Old Testament In a Year: July 31 – Psalms 116, 117, 118

Psalms 116, 117, 118
Focus Verse: Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” – Psalm 118:4

Let me say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” May you say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”

Even if we did not know anything else about God, we know that He is good. And for that we can praise Him. We know that His love for us will always endure. And for that we can praise Him.

Whenever we call on Him, He answers us. When we are in distress, He sets us free. He is always on our side; therefore, we never have to fear. He is our helper and our refuge. He is our strength, our song, and our salvation.

Again, let me say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Again, may you say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”

Old Testament In a Year: July 30 – Psalms 113, 114, 115

Psalms 113, 114, 115
Focus Verse: Who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? – Psalm 113:6

From His seat high in Heaven, God looks down on the heavens and the earth. He looks down on all He created, people and creatures and nature alike, because He cares for it all and He loves it all.

He looks down on you and me. It is impossible for Him to forget us or leave us to struggle through life on our own because we are the work of His hands. He created us wonderfully unique and special, for a purpose and with a plan.

Yes, God is far above us. His ways are not our ways, neither are His thoughts our thoughts, but God does not leave us alone. He is always looking out for us.

Old Testament In a Year: July 29 – Psalms 106, 111, 112

Psalms 106, 111, 112
Focus Verse: He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. – Psalm 112:7

Such is the courage and confidence that you have when you trust in God.

It doesn’t matter what bad news you hear or what trouble comes your way, you are not afraid. Your heart remains firm. Your faith is unshakable.

Your life will be steady because you are not trusting in yourself or others, but in God, who never changes.

Old Testament In a Year: July 28 – Psalms 104, 105

Psalms 104, 105
Focus Verse: When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. – Psalm 104:29

Every living thing on earth, from natural phenomena to human beings, is dependent on God for existence.

We look to Him for love and life, for health and strength, for guidance and direction, for the meeting of material and spiritual needs. Because He created us, He is concerned about us. He opens His hand over our lives, and we are filled with good things.

There are some who do not look to God, but even their existence is dependent on Him.

Because God has given them His breath, they live. And when God takes His breath away, they will perish.

Old Testament In a Year: July 27 – Psalms 99, 100, 102

Psalms 99, 100, 102
Focus Verse: Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. – Psalm 100:3

It is always good to remind ourselves of who we are and whose we are. We are redeemed, not condemned; friends, not servants; sons and daughters, not outcasts. And we belong to God.

It is God who made us. We are His.

Therefore, it is God who loves us, hears us, answers us, forgives us, comforts us. Anything we need or want, He provides. Both now and forever.

God takes care of His own.

Old Testament In a Year: July 26 – Psalms 96, 97, 98

Psalms 96, 97, 98
Focus Verse: Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. – Psalm 96:2

We are told repeatedly to sing to the Lord because of the importance of such an act. Singing brings praise and gives glory to God, Jesus the Christ, and to the Holy Spirit. They love to be worshiped through song and music.

Then, we are told to bless the name of the Lord. In other words, we are to speak well of Him. Every name of God speaks to His goodness, His grace, His glory, His excellence, and His might. Abba, Alpha and Omega, El Shaddai, Immanuel, Jesus – all these names remind us that God is the one and only God. There is no one like Him, and we should bless Him for this.

Finally, we are to tell of the salvation of the Lord. Not every week or once a year, but from day to day. Our thoughts, our words, and our actions should be a reflection of the salvation that God has wrought in our lives. We should proclaim the good news that this same salvation is available to anyone who believes in Him. It is our duty to point sinners to the Savior, to share our faith that is free for all to partake in, and to do this from day to day.

Women of the Word: the Woman Who Was Crippled

One Sabbath, Jesus the Christ was teaching in a synagogue when He spotted a woman in the listening crowd. This woman was a cripple. Luke 13:11 says “she was bent over and could not straighten up at all,” and she had been this way for eighteen long years.

If you know anything about Jesus, you know that He couldn’t let this woman remain in the state she was in any longer. When He saw her, He put His teaching on pause, called her forward, and said, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then Jesus put His hands on her, and the woman was immediately healed. Her body straightened up. Her bent disappeared. She could walk with her back upright and her head held high.

Imagine how incredible it must have been for her to have been set free in less than eight minutes after being bound for eighteen years. The woman, however, didn’t just rush to enjoy the newfound freedom she had in her limbs. When she saw that she was no longer a cripple, her first reaction was to praise God. Besides this, what other things can we learn from the woman who was crippled?

Old Testament In a Year: July 25 – Psalms 93, 94, 95

Psalms 93, 94, 95
Focus Verse: For the Lord will not forsake His people; He will not abandon His heritage. – Psalm 94:14

You belong to God. You are His son, His daughter, His heritage.

God holds the depths of the earth and the heights of the mountains in His hands. And He holds you in His hands, too.

God designed the waves of the sea and formed the dry land with wisdom and might and glory. He designed and formed you in the same manner, as well.

You are His.

He will neither forsake you nor abandon you. He will rise up for you against those who seek to harm you. He will stand up for you against any evil that aims to destroy you. Because God is your help, you will dwell in the land of the living. And when your foot slips, His steadfast love will hold you up.

Old Testament In a Year: July 24 – Psalms 89, 92

Psalms 89, 92
Focus Verse: For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord? – Psalm 89:6

He cannot be replicated or mimicked or surpassed. His creation is unparalleled, and all of it proclaims His glory. No one can be compared to God. No one, in earth or in Heaven, is similar to Him. There is no one like our God.