Finding+Hope+In+The+Psalms

FINDING IN THE PSALMShope

Reflections From You are my hiding-place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

PSALM 32:7 NIV FINDING IN THE PSALMShope

Reflections From

COVER PHOTO: PixieMe © shutterstock.com EDITORIAL TEAM: Anne Cetas, Becky Knapp, Dave Branon, Tim Gustafson, Alyson Kieda, David Sper • ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Scriptures taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. © 2020 Our Daily Bread Ministries. All rights reserved. • Printed in Europe. Our mission is to make the life-changing wisdom of the Bible understandable and accessible to all. Our vision is to see people of all nations experiencing a personal relationship with Christ, growing to be more like Him and serving in a local body of His family.

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INTRODUCTION

ore than two thousand years ago, the psalmists composed wonderful songs of praise and thanksgiving Mto God. Yet they also wrote down their heartfelt cries for help and protection. They poured out their overwhelming fears, guilt and daily need in raw honesty and desperation. Ray C. Stedman once described the Psalms as “God’s music, inspired and written to draw us to grace.” And so the journey they offer us is one of finding a voice for our own pains and sorrows, and of discovering strength and hope in the One who walks with us “through the darkest valley” (PSALM 23:4). The hope of the Psalms echoes the central hope of God’s Word. Time and again, both in their heartbreaks and in their certainty of deliverance, we meet Jesus Himself. He is the “Rock” the Psalmists stood on, who continually sustained them (92:12-15). And so these ancient words will also direct us back to the One who is our constant companion, no matter where we find ourselves (139:7–8). He is the Shepherd who cares for us (23:1), who purifies us “whiter than snow” (51:7), who puts “a new song” in our mouths (40:3) and in whom we find a true “hiding-place” (32:7). These specially selected Our Daily Bread articles will guide you through the honesty, hope and healing of ten of the Psalms. Our prayer is that you will find a voice for your burdens, and see that Jesus meets each and every heartfelt cry and need.

Your friends at Our Daily Bread Ministries o DAY 1 PSALM 8

1 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. 2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? 5 You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honour. 6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, 8 the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 9 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! WHAT ARE YOU WORTH?

What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? [ PSALM 8:4 ] elsus, a 2nd-century Roman philosopher, sought to discredit biblical faith. He wrote in his book True Discourse, “The root Cof Christianity is its excessive valuation of the human soul, and the absurd idea that God takes an interest in man.” Even though Celsus opposed Christianity, he was telling the truth! It does seem absurd that the Almighty Creator would take such a deep personal interest in mere mortals. Yet that is the very heart of the gospel. The Bible reveals that we are made in the image of God (GENESIS 1:26). And tied to every one of us is the price-tag of Calvary. So when we look at it through Christ’s eyes, we see that He values us even though we are sinners. Why else would the Saviour die for us? There is no room for human pride here—every bit of our worth comes from God. Yet Scripture assures us that God cares for you, me and all the earth’s billions of people (LUKE 12:6–7; JOHN 3:16). Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, “Christ . . . loved me and gave himself for me.” His immeasurable sacrifice tells us that we are of great worth! VERNON GROUNDS How would you describe your value? Who can you help grasp where true value is found?

I’m so grateful that I’m valued by You, Lord! o DAY 2 PSALM 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. THROUGH THE VALLEY

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. [ PSALM 63:3 ] ae Woo (not her real name) was imprisoned in a North Korean labour camp for crossing the border into China. The Hdays and nights were torture, she said, with brutal guards, backbreaking work and little sleep on an ice-cold floor with rats and lice. But God helped her daily, including showing her which prisoners to befriend and share her faith with. After she was released from the camp and living in South Korea, Woo reflected on her time of imprisonment, saying that Psalm 23 summed up her experience. Although she’d been trapped in a dark valley, Jesus was her Shepherd who gave her peace: “Even though it felt as if I was literally in a valley full of the shadow of death, I wasn’t afraid of anything. God comforted me every day.” She experienced God’s goodness and love as He reassured her that she was His beloved daughter. “I was in a terrible place, but I knew . . . I would experience God’s goodness and love.” And she knew she’d stay in the Lord’s presence forever. We can find encouragement in Woo’s story. Despite her dire circumstances, she felt God’s love and leading; and He sustained her and took away her fear. If we follow Jesus, He will lead us gently through our times of trouble. We need not fear, for “[we] will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (23:6). AMY BOUCHER PYE When have you experienced God’s presence in a dark valley? Who can you encourage today?

O God, when I walk through the valley, You are near me and take away my fear. You comfort me and set before me a feast, and I will dwell in Your house forever. o DAY 3 PSALM 31:1–8, 23–24

1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God. 6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the Lord. 7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. 8 You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.

23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full. 24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. SECURED IN LIFE AND DEATH

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. [ PSALM 31:24 ] dinburgh Castle was built to provide security for its people. Strategically situated atop a high overlook, its massive walls Eoffered protection for the townspeople whenever invaders approached. Yet as impenetrable as that great fortress seemed, it once fell to hostile forces. This reminds us that man’s best efforts never provide complete security against disaster. In contrast, David had a perfect protection plan. The Lord was his rock and fortress (PSALM 31:2–3). He trusted in God and was secure amid the attacks of all his foes. That sense of security can extend even beyond the grave. At His crucifixion, Jesus quoted David’s words from Psalm 31:5 when He said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (LUKE 23:46). Sometimes Christians who have great confidence in the Lord throughout life feel apprehensive as they near death. Psalm 31 helps calm those fears. The same God who is their fortress in life will protect them from the terrors of death and welcome them safely home. We are safe in God’s strong hands. The psalmist said, “The Lord preserves those who are true to him” (PSALM 31:23). We can be certain that He will protect us in death as well as in life! DAVID EGNER How does it strengthen you to know the Lord is our fortress in life and in death?

O Lord, you are greater than every storm and trial; You are greater than death itself! Help me to place every fear in Your hands today, knowing that Jesus has secured my place in Your family forever! o DAY 4 PSALM 32

1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. 3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. 6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. 7 You are my hiding-place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. 10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him. 11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! OUR HIDING PLACE

You are my hiding-place. [ PSALM 32:7 ] sheep and a pig will react differently in a mud bath. A sheep that falls into the mud will not be happy there. It will struggle A and cry until it gets out. On the other hand, a pig goes around looking for a mud bath! When it finds one, it slides in with a grunt of satisfaction. In fact, it will squeal if an attempt is made to pull it out. By nature, and without the convicting work of God’s Spirit, we are all like pigs—we seek evil and temptation and have no desire to be delivered from sin. Christians, however, are compared in the Bible to sheep. We should never be found in the mud of sin. It is a sad fact that many of Christ’s sheep do fall into sin, but no born-again Christian will ever be comfortable in such a place. They will cry for forgiveness and cleansing. In Psalm 32, King David said, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long” (V. 3). He found, though, that the Lord was ready to provide forgiveness and relief when he confessed his sin to Him (V. 5). The same is true for us. Jesus is always waiting to receive us. We can come to Him and “acknowledge [our] sin” (V. 5), knowing He is our real “hiding-place” (V. 7) where we are surrounded “with songs of deliverance” (V. 7). Have you given in to temptation? Do you keep struggling with the same mistakes and bad habits? Do you ever doubt your salvation? Then return to Jesus, your “hiding-place”; He will have mercy, He will forgive and He will surround us with His “unfailing love” (V. 10). M. R. DEHAAN How does it comfort you to know Jesus is always your hiding place, even when your battle is with guilt and shame? Jesus, You know what doubts and habits I am struggling with. Please help me to bring all these issues and pains to You, my true hiding place. Thank You for knowing me, loving me, forgiving me and being my strong fortress. o DAY 5 PSALM 40:1–5

1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him. 4 Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 5 Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. THE RESCUE

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him. [ PSALM 40:3 ] he psalmist told us that God “put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God” (PSALM 40:3). The song did not Tcome easily to him. “He lifted me out of the slimy pit,” he testified, “out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand” (V. 2). We don’t know what this “pit” was. Perhaps it was a devastating calamity, or the result of a wilful, ungodly choice. In either case, it was horrible. The place was unspeakably lonely, as silent as death, and he could find no solid place to put his feet. He couldn’t climb out of “the mud and mire” by himself. It took God to rescue him. A Chinese scholar who converted to Christ told this parable: “A man fell into a dark, dirty pit, and he tried to climb out but he couldn’t. Confucius came along. He saw the man in the pit and said, ‘Poor fellow. If he had listened to me, he never would have fallen in.’ And he left. Buddha came along and saw the man in the pit and said, ‘Poor fellow. If he can climb up here, I’ll help him.’ And he too left. Then Christ came and said, ‘Poor fellow!’ And He jumped into the pit and helped him out.” God rescued the psalmist from the “pit”. And He gave him a new song to sing, which we too can sing if we’ve experienced God’s deliverance from trouble through His Son. HADDON ROBINSON How has Jesus transformed your life from hopeless to hopeful? Who can you share your story with? Dear God, thank You for not leaving me in my “pit”; a place of no hope. Thank You that the sacrifice of Your beloved Son, Jesus, has provided the way for me to come to You. He is the Rock on which I have a firm place to stand. o FOCUS ARTICLE

MY SHEPHERD The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. Psalm 23:1

srael’s King David spent much of his youth tending his “few sheep in the wilderness” (1 SAMUEL 17:28). The wilderness is Ione of the best places in the world to learn. There aren’t many distractions! One day as David was watching his sheep, the idea came to him that God was like a shepherd. He thought of the incessant care that sheep require—their helplessness and defencelessness. He recalled their foolish straying from safe paths and their constant need for a guide. He thought of the time and patience it took for them to trust him before they would follow. He remembered the times when he led them through danger and they huddled close at his heels. He pondered the fact that he must think for his sheep, fight for them, guard them and find their pasture and quiet pools. He remembered their bruises and scratches that he bound up, and he marvelled at how frequently he had to rescue them from harm. Yet not one of his sheep was aware of how well it was watched. Throughout the day he would stay close to his sheep, watching them carefully and protecting them from the slightest DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOU! ourdailybread.org/subscribe

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+44 (0)15395 64149 | [email protected] | ourdailybread.org harm. When one sheep strayed, David searched for it until it was found. Then he laid it across his shoulders and brought it back home. At the end of the day, David led his flock to the safety of the fold and slept across the gateway to protect them. A good shepherd never left his sheep alone. They would have been lost without him. His presence was their assurance. “Yes,” David thought to himself as he composed each line of Psalm 23, “God is very much like a good shepherd.” Knowing Our Shepherd Hundreds of years later, Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. . . . I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep” (JOHN 10:11–15). This is our Lord Jesus, “that great Shepherd of the sheep” (HEBREWS 13:20). He saw us as “sheep without a shepherd” (MATTHEW 9:36). He “came to seek and to save the lost” (LUKE 19:10). He’s the one who left the “ninety-nine on the hills” and went “to look for the one that wandered off,” forever establishing the value of one person and the Father’s desire that not one of them should perish (MATTHEW 18:12–14). F. B. Meyer wrote: “He has a shepherd’s heart, beating with pure and generous love that counted not His own lifeblood too dear a price to pay down as our ransom. He has a shepherd’s eye that takes in the whole flock and misses not even the poor sheep wandering away on the mountains cold. He has a shepherd’s faithfulness, which will never fail or forsake, leave us comfortless, nor flee when He sees the wolf coming. He has a shepherd’s strength, so that He is well able to deliver us from the jaw of the lion or the paw of the bear. He has a shepherd’s tenderness; no lamb so tiny that He will not carry it; no saint so weak that He will not gently lead; no soul so faint that He will not give it rest.” The Shepherd Who Lays Down His Life The story of Jesus is about the death of the Shepherd: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (ISAIAH 53:5–6). When He died for us, He did so to pay for all our sin—the obvious sins as well as for the secret sins of selfishness and pride. He Himself bore them all in His body on the cross. This was sin’s final cure. Some look at the cross and say that humanity was so bad and God was so angry that someone had to pay. But it was not anger that led Christ to be crucified; it was love. The crucifixion is the point of the story. God loves us so much that He Himself took on our guilt. He took all our sin upon Himself and healed us. When it was over He said, “It is finished!” There is nothing left for us to do but to enter into forgiving acceptance—and for those of us who have already entered it, to enter into more of it. The Shepherd Who Stays Close Our Shepherd calls to us and listens for the slightest sounds of life. He hears the faintest cry. If He hears nothing at all, He will not give up or leave us. When we wander away (as we are prone to do) He allows us to, letting us experience the weariness of being away from His “green pastures” and “still waters” (PSALM 23:2). The discomfort we feel during these times is God’s doing; but not because He is far away. He is right next to us and longs for us to come back to Him. So He hounds us. He hems us in. He thwarts our dreams. He foils our best-laid plans. He frustrates our hopes. He waits until we know that nothing will ease our pain, nothing will make life worth living except His presence. And when we turn to Him, He is there to greet us. He has been there all along. “The Lord is near to all who call on him” (PSALM 145:18). “But,” you might say, “why would He want me? He knows my sin, my wandering, my poor choices. I’m not good enough. I’m not sorry enough for my sin. I’m unable not to sin.” Our waywardness doesn’t have to be explained to God. He’s never surprised by anything we do. He sees everything at a single glance—what is, what could have been, what would have been apart from our sinful choices. He sees into the dark corners of our hearts and knows everything about us there is to know. But what He sees only draws out His love. There is no deeper motivation in God than love. It is His nature to love; He can do no other, for “God is love” (1 JOHN 4:8). Do you have some nameless weariness? Some vague, sad pain? Some inexplicable ache in your heart? Come to Him who made your heart. Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (MATTHEW 11:28). There is no more profound lesson than this: He is the one thing that we need. The word shepherd carries with it thoughts of tenderness, security and provision, yet it means nothing if I cannot say, “The Lord is my shepherd.” What a difference that one syllable makes. It means that I can have all of God’s attention, all of the time, just as though I’m the only one. I may be part of a flock, but I’m one of a kind. It’s one thing to say, “The Lord is a shepherd.” It’s another to say, “The Lord is my shepherd.”

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Saviour, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. “I’M . . . UH . . . SORRY”

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. [ PSALM 51:1 ] he news is quick to report all the details of famous people’s wrongdoings and their subsequent confessions. Perhaps it’s Ta footballer who was arrested for drink-driving. Or it could be a politician caught in an indiscretion. Only God knows the heart, but when we hear a stuttered “I’m . . . uh . . . sorry,” we may wonder if they are truly repentant or just sorry they got caught. When we read the confession of the famous King David, we see what looks like genuine contrition. In his public discussion of his sins in Psalm 51, this disgraced monarch—who had an embarrassing record of flagrant sins which he had kept hidden (2 SAMUEL 12:1–13; PSALM 32:3–5)—pleads for mercy. He recognised that his sin was an affront to God—not just to people—and that God alone would judge him (PSALM 51:1–6). He realised that he must be cleansed by God (VV. 7–10), and he celebrated the restoration he received through service and worship(VV. 11–17). All of us sin and fall short of God’s glory. When we feel the heavy burden of sin weighing us down, we have the blessing of confession and forgiveness (1 JOHN 1:9) to lift us up. Jesus is the One who has cleaned us through the shedding of His own blood. Through trusting in His death and resurrection, we are fully redeemed! Isn’t it just like our great God to turn even our sins into an opportunity to grow in His grace and power and love! DAVE BRANON Confessing is agreeing with God about our sin. What does it mean to be completely forgiven from all sin? What helps you to remember that Jesus has forgiven you for all eternity? Dear Lord, please give me a humble heart and the courage to confess my sins before You and others. Thank You for Your promise to be faithful to forgive my sins and to cleanse me. o DAY 7 PSALM 56

1 Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack. 2 My adversaries pursue me all day long; in their pride many are attacking me. 3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? 5 All day long they twist my words; all their schemes are for my ruin. 6 They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, hoping to take my life. 7 Because of their wickedness do not let them escape; in your anger, God, bring the nations down. 8 Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll— are they not in your record? 9 Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me. 10 In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise— 11 in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me? 12 I am under vows to you, my God; I will present my thank-offerings to you. 13 For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. HOW TO HANDLE FEAR

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. [ PSALM 56:3 ] ome years ago as I lay in a hospital bed, I overheard two women talking in a waiting room outside my door. Evidently Sthe husband of one of them was in critical condition. She had been under extreme stress and was greatly concerned about his recovery. She said to her friend, “You know, when you’re as worried as I am, you just have to smoke!” That made me think about how people handle their fears. Some turn to alcohol, others turn to food and some to busyness. The psalmist gave us a better solution to the problem of fear. He said, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (PSALM 56:3). It’s tragic when we turn to something other than the Lord to fill the void or cover up the pain we’re feeling. If we have put our faith in God’s Son, Jesus Christ, we can have confidence that our heavenly Father sees us in our trials and has promised His protection. In times of distress, we can place our trust in the Lord. He wants us to call on Him so that He can encourage us with His presence and give us His peace. As you rest in the Lord and rely on Him today, you will be able to say with the psalmist, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” RICHARD DEHAAN What false places of safety do you run to when you feel afraid or stressed? How can you leave these places behind and place yourself in the secure hands of Jesus?

Jesus, forgive me for running to anything but You in search of life and happiness. I turn away from those things now, and turn my life over to You. o DAY 8 PSALM 92:12–15

12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; 13 planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, 15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” FRUITFUL TO THE END

They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green. [ PSALM 92:14 ] lthough Lenore Dunlop was ninety-four years young, her mind was sharp, her smile was bright and her contagious A love for Jesus was felt by many. It wasn’t uncommon to find her in the company of the youth of our church; her presence and participation were sources of joy and encouragement. Lenore’s life was so vibrant that her death caught us off guard. Like a powerful runner, she sprinted across life’s finish line. Her energy and zeal were such that, just days before her death, she completed a sixteen-week course that focused on taking the message of Jesus to the people of the world. The fruitful, God-honouring life of Lenore illustrates what’s seen in Psalm 92:12–15. This psalm describes the budding, blossoming and fruit-bearing of those whose lives are rooted in a right relationship with God (VV. 12–13). The two trees pictured were valued for their fruit and wood, respectively; with these the psalmist captures a sense of vitality, prosperity and usefulness. When we see in our lives the budding and blossoming fruit of loving, sharing, helping and leading others to Christ, we should rejoice. Even for those who may be labelled “senior”, it’s never too late to take root and bear fruit. Lenore’s life was deeply rooted in God through Jesus and testifies to this and to God’s goodness (V. 15). Ours can too. ARTHUR JACKSON How does your life reflect the fruit found in a growing relationship with Jesus? What can you add or eliminate to help you grow?

Father, give me the strength to bear fruit that clearly demonstrates that my life is rooted in the life of Jesus, Your Son. o DAY 9 PSALM 116:1–10

1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. 2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. 3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. 4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!” 5 The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. 6 The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me. 7 Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. 8 For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, 9 that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. 10 I trusted in the Lord when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”; SINGING TO THE FIRING SQUAD

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. [ MARK 14:26 ] wo men convicted of drug trafficking had been on death row for a decade. While in prison, they learned of God’s Tlove for them in Jesus, and their lives were transformed. When it came time for them to face the firing squad, they faced their executioners reciting the Lord’s Prayer and singing “Amazing Grace”. Because of their faith in God, through the power of the Spirit they were able to face death with incredible courage. They followed the example of faith set by their Saviour, Jesus. When Jesus knew that His death was imminent, He spent part of the evening singing with friends. It’s remarkable that He could sing under such circumstances, but what’s even more remarkable is what He sang. On that night, Jesus and his friends had a Pass- over meal, which always ends with a series of Psalms known as the Hallel, Psalms 113–118. Facing death, that night Jesus sang about the “cords of death” entangling Him (PSALM 116:3). Yet He praised God’s faithful love (117:2) and thanked Him for salvation (118:14). Surely these Psalms comforted Jesus on the night before His crucifixion. Jesus’ trust in God was so great that even as He approached His own death—a death He had done nothing to deserve!—He chose to sing of God’s love. Because of Jesus, we too can have confidence that whatever we face, God is with us. AMY PETERSON How sweet is the sound of God’s amazing grace! Why not take some time to praise Him for His salvation today!

God, strengthen my faith in You so that when I face trials, or even approach death, I can sing with confidence about Your love. o DAY 10 PSALM 139:1–10

1 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. LOVE’S LONG REACH

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. [ PSALM 139:8 ] ary Lee is a sixteen foot, 3,500 pound great white shark tagged by oceanographers in 2012. The transmitter Mattached to her dorsal fin would be tracked by satellite when she surfaced. For the next five years Mary Lee’s movements were observed online by everyone from researchers to surfers, up and down the coast. She was tracked for nearly 40,000 miles until one day her signal stopped—probably because the battery on her transmitter expired. Human knowledge and technology reach only so far. Those ‘follow- ing’ Mary Lee lost track of her, but you and I can never evade God’s awareness throughout every moment of our lives. David prayed, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there” (PSALM 139:7–8). “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,” he exclaimed gratefully (V. 6). God chooses to know us because He loves us. He cares enough not only to observe our lives but also to enter into them and make them new. He drew near through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, so we could know Him in return and love Him for eternity. We can never go beyond the reach of God’s love. JAMES BANKS How does the thought that God knows and loves us completely encourage you? How will you reach out to others with His love today?

Thank You for always seeing me, Father! Help me to live today with a growing awareness of Your presence and perfect love. We want to hear from you!

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PSALM 23:1 Finding in the Psalmshope

ourney through the honest, raw and heartfelt Jcries of the Psalms with these 10 specially selected Our Daily Bread readings. Use the psalmists’ words to deepen your own conversations with God, discover the hope He gives to those who put their faith in Him and find the love, rescue and provision of Jesus clearly depicted again and again. Let the psalmists inspire you to live a life of security, contentment and joy because of the Saviour who fulfils His every promise and meets our every need.

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