Rogers

Daily Devotional from Psalm 40–

Verse 8
“I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

There's nothing worse than begrudging obedience – for both the obedient and the obeyed. What kind of relationship is that? A loveless one indeed.

But to do another's will from a place of delight? Now that's beautiful. That's the kind of heart our Father desires, and the kind of heart the Spirit produces. 

Pray this prayer with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, give me a delighted heart. I want to obey You, not because I must, but because I want to. Write Your law so deeply upon my heart that Your will becomes my joy. Drop honey in my soul. And fill my mind with the fragrance of Your goodness, until obedience is no burden but my deepest delight. Amen. 

Demetrius Rogers

Daily Devotional from Psalm 39–

Verse 7b 
“ …My hope is in You.” 

David tried to be silent in his trials, which made things worse. His discomfort only built up inside, unvented and without relief from God or man. Silence also became a lack of speaking of the goodness of God that no circumstance could disprove. 
 
When we find ourselves in difficulties, whether of our own making (sinfulness) or due to the pruning of God (correction to set us straight and increase fruitfulness), we need to pray to him, cry out, and even shed tears. He is merciful.

Though we may not understand and the trial may not be lifted, he responds to us in his time and wisdom. His answers and actions are always given in love. Hope in him, speak honestly with him, and wait upon him.

Carol Wong

Daily Devotional from Psalm 38–

Verse 15
“But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.”

In times of discipline, as in this chapter, and in times of sorrow, sickness, pain, suffering, frustration, or lack of understanding, we have only one option available: wait for the Lord. When it comes to waiting on the Lord, is it fun? Not really. Is it easy? No. Is it necessary? Absolutely. 

I believe God uses waiting on Him as an amazing tool for spiritual growth. In waiting, we learn to trust, we learn patience, we learn self-control, and in my experience I
learn peace through hope in knowing that God will answer.
When we are in a time of waiting for something to be finished or for God to answer, we can sit back and rest in the knowledge that our circumstances will change and God will come through in His timing, not ours.

Marci Ellis

Daily Devotional from Psalm 37–

Verses 23-24
“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he
delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast
headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.”

How many times can you fall and still be forgiven? Jesus
answers this question with 70×7 — in other words, too many to count. OUR JOB is to keep trying (He provides resources to help) and never give up when we fall. We repent, Jesus lifts us up, and we continue our journey with Him. We continue to praise God and do the good works He prepared for us to do when He created us (Eph. 1:12; 2:10). This is the path. This is the journey.

Rick Bolesta

Daily Devotional from Psalm 36–

Verse 1
“I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes” (NIV).

The first point the Psalmist makes about the wicked is that they lack a God-fearing vision. Their eyes dart around, lusting with the possibility to take from any tree they please. Like Eve, they have been deceived. There are trees out there that, when eaten of, produce death. How are we to tell the difference? With God-fearing eyes. 

If fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, then the one who fears God considers His wisdom. His wisdom is the guiding light, allowing us to look at what might appear to be a healthy and appealing tree and say, “The Lord knows better than I.” 

Ray Mandish

Daily Devotional from Psalm 35–

Verse 28
“And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long.”

It is so important that we proclaim the goodness and righteousness of God throughout our day. In Scripture, we are encouraged to pray continually and praise God at all times. When we fill our minds and mouths with God’s truth, praise shifts our focus from our circumstances to His faithfulness. Darkness cannot overcome the light. As we speak life over ourselves through God’s Word, our hearts and minds are transformed. God calls us to renew our minds, and He truly means it.

Today, practice praising God and proclaiming His righteousness. Invite Him into every part of your day, and watch how His light drives out the darkness and fills your heart with His peace.

Michelle Carrancho

Daily Devotional from Psalm 34–

Verse 8a
“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!”

I just LOVE how descriptive this Psalm is. It touches almost all the senses! 
Taste and see that the LORD is good. 
Come, O children, listen to Me. 
He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken (touch).

It reminds me that our God is personal and involved. He is not distant or removed from the human experience. If anything, he has the most experience with humanity, including being part of it when he sent Jesus to earth! Knowing that makes me want to spend more time with him and be closer to him. 

God, thank you for caring so personally for us. Thank you for lowering yourself to the point of dying on the cross so we could taste and see your goodness and your grace. Fix our eyes on you; we bring every part of ourselves into submission to you. 

In Jesus’ name, amen!

Zoe Deming

Daily Devotional from Psalm 33–

Verses 6 & 8
“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host. Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.”

Have you ever seen something so powerful that it shattered all your paradigms and forced itself to be reckoned with? I never have. I’d like to say that I understand the Father and his creation, Jesus and his atoning sacrifice, the Spirit and his power. But I’m an ant. I can’t fully wrap my brain around that.

If I had been there to hear the Sermon on the Mount, to see the centurion’s servant healed, Peter’s mother-in-law lifted from her deathbed; I would have been impressed. But if I had been on the sea when one word from Him instantly changed a raging storm to a clear, calm day before my eyes? [Insert head exploding graphic here!] Now that is the unimaginable power of His spoken word!

Mighty Father, Your power is unimaginable. I fall at Your feet, and I praise Your majesty and Your might. Only You are God! Only You are worthy to be praised. Thank you that Your love is as great as Your might. Thank You for loving me more fully than any other can, and for saving me as no one else could, my King, my Savior, my God.

Chris Ford

Daily Devotional from Psalm 32–

Verse 8 
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.”

I find great comfort knowing that our Savior is giving us knowledge, leading the way, guiding our steps, and that his eyes are always on us. 

When Jesus Christ comes and makes his home with us, He gives us confidence to do his will and listen for the prompting of the Holy Spirit’s still small voice. 

As we maneuver through all the hills and valleys in this life, we can trust in his love, guidance, and protection. 

In this way we can experience the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. What a beautiful gift that is! 

Lisa Hamilton

Daily Devotional from Psalm 31–

Verse 24
“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!”

I have been in a season of waiting recently. Sometimes it feels like God is taking FOREVER!!!! The waiting feels like its own torture. 

But as we read Scripture, we realize that those who are filled with the Holy Spirit have the fruit of patience. The people of God are those who wait. And not just wait but wait well. It takes incredible strength to wait well. It takes courage. When the world says to move, God says wait. When it feels like an army is closing in and all you want to do is run… God says wait. When you are praying and praying and praying for a miracle…and God says wait…. 

We don’t like waiting. 

But the Lord will continue to ask us to wait— to trust that he will come through, that he will part those waters, that he will provide food and water, that he will bring healing…that he will return in full victory. 

Take courage. Your waiting is forming your faith. 

Robin Miller

Daily Devotional from Psalm 30–

Verse 11
“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.”

I love the imagery of joy and utter abandon this psalm conjures up in my mind! Being able to run, dance, and sing like a carefree child with no stiff joints or balance issues! Doesn’t that sound lovely?

Notice though, that this joy doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It came as a result of moving from a place of darkness and mourning INTO a place of light and rejoicing. If you are going through something difficult today, remember that it’s only for a season. Keep your focus on Jesus, and he will turn your difficulties into delight! After all, how can we truly enjoy a good day if we’ve never had a really awful day to compare it to?

Audrey Rogers