This devotional guide is designed to help you in your walk with God. The goal of each day’s reading is for you to communicate with God; to hear from Him through His Word, and to respond in prayer. In order to meet this goal, I encourage you to keep a daily journal of your time with God. I have found it helpful to use the following four categories when I journal...
- Scripture: Write out a verse or verses that especially spoke to you.
- Observation: Briefly write down the truth that is expressed in the verse.
- Application: Reflect on how the truth of this verse can be lived out in your life. Record these reflections. The thoughts expressed by the pastoral staff each day can help you in your observation and application.
- Prayer: Write out a prayer of response to God. Thank Him for the truth He has shown you. Ask for His wisdom and strength as you seek to apply this truth.
May God bless you as you journey with Him through His Word.
Pastor Lyle
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Psalm 132
A song of ascents.
1 Lord, remember David
and all his self-denial.
2 He swore an oath to the Lord,
he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
3 “I will not enter my house
or go to my bed,
4 I will allow no sleep to my eyes
or slumber to my eyelids,
5 till I find a place for the Lord,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
6 We heard it in Ephrathah,
we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:
7 “Let us go to his dwelling place,
let us worship at his footstool, saying,
8 ‘Arise, Lord, and come to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
9 May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;
may your faithful people sing for joy.’”
10 For the sake of your servant David,
do not reject your anointed one.
11 The Lord swore an oath to David,
a sure oath he will not revoke:
“One of your own descendants
I will place on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant
and the statutes I teach them,
then their sons will sit
on your throne for ever and ever.”
13 For the Lord has chosen Zion,
he has desired it for his dwelling, saying,
14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever;
here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.
15 I will bless her with abundant provisions;
her poor I will satisfy with food.
16 I will clothe her priests with salvation,
and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.
17 “Here I will make a horn grow for David
and set up a lamp for my anointed one.
18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,
but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”
Reflect
“Here I will make a horn to grow for David, and set up a lamp for my anointed one.” (v17). We are looking at a section of the Psalms called Songs of Ascent. These were a collection of songs that were probably used as the people of Israel journeyed back to Jerusalem for the feasts at the temple. The temple is on a hill, so “ascending”. Here we see the celebration of the special relationship between David as the King and God. God is affirming that His resources will allow David to thrive and keep his lamp burning. The lamp and flame is an image that represents the inner vitality and the way that this flame impacts the world around. The inner flame impacts the surrounding relationships in a positive way. The inner lamp can flicker and grow dim, or it can burn brightly. There is a lesson for us here. We can ask, how is the lamp burning in our own hearts? Have the storms of life dimmed our lamp? Does our heart and the lamp in it need tending?
Pastor Sam
Apply
Invite God to tend the lamp in your heart today!
Pray
- Pray through the prayer page in the bulletin.
- Pray for Pastor Neil. Pray that God would restore his health during his medical leave.
- Pray for Pastor Dan, our Adult Ministries Pastor. Pray for his family and the effectiveness of his ministry.
- Pray for our Adult Ministries Assistant, Stephen Epp, and our Worship Ministries Assistant, Robin Hellewell.
- Pray for the ministry of the Mustard Seed Street Church.
- Pray for Paul Tan and Bonnie Nikkel as they serve with Navigators.
- Pray for our Daycare Staff and the Director, Kristy Thomas.
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