Reflections on Psalms 136-140

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.

Thanks for His Love – Psalms 136 and 138 call us to give thanks to God for his steadfast love toward us. If you were to write a psalm like Psalm 136, what loving acts of God would you include? Give thanks to him for his loving work in your life.
God Knows Us – Psalm 139 reminds us that he knows us completely. He knows where we go and what we think. He knows what we will say before we say it. He knew us as he created us in our mother’s womb. He knows what is in our hearts. How do you respond to these amazing truths?

Reflections on Psalms 130-135

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.

Hope in the Lord – The Psalmist cries out to God for forgiveness, and then waits and hopes in the Lord (Psalm 130). He humbles and quiets himself as he hopes in the Lord (Psalm 131). Have you humbled yourself before the Lord? For what do you need forgiveness? Describe your hope in the Lord.
Bless the Lord – Psalms 134-135 call us to bless and praise the Lord. He is a great God who does great things. What great things has he done for you recently? Bless and praise the Lord.

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.

Work – Psalm 127 reminds us that our work is futile unless God blesses it. Instead of anxious constant toil, we should do our work and then rest, trusting God to bless it. Which of those two ways better describes you?
Children – Psalm 127 tells us that children are a blessing from God. How does that compare to our culture’s view of children? Who do children ultimately belong to? How should that affect the way parents raise them?

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.

Songs of Ascent – Today’s psalms are all Songs of Ascent – psalms that the people of Israel would sing on their pilgrimage to the temple. They would sing with joy at the opportunity to go to the house of the Lord (122:1). What attitude do you have as you go to the house of the Lord?
God our Helper – Many of these psalms speak of God as one who helps us (121, 124), keeps us (121), surrounds us (125), and restores us (126). And so we look to him in times of trouble (123). What do you need to look to the Lord for today?

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.

Praise and Thanks – Psalms 113 and 117 offer up praises to God for his great deeds of love and faithfulness. Psalm 116 and 118 offer thanks for answered prayer and help in time of need. How has he shown his love and faithfulness to you this week? How has he helped you? How has he answered prayer? Praise and give thanks to him.
Trust – Psalm 115 compares God to idols. Idols can do nothing – it is folly to trust in them. But God shows us love and faithfulness, he is our help and shield – so we place our trust in him. What idols are you tempted to trust in? What do you need to trust God for?

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.

King and Priest – Psalm 110 speaks of a king who is to come – a king in the line of David who is greater than David (for David calls him Lord). This king is also a priest – one who mediates between God and man. This king and priest has come – and his name is Jesus.
Praise – Psalm 111 pours out praise to God for who he is and what he has done. Use this psalm to pour out your own praise to the Lord.

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.

Saved to Walk with God – Psalm 105 recounts God saving Israel from Egypt – that “they might keep his statutes and observe his laws” (v45). Psalm 106 tells of Israel’s repeated failure to do what they were saved to do. What about you? God saved you that you might walk with him. Are you? What changes do you need to make?
Saved by Love – Psalm 107 recounts several stories of people who were in deep trouble who cried out to God, and God saved them. In response they should give thanks to God for his love. What story from your life could you add to this psalm? Thank God for his saving love.

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.

Integrity – In Psalm 101, David expresses his desire to walk with integrity. He ponders the way that is blameless. He guards his eyes from worthless things. He wants nothing to do with evil. How well does this describe you? What steps do you need to take to walk with integrity before God?
God’s Love – Psalm 104 presents God as our Creator and Sustainer. Despite the fact that we are small before him (and even sinners), God still shows his compassion to us (Psalm 103). Ponder his care for you – and give thanks.

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.

God Reigns – Three of today’s psalms remind us that God reigns. As king, he will judge the earth. Our response? Fear and tremble. But also praise, exalt, worship, and rejoice. How might the reminder that God reigns affect your approach to this day? How might you respond like the Psalmist throughout your day?
Praise the Lord – All five psalms today call us to praise the Lord. Answer the call.

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.

God’s Shelter – Psalms 91 and 94 remind us that God is our refuge, fortress, and stronghold. We can dwell in his shelter in the midst of the storm. His love holds us up. In the midst of cares, God cheers our souls. How do you need God to be these things to you today?
Praise – Psalm 92 and 95 call us to praise the Lord: to sing praises, give thanks, make a joyful noise, worship and bow down. Why? Because God is great, he made everything, and he shows us steadfast love and faithfulness. Ponder these things and respond with praise!