Psalm 144 - 8.4.26

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm 144:9

“I will sing a new song to You, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to You, to the One who gives victory to kings, who delivers His servant David.”

OBSERVATION:  David took up his harp and sang a new song of praise to God, being assured that the Lord would give him victory over his enemies. 

APPLICATION:  When we worship God we can thank Him for being the Deliverer over our enemies. He sent His Son Jesus to be our Savior, and we are secure in Him.  David exemplified how all believers should worship God for being our Deliverer. 

God is worthy of praise for identifying with lost humanity by “taking on the likeness of men” by providing eternal salvation for all who believe and receive the gift of eternal life. Knowing Jesus and all that He has done for us should impact our worship experience. 

We have every reason to worship the Lord Jesus and praise His holy name because He was willing to leave heaven and come to the earth as a human being to live among us. He sacrificed His life for our sins, and offered an intimate relationship with God to any who would receive Him. THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS! THE GOSPEL, and those who are born again, born of God through Jesus, become children of God and inherit eternal life, along with immeasurable spiritual riches.  Once we understand this gospel, the only reasonable response is to accept this amazing gift and gratefully offer our praise and worship to God. 

PRAYER:  Thank You Lord for Who You are, and for what You have done for us through Your death, resurrection and ascension.  I praise You and worship You for being our Deliverer.  Thank You for the security we have in You.

Thank You God for choosing us, for redeeming us, for adopting us into Your forever family, and for sealing us with the promised Holy Spirit.  We are truly blessed, and we have every reason to worship and praise You because of the way You have enlightened us to know You, and for the immeasurable greatness of Your power to us who believe.  I pray I will not hold back the praises You deserve after experiencing the countless ways You have delivered me.

- Robin Orefice

Psalm 143 - 8.3.26

S -  Psalms 143:8

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.”

O -  This clearly shows the direction we all need to go!  This scripture was written when David was running for his life.  For David to have the insight to write this in desperation is a message to us to begin our day reading and prayer at the beginning of our day before the challenges of our daily lives begin.

A -  My goal is to make a point of reading God's word and pray over my day and ask for the direction He has intended for me.  Good or bad days started within his presence is better than being on my own.

P -  Lord, I pray that you are the first thought of every morning and you continue to remind me of the importance of asking for direction according to your will.  Amen

- Brian Moen

Acts 3 - 7.31.26

Scripture: Acts 3:17-19

“Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”

Observation

Peter and John just healed the lame beggar at the Temple. The Israelites were amazed by this. This gave Peter a chance to witness to the Israelites about Jesus. Peter held nothing back, telling them they murdered Jesus, the Holy and Righteous one.They asked Pilate to release a criminal over Jesus. Peter then told them God raised Jesus from the dead. It was faith in Jesus' name that healed this beggar. Peter then pointed out their sin of ignorance. We were not any different before coming to Christ. Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

I think Peter's direct approach to witnessing to the Israelites was they were at the temple. They should have known about Jesus through Old Testament Scriptures. 

Application

Peter in Acts 3:19 "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." Peter told the Israelites to repent of their sins. They still have an opportunity to be saved by grace. We have the same opportunity, as the Israelites. to repent of our sins.

 2 Chronicles 7:14 "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." That verse sounds refreshing and so does Psalm 103:8-12  “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. “                                                                                                               

Prayer 

Jesus, the Savior of the World, thank you for giving us a chance to repent of our sins and for being quick to forgive us. Jesus you are the great healer. 

Thank you Jesus for remembering my transgressions no more. Help me to praise you in the midst of the pain in my body.  May my pain turn into passion for You, Jesus. Refresh me when I read your word, refresh me when I pray and refresh me when I praise you. Thank you in Jesus name Amen.

- Robert Oberg