Psalm 119 - 6.2.25

Scripture

Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭50‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.”

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Observation

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses in it. If we sum up this chapter in two words, it would be God’s Word. It is only fitting that the longest chapter of His Word speaks about itself!

In this particular verse, the author is saying that God’s promises give him comfort through suffering.

Application

Fill our minds with God’s Word in times of suffering or a broken heart. 

Here are some practical ways to do that which have personally been helpful for me:

1. Follow along on our daily Bible readings and SOAP blogs. There are readings everyday with 1 chapter from the Old Testament, 1 from the New Testament and 1 chapter from the Psalms. The Psalms are incredibly helpful in times of grief or sorrow. https://www.desertstreams.com/bibleandjournal

2. Listen to worship music. In really hard times like grief, hymns tend to be the biggest comfort to me. Many of them come straight from the Word of God. 

3. Look up passages that deal with what you’re specifically going through and encourage yourself through those verses. This has become so easy because of the internet. For example, you can type in, “Bible verses about suffering.”

4. Talk to someone who will encourage you through God’s Word, especially if you are in a pit that you are unable to encourage yourself out of. This can be with a trusted believer, friend, Pastor, or counselor.

5. Memorize a Scripture a week and fill your mind with His Word instead of the enemy’s lies. His Word is our offensive weapon against the enemy’s attacks on our mind and heart. (Ephesians 6:17)

God’s Word is very powerful!

According to 2 Timothy 3:16, the Bible is God-breathed, which means it was written by human hands, but by inspiration of our living God.

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” -Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for Your perfect Word. Thank You that especially in times of loss, grief or suffering, Your Word does not just light my path, but also gives me deep comfort, encouragement and hope. I pray that I would always meditate on it and share any encouragement You give me with others who are suffering too. Amen. 

-Michelle Gaddi

Psalms 119 - 5.30.25

Scripture: ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭9‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.”

Observation:

What a great reminder of how to walk in purity, living in God’s Word.

—The Psalmist declares they will seek God with all their heart and hide God’s word in it.

—They ask God to teach them His decrees.

—Then, they give a great how-to for learning them:

• Recount all the laws by saying them out loud. 

• Rejoice in following them as you would in having great wealth. 

• Meditate and consider God’s ways. 

• Delight in and do not neglect the word. 

Application:

I want this to be my lesson plan for my daily walk with God. 

I desire to remember each day how God’s word can bring delight and keep me pure. So, I can follow His commands and walk in His ways. 

This is something I need to post on my mirror and memorize. 

Prayer:

Lord,

Thank you for this incredible reminder of the value of your Word. May I truly delight in your statues. I know your Word is far more valuable than riches. Please help me live that out in my daily life. Bring this to my remembrance as I start each day.  Give me the ability to know your Word and be able to recount it not just for my benefit, but for others. 

Amen

- Cindy Howard

Nehemiah 5 - 05.29.25

SCRIPTURE :Nehemiah 5:1-7 NIV

“Now [about this time] the men and their wives raised a great outcry —against their fellow Jews.

Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous;

in order for us to eat and stay alive—we must get grain [food].”

Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards AND —our homes to get grain [food] during the famine.”

Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have had to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.”

When I heard their outcry and these charges—I was very angry.

I pondered them in my mind—and—then accused the nobles and officials.

I told them, “You are charging your OWN people interest!”

So I called together a large meeting to deal with them”

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OBSERVATION

As the rebuilding of the wall was taking place, the external pressures and additional

threats of attack had posed such a danger, that precautionary measures necessitated everyone to pull double duty.

“I also told everyone living outside the walls to stay in Jerusalem. That way they and their servants could help with guard duty at night and work during the day. During this time, none of us—not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me—ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.” (Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

However—Nehemiah soon found out, it was not just the physical city with its wall that needed desperate attention. There was a Far Greater issue about to unfold—just as the walls were being constructed—the people were breaking apart at the seams.

Food was scarce, bills were piling up, taxes were through the roof, many were forced into borrowing money on their fields—which they now couldn’t pay back. This caused an additional issue—their children now were being sold as slaves since they had no means to pay the money back that they had borrowed.

AND—Their own people were charging excessive taxes which was against God’s Law.

APPLICATION

Lead The Change

The wealthy Jewish landowners were using this time as an opportunity to levy extreme interest rates on the amount of money that was being borrowed. Something that is strictly forbidden by God’s Law.

As a result the Jewish community was suffering and cried out to Nehemiah for help.

Nehemiah immediately responded by calling a meeting with the Nobles and Officials who were being accused.

“When I heard their complaints, I was very angry. Then I pressed further, “What you are doing is not right! Should you not walk in the fear of our God in order to avoid being mocked by enemy nations?”

‭‭(Nehemiah‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬, ‭9‬ ‭NLT‬)

What these Men were doing was clearly against God’s Law. No Jewish person is ever supposed to charge another Jewish person interest when loaning money to someone in need.

““If you lend money to any one of My people with you who is poor, you shall not act as a creditor (professional moneylender) to him; you shall not charge him interest.”

‭‭(Exodus‬ ‭22‬:‭25‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

When Nehemiah reminded these men of God’s word, they were immediately convicted and promised to give back everything that they had taken.

We also learn that Nehemiah had been setting an example all along.

As a Governor he was entitled to a monthly salary and a food allowance. But he states that he fears God..so he chose to not accept these allowances.

Rather he paid out of his pocket for the expenses that were required for the upkeep and entertaining AND he rolled up his sleeves and worked alongside everyone at the wall.

It only took ONE Leader, Nehemiah, to remind them, that what they were doing was not just against each other…but against God.

Nehemiah’s words quickly and sharply convicted them…because the words were God’s Truth.

Nehemiah is such a great example of Leadership.

Nehemiah is a man who is more concerned with Fearing God than what People think.

Nehemiah understands, like Jesus, that leaders have a heart of service.

Nehemiah is on the frontline, demonstrating his trust in God throughout the process.

Nehemiah’s desire is for the people to honor and glorify God-putting Him first above everything else in their lives.

PRAYER

LORD Jesus,

Thank YOU for giving us the book Nehemiah. More and More I see how powerfully YOU are able to work through ONE person who is willing. The people were moving in the wrong direction—but ONE person reminded them of YOUR Word. Help me to be a woman of YOUR Word. Lord Jesus Teach me. I want everything YOU have for me. Quiet me before You Today. Plant Your Word deep in my heart. Fill me fresh with Your Spirit today.

In Jesus Name. Amen.

Tina L Kudelka