Remember a few weeks ago when we were studying Leviticus; we learned the principle: “Not all scripture is written to us but all scripture is written for us.”  Psalm 45, for me, is a great example of this.  The psalm is a Hebrew wedding song, written at a specific time for a specific purpose.  As I read it this morning I remembered the above principle and wrote these prayers in my journal:

Verse 2b, … “your lips are anointed with grace.” Prayer: “Lord anoint my lips with grace – grace-bringing words today”.   

Make it your goal to speak words to others today that build them up, not tear them down, that bring God’s grace to them.

Verse 6a, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever.”  Wonderful words of praise to our King!  Go ahead and say them out loud, right now as praise to God!

Verse 7c, … “anointing you with the oil of joy.”  Prayer:  “Thank Your Lord Jesus for the joy You give to me.  Continue to “anoint me with the oil of joy.”

Psalm 105 is a beautiful psalm that recounts God’s faithfulness to Israel and His covenant with them.  Verses 1-4b are beautiful words all of us can speak to Him in praise:  “Give thanks to the LORD, call on His Name; make known among the nations what He has done.  Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts.  Glory in His holy Name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.  Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.”

Psalm 135  The psalmist repeatedly gives praise to the Name of the LORD.  “Praise the LORD. Praise the Name of the LORD; praise Him, you servants of the LORD…Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to His Name, for that is pleasant…. Your Name, O LORD endures forever!”  (verses 1, 3, 13)   We are having a wonderful time in our Praying Through the Names of God small group each Wednesday evening at 7:35 in the church narthex.  You’re welcome to join us.  It’s a time of refreshing and great fellowship.

Psalm 119 The reading plan we are following is designed for months with 31 days in them. On the 31st of those months we read together Psalm 119 (the longest, by far, of all the psalms). Since September only has 30 days tomorrow we will begin to read Psalm 119. Here’s how it will work. Psalm 119 is divided into 22 stanzas of 8 verse each. Each day, in addition to our regular psalms we will read 2 stanzas (16 verses) from Psalm 119. (I actually follow this pattern every time I read through the psalms; the reason: Psalm 119 is rather lengthy – 176 verses. To read it all in one day sometimes we rush or don’t give ourselves time to meditate on the richness of the words. “Eating it in small portions will give you a chance to savor the richness of the wonderful psalm.

Remember the principle the LORD taught us from Exodus 20:24b, “Wherever I cause My Name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you.”  This Sunday we’ll be honoring His Name: The Exalted King.  You don’t want to miss this opportunity to joyfully worship our King.  Can’t wait to be with you in worship!  Until then, see you right here tomorrow for day 16.

God richly bless you.

Pastor