Personal Devotions
Notes from Mark's personal Bible reading and meditation
With a goal to apply one truth from each day's reading to my life that day
Mar 31, 2022, 8:18 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 67-70
Meditation Verses: 67:1-2
Thought
Lord, there are a variety of views on this campus about what everyone needs for growth and encouragement, and I am the least and newest of those voices. Is this a case where wisdom is proved right by all her children? Or are the choices between wisdom and folly? If the latter, would You vindicate the one You desire us to follow, that there would be clarity and order rather than confusion and disorder? Honor and bless the one that reveals You best, that accords closest with Your heart, that glorifies You most.
Mar 30, 2022, 8:20 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 63-66
Meditation Verses: 63:1-3
Thought
David wrote this while hiding from Saul in the wilderness of Judah. He was under continual threat, and there was no temple yet, only the Tabernacle, which he couldn't visit during this time. Yet he saw the Lord in all His glory and goodness, and longed for Him more than anything else. The Lord's lovingkindness was better to David than life. In all his distress, he thought of the Lord and His glory and goodness, and that sustained him.
Mar 29, 2022, 8:21 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 59-62
Meditation Verses: 59:11-13
Thought
It is interesting that David asks God to show no mercy to his enemies, to anyone plotting evil. Yet he does not want them wiped from the face of the earth, but humbled and broken, caught in their own lies and in their pride, so that they and everyone else would know there is a God in Israel, ruling to the ends of the earth.
Mar 28, 2022, 8:22 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 55-58
Meditation Verses: 56:4-6
Thought
What can the wicked do to me? They can pervert my words and say I said something I didn't say. They can watch me continually, looking for when I slip up, so that they can point it out and mock me for inconsistency. Mostly, that's all I have to worry about. It's not like anyone will come after me and try to kill me.
Mar 27, 2022, 8:24 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 51-54
Meditation Verse: 51:13
Thought
This psalm is an amazingly full picture of true repentance. There is the shame over sin and the desire to be disciplined, that he might be cleansed of the sin, cleansed so that it doesn't come back. There is the praying for a cleansed conscience and restored relationship, and the confidence that it will come, such that he will be bold to teach other transgressors of the Lord's ways, both the ways of righteous behavior and the way of restoration from sin.
Mar 26, 2022, 7:35 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 47-50
Meditation Verses: 50:16-20
Thought
There are those who think they belong to the Lord, because they speak His Word over themselves. They know some of His sayings and claim His promises for themselves. But they care nothing for His commands, they hear what He wants and tosses it behind their backs. They refuse correction or direction or instruction. They don't want to change their ways, because they admire thieves and adulterers, and they love to speak of evil things and of doing evil.
Mar 25, 2022, 8:11 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 43-46
Meditation Verse: 44:22
Thought
The psalmist says that the people have done no wrong, yet they are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. They have been faithful to the Lord, but still they are given over to death all the day. Like Job, attacked for no apparent reason. But like Job, there was a reason, just not their wrongdoing. It was to display their faith and faithfulness to the Lord, that all the world and all the spirits would see how firm their faith in God was, and praise the Lord.
Mar 24, 2022, 8:12 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 39-42
Meditation Verses: 42:9-11
Thought
It is not unusual for the oppressed to feel forsaken, especially when mocked for his faith in God. When his oppressors continually ask, where is your God, as they abuse the believer, it is no wonder that the believer feels alone and discouraged. But the psalmist illustrates the need to remind his soul to trust in the Lord, believing that the Lord will eventually deliver him. We all need that from time to time, to remind our souls to hope in the Lord.
Mar 23, 2022, 8:13 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 35-38
Meditation Verses: 37:10-13
Thought
There wicked seems to get anything they want. They seem to get away with all kinds of evil, whatever their heart desires. So it is tempting to envy them, to consider joining in with them and enjoy their freedom. But the Lord is watching and they will be overthrown and cast out of Creation forever. Their end is horrible, they will be judged by God even if they are never judged by men. Indeed if men everywhere praise them and join in with the wicked, they will still be caught by the Lord and judged and condemned.
Mar 22, 2022, 8:14 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 31-34
Meditation Verse: 34:21
Thought
Those who hate the righteous shall become guilty. The Lord will hold them accountable for all they did to the righteous in their hatred of them. He will charge them with sin if they do not repent. It is enough that they hated the righteous without cause, especially since the righteous sought to do good to those around them, even their enemies.