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
Apr 20, 2022, 7:49 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 144-147
Meditation Verses: 146:5-8
Thought
Blessed is the man who looks to God for help, who puts his hope in God. God is the Creator and sustainer of all things. He is the only one who has all power and can do whatever He wishes. And He loves the righteous. He delivers the oppressed and does good to all in need.
Apr 19, 2022, 7:50 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 140-143
Meditation Verses: 141:4-5
Thought
David recognizes how easy it is, how tempting to fall in with the wicked. The wicked have nice things, and those things are not wrong in themselves, but by sharing them, his desire for them increases, and he is tempted to join in the activities the wicked use to gain those delicacies or use to afford them. So he pleads with the Lord to keep him from joining in with the wicked, to be drawn in with them.
Apr 18, 2022, 7:51 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 136-139
Meditation Verse: 136:26
Thought
God deserves thanks for all His goodness and kindness towards us. He has done wonders for Israel again and again, and now He has worked salvation for us all by the death and resurrection of His Son! He has not forgotten us and continues to do great things for His people, even us. His mercy to us is very great, He even involves us in what He is doing so that He can share His glory with us.
Apr 17, 2022, 7:52 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 132-135
Meditation Verse: 135:13
Thought
This day is truly a day for praising the Lord, for this is the day He rose from the dead and secured our salvation. That He would die for us who did not deserve such mercy, that He rose from the dead, sealing our forgiveness and the promise of life everlasting, the Lord is most worthy of praise. He didn't have to do it, and He would still be worthy of praise. This is a day for celebrating His goodness, His lovingkindness!
Apr 16, 2022, 7:53 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 128-131
Meditation Verse: 131:1
Thought
David was made king, and he had to involve himself in great matters, matters between nations and for the good of his people! Yet he says he is not proud, nor his eyes lofty. Neither has he walked in great things or matters too wonderful for him. He didn't seek out things that were not his responsibility. He didn't seek out high position! It came for him! He was content as a shepherd, doing his duty, caring for the sheep.
Apr 15, 2022, 7:55 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 124-127
Meditation Verses: 124:2-3
Thought
I really don't realize how much the Lord has protected me, because I don't see it. He keeps the wrath of man from overtaking me, so I have no idea what I've been spared or what He's protected me from. Or the wrath of demons. I know even less of what He does to protect me in the heavenly realms. Unless He had been for me, I surely would have been swallowed up long ago.
Apr 14, 2022, 7:56 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 120-123
Meditation Verse: 123:2
Thought
The psalmist says they look to the Lord like a servant looks to the hand of their master, waiting with longing, with expectation, with a readiness to respond, for when the Lord shows grace to them. They are in great distress and long for the Lord's help, plead with the Lord for help and wholeheartedly wait for Him to act. That attentiveness, that complete focus on the Lord is good in all circumstances, not just in times of trouble.
Apr 13, 2022, 7:57 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 119
Meditation Verse: 119:115
Thought
The presence of evildoers is a temptation to ignore God's commands. When they are present, it is tempting to not walk in God's ways. But that's actually when it is most needful. The wicked need to see obedience and I need to do what is right in their presence. They may mock me or even fight me, so I may want to ignore God's law while they're around, but I must not. A proverb says that when they wicked rise, the righteous go into hiding, but the wicked need the testimony of the righteous.
Apr 12, 2022, 7:58 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 115-118
Meditation Verse: 115:1
Thought
On account of His mercy and on account of His truth, the Lord deserves praise and glory. He works wonders, He helps His children, even if we don't recognize it, even if it's not dramatic. The miracles are greatly appreciated, but the daily little things too deserve praise. Everything the Lord does to care for us, and the truth He continually reveals to us, for these, though not dramatic, still for these He deserves glory.
Apr 11, 2022, 7:59 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 111-114
Meditation Verses: 112:1-2
Thought
My obedience to God affects my children and the future of us all. This psalm promises that those who obey the Lord's commands will be blessed and their children will be mighty in the land. There will be so many other blessings as well, but perhaps not all of them will come in this life. Indeed, there is no guarantee that any will come in this life, but these promises still remain. If not in this life, then they must for sure come in the next.
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