Walking Through the Psalms“My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises!” – Psalm 57:7 (NLT)“Sing with Confidence!” When I read this verse, I thought of one of my favorite stories from the book of Acts. In Acts 16, you find the Apostle Paul and his friend Silas enjoying some late-night worship. They’re praising God and singing some of their favorite...

Walking Through the Psalms“He will send help from heaven to rescue me…My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.” – Psalm 57:3 (NLT)“When God Shows Off” I attended college in Houston, Texas. Since I lived in Springfield, Ohio, it was a long trek back and forth to go home. Of course, this is decades before GPS or cellphones. One time, when I was driving back to school after a Chris...

Walking Through the Psalms“I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.” – Psalm 57:2 (NLT)“God Is Bigger!” Have you ever doubted yourself? I sure have. And what’s funny is how quickly those feelings of doubt can come! You could have several straight victories, but then, after a crushing defeat, it can feel like all those victories mean nothing, and you’re shaken to the ...

Walking Through the Psalms“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by.” – Psalm 57:1 (NLT)“Come Out of That Cave!” The notes at the beginning of this Psalm say that David wrote it reflecting on the time when he was hiding in a cave. That description struck me. I’ve had my own “caves” I’ve hidden in befo...

Walking Through the Psalms“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” – Psalm 56:8 (NLT)“God’s Diary” My wife is all about memories. Pictures and souvenirs are everywhere in our home. We have knick-knacks, coins, and ornaments from every place we’ve been. But this is not a recent habit or even a hobby she developed as...

Walking Through the Psalms“But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” – Psalm 56:3-4 (NLT)“Stop Trembling and Start Trusting” Several years ago I interviewed at a church for a Senior Pastor position. In the interview they asked me if I was easily intimidated. I laughed and said...

Walking Through the Psalms“Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you.” – Psalm 55:22 (NLT)“Let Go and Let God” “Let go and let God.” Have you ever heard that statement? It’s one of the great statements you learn in the recovery process. And it encompasses a LOT. It means we have to let go of the lies we’re telling ourselves and let God lead us into truth. It means letting go of o...

Walking Through the Psalms“As for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises. His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!” – Psalm 55:20-21 (NLT)“The War Within” In our passage today, David circles back to talk about the friend who betrayed him. He points out how his friend looks and talks one way on...

Walking Through the Psalms“But I will call on God, and the LORD will rescue me.” – Psalm 55:16 (NLT)“Blessed Assurance” Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all t...

Walking Through the Psalms“It is not an enemy who taunts me—I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.” – Psalm 55:12-14 (NLT)“When Church People Hurt You” Not long ago, someone told me about getting hurt at...

Walking Through the Psalms“Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness.” – Psalm 55:6-7 (NLT)“When You Need to Get Away” Do you ever feel like this? I’ll bet there are a WHOLE BUNCH of teachers who feel this way right now! By the end of summer, there will be a whole bunch of parents who will be right there with them!! Let’s ...

Walking Through the Psalms“Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles… Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking.” – Psalm 55:2, 5 (NLT)“Overwhelmed” “Overwhelmed.” Have you ever felt that way? It seems as if I’ve been hearing that word a lot lately. Sometimes it’s the feeling that comes from an avalanche of a lot of “little” things. Like kids, work, household...

Walking Through the Psalms“But God is my helper. The Lord keeps me alive!” – Psalm 54:4 (NLT)“God Is Our Helper!” Several years ago, in a Sunday message, I showed a video clip of an amazing story. A family who was on their way home from church in the summer of 1997 was hit broadside by an ambulance. The father was killed instantly. The mother was hurt but was quickly stabilized by EMTs. The 8-year...

Walking Through the Psalms“Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” – Psalm 53:3 (NIV)“They Are Just YOU Without Him” David uses this verse in his discourse about how evil the world is. He talks about “fools” who say there is no God. He talks about “evildoers” and corrupt people who attack his people. But I don’t think David realized how prof...

Walking Through the Psalms“God, I will thank you forever for what you have done. With those who worship you, I will trust you because you are good.” – Psalm 52:9 (NCV)“Why You Can Trust God” Do you have a hard time trusting? Some of us do. For very good reasons. Many of us have had people in our lives who made promises to us that they didn’t keep. They borrowed money and never repaid it. They told...

Walking Through the Psalms“The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” – Psalm 51:17 (NLT)“The Healing Power of Brokenness” Some time ago, I was talking with a man who had done something that hurt his wife. He came to me frustrated because his wife was not “getting over it” as quickly as he wanted her to. When he told me how he had apologi...

Walking Through the Psalms“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” – Psalm 51:12 (NIV)“Restore My Joy!” The first public miracle that Jesus performed was in John, chapter 2. It was where He turned water into wine. For the Jews, wine represented Joy. For them to run out of wine at a wedding would have been a huge embarrassment. So Jesus saved the day. ...

Walking Through the Psalms“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” – Psalm 51:10 (NLT)“Making the Most of Grace” In 1998, Rene Fernandez stood before Judge Edwin Collier. He was accused of driving while intoxicated. It was his second offense in three months. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail. However, Judge Collier decided to show mercy to Rene. He suspended the jail ...

Walking Through the Psalms“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.” – Psalm 51:1 (NLT)“A Grace That Is Big Enough” Have you ever wondered how big God’s grace really is? I can answer that question for you. It’s Big Enough. It’s big enough to wipe your slate clean, no matter how stained it has become. It’s big enough t...

Walking Through the Psalms“Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High.” – Psalm 50:14 (NLT)“Habits Of The Heart” My youngest son and his wife are working hard with our 4-year-old grandson Adrian to teach him to say “please” and “thank you.” Those simple words are actually magical words that make the people you say them to feel valued and appreciated. The h...