Old Testament In a Year: May 31 – Psalms 36, 37, 38

Psalms 36, 37, 38
Focus Verse: Though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. – Psalm 37:24

Although the Lord directs your steps, you will sometimes be disappointed in life. You will not always be successful. But when you fall, that will not be the end for you.

Your trouble will be temporary. Your failure will not be fatal.

Whatever disappointment or obstacle comes your way, you will be able to recover from it. Because you are upheld by God’s invisible hand, when you fall, you will always rise again.

The Virtuous Girls E-Zine – Spring 2017

The April – June Spring 2017 Edition of the Virtuous Girls E-Zine is out! View it HERE!

Old Testament In a Year: May 30 – Psalms 31, 35

Psalms 31, 35
Focus Verse: Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. – Psalm 31:5

David may have been the first to tell God, ‘Into your hand I commit my spirit,’ but he certainly wasn’t the last. Before Jesus the Christ breathed His last breath on the cross, He also said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Many more Christian martyrs after Him would repeat those same words.

If Jesus knew He was safe in the hands of God, both in life and in death, cannot you be certain of the same? If God could take care of His Son, cannot He also take care of you?

Yes, He certainly can.

God will take care of you. Through every trouble, heartache, and difficulty, He will take care of you. You can entrust your heart, mind, soul, and your entire life, to God’s safe and caring hand. And when you do so, no one can snatch you out of His hand ever again.

Old Testament In a Year: May 29 – Psalms 27, 28, 29

Psalms 27, 28, 29
Focus Verse: Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! – Psalm 27:14

Wait for the Lord in prayer, with certainty that He will answer you and with expectancy that He will do great things for you. Wait for the Lord in faith, with the belief that He has not forgotten about you and is working all things out for your good. Wait for the Lord in humility, submitting yourself to His will and following His way.

God does not always give what you want when you want it, but this is no reason to become impatient or fall into a state of despondency. If you do not wait on God, then He cannot come to you. By waiting, you show that you are trusting in Him. By waiting, you show that you are relying on Him. By waiting, you show that all other things and people have failed to help you, and now God is your only hope.

And while you are waiting, be strong and have a heart full of courage. Do not sink down into despair when things do not seem to be working out for you. Do not give up in times of difficulty and danger. When you are faced with hardships, keep your heart trusting in God and keep your mind stayed on Him. Then your faith will keep you from fainting and no outside force will have the power to snap your inside strength.

With a strong spirit and a courageous heart from God, you will be able to accomplish the impossible and overcome all difficulties.

God Has Something Better

Old Testament In a Year: May 28 – Psalms 24, 25, 26

Psalms 24, 25, 26
Focus Verse: To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. – Psalm 25:1

To lift up your soul means to direct your internal thoughts and inmost will to focus on the exaltation of God. When you put your focus on God’s glory and place your trust in God’s Son, Jesus the Christ, then your soul will also be exalted (lifted up) above any trouble or obstacle that you face.

To lift up your soul is an act of trust in God’s character, goodness, and grace.

Your soul may be broken, drifting, overwhelmed, doubtful, or lonely. But if you lift it up to God, He can fix it. He can fix you, heal you, forgive you, love you, and save you. When you lift up your soul to God, you show that your hope and your trust is in Him. Instead of focusing on your circumstances, you deliberately choose to focus on God and His power. You recognize that He is exalted above every negative person in your life and above every negative situation.

How often do you “lift up your soul” to God?

Old Testament In a Year: May 27 – Psalms 20, 21, 22

Psalms 20, 21, 22
Focus Verse: May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! – Psalm 20:4

When you are in trouble, I pray that you call on God to answer you and protect you. For He surely will do so. He will send you help from Heaven and give you support from the skies.

Whatever your heart desires, I pray that God grants it; and whatever your plans may be, I pray He brings them all to pass. All that you hope, all that you wish to accomplish, so be it.

And whatever you go through, I pray that you always trust in the name of the Lord our God, because then you will rise and prosper.

Old Testament In a Year: May 26 – Psalms 17, 19

Psalms 17, 19
Focus Verse: The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. – Psalm 19:8

The precepts of God are right for you, and His commandments are pure. When you obey them, your heart is joyful; your soul is revived; and your eyes are enlightened.

The commandments of God are not difficult to understand or obey. His precepts are not unreasonable for you to follow. When your heart is right with God, you understand that serving the Lord is freedom, but serving sin is bondage. Following the way of Heaven leads to satisfaction and joy, but following the way of the world leads to discontentment and grief.

God wants the best for you, and that’s why He gave you the best commands to obey.

Old Testament In a Year: May 25 – Psalms 15, 16

Psalms 15, 16
Focus Verse: I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. – Psalm 16:8

In war, a warrior who is defending another person stands on their right; thus, David is saying that God is his warrior and He is your warrior too. God is your fighter and your protection. God is your shield.

You can be confident and joyful in times of trouble and in times of peace by setting God always before you. To set God always before you means that you continually realize His presence. You feel that He is ever beside you. You trust that you are never alone. You are more concerned about His will being done and His glory being recognized than you are about your will and your glory.

Because God is close to you, ready to protect, save, help, comfort, and encourage you, you shall not be shaken. Nothing can move you from your faith in God or upset your confidence in Him.