Psalm 8
Scripture
Psalm 8:2-“Through the praise fo children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.”
Observation-What does it say?
Here is another Psalm of King David. Yesterday, I wrote about how King David would encourage himself through the Lord and his inward venting turned into praise and thanksgiving to God. In today’s reading, he talks about the power in the praise/worship of children!
Understanding-What does it mean?
A child’s prayer and worship is so powerful that it pushes back the enemy. When I would lead worship in kids church, I would encourage our kids with this verse often.
Life Application
Teach and encourage our kids to worship Jesus, not just in words, music, and prayer, but also in lifestyle.
Thank You Lord for our children and the power You have given them to push back the enemy through their worship of You. I pray we would continually model worship to our kids and not think it is only reserved for adults. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi
Psalm 7
Scripture
“I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.”
Observation-What does it say?
King David “prays to God to plead his cause, and judge for him (1-9).” He expresses confidence in God, and will give him the glory of his deliverance (10-17).” (Matthew Henry’s concise Bible commentary on Christianity.com)
Understanding-What does it mean?
I love how King David always goes to the Lord first for everything. He vents to the Lord for deliverance from his enemies, requests His advocacy, runs to Him as His shield, Savior and Righteous Judge. As a result, King David has encouraged himself out of his distress and his venting has turned from his inward problems to outward praise and thanksgiving to the Lord.
Life Application
Go to the Lord FIRST for everything!
When we go to Jesus first for deliverance, help, comfort, etc., guess what? He gets all the glory for it. No one else, but Him. We no longer focus on our situation, but rather on the One who is worthy of all honor and praise.
Let’s make our personal baggage holder Jesus, just like King David did. He’s the only One who could truly handle it and help us/encourage us through it all. As a result, we are able to help, encourage and comfort others in the Lord too (2 Corinthians 1:4)!
-Michelle Gaddi
1 Peter 1
Scripture
1 Peter 1:6-9 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
Observation-What does it say?
The letters of 1 & 2 Peter were written by “The Rock.” Not the wrestler, but the apostle. The one who was so zealous for the Lord, he was willing to cut off a man’s ear. He was also the one who denied knowing Jesus, not once but three times. He was the one who proclaimed the Lord’s salvation on the day of pentecost. It is also believed that Peter was crucified as a martyr for his profession of Jesus. Needles to say, Peter experienced his share of joy and tribulation as a Christian. In the beginning of his first letter, Peter writes to his audience about the joy to be found in following Jesus. He gives us two reasons to be filled with joy in this life, despite the possibility of suffering tribulation. “The first reason for our joy is the great future God promises us and his unswerving commitment to keep it for us and us for it. In other words, our joy is based on the happiness of our future with God and the certainty that we will make it there...The second reason is that God has a design for our distresses in this life”(John Piper).
Understanding-What does it mean?
For some reason, the phrase “the proof is in the pudding” has surfaced several times in my life recently. Whether the source be from a pod-cast I am listening to, an article I’m reading, or a colleague of mine saying the phrase, it has been circling around in my life recently. While I think it’s a strange phrase, and even though I like pudding, I always find it gross to think about. It’s as if I have to reach my hand into a bowl of pudding to find some sort of clue or evidence of something. I can be a little weird about textures.But, in our faith, the proof is more than just in the pudding. Our faith is evidenced by the way we love others. Our love of others is in response to the great love that God bestows on us as adopted children and heirs to the kingdom (1 John 4:19, Romans 8:17). It’s because we have our hope set on the kingdom of heaven that we can find joy in the unpleasant but temporary circumstances here on earth (James 1:2-4). It is also this faith that is the evidence of heaven (Hebrews 11:1).
Life Application
Jesus, help me to show my hope through loving others. In times of distress, uncertainty, or financial hardship, help me to seek out others to show your love to. And when I start feeling as though I can’t make it, help me to know I can lean on your understanding.
-Tyler Galloway