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
May 17, 2026, 7:40 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 144-147
Meditation Verse: 145:5
Thought
It is important to meditate daily on God's glorious splendor and His mighty works. God is always glorious and the mighty acts He has done remain forever. Meditating on them gives me reason to praise Him daily, no matter what my life at present looks like, because He and His deeds remain unchanged.
May 16, 2026, 8:45 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 140-143
Meditation Verses: 140:1-4
Thought
There are wicked men who seek to do evil, who look for opportunities to do violence. And there are evil men who are evil just because they don't know God, but they aren't looking to attack or harm anyone. They keep mostly to themselves; they don't go out of their way to hurt others.
May 15, 2026, 7:06 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 136-139
Meditation Verse: 138:6
Thought
Though the Lord is exalted above all men and angels and all of creation, though there is no one higher, yet the Lord looks upon the lowly. Though He is the highest, yet He has little regard for the haughty, for those who think and act like they're something important or powerful or great. He truly is the greatest, but any man who thinks he is great is a fool who knows nothing. He takes on himself a status he doesn't deserve.
May 14, 2026, 7:10 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 132-135
Meditation Verse: 133:1
Thought
This is actually the whole point of the Law, in particular the case laws and the moral laws. They all teach or give examples how to love our neighbor as ourselves, which would produce a unity among brothers and neighbors far and near. When everyone worships, fears and follows the same directives from God, then all are on the same page, actually living in love for one another.
May 13, 2026, 7:12 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 128-131
Meditation Verses: 131:1-3
Thought
What a picture and what a challenge! Like a weaned child rests against his mother, so David has composed and quieted his soul within him. A young child resting against his mother is a peaceful image indeed. He hasn't a single care in the world. He knows nothing of the rigors, worries or cares of the adult world. He's completely at peace, nothing to worry about, resting against his mother.
May 12, 2026, 7:34 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 124-127
Meditation Verses: 124:2-4
Thought
The enemies Israel usually faced and feared were other nations, neighbors who were stronger than them and opposed them, usually when they had sinned against the Lord. They were material, physical, life-threatening problems. There were also their spiritual enemies. Satan incited David to number the people.
May 10, 2026, 6:58 PM
Passage Read: Psalm 120-123
Meditation Verses: 121:2-4
Thought
This is a great passage for a travel day like today. It is good to be reminded that the Lord watches over me and will be my help if trouble comes. He doesn't take breaks; He is always keeping watch and always aware not just of what is happening now, but what is coming up.
May 10, 2026, 1:13 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 119 Meditation Verses: 119:99-100
Thought
Meditation on and observation of God's Law is what makes a man truly wise, giving him more insight and more understanding than teachers and the aged. That seems like a dangerous thing, a prideful thing to say. We're supposed to learn from teachers and honor the aged, which would include respecting their experience and the wisdom they've gained by it.
May 9, 2026, 1:05 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 115-118
Meditation Verses: 115:1-8
Thought
The idols of the nations are nothing and can do nothing, and those who trust in them will become like them, powerless and nothing. But the nations ask, "Where is our God?" because there is nothing to see, no likeness, no image, no statue, no representation of His likeness. Our God is in heaven, but He sees all that goes on in the earth.
May 8, 2026, 12:09 AM
Passage Read: Psalm 111-114
Meditation Verses: 111:7-8
Thought
Everything God does is truth and justice, because everything He does is based on His unchanging precepts and principles. God never changes, so the principles by which He operates never change. Their unchanging nature is what makes them truth and justice. And those principles require that they be exercised in truth and uprightness.