Devotional:
Then she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been captured.” (I Samuel 4:22)

Have you ever had a no-good, terrible day that you’d eagerly edit out of your life’s highlight reel? Israel did. Israel was losing on the battlefield and decided to then reduce the Lord to a lucky charm by bringing the ark to the battle. Israel found out the hard way; the LORD MOST HIGH will not be mocked. At the end of the day, Israel lost thousands of men, surrendered the Ark of the Covenant (which infers the glory of God leaving His people), lost their priest and judge, Eli, and others. When we leave God out of our plans or use Him to further our plans, so much can go so very wrong. Make it right with God. Have the honest conversation of who’s been in control of your agenda and be thankful for God’s endless grace, His forgiveness, and those new morning mercies He promises each day.

Pray it:
Father, I confess that I often forget you or think that your job is to make my life go better or more smoothly. Help me to remember your glory and your grace and treat your name and your ways as holy.

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Devotional:
And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.” (I Samuel 3:10)

What a beautiful picture of our God, the God who comes and stands near. He doesn’t shout. He calls. He invites. He whispers. And as He does, He addresses us personally, knowing our names even before we ever recognize His. If you are God’s child and are questioning whether God speaks to you, He does — just as a dad has conversations with his child. But just as kids are prone to do, we practice selective hearing. We drown out what is essential for what is temporary, fleeting and pleasurable. Today, clean your ears, but not with a  Q-Tip. Get honest and own that you have chosen not to listen. Then be quiet; you’ll be surprised at what you might hear.

Pray it:
Father, open my ears so that I might hear your words and open my mouth so that I might speak your truth. Help me to be both attentive and obedient to your word and to praise you for your great patience and mercy towards me. Amen.

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Devotional:
No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. (I Samuel 2:2)

Hannah recognized the truth of who the Lord was. Her view of God wasn’t dependent on her circumstances; it didn’t fluctuate based on her emotions. She worshiped in times of both petition and praise. Her legacy of fearing the Lord lived on through Samuel as she entrusted him to be parented by the Lord, her sure and steady foundation. What might happen if we entrusted to God those we most treasure, believing His Word to be the ultimate authority and truth? How drastically might our lives change?

Pray it:
God, you truly are holy and one of a kind. Help me to fear and trust you like Hannah. Help me to resist the urge to honor other things or other people – even good things and my own family – ahead of you. Amen.

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Devotional:
As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. (I Samuel 1:12-13)

The narrative of Samuel opens with Hannah who longed for a child. In her deeply personal heartache, she sought the only One who could help. She went directly to the Lord, pleading with Him to remember her. She spilled the contents of her heart so intently that no words were spoken, and it mattered not who was watching. When was the last time you spilled the contents of your heart to the only One who can help? (Audible words are not needed and it doesn’t matter who is watching.)

Pray it:
Father, thank you for not just listening to my prayers but delighting in hearing from me. Help me to offer you honest and humble prayers, seeking your help and remembering that you see me at all times. Amen.

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Devotional:
Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! (Psalm 150:2)

I praise and thank God because of His excellent greatness and His mighty deeds. In this Psalm the people of God are called to the sanctuary – a consecrated place of protection and refuge for the purpose of worship. God loves when we gather together to proclaim His mighty deeds and praise His holy name, while we raise our hands and voices and play instruments. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Remember, if we don’t praise Him, the rocks will!

Pray it:
Father, help me to praise you as long as you give me breath on this earth, knowing that every breath that I breathe is a gift from you. Amen.

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Devotional:
For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. (Psalm 149:4)

I praise and thank God because His people give Him pleasure. Have you considered that your existence gives God pleasure? Verse four says that he “adorns” His people with salvation. The word “adorn” means to enhance the appearance of or decorate as if with ornaments similar to a Christmas tree. Amazing, isn’t it, that the Lord of the universe thinks about us in that way? He takes great delight in people who honor Him and praise His name. When you are feeling low, remember that you are “the apple of God’s eye” (Psalm 17:8). Wear your salvation with honor and humility. Thank God for it.

Pray it:
Father, it amazes me to know that you, the God who made all things, takes pleasure in me. Help me to take pleasure in you and find my ultimate delight in knowing you and following you. Amen.

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Devotional:
Let them all praise the name of the Lord. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven! (Psalm 148:13)

I praise and thank God because His name, alone, is exalted. The only name to be praised is the name of the Lord. The Psalmist beckons all created things to praise God from the heavens, to the earth and to the depths of the seas. All people of the earth are called upon to praise the name of God. In Acts 4, Peter and John were asked “by whose name” they healed the lame man. They boldly answered, “let it be known to all of you and all of the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Praise God!  

Pray it:
Father, you alone are worthy of praise, and you are worthy of all praise. Help me to join all of your creation in heaven and earth in praising you this day as we look forward to the day when Christ returns and your praise covers the whole world. Amen.

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Devotional:
He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. (Psalm 147:3)

I praise and thank God because He heals the brokenhearted. Often, when the Psalmist mentions Zion and/or Jerusalem, he is referring to the people of God. Are you brokenhearted? If so, then place yourself in the Lord’s hands. He understands you like no other, and He will care for your wounds as they heal. The same God who commands the weather and feeds the animal kingdom takes pleasure in one thing – those who fear Him. Hope rightly placed in God’s steadfast love is a balm for the soul God heals! “Praise the Lord, O my soul!”

Pray it:
Father, thank you for healing me when I am brokenhearted. May those whom I know who feel heartbroken this day experience the power of your healing in their lives as well. Amen.

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Devotional:
He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly. The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked. (Psalm 146:7-9)

I praise and thank God because He helps those who cannot help themselves. Sometimes it takes a few minutes to think through Scripture when seemingly unrelated topics are written about in the same Psalm. It might seem that way here at first glance.  But the afflicted and oppressed people in verses 7-9 need more than influential people to help them – they need the Lord. He has the ability to save them from their plight and His heart is fully engaged in offering compassion. Do not trust finite people to do what only God can do. Hope needs to be rightly placed.

Pray it:
Father, thank you for helping me in my spiritual need through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Help me to reflect the care you have for those in need to further your praise and glory on this earth. Amen.

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Devotional:
The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. (Psalm 145:8)

I praise and thank God because He is slow to anger and merciful. Our God knows we are weakened by our sin, and He has great mercy for our condition. Yes, the Lord can be angry, but He is slow to anger. It is not His preference. His immovable love dominates, and we experience His grace and mercy in abundance. When He shows His anger, it is always well founded and righteous. We need to be reminded that while our sin angers Him, God is in full control. He is kind and merciful in all His ways. He gives us time to respond to Him and repent. Every day is another day of His grace, mercy and slowness to anger.

Pray it:
Father, I thank you that you are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love. Help me to be like you, reflecting these same traits as well. Amen.

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Devotional:
He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my rescuer. He is my shield, and I take refuge in him. He makes the nations submit to me. (Psalm 144:2)

I praise and thank the Lord because He is my fortress and deliverer. There is a difference between doing and being. The Psalmist declares God to be his steadfast love, his fortress, stronghold, deliverer, shield, to be his refuge. God is not merely a provider (a doer) of such things. God is all these things and more. He provides Himself to us in many ways, just as He put Himself (Jesus) on the cross for our sins. God not only provided the sacrifice; He was the sacrifice. “Happy are the people with such blessings. Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.”

Pray it:
Father, thank you for protecting me and for delivering me. Help me find comfort and joy in that truth as I live in a world filled with uncertainty and danger. Amen.

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Devotional:
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. (Psalm 143:10) 

I praise and thank God because He teaches me to do His will. I am so thankful that God does not abandon me to my own strength to follow His will. Hallelujah! If it were up to me, there would be no hope. My best and sure recourse is to humbly allow God to guide me each step of the way. He sent His Son to model the way to live. He has given us His Word and sent the Holy Spirit to live in us to teach us to do His will. And when we fail, He promises His grace and mercy. Thank you, Lord, Thank you.

Pray it:
Father, thank you for the Bible and the way it reveals your will. Help me to learn your way better each day so that I might walk in it for your glory and for my good. Amen.

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Devotional:
I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. (Psalm 142:2)

I praise and thank the Lord because He listens to my complaints and trials. Silent prayer is not the only way to call to God and tell Him our troubles. David was hiding in a cave. Maybe he went deep in the cave when he loudly pleaded to God for mercy. Take a minute to imagine the scene and the sound. Was it thunderous? Was there an echo? Here is a man facing imminent danger; do you think he was timid with God? He cries to God, “No one cares about me, except for you! You, Lord, are my refuge, not this cave. Rescue me!” Then he pledges to thank God in the midst of the people. Do you encourage people by sharing God’s victories in your life?

Pray it:
Father, thank you for hearing my cries and complaints and being my shelter in those times of trouble. Help me to remember to turn to you and to praise you at all times, especially in the hard times. Amen.

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Devotional:
O Lord, I am calling to you. Please hurry! Listen when I cry to you for help! (Psalm 141:1)

I praise and thank God because He comes quickly when I need Him. You have probably experienced being verbally attacked and desiring to retaliate. The Psalmist is lamenting a similar situation and he calls to God to control his tongue! He asks God for help so that whatever passes through his lips will be a sweet aroma to God. Do you ask God to guard your speech? Do you ask Him to renew your heart so that you do not even desire to act wickedly? Direct your attention to God and take your eyes off the temptation. God will come quickly. He does not have to come far because He is always with us. 

Pray it:
Father, help me to turn to you in trust and prayer rather than retaliate against others with harsh words and actions. Forgive me for when I have foolishly spoken and guard my tongue through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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Devotional:
But I know the Lord will help those they persecute; he will give justice to the poor. (Psalm 140:12)

I praise and thank God because He advocates for the afflicted. David passionately cries out to God asking for His intervention because of the deeds of evil men. When people have been wronged, they often want to settle the score. In our emotional rage, we want revenge. In this Psalm, David is calling for God’s justice and not revenge. He practices self-control as he sings to God with confidence, believing He will execute justice. People of God, we can safely leave our problems with Him. Do you trust God to stand for you or do you take matters into your own hands? The choice often requires courage.

Pray it:
Father, I thank you for your constant care and concern for those who are afflicted and weak in our world. Help me to have your heart of compassion and justice this day and use me as a vessel to show your love to those who need to feel it. Amen.

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Devotional:
I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! (Psalm 139:7)

I will praise and thank the Lord because the Holy Spirit is always with me. Remember that Psalm 132 taught us that God does not leave us alone. This Psalm assures us of the same truth about the Holy Spirit. That is good news! You might assume that verse seven is referring to a desire to hide from God due to sin. If you read it in context, you will see this verse praises God that we cannot hide from Him, even if we try. He will hold onto us and not let go. There is no darkness in life that is dark enough to prevent God from loving us. What a great comfort that God’s grip is stronger than mine!

Pray it:
Father, I praise you for making me, knowing everything about me and loving me. Help me to remember that I am fearfully and wonderfully made and that your Spirit is within me no matter where I might go this day. Amen.

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Devotional:
The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands. (Psalm 138:8) 

I praise and thank the Lord who fulfills His purpose for me. Sometimes we wonder if we have become lost to God. Does He know where I am? Is He aware of my circumstances? Who am I to Him? If those questions come to mind, remember just who you are – you are one of the redeemed! Christ died on the cross for you. He has a purpose for your life, and He will fulfill it. When we need strength, He will provide it. When we need His intervention, He will be there. Trust God to work in your life. Sing about who He is and what He does for you because it encourages everyone.

Pray it:
Father, thank you for fulfilling your plan and purposes in Christ. Help me live in the joy and security that comes through your faithful love to us. Amen.

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Devotional:
How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land? (Psalm 137:4)

I will praise and thank the Lord because He hears me when I cry to Him. Have you cried out to the Lord during a time of deep, heartfelt pain? In this Psalm, the people of God were captives in a foreign land and their captors taunted them to sing a song of joy about their home. The people of Israel had no song in their hearts. No false spirituality and “gentle Jesus” here! They called to God asking for severe pain and punishment for their tormentors. Some of the stark realities of life can be infuriating. Tell God all about it. But vengeance belongs to Him alone; God will surely take care of evildoers. We can trust Him.

Pray it:
Father, I thank you that you hear my prayers and cries at all times. Help me to remember that you never forget your people or your promises and that you always have a plan and a purpose, even when it is not clear to me. Amen.

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Devotional:
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1)

I will praise and thank the Lord whose love for me is rock solid and forever. This Psalm tells us 26 times that God’s steadfast love endures forever! Allow this truth to sink deeper into your soul. The Psalmist provides one example after another of God’s love and faithfulness. Repetition is incredibly helpful in much of life. When we love someone and we tell them over and over again, that person learns to believe us and trust us. If we renege on that love, it can be devastating to the other person. God assures us that He is not like us, and He will not renege. He will love us steadfastly and forever.

Pray it:
Father, thank you for all the demonstrations of your faithful love that I read about in Scripture and have witnessed in my life. Help me to remember them over and over again so that I can praise and trust you more and more. Amen.

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Devotional:
I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths. (Psalm 135:5-6)

I praise and thank God because whatever pleases Him, He does. A god that does whatever he pleases could possibly be a dangerous god. But our God, the Lord of heaven, is good, and His name is pleasant. The false gods of other nations have no life in them. They have no power to forgive and no heart to love; they are nothing. But the Lord, our creator, loves to bless His people and care for us. Blessed be the Lord who is pleased to love me, save me, have mercy on me, cradle me, guard me, and claim me as His own. I am so glad it pleases Him to love even me!

Pray it:
Father, I thank you that you have the power to do all things and that you use this power for your glory and my good. Help me to trust that you can do all things and that all that you do is what is right and good. Amen.

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Devotional:
Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.  (Psalm 134:1-2)

I praise and thank the Lord because He enjoys when I bless Him. In this Psalm, the clergy of Israel are in the house of God worshiping Him with lifted hands and voices. Then, they turn to the worshippers and bless them on behalf of God. How do we go about blessing the Lord? Think about what we have already been learning in the Psalms: remember Him daily, call on Him and no other, obey Him, sing and pray to Him. God loves when His children gather together to worship Him. We are His family and He likes to gather us under His wings! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! (Psalm 103:1)

Pray it:
Father, you are worthy of unending and wholehearted praise. Help me to both praise you with all that I have within me and invite others to praise you as well. Amen.

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Devotional:
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! (Psalm 133:1) 

I will praise and thank the Lord because His people can live in unity. People long for peace, but we often seek it in the wrong ways and places. Human beings were not created for the stress of unrest. Unity is a blessing that begins by first making peace with God through Christ. Hearts that are first surrendered to God can be molded by the Holy Spirit to extend that love to others in the church and outside of the church. Have you taken that first step to peace? There is no shortcut.

Pray it:
Father, help me to live in peace and unity among your people through surrendering to the Holy Spirit and seeking what is good for others, not just myself. May the unity found in your church speak to our world of division and testify to the reality of the gospel message. Amen.

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Devotional:
The Lord swore an oath to David with a promise he will never take back: “I will place one of your descendants on your throne. (Psalm 132:11)

I will praise and thank the Lord because He has not left us alone. Often, we do not value something until it is lost. When Adam and Eve sinned, they lost their intimate relationship with God; even so, God promised future restoration. For a long time, God resided with Israel within the tabernacle and then the temple. They remind God about His promise to put an heir of David on the throne. In fact, God fulfills His promise through Jesus Christ. We are His temple. He lives within us and we are never alone. One day it will be even better when He establishes a new heaven and a new earth. THAT is worth singing about!

Pray it:
Father, I thank you that you have kept your promise to save us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Help me to remember and rejoice in the truth that because of Jesus, I am never alone. Amen.

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Devotional:
Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. (Psalm 131:2)

I will praise and thank the Lord because He calms and quiets my soul. David respectfully addresses God with great love and humility. He knew that his status on earth as the King of Israel and a general of a mighty army was nothing compared to the Lord of heaven and earth. He makes time to rest in God’s arms like a weaned child with its mother. A weaned child no longer craves milk…now mother’s presence provides contentment. Security with God results in David enjoying the blessing of a calm and quiet soul. His example is our encouragement to make peaceful time with God our priority.

Pray it:
Father, thank you for the peace and security that comes in your presence. Help me to turn to you and experience this reality through humbling myself and seeking you. Amen.

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Devotional:
But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. (Psalm 130:4) 

I praise and thank the Lord because He is forgiving. Our sin is our death sentence except for the fact that our great God forgives any person who turns from sin and seeks His forgiveness. When we contemplate the depth of His power, might, righteousness and justice, we begin to have a healthy respect for the One who personally purchased forgiveness for us on the cross. Here is a “big question” to consider: How can it be that the God we sin against sacrificed His own Son to pay the price of our guilt? “Amazing love! How can it be, that thou, my God, should die for me?”

Pray it:
Father, thank you for the promise of forgiveness through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Help me to praise you as I acknowledge the reality of my sin and experience the reality of the forgiveness that is found in Jesus. Amen.

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