Psalm 3:8

Salvation belongs to the LORD; Your blessing be on Your people! Selah

Praise You, Lord, for You are the gift of salvation to the children of man. Freely offered, available to all, complete and without anything other than acceptance on our part. And through that gift flows the incredible blessing of life with You in Your Presence and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth.

Psalm 4:1-3 To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! O men, how long shall My honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him.

I know You are hearing me, Lord, as I cry for the awareness of Your Presence. I Know that I am numbered among those that You have set apart for Yourself. Answer me, Lord. Tell me why You are withholding this from me?

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Psalm 4:4-5

Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah (5) Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.

What is it, Lord, to be angry and not sin? To ponder and be silent? Does this mean that I am looking to others for advice, counsel and sympathy when I should be in quiet meditation, pondering Your Goodness and seeking Your face? You are telling me that this is a time of solitary wrestling with You as Jacob did. That I need to seek You, stripped of all the emotional gods of pride and self-control, stripped of friends and family to support; standing before You alone, filled with contrition. Yes, Lord, yes. I understand. Let it be to Your servant as You have said.

Psalm 4:6-8

There are many who say, "Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of Your face upon us, O LORD!" You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

A good word for today, Oh Lord, a perfect word for today as we begin the task of moving a parent from assisted living to long term nursing care. Thank You for this assurance that You are with us and will be guiding our every step.

Psalm 5:1-3 To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning. Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to You do I pray. O LORD, in the morning You hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for You and watch.

Lord, I continue to cry for the Presence. In the morning, in the evening, I want You and need You. I want to know You, hear my cry.

Psalm 5:4-6

For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

You are the Lord, You are Goodness and Perfection, the Pure and Unsullied One. It is through Your strength that I can resist the Evil One not through my own. Build me up, Lord, fill me with Your strength and goodness that I may resist evil and love the pure.

Psalm 119:145-149

With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep your statutes. I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O LORD, according to your justice give me life.

Lord, as I begin a time of meditation on Your Psalms, open them up to me, clear my mind of distractions, help me to focus upon them as vehicles of praise, as worship leaders, as Your way of teaching me to praise and worship You in Spirit and in Truth.

Psalm 5:7-8

But I, through the abundance of Your steadfast love, will enter Your house. I will bow down toward Your holy temple in the fear of You. Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before me.

Lord, I submit to You. I am Your servant. I seek to be filled with Your Presence, the Shekhinah. Lead me, Lord, into Your Righteousness..

Psalm 5:9-10

For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against You.

Lord, this society, this culture, even the church is turning away from You. Self-willed, pride, adultery, greed, self-justification and more are the hallmarks of the day. Bring them to their knees in repentance and worship. Let Your Church rise up in testimony to Your goodness and salvation. Like a beacon of hope in the fog of sin. Lord, use me.

Psalm 5:11-12

But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may exult in You. For You bless the righteous, O LORD; You cover him with favor as with a shield.

Lord, this is really difficult this morning. I long to hide in You, to feel Your protection over me, but my eyes see the anger and hate in this household, I see the competitiveness and lack of submission, the division, the rejections, the self-will and materialism. And this in a household that professes Your name. Spread Your protection over us.

Psalm 6:1-5 To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

O LORD, rebuke me not in Your anger, nor discipline me in Your wrath. Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled. But You, O LORD--how long? Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of Your steadfast love. For in death there is no remembrance of You; in Sheol who will give You praise?

Lord, You know the problems I am facing now of relationships within my family. I don't know where to turn, what to say, how to resolve these problems.; I can only lay them in Your hands and seek Your guidance. Help me, Lord.

Psalm 6:6-7

I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.

Lord, these relationships do weigh upon me and I know that the solution is not one of simple restoration or just glossing over, but is one of bringing them into Your presence, of healing of sin, of learning to acknowledge You as Lord of our lives. So be it, Lord.