When I started to lose my vision, I was compelled to read every bible verse that had “eyes” or “look” in it. In my concordance there were 34 verses. I wrote them out long hand in hopes I would remember them. I became very fond of the verses that mentioned turning our eyes to the Lord. To catch a glimpse of what God was doing. To signal humility as we “look up” at the LORD who is greater than us.

Recently someone asked me if my other senses have increased as my vision decreased. I had to really think about that. I do feel like I can sense the LORD more in my heart, and my hearing is more sensitive. I pay attention whenever I hear someone in public say his name. My perception has improved, I am able to “catch on” to what’s happening around me faster. Is it because my vision has decreased or is it because I sought the LORD with earnest during this season of my life? Maybe the answer is “yes” to both. I’m still mulling it over. I can testify that you can see the LORD even with low vision.

LORD, I look up to you, up to heaven, where you rule. Psalm 123:1

I look to the LORD for mercy, understanding, acceptance, and to sense what He is doing so that I can join in.

Lord, give us eyes to see you and a heart to follow you.

See you tomorrow for Psalm 124.

I spent years looking for help in all the wrong places. The help was temporary, complicated and at times harmful. Sometimes I needed help from my help.

Every time I sought help from the Lord and stayed out of His way, His help was comprehensive and long-lasting. It often multiplied, answering situations I would face in the future.

My experience with the Lord gives me confidence to pray the last two verses of this psalm over my sons and grandsons. Encouraging them always to find their true help from the Lord.

The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your life.The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in [everything that you do] From this time forth and forever. Psalm 121:7-8

See you tomorrow for Psalm 122.

When I read this psalm, I thought of the spiritual attack we all face. The deceiver, the accuser, the father of all lies. When we are not clear about our identity in Christ, the deceiver will pitch options at us, hoping we will agree with one. If we do, we can become trapped under this bullying and spend days, months or years in sorrow.

Let’s remember today that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Our sins are forgiven and we are called to take part in God’s plan. In God’s plan we will find our true hope and purpose.

Save us, Jesus, from the lies of the deceiver. Remind us who we are and that in you, we are free.

See you tomorrow for Psalm 121.

Psalm 117 is the shortest psalm and the middle-mark of the Bible. These fun-facts don’t mean too much to me but they may be useful in a trivia game.

What I found powerful about this psalm is that you can apply it to your life at any time and in every situation. We are to always praise the Lord – in good times, bad times and so/so times. He is the source of our praise and the truth that never changes. Maybe we could say – God put the true in truth.

Verse 2, in the amplified bible is thought-provoking. “His lovingkindness prevails over us and we triumph and overcome through Him”. As I thought through these word, I saw some victories in my life differently. I triumphed and overcame when I found the self-control to step-back. To be still. To let go of something to let God work it out. The victories He achieved in me and for the situation were far more than I could have done under my own power.

Thank you Jesus. I praise you because you are the truth, the way and the life.

O praise the LORD, all you nations! Praise Him, all you people! For His lovingkindness prevails over us [and we triumph and overcome through Him], And the truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!). Psalm 117

See you tomorrow for Psalm 118.

Psalm 116 is a tribute to God for his saving power. The psalmist faced certain death and called out to the LORD. “I beg you, LORD, save me!” The LORD saved him in a way he knew that it could have only been the LORD who acted. His psalm is full of gratitude and praise.

I’ve been thinking about psalm 111:9 since I posted it a few days ago. The words that stuck with me are: “He has paid a full ransom for his people”. In our economy, to pay for something in full is a transaction that transfers ownership and a ransom is to pay for someone’s release. God not only released us, he transferred ownership. This isn’t new news to me, but it took on a deeper meaning to me and has made me feel safe and content.

I am full of gratitude to belong to God. The God who loves me, helps me, cares for me and totally “gets me”. I will call on him as long as my feet are on this earth.

See you tomorrow for Psalm 117.

Psalm 115 is a confession that our God is “The One True God”, and all other gods are nothing compared to Him. I was attracted to the list in verses 4-8, because I love a good list. This list describes the characteristics of other gods. It’s blunt and powerful. Simply summed up: other gods are formed by human hands are are not alive. They are no competition to our God.

The psalmist calls us to trust the LORD and reminds us that the LORD will bless us, protect us and help us. He is alive, he made heaven and earth and us. He alone deserves the glory.

To you alone, O LORD, to you alone, and not to us, must glory be given because of your constant love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1

See you tomorrow for psalm 116.

Psalm 114 celebrates and brags on God, the miracle worker. The psalmist reflects on some of the moments God transformed nature to make a way for his people Israel; parting the Red Sea, stopping the Jordan river from flowing, bringing water out of a rock in the desert. God commands nature to come under his authority. Nature responds. God’s good will prevails.

If God can work miracles with nature, what miracles can he work in your life? He calls you to come under his authority. How do you respond? Who’s will prevails?

See you tomorrow for Psalm 115.

Psalm 113 is a Hallelujah psalm. Praising God for who He is and all he does for his people. It is a psalm of action, describing what the LORD does: He stoops down to look upon us, he lifts the poor and the needy out of their situations, he sets them among the royalty, he gives the childless woman a family to love. He sees our needs and he meets them, transforming our lives from despair to hope, from empty to full.

We pray, God acts, things change. Amen

Who can be compared with the LORD our God, who is enthroned on high? Psalm 113:5

See you tomorrow for Psalm 114.

Psalm 112 is a “glass half-full” psalm. I may also call it a “sunny side-up” psalm. The psalmist portrays the life of a believer as always hopeful regardless of the situation they may find themselves. Their confidence in what the LORD can and will do helps them to be a light to others.

We can demonstrate this by sharing true and encouraging words with people who are struggling, we can pray for those who need healing, we can give to those who need help. We can speak of a future that includes God’s mercy and faithfulness. We know we are not alone. Our traveling partner has every resource we could ever need.

Light shines in the darkness for good people, for those who are merciful, kind, and just. Psalm 112:4

See you tomorrow for Psalm 113.

A psalm of Thanksgiving, written after Israel left Babylon. This psalm is sung during passover, in grateful remembrance of God rescuing Israel from Egypt. The verse that popped out to me is verse 9.

He has paid a full ransom for his people. He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever. What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has! Psalm 111:9

When I read this verse, I think of Jesus. When the psalmist wrote this verse, he was thinking of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. The psalmist didn’t know what God would do in the future for all of us, as God’s provision continued to evolve. There is more to come, we have prophecy to inform us but we don’t know the day or time or exactly how things will play out. But we do know that God has a plan and He will provide for us.

See you tomorrow for psalm 112

Psalm 110 is the most quoted psalm in the new testament and verse 1 is the most quoted verse. It is a succinct foretelling of God’s plan for Jesus, His Lordship and victory.

God has been giving mankind previews of His plan and its unfolding since Adam. Sometimes sharing words directly to his followers or indirectly, through prophets. Some messages have been more clear than others. The message behind all the messages is that God loves us and He has a plan we are invited to join.

The LORD (Father) says to my Lord (the Messiah, His Son), “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet [subjugating them into complete submission].” Psalm 110:1

See you tomorrow for Psalm 111.

Psalm 107 is a psalm of praise, thanking God for how he rescues us. The psalmist highlights four situations that God’s people called on Him for help; those hopelessly lost in the wilderness, those imprisoned and bound by chains, those buried in their own sin and rebellious decisions, those lost at sea and caught in fierce storms. None of these situations were too desperate for God to intervene and rescue His people and return them to safety. The psalmist asked them each to do one thing: Pray and ask God for HiS help.

God, through his compassion and lovingkindness, was faithful to help them all.

We can be caught in these same situations, physically or metaphorically. Either way, we can ask the same God to help us and He will.

O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His compassion and lovingkindness endure forever! Psalm 107:1

See you tomorrow for Psalm 108.

Psalm 104 is a tribute to God’s handiwork. David is reflecting on the rhythms he has witnessed that the Lord, thoughtfully, put in place. The lions hunt at night and the men work during the day. The sea is full of its own creatures and the Lord feeds them all. The moon and the sun know exactly where to set.

God’s handiwork is never-ending. The more you look, the more you’ll find. We adore you Lord and all that the you have created.

All of creation testifies that our redeemer lives.

See you tomorrow for Psalm 105

Psalm 103 is full of hope for you and for the generations that follow you. David speaks of God’s lovingkindness towards his life and over those who will succeed him. He is clear to point out that we must honor and keep God’s covenant. We need to remember to do His commandments and imprint His word upon our hearts.

I’m sure you’ve heard the analogy that relationships are like tennis matches. You each give and receive from on another. The more interaction we have with God, the more we learn about Him and the more we receive from Him. Every second we spend in relationship with Him, he gives back exponentially. There’s never a bad time to stop and connect with God. He will never be too busy to receive you.

See you tomorrow for Psalm 104

Psalm 101 is a list of qualities David finds honorable and dishonorable. He tells God that his desire is to associate only with people who are honest and trustworthy and to cut out people who exhibit the qualities he finds despicable. It’s important to evaluate those who you chose to associate closely with and this Psalm can help us think that out.

I wondered today, what our country would look like if there were more people in leadership that David himself would have hired. Running attack ads would be forbidden and taking credit for only the good things you’ve done would also be frowned upon. It may be a cheap shot, but it’s all so visible right now during the election season.

Surround yourself with good people. #can’tlose.

See you tomorrow for Psalm 102.

My 150 day journey through the psalms has hit the triple digits. I am happy and a bit surprised to be at day 100 and to not have missed one day. It’s been a great new habit to add to my weekly schedule and it’s been very nourishing to my hungry soul. It also means there is only 50 days left in 2022 and the cold weather is rolling in. I’m bundling up for the final 50-day stretch and looking ahead with great expectation for what I will learn.

Psalm 100 is a continuation of the celebration of God’s temple in Jerusalem. The focus is an invitation to recognize that God created us and to joyfully, with gratitude, draw near to Him. My curiosity was heightened when I read verse 3 in the amplified version.

Know and fully recognize with gratitude that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, not we ourselves (and we are His). We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

We do not hold the power to have created ourselves, we have a creator. And our creator welcomes us through his gate and into his courts. Let’s enter with a song of thanksgiving – and praise – and meet the one who calls us home. Amen.

See you tomorrow for Psalm 101