Whom Shall I Fear? (Psalm 27:1-3)

Today's scripture: Psalm 27:1-3

I love, love, LOVE today's verses! We even talked about them in church on Sunday ...

We live in a really scary world. So much death and violence. So much sickness and pain. So many people doing so many awful things to so many others ...

If I didn't know that the God of the universe is real and in control, I would just crawl into a hole and ... well, you know ...

But I do know that the God of the Bible created this world. I do know He was in control then and is in control now. I do know that He is the ultimate victor in this fight against evil.

So, I don't have to worry. I don't have to fear.

These verses don't say I don't need to fear because nothing bad will happen. The psalmist still had enemies. No, I don't need to fear because, even if bad does happen, God is "my light and my salvation."

Man can hurt me, torture me, persecute me ... kill me. But I don't have to fear any of this because God, the "strength of my life," will help me through whatever comes my way.

And if man's efforts take my life? I know I'll be with my Savior. Forever.

So, really, why should I fear?

Living Among Sinners (Psalm 26:9-12)

Today's scripture: Psalm 26:9-12

Over the last few days, I've written of being a person of integrity and living with an "attitude of gratitude." Today's verses tie these together nicely.

No matter what happens in life, even if we're surrounded by "sinners ... [and] bloodthirsty men," we have choices to make. We can buy into the world's sin and corruption, or we can "walk in integrity" and be the people God has created us to be We can be shining lights in this dark world.

We can wallow in the mire of all that is wrong with this world—and perhaps in our own lives—or we can "stand in an even place ... [and] bless the Lord."

It's not easy to stand strong when everyone around tells us to "live and let live." You don't have to live by old-fashioned morals, they say. If it makes you happy, do it, they cajole. Go to church on Sundays, if you must, but have fun the rest of the week, they entice.

Living like Christ, following biblical principles, being people of integrity ... these aren't popular.

If we are, however, redeemed by the blood of Christ, how can we live any other way? If we have experienced the grace our merciful God offers us, how can we not stand firm?

We who follow Christ are a blessed people. One day, we'll stand in front of our Redeemer ... Will He find us to be people of integrity who stood strong in faith?

I hope so. I pray so.

Thanks and Gratitude (Psalm 26:6-8)

Today's scripture: Psalm 26:6-8

Thanksgiving. Giving thanks. Showing gratitude.

Sometimes, I get so caught up in the day-to-day "stuff" of like, I forget how truly, truly blessed I am. I focus on what's wrong rather than what is amazingly right. I get caught up in daily pain or stress instead of reveling in the joy I have just being the daughter of my Father.

I want to have an "attitude of gratitude." I want to wake up every morning, thanking God for a new day to do His purpose. I want to "count my blessings." Remember that old chorus?

Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God has done!

The song goes on for seven stanzas, ending with:

Count your blessings, count them seven by seven, Count your many blessings, count them all the way to heaven!

Even on the darkest days when the very act of moving causes pain, I can count my blessings.

I can thank Him for grace and mercy. I can thank Him for my supportive, loving husband. I can thank Him for a flexible, purposeful vocation. I can thank Him for a lovely home. I can thank Him for friends and family. I can thank Him for my four-legged fur-baby.

I can even thank Him for the pain that keeps my mind and heart close to Him.

Every day, I can "proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of [His] wondrous works."

Every day.

Examine Me, Lord God (Psalm 26:1-5)

Today's scripture: Psalm 26:1-5

We talked about this word on Wednesday: Integrity. It's worth a more in-depth investigation. Integrity is a word that's thrown out quite often. But what does it really mean to be a person of integrity? As I wrote before, a person of integrity is the same in public as she is in private.

In other words, what you see is what you get.

Often, however, we have a public face, one that we show to the world. We're kind, gentle, and humble when we're with others, but behind closed doors, we complain, nitpick, compare, and think ourselves better than others.

Guess what? God can see behind closed doors. He sees the face we put on for others; He sees the darkest places in our hearts. We can't get away with anything.

Wow. This is convicting.

Can I really pray along with the psalmist that God examine me? Prove me? Try my mind and heart?

Oh, how I would like to give an unequivocal "yes!"

But too often I hide my unholy thoughts or do things in private that I know are not honoring God.

It's then when I drop to my knees (often figuratively as my knees don't "fall" like they used to) and ask the Holy Spirit to help me be the woman God created me to be. To help me be the same in private and in public.

To help me be a woman of integrity.

A Legacy of Integrity (Psalm 25:16-22)

Today's scripture: Psalm 25:16-22

What do you want your epitaph to be? What do you want people to say about you when you're gone? What kind of legacy do you want to leave?

I would count it a blessing to be described as a woman of "integrity and uprightness." I've heard integrity as being the same in private as in public. No masks. No hidden agendas. Just "what you see is what you get."

Several people in the Bible have been described with words that illustrate integrity and uprightness. Stephen is called "... a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit ... full of grace and power" (Acts 6:5, 8). David is called "a man after [God's] own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14). Abraham "believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, and he was called the 'friend of God'" (James 2:23). Jacob became the father of the nation of Israel.

Great words for anyone's epitaph, wouldn't you say?

These were not perfect men. We know David committed adultery and arranged for the death of Uriah. Abraham lied twice about Sarah's being his sister. Jacob stole his brother's birthright.

No, they weren't perfect, but they believed in and followed a perfect God. Though they failed sometimes, their hearts were focused on God and His purpose, so they strove to be men of integrity and uprightness.

I may not be (ok, I am not!) perfect, but I too strive to be a woman of integrity and uprightness. I try to be the same person privately and publicly. I do my best to be live the fruit of the Spirit and to filter my thoughts, words, and actions through Philippians 4:8.

Perhaps one day, my epitaph will read something like Stephen's. Or David's. Or Abraham's.

That's the legacy I want to leave. What about you?

Prosperity ... God's Way (Psalm 25:12-15)

Today's scripture: Psalm 25:12-15

Much has been said about the so-called prosperity gospel. The name it and claim it. The "if you ask, you'll always receive."

While God always does answer prayer, we may not always get the answer we want. And when we pray for prosperity, we may not become what the world defines as prosperous.

Prosperity in God's view isn't a lot of money, a big house, or a fancy car. It isn't grand exotic vacations. It isn't jewelry or electronics. I believe when the Bible talks about prosperity and "inheriting the earth," it's referring to the future heaven and earth where each of us who has committed his or her life to the Lord will reign with Him forever.

But I also believe in prosperity on earth—just not in terms of net worth. My prosperity is in the blessings God has given me. First and foremost, He has given me a new life through the death and resurrection of His Son. Second, He has given me a wonderful, supportive husband. Third, He has given me a loving family and amazing friends. Finally, He has given me a vocation I love.

I may not be prosperous as the world defines prosperous, but I feel tremendously, overwhelmingly rich in God's blessings.

Pardon for Sin ... (Psalm 25:11)

Today's scripture: Psalm 25:11

The Bible tells us (and I'm pretty sure we'd know this even if it didn't) in Romans 3:23 that ALL have sinned ... ALL. I think that means ... ALL.

Even if one doesn't believe in the Bible, I think most people would agree that there's something is very, very broken in this world.

It often seems quite hopeless ... or at least it would be if I wasn't assured that the God of the Bible is faithful and real and true, and He offers salvation.

I know I can cry the words of the psalmist, "Pardon my iniquity ..." and He will. I know I can confess my sins, and He will be faithful to forgive me (1 John 1:9).

Even more, I know that one day, this broken, sinful world will be no more. There will be a new heaven and a new earth—a perfect place where I will be in the presence of my Lord God forever.

So, while on earth, I commit each day to the Lord. I seek His will and His purpose. I confess when I sin ... and I sing the wise, enduring words of my very favorite hymn:

"Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth.
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide.
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.
Blessings all mine and ten-thousand besides"
(Great Is Thy Faithfulness, lyrics: Thomas O. Chisholm).

Our Merciful God (Psalm 25:10)

Today's scripture: Psalm 25:10

One of the most amazing things about our God is how merciful He is. You may have heard mercy defined as our not getting what we do deserve. We are all sinners—each and every one of us. We are prideful (see Monday's devotional about that topic!). We gossip. We get angry. We tell what we laughingly call "white lies."

Some of us have done even worse ...

As the Bible succinctly puts it, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (NKJV, Romans 3:23). Indeed, "There is none righteous, no not one" (3:10). Each and every one of us deserves eternal separation from God.

Oh, but then there's that wonderful, amazing word: mercy. God in His mercy doesn't give us what we do deserve. When we commit our lives to Him, we don't get that eternal separation. Instead, we do get what we don't deserve: grace.

God's grace offers salvation and redemption. It lets us relish an on-earth relationship with Him. It gives us confidence that we'll spend eternity with Him.

Mercy ... we deserve hell, but we get heaven.

Take a moment and ponder this amazing gift of mercy. Then take another moment and thank the Lord for His mercy ... and His grace.

Give Credit Where It's Due (Psalm 25:8-9)

Today's scripture: Psalm 25:8-9

Humility ... not a word that is used much in our society. We hear about the best and the brightest. The smartest. The most talented. The richest. The most powerful.

We take pride in ... well, being prideful.

We compare ourselves to others. We get "puffed up" when people tell us we've done well. We look in the mirror and say, "Good for me!"

This isn't how we Christ-followers should be. Time and time again, the Bible writes that pride is a sin and humility, a virtue. We read, "Pride and arrogance and the evil way ... [God] hate[s] ..." (NKJV, Proverbs 8:13) or "When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom" (11:2) or "A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor" (29:23).

Jesus Himself illustrated humility.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)

Besides, nothing we are, nothing we have, nothing we can do is because of us. If we have any abilities, it's because God has given them to us. So when we're prideful, we're taking credit for something God has done.

God loves humble hearts. He loves it when we praise Him for what He does in and through our gifts and talents.

So, the next time you're doing something, and someone commends you for your efforts, certainly graciously thank them. But then say, "I'm grateful to God for what He does through me."

Give credit where credit is definitely due!

Sins of My Youth ... (Psalm 25:6-7)

Today's scripture: Psalm 25:6-7

I wasted so much of my youth. Because of abuse I experienced from ages nine to 16, I turned my back on the Lord. I chose my own path and did so much of which I'm not proud.

After I gave my life back to the Lord 25 years ago, for several years, I would beat myself up for those lost years. After I began to truly meditate and study God's word (see Wednesday's devotional for more about this topic!), He would give me "splashes of joy" that reminded me that I was forgiven—completely. Verses like today's reminded me of God's "tender mercies and ... lovingkindnesses ..."

Then, even better, He'd remind me that He doesn't "remember the sins of my youth ..." Elsewhere, I knew I could be confident: "How far has the Lord taken our sins from us? Farther than the distance from east to west!" (CEV, Psalm 103:12).

Sometimes, the enemy of our souls wants to drag us down and make us wallow in our sins, even those made years ago. This is not the heart of our Father. He promises that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (NKJV, 1 John1:9).

Our Savior died as a "once-for-all" sacrifice pay the penalty for our sins. All He asks is that we "go and sin no more" (NKJV, John 8:11).

Praise God for His mercy and grace ... and thank Him that He remembers our sin no more.

Know God More ... Today (Psalm 25:4-5)

Today's scripture: Psalm 25:4-5

We who follow Jesus Christ serve the one true God. He is gracious, merciful, righteous, and just ... and He is personal, wanting to be known by His children.

Other faith systems believe in some kind of higher power that is "out there" somewhere. Our God isn't like that at all. He knows us and wants to be known by us. He has left us a wonderful gift in His words that show us His heart.

We know God through His word, and all we have to do is study and meditate on its words. He "shows [us His] ways" and "teach[es us His] paths; He lead[s us in His] truth and teach[es us]" through the God-breathed words in the Bible.

That's why it is critical for believers to spend daily time in the Bible, studying and pondering its words. This is more than just a cursory reading just a verse here and there; rather, it is taking significant time prayerfully meditating on what God is trying to tell us. It's asking questions like, "Lord, what do you want me to know about this verse, this chapter?"

Our God wants to teach us. He wants to show us His ways and paths. He wants to reveal His plans. He only asks that we spend time with Him.

Today, grab your Bible. Pray for God's revelation as you read, study, and meditate on His word.

Know Him more today.

Unashamed (Psalm 25:1-3)

Today's scripture: Psalm 25:1-3

I’ve mentioned before that I’ve been journaling for many years, and one constant theme has been how trustworthy God is.

As my journey has gone from the highest mountains to the lowest valleys, He has been with me. Protecting me. Providing for me. Blessing me. Comforting me.

As I write these words, I am convicted. I am so unworthy of His everlasting love and never-forsaking presence. Even when I have neglected Him or ignored Him, He has continued to be trustworthy.

I read the next words in today's scripture, and I pray along with the psalmist: "Let me not be ashamed." So often, I fail to share God's truth with others. I don't always seize those moments to tell of His love and grace. To my credit, it's not because I'm ashamed of God; rather, it's because I'm ashamed of my own inadequacies. "What if I say the wrong thing?" or "What will they think?"

My constant prayer should be—must be—to give the Lord all glory, honor, and praise. To joyfully and unashamedly share His truth with others. To surrender everything to Him.

For He is worthy of my trust.