These psalms can cause us to look back into our lives, ponder where we are in this day, or anticipate the days ahead. No matter where our thoughts turn however, we can find cause to praise Him for His goodness and faithfulness.

Psalm 66

The heading in my Bible reads, “Praise for God’s many blessings.”

I kept that thought in mind as I read through the chapter.

So if we know that we are to praise Him, and we know the testing is significant and with purpose, what are we to do? How do we get to the point where we praise? That was the question I began to ask myself, which required another reading of this psalm.

There are several actions which we can take:

• We can sing. “Sing joyfully to God, all the earth; Sing the glory of His name” (verse 1-2, NASB)
• We can choose to see Him, His power, His majesty, and His beauty. “Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men” (verse 5, NASB).
• We can shout to the Lord. “Bless our God, O peoples, and sound His praise abroad” (verse 8, NASB). Shout out praise for what He has done.
• We can come and listen. “Come and hear, all who fear God, and I will tell of what He has done for my soul” (verse 16, NASB).

The study asks: Why do you think the seasons of testing are just as important as the moments of deliverance? What does God teach us in times of testing? In times of deliverance?

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Psalm 68

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation.” (verse 19, NASB)

The heading of this chapter in my Bible reads: “A Song of Triumph and Glory.”

As we triumph, we truly to glory in the Lord, and give Him glory.

The study beautifully and powerfully points out that we are to look at the past, the present, and the future:

“It was a moment of triumph for the people as they looked back to all that God had done, rejoiced in the moment of what He was doing, and also looked forward to the great things that He would yet do.” (from Seek by The Daily Grace Co. page 43)

“It is a call to worship the God who has delivered His people, the God who is delivering His people, and the God who will deliver His people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.” (from Seek by The Daily Grace Co. page 43)

We serve a God who fights and delivers His people. And we are to be a people who have grateful hearts and offer up thanksgiving for the battles we win through Him.

The study asks: Read through the psalm again, and mark or record the actions of man in the passage. What does this tell you about how we should respond to the Lord?

While the entire day’s reading was meaningful, there was one sentence that stood out above the rest:

“He has revealed Himself, and it is that revelation that emboldens our courage to trust Him to do what He has said He will do.”

(from Seek by The Daily Grace Co. page 43)

David rejoiced in the purposes of God as he recalled God’s faithfulness. The recall led him to recognize the power of God and gave him the confidence to trust God and prayer for continued protection.

Prayer led him back to praise.

My prayer truly is that we would become more aware of His Presence, and thus, we would experience the glory of His goodness.

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Psalm 70

“Hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.” (verse 5, NASB)

This psalm is short and yet says so much. Here we are reminded that God is at work to help us as we cry out to Him. We need Him every day, in every season of our lives.

Why?

• Because He alone is our help, our deliverer, our hope.
• Because He alone can deal with those who seek us harm.
• Because He alone cares about the poor and needy.
• Because He alone is our salvation.
• Because He alone will not delay.

“We can rest our lives in the hands of the One who has power over not only our lives and our circumstances but over all things.”

(from Seek by The Daily Grace Co., page 49)

Because He is the One.

The study asks: What attributes or character traits of God do you see in this psalm?
Take a few minutes to look back at the psalms and see His character. It will fill you with hope.

May you know He is at always at work in every situation, in every day.

~*~*~

In both testing and triumph,
we can experience His presence as we continue to pray,
because we rest in God’s sovereignty, grace, and mercy.

 

Image by Michael Reichelt from Pixabay
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