Like most years, this last one had some great moments and some deep lows that tested my faith and if you are a person of faith, most likely it tested yours. While it may be difficult, all of God's people need to recognize He is sovereign over events, kings, and history. He inserts leaders, and He removes them. He is also sovereign over life and death. Here is a Psalm I wrote during a period of heartache and grief.
 
When people come alongside my life today, what will they see, what will they hear? Words of self-pity, or a song of trust? Will they hear a sigh of sorrow, or a psalm of praise?

O great and mighty God praise and honor be to You. You are my God no matter what happens to me or the people I love. You are sovereign in the day and sovereign in the night. You are sovereign in the calms and sovereign in the storms. You are sovereign in good health and sovereign in sickness. You reign in righteousness and truth. I know I can trust You.

Your loving kindness and Your truth has and will continually surround me throughout my life. Help me to stay strong as a man of God. Help me demonstrate Your love to my wife, family, and friends. Enable me to see those who need comfort and to comfort others with the comfort You are giving me. You are my help and my deliverer, my shield, and my rampart. I know I can trust You. 

Open my eyes that I may see You in the land of the living. There are things You reveal and there are things You have hidden that force me to walk by faith. Help me stay strong by never doubting in the darkness what You have revealed in the light. Continue to open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things from Your word and to be filled with Your inward abiding Holy Spirit.
 
May the Lord bless you mightily as you hear His voice, sense His presence, and obey His word. And may your 2024 bring a greater sense of His power, presence, and purpose for your lives. 

In the strength of His grace, 

Brad 

Perceive: This is a very fitting psalm with which to end the book of Psalms from the life of David. In this psalm, David extols the righteousness and goodness of the Lord to people in general and His people in particular. Early temple worshippers sang this as an acrostic for the Hebrew alphabet. It has five distinct sections or topics. In the first section, he describes God's greatness in depth and breadth (1-7). In the second, he describes God's goodness as slow to anger and filled with compassion (8-9). In the third section, he describes God's glory, majesty, and splendor (10-13). In the fourth section, he describes God's faithfulness, graciousness, and how He lifts the fallen, feeds the hungry, and rescues the persecuted (14-20). In the last section, He tells us why and when to praise God (21).
 
Practice: All of us at times feel we have fallen and need God’s help to get back up. As you have read repeatedly in the life of king David, he has had numerous ups and downs. Throughout them all, he has called out to God and spoke about his burdens to the Lord. You may or may not be under a crushing burden today, but when you are, consider our hero and dive into praying for the Lord to act on your behalf. Turn to God and ask Him to lift you up, protect you, and enable you to sense His power and His presence.
 
Pray:  Thank you, Lord, for always being available no matter what I face or where I go. Help me always to lean in and trust You no matter what. 
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​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: This is often called the Kings Psalm. David appreciates how God honored him and made him a successful warrior and king. He also wanted the Lord to continue blessing the people. This psalm contains two main sections. In the first section, David acknowledges the power, protection, and preparations for war (1-8). In the second section, he sings a victory song where he rejoices and acknowledges the way God rewards His people in their homes, fields, and streets (9-15). In this psalm, he sang his witness to Jehovah, the God of Israel, and then reminded his people that their God was not like the gods of their neighbors.
 
Practice: No matter who you are, you only have so much time here on this earth. The psalm could be summarized, “Life is short. Pray hard.” David reminds the reader that life is like a breath and that our days are like a fleeting shadow (4). James reflects this same thought when he writes, “You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14 NASB). Whatever time you have left should be lived for God by His rules and reign. Do you have a purpose for living out the rest of your life?
 
Pray: Thank You, Lord, for impressing upon me the need to make each day count for You. Help me accept each divine appointment and make the most of every second I live from this day forward. 

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: David may have written this psalm as a young man. He wants God to hear his heart and honor his words. It contains three main sections. In the first section, he calls upon the Lord to hear his prayers, help him with his speech, and guard his inner thought life (1-4). In the second section, he describes his companions and his desire for God to judge his enemies (5-7). In the third section, he asks for protection and the self-destruction of his enemies (8-10). Psalm 41 illustrates how to pray for accountability, to avoid compromise, and sense God’s protection during personal attacks. During the second-temple Judaism, worshippers sang this psalm as part of the evening sacrifice in the temple (2).
 
Practice: Very few people like being criticized, and even fewer would consider it a kindness, yet that is how David expresses his heart in verse 5. Even though it is tough to hear and accept something that is critical, it can have benefits when it is given with wisdom and received with humility. Whenever someone criticizes you, listen patiently, consider it a kindness, and don’t fight back or get defensive. Thank the person and take some time to pray to see if God affirms their issue.
 
Pray: Thank You that some people have the heart to help when they constructively criticize others. Help me to see the difference in helping with kindness compared to hurting with firmness. Help me to deliver any criticism with the right spirit of wisdom and humility. 

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: Once again David writes a song of thanksgiving for God’s answering his prayers as he faces all sorts of difficulties. This psalm contains three main sections. In the first section, David describes his personal help from God in the form of His love, faithfulness, promises, and answers (1-3). In the second section, he describes the universal worship of God by kings and other peoples (4-6). In the third section, he describes the way God’s power saves him and by His loving-kindness cares for him (7-8). Some scholars think this psalm was David’s response to God when the Lord gave him the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7:1-16).
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Practice: According to the Tyndale Bible Dictionary, thanksgiving also known as gratitude, was a natural expression of thanks in response to blessings, protection, or love. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, gratitude is not a tool used to manipulate the will of God. It is never coerced or fabricated in one’s mind; rather, gratitude is a joyful commitment of one’s personality to God. In the Old Testament, gratitude to God was the only condition in which people enjoyed life. Even with bad news, they also gave thanks, trusting that He was a just and loving God (Job 1:21).[i]  Unfortunately, as humans, we often take our relationships for granted, including our relationship with God. Take some time today to express your thankful heart to the Lord.
 
Pray: My Lord and my God, I am thankful for many of the rich blessings You provide on a daily basis. Today I am specifically thankful for ____.

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

[i] Elwell, W. A., & Comfort, P. W. (2001). In Tyndale Bible dictionary (pp. 551–552). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

Perceive: This psalm may have been written during the early reign of David when Jerusalem was under attack by the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:17). Like many of his psalms, David writes about the help and deliverance based on God’s reputation and power. This psalm has two main sections. In the first section, David describes how the wicked would swallow up Israel and the flood waters of adversity could destroy the country (1-5). In the second section, David acknowledges his help and deliverance is from the Lord in a similar way that a bird escapes a hunter’s snare (6-8). This psalm may have been a song of thanksgiving to the Lord as people ascended to the temple.
 
Practice: Sometimes the struggles in life feel so overwhelming that it is like being under siege by a mighty army. Although we may not have entire nations seeking our destruction, we often face things that are more than we can handle. Some people like to say, “God won’t give you anything you can’t handle.” Unfortunately, it is not true. Throughout biblical history, today, and into the future, God will often give you things you can’t handle that only He can. It is designed to have His people rely on His power and not self-control. The arm of flesh may fail you; you dare not trust your own.
 
Pray: Great and Mighty God, thank You for the many, many times You have helped me in life and delivered me from myself, danger, and the forces of evil. You have blessed me over and over with Your powerful presence. 

Perceive: In this psalm, David wants to promote praise and prayer for Jerusalem. It contains two main sections. In the first section, he describes his personal joy and blessing at being able to visit the house of God, be within its’ gates, share in the tribal fellowship, and experience a sense of justice (1-5). In the second section, he prays for Jerusalem's peace, prosperity, and protection (6-9). During David's reign, the tabernacle housed the ark of the covenant and served as the house of God until Solomon built the temple.
 
Practice: Most of us remember being young and forced to attend church. There are times when it may have been fun, and times when it was a chore. For David, it was a delight to spend time with music, praise, and prayer. He wanted to see God’s people worship in God’s house and he put his time, talents, and treasure to make sure all his subjects had an opportunity to experience the Lord God. When our hearts and attitudes are close to the Lord, our desire will be to worship Him.
 
Pray: Great and Mighty God, thank You for the many days You have made Your presence known in my life and ministry. I come before You this day. Please give me a great sense of Your presence and purpose for my life as I seek to worship You on a daily basis. 

Perceive: Jesus and Peter both stated that David wrote this psalm (Matthew 22:43; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42; Acts 2:33–35). Since David was a prophet, he wrote it about the Messiah (Acts 2:30; 2 Samuel 23:2). The psalm is referred to in the New Testament more than any other psalm; verse 1 at least twenty-five times and verse 4 another five times. Ten of these quotations or mentions are in the book of Hebrews alone. Jesus used verse 1 to prove His deity and quiet the Pharisees (Matthew 22:41–46) and to reply to the high priest during His trial (Matthew 26:64). This psalm has three sections. In the first section, David describes the Messiah as the ruling King (1-3). In the second section, David describes the Messiah as the greatest priest (4). In the third section, he describes the Messiah as a judge and victorious warrior (5-7). It is a perfect picture of Jesus, the Messiah.
 
Practice: Jesus has been and will be one of the most controversial figures in world history. Based on the old and new testaments, He is the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Some people will acknowledge He was a great teacher and preacher; however, in the end, He rules and reigns over all creation. No one will be able to sit on the fence of belief.
 
Pray: Thank You, Lord Jesus, for taking the form of man, living a sinless life, dying on the cross for my sins, and by grace giving me eternal life. Oh, what a divine blessing to be in Your eternal care. 

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: In this psalm, David combined the first five verses from 57:7–11 and the last eight from 60:5–12 and made a new psalm. It helps us realize that God’s truth is adaptable to new situations and old songs can be sung in new ways when facing new challenges. There are three distinct sections in this psalm. In the first section, he describes the call to praise the Lord openly (1–5). In the second section, he reminds them of His promises to conquer Israel’s enemies and give them the land (6–9). In the third section, he closes with a prayer for God’s help and an expression of confidence in the power of the Lord (10–13). It is a nice pattern of praise, prayer, and promises.
 
Practice: David is a classic biblical example of a man whose walk with God advanced through his experiences of pain and pleasure. Through his trials and troubles, David grew deeper in his love and knowledge of God. David learned to trust in Yahweh during the depths of his deepest depression and his most fearful threat of danger. Something life-changing emerged from David’s trials and tribulations. They were a crucible to condition his life to the mind and will of God. If we press into our issues and seek to trust God, we will experience life-changing moments.
 
Pray: O Lord my God, when people come alongside my life today, what will they see, what will they hear? Words of self-pity, or a tune of trust? Will they hear a sigh of sorrow or a psalm of praise?

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

​​Perceive: While David is not listed as the author in the title, first century New Testament Christians attributed this psalm to his writings (see Hebrews 4:7 quotes vs. 7-8). The early church used this psalm as a call and guide to worship. It contains two main sections where the worshipper is called to praise the Lord and respond with clear obedience. The first section describes how the true believer should always praise the Lord (1-7). The second section calls for the believer to consider those who provoked God like the Israelites who refused to obey God and never saw the promised land. (8-11). The call to worship was vital in David’s day, and it is vital today, it calls for adoration and obedience.
 
Practice: The problem with a hardened heart is that people who are hardened are spiritually insensitive. Nothing can make a dry chunk of clay moldable. Like the stubborn Israelites in the dessert, men can harden their hearts and lose their lives in the deserts of life. Anytime you resist God’s will, you are hardening your spiritual arteries. Stubborn people do not turn to God, they turn to whatever they trust in their mind. For most people, the journey from a tender heart to a hardened heart is a gradual process of making choices that disregard the will of God. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God. Proverbs tells us to, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flows the springs of life.” (4:23).
 
Pray: Father, help me stay moldable and useful as a vessel. You are the Potter, I am the clay, help mold me into a serving man of God. 

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com