Today we continue an ambitious project! For the next nine months, you and I will get the opportunity to read through, and more importantly, pray through the Psalms together. See Monday’s post for more info.
The audio file below is the entire episode for today. The text below is today’s prayer. I’m reading the Contemporary English Version of the Text, copyright 1995, by the American Bible Society.
God, Abba, Father.
We proclaim today that you are our God and our protector. Hear our prayer. Thank you that once I was in terrible distress, but you set me free. Hear our prayer today. Forgive us when we refuse to respect you and your ways and your people. Forgive us when we pursue foolishness instead of your righteousness.
Thank you for choosing me, oh God. Thank for choosing anyone who is faithful to you. Please help us to be faithful. Forgive me, forgive us, when we sin, when we are not faithful. Search our heart, oh God. May we trust in your unfailing love.
Thank you, God, that you are good to us. As the psalmist prayed so do we: “Let your kindness, Lord, Yahweh, shine brightly on us.” You have brought us a rich harvest of blessings, happiness and joy. More than just bread and wine, grain and grapes. Thank you that in You, we have more than enough! Always.
And thank you for rest… that we can lie down and sleep soundly, because you, Lord, keep us safe. Thank you again for being our protector, the One in whom we find complete peace.
Today we continue an ambitious project! For the next nine months, you and I will get the opportunity to read through, and more importantly, pray through the Psalms together. See Monday’s post for more info.
The audio file below is the entire episode for today. The text below is today’s prayer. I’m reading the Contemporary English Version of the Text, copyright 1995, by the American Bible Society.
God. Abba. Father.
We worship you today for you are always with us. Your word says that even when we are chased by our enemies, even when we are overwhelmed and surrounded by our fears, even when others mock us for following your holy ways, you are with us. You are our shield. You keep our feet firmly planted on your ways. We can lift our head high for we are your children. You call us “son.” You call us “daughter.” We shout loudly to you. And y our answer thunders from your throne deep to within our heart.
We thank you for the peace that we can always find in your grace and comfort. Yes, Lord. Thank you for sleep. Thank you that in your rest we wake up refreshed, strengthened for the new day. Even a new day with the same enemy surrounding us. Even when it feels like 10,000 people attacking us. We cry out to you for help. And you help us! Thank you.
Thank you for saving us. Thank you for defeating the enemy. Thank you for protecting and blessing your children. Thank for protecting and blessing us.
We offer this prayer of thanksgiving today in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Today we continue an ambitious project! For the next nine months, you and I will get the opportunity to read through, and more importantly, pray through the Psalms together. See yesterday’s post for more info.
The audio file below is the entire episode for today. The text below is today’s prayer. I’m reading the Contemporary English Version of the Text, copyright 1995, by the American Bible Society.
God, Abba, Father.
We come to you today on behalf of the rulers and leaders of this world. We repent on their behalf, and we repent ourselves, when we make useless plans, when we turn against you, when we proclaim that we want to do things our own ways. We thank you for your righteous anger. We thank you that you, God, have holy standards that we can all aspire to uphold. And we thank you God that when we fail, and we fail regularly, that you have provided grace for each one us through your Son. Thank you, Father that you have given every nation to your Son. And you will honor your Son’s request to claim every land and every nation for your Kingdom.
Father we pray for every ruler of every land on this earth… that they would serve and honor the Lord. That they would rejoice and be glad. That they would respect your Son, Jesus, our Messiah and Lord. And we pray this prayer for us, and for our families.
We thank you for the promise that you bless and protect everyone who runs to you. Thank you that we can find true comfort, true peace, true shelter and true joy… only in your love and your grace.
We love you God and offer this prayer in Jesus’ name.
Today we begin an ambitious project! For the next nine months, you and I will get the opportunity to read through, and more importantly, pray through the Psalms together.
Each Sunday on all of the major podcast platforms there will be five new RichlySpeaking Podcast episodes that you can download for the week ahead. Or you can find them here each day, Monday through Friday. The audio file below is the entire episode for today. The text below is today’s prayer. I’m reading the Contemporary English Version of the Text, copyright 1995, by the American Bible Society.
My prayer for all of us as we make time daily for the Word to speak to our hearts is echoed in Paul’s encouragement to the church at Colossae, in today’s Turkey: “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” (Colossians 3:16, NLT).
I’m thankful for you and look forward to refreshed souls and new insights into the heart of the Father.
God. Abba. Father.
Thank you that you bless those people who refuse to follow evil advice or be trapped into following sinners or those who mock your holy name. Thank you for filling us with your Holy Spirit so that we may embrace your word, your truths… and that by doing so we are happy and blessed… We find delight in meditating on your Word day and night… We find joy in thinking about ways to honor you and follow you. Thank you that we might be like a tree planted along a stream… a tree that never fails to bear fruit… Thank you that your ways lead to success!
Protect us from those who are evil… we don’t want to be known as someone who is blown like the wind… Thank you for your grace so that we won’t have an excuse on the day of judgement, that we will be received with others who call on your name. Thank you that you protect everyone who follows you. And Lord, we pray today for those who do not follow you, whose choices lead to ruin. May your Holy Spirit call them to you. May they bow their knees to you and your overwhelming grace.
We love you God and offer this prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Good News! The RichlySpeaking Podcast launches on August 30th.
If you’ve enjoyed the blog at RichlySpeaking.com, you will likely discover a similar place of rest for your soul, finding inspiration, encouragement, and observation through the lens of Scripture.
(Play the RichlySpeaking Podcast trailer.)
For the next several months we’re going to read through and pray through the book of Psalms together. There are 150 Psalms, which I’ve broken up into 180 separate readings — one for each day of the typical school year. Now, we know the ’20-’21 school year is going to look quite different than most. So, perhaps you are suddenly a homeschooling family, or you’re going to need to find a routine or rhythm this year, I’ll be here with five new episodes each week, beginning August 30th, so feel free to tune in daily. Maybe you can join me for a quiet start to the day, or a lunch break pause, or at bedtime… And we can be encouraged together, as we read through and pray through the Bible’s beautiful book of poetry, hymns, and personal journal entries by at least eight different authors. Each day, I’ll read the Psalm, or portion of the psalm, then pray through it.
Be sure to like, forward and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. One of the reasons I love finding inspiration from the Bible every day is found in the Gospel of John. In Chapter 20, verse 31, he writes “these things are written, the Bible is written, so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Living God and that believing you may find life in His name.” May you find life in Jesus’ name today. God bless you.
Five new episodes will be released each Sunday, beginning August 30, and continuing to May of 2021. I look forward to hearing how God blesses the reading and praying of His Word together.
King David wrote these words in 2 Samuel: “What a God! His road stretches straight and smooth. Every God-direction is road-tested. Everyone who runs toward Him makes it.” 2 Samuel 22:31, MSG.
This is the same David who was chased for decades throughout The Land. His enemies included King Saul, his own son Absalom, a wanna-be leader by the name of Sheba, and of course the armies of Philistines.
Here towards the end of the journey he acknowledges and worships the One True God. We might expect this song in the Psalms, but here it as at the end of the 2 Samuel narrative. Despite the many setbacks of the shepherd-turned-warrior-turned-king, his heart is pure before God. He takes time, regularly, to sing and praise the Almighty for who He is.
Every time you begin to run back to God, He will show the way to His throne. It is unmistakable. He wants you to make it.
“The LORD is my rock… He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender and my place of safety. (v3, NCV).
“In my distress I called to the LORD. I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.” (v7, NIV).
“He brought me out to an open place; he rescued me, because he took pleasure in me.” (v20, CJB).
“You give me a better way to live, so I live as you want me to.” (v37, NCV).
“You are a mighty rock. I will honor you for keeping me safe.” (v47, CEV).
‘So I will praise you, LORD, among the nations. I will sing praises to your name.” (v50, NCV).
Even if your life feels like it’s full of ups and downs and right turns and left turns, know that every time you begin to run back to God, He will show the way to His throne. It is unmistakable. Why? Because He wants you to make it! In fact, He is making the way clear. Even now.
David’s son Solomon says it this way: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:56, NIV).
And once we’re there, we will join David in praising God for all eternity.
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, the all-powerful God, who was and is and is coming.” (Revelation 4:8, CEV).
“What a God! His road stretches straight and smooth. Every God-direction is road-tested. Everyone who runs toward Him makes it.” (2 Samuel 22:31, MSG).
This is my mother-in- law’s passion flower. The detail is exquisite! It just takes your breath away. Did you know that each bloom only lasts a single day to enjoy its beauty? And surprisingly there’s not a whole lot of blooms on the vine. Maybe just one each week. When they appear the whole family receives them with the joy God intended when He created these elegant garden gems.
Today we were blessed with two blooms! They’ll be gone tomorrow. But this day was their day to shine in all their splendor.
Reminds me of the words of Jesus:
“Can worry make you live longer? Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn’t as well clothed as one of them. God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. God will surely do even more for you!” (Matthew 6:27-30, CEV).
We need not worry. God is the Master Gardner. We are all His passion flowers. If we take the time to look at the details in our life, we will see that His beauty shines in and through all of His children. And I’m so thankful we get more than just a single day, aren’t you? We are created in His image! He loves to bless us.
May you bloom in all the extravagance of God’s beauty today, and tomorrow, and the day after that, and…
You may listen to today’s audio devotional message here.
I haven’t always understood how Pentecost was a holiday for both Jews and Christians. It took me five trips to the Southern Steps in Israel for it to really sink in. The most recent visit to Jerusalem was just a few months ago.
Christians celebrate Pentecost seven weeks after Resurrection Sunday. Jews celebrate it seven weeks, or 50 days, after Passover. It doesn’t always work out this way because the Jews operate on a lunar calendar, but this year it falls on the same weekend. This weekend.
God asked the children of Israel to come up to Jerusalem three times each year. Passover is one of those times. It celebrates the Exodus and how God delivered His children through the Red Sea and the oppressive Pharaoh of Egypt. A second time is at the end of the summer. Sukkot celebrates the fall harvest and how God provided for the children of Israel as they wandered through the desert, living in tents. We sometimes call this the Feast of Tabernacles. Many Jewish people today still set up small sukkahs, or huts, in their backyard to commemorate the holiday.
The third celebration is called Shavuot, meaning “weeks,” for it was exactly seven weeks after the Exodus when the people of God found themselves at the base of Mt. Sinai. This special time is a celebration of the giving of the Law, the Torah, to Moses (beginning in Exodus 19). Then (Moses) read aloud the Lord’s commands and promises, and the people shouted, “We will obey the Lord and do everything he has commanded!” (Exodus 24:7, CEV).
Now, fast-forward 1200 years. The children of Israel have returned to Jerusalem to celebrate this Feast of Weeks, Shavuot. They bring offerings of grain to honor God for these first fruits of the new harvest season. This year is different, however. At Passover just two months prior, Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose again. He visited with the disciples for 40 days before He ascended into Heaven.
While he was still with them, Jesus said: Don’t leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do. (Acts 1:4, CEV).
The disciples had been waiting days for the Holy Spirit. While they waited, they watched as the city population tripled, when the children of God arrived from the Judean countryside, and even from foreign countries, to celebrate the Feast. And then, just as Jesus promised, on the very morning the Jews were to celebrate the Law, God showed up in Spirit and in power! As the believers met together that day, suddenly there was a sound like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them and it filled the house where they were meeting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on their heads. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in languages they didn’t know, for the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. (Acts 2:2-4, TLB).
Here’s where it gets amazing! The Good News was being proclaimed to people from at least 15 different lands by strangers who didn’t speak those languages. And everyone heard, and understood, the voice of God in their native tongue.
The Law brings death. But the Spirit bringslife.
It was into this cacophony of noise that Peter stood up to address the crowd. It was likely near the top of the Southern Steps that lead up to the Temple –the same steps that I visited just a few months ago. At that time, there was an open plaza where a large crowd of people from 15 different nations might gather. You remember Peter… the fearful yet rambunctious disciple. When he tried to walk on the water, he sank. When he was confronted by a young girl if he knew Jesus, the fisherman issued a strong denial. Yet now, filled with the Holy Spirit, he spoke with boldness and with power! This was his first public sermon and the message cut to the hearts of all the listeners.
Peter pressed his case with many other arguments and kept pleading with them, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!” So those who accepted what he said were immersed, and there were added to the group that day about three thousand people. (Acts 2:40-41, CJB).
Three thousand people were baptized in water that day, taking a step of faith to follow the Messiah. There is something amazing about that number.
Let’s go back to the first Shavuot. Do you recall what happened when Moses came down from the Mountain with the tablets of the Law? His brother Aaron had formed a golden calf and the children of God were worshipping it. Yes, these were the same people who shouted “We will obey the Lord and do everything he has commanded!” (Exodus 24:7, CEV). And they were disobeying the very first command! As a result, God released His wrath.
Then the men of the Levi tribe gathered around Moses, and he said to them, “The LORD God of Israel commands you to strap on your swords and go through the camp, killing your relatives, your friends, and your neighbors.” The men of the Levi tribe followed his orders, and that day they killed about three thousand men. (Exodus 32:26-28, CEV).
Would you look at that? The Lord was so angry that He had 3,000 people slaughtered on the original day of Pentecost, the first Shavuot, the giving of the Law. Disobeying the Law leads to death. Now, on the day of Pentecost celebrated here in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit comes and gives life, and 3,000 people were baptized on that day! God symbolically redeemed those caught in His judgment 1200 years earlier, on this Day of Pentecost when He gave the Holy Spirit!
The Apostle Paul says it this way: The Law brings death. But the Spirit bringslife. (2 Corinthians 3:6, CEV).
God calls out to us through the Holy Spirit, which we celebrate today. Do you hear His voice, His Good News? It is life!
The setting sun behind Mt. Arbel, along the Sea of Galilee. Jesus prayed here with his followers.
Earlier this year, we took a journey together through the Old Testament book of Isaiah. Paul, as a learned rabbi and the author of the letter to the church at Rome, quoted regularly from the Prophet. So, let’s take the next few weeks together to look at the New Testament book of Romans.
You may play today’s devotional message here. (4:43)
Romans 16.
Congratulations! We’ve read through Romans together. So much we have learned about God’s plan for us and His grace. And, about Paul.
This is a full chapter of greetings to those in the church at Rome. Almost 30 people. And they are likely from more than one congregation. I’ve wondered about Peter. It seems his name is conspicuously absent? Tradition says he was the first Pope in Rome. But that’s a conversation for another day. I do love that Paul calls out by name many women who love and serve God. I think that’s significant. Think about Paul as a former pharisee. His old tradition would likely not have given much attention to the women of the synagogue. I believe this acknowledgment is evidence of real life transformation in his new walk with the Messiah!
He also includes a warning to watch out for those who say they follow the Master, but who’s actions are deceptive. And he affirms their obedient discipleship. They are following his call to spiritual maturity (which we talked about yesterday): I am glad that everyone knows how well you obey the Lord. But still, I want you to understand what is good and not have anything to do with evil. (v19, CEV).
My big takeaway from today’s reading: “Enjoy the best of Jesus!” (v20, MSG.) What a great way to conclude a letter!
He states again the reason he has written this dispatch. And it is a source of strength for us all:
Praise God! He can make you strong by means of my good news, which is the message about Jesus Christ. For ages and ages this message was kept secret, but now at last it has been told. The eternal God commanded his prophets to write about the good news, so that all nations would obey and have faith. And now, because of Jesus Christ, we can praise the only wise God forever! Amen. (v 25-27, CEV).
“Enjoy the best of Jesus!”
What is this Good News? Let’s review the Gospel Message along this Romans Road, a map to our salvation through the pages of this single letter:
1. The Human Condition — We are all sinners.
All of us, whether insiders or outsiders, start out in identical conditions, which is to say that we all start out as sinners. Scripture leaves no doubt about it: There’s nobody living right, not even one,nobody who knows the score, nobody alert for God. They’ve all taken the wrong turn; they’ve all wandered down blind alleys. No one’s living right; I can’t find a single one. (Romans 3:9-10, MSG).
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23, NIV).
Sin pays off with death. (Romans 6:23a, CEV).
2. We Have Hope — Thanks to Jesus. “But God…”
But God’s gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23b, CEV).
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8, NLT).
3. Our Response — Calling Out to Jesus.
If you acknowledge publicly with your mouth that Yeshua is Lord and trust in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be delivered. For with the heart one goes on trusting and thus continues toward righteousness, while with the mouth one keeps on making public acknowledgement and thus continues toward deliverance. (Romans 10:9-10, CJB).
“Everyone who calls, ‘Help, God!’ gets help.” (Romans 10:13, MSG).
4. The Result of Salvation — Peace and Grace.
By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God. (Romans 5:1, CEV).
So there is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus.For the power of the life-giving Spirit—and this power is mine through Christ Jesus—has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2, NLT).
It’s our power too!
I’ve really appreciated your joining me on this journey. Thank you! Looking back over my journal, I want to go back to Chapter 1 and start it all over again!
Earlier this year, we took a journey together through the Old Testament book of Isaiah. Paul, as a learned rabbi and the author of the letter to the church at Rome, quoted regularly from the Prophet. So, let’s take the next few weeks together to look at the New Testament book of Romans.
You may listen to today’s devotional message by clicking the start button above.
Romans 15.
Jesus came for the Jew and the non-Jew. Paul’s assignment was to bring the Gospel to all the world. Yet even though he was a Jew who came to know Jesus first-hand, God’s marching orders for the Missionary were primarily to the non-Jewish world. His various journeys took him far from Judea. In fact, here in Romans 15, he is planning a journey all the way to Spain, with a stop-over to those he has addressed this letter to, the church in Rome.
Paul notes that Jesus came to serve and bring hope. And that’s our assignment too! Our daily strength is for service not for status. Our charge is maturity.
Again, Paul quotes from the Ancient Text, and notes how relevant it is for us, even today. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. (v4-6, MSG).
Spiritual maturity is God’s goal for us. May I ask you frankly, how are you doing in that area? Are you growing deeper in your personal relationship with Jesus every day? I’m asking myself that question as well. Maturity is a common theme in Paul’s letters. He challenges us to focus on spiritual maturity in five other letters: 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, and 1 Timothy! We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. (Colossians 1:28, MSG).
We are designed by God Himself to grow into greater spiritual maturity each day; not to merely tread water. How do we grow? Through the power of the Holy Spirit! Peace. Joy. Hope. Strength. Love.
Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope! (v13, TPT).
Uncontainable joy! Perfect peace! Trusting God. That’s maturity. And you will shine with a waterfall of unshakable hope through the Holy Spirit.
As Paul begins to wrap this letter up, I love the glimpse into the humanness of who he is. He sums up his evangelistic travels, noting with a small touch of pride in Jesus the depth of the message he has preached far and wide: The text of the messages I preached: Those who were never told of Him, they’ll see Him. Those who’ve never heard of Him, they’ll get the message. (v21, MSG). Again, he’s quoting Isaiah (Chapter 52) and it’s a quote that even Jesus uses often: “To him who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
So, are you listening? Am I listening? Sh’ma! Hear! Listen. Act. Obey. Mature.
That’s the whole point, isn’t it? I believe the reason for living is all about seeing, knowing, and experiencing God.
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