Devotional Fuel to Reboot Your Mind

Psalm 103:2, Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me.”

I have a gift box on our mantel that contains written answers to prayers I have recorded on 3 X 5 cards that God has answered. I just added another card to the box this past week, not wanting to forget the good things God has done for me. The purpose is to have reminders of past blessings of answers to prayers God has provided, so I don’t forget them whenever I am tempted to be discouraged or distraught as life happens. When I feel like nothing is going right, I open this box and read the cards of past and present blessings; therefore, God has more to offer me in the future as well. Psalm 103 is a psalm of praise to God, written by David, describing God’s great love for us and what God is really like.

David lists reasons in Psalm 103, to praise God because of his repentance and received forgiveness. Which ones would you identify with the most?

1. Forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. Verse 3.
2. Redeems us from death. Verse 4.
3. Crowns us with love and tender mercies. Verse 4.
4. Fills our life with good things. Verse 5.
5. Gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly. Verse 6.
6. Merciful and gracious. Verse 8.
7. Compassionate and merciful. Verse 8.
8. Slow to anger and filled with unfailing love. Verse 8.
9. He does not punish us for all our sins, does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. Verse 10.
10. Steadfast love – unfailing love. Verse 11.
11. Removes our sins as far as the East is from the West. Verse 12.
12. He knows how weak we are because He knows we were formed from dust. Verse 14.
13. The steadfast love of the LORD remains forever. Verse 17 (2^nd statement of this of the character of God).

Psalm 11:4-5, is another verse that is good to remember when discouraged, which says, “But the LORD is in his holy Temple; the LORD still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth. The LORD examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence.” We have a lot of violence throughout the world today, but God sees and examines it all. Their day of punishment is coming because God has said it so. God sees it all and examines it all.

When you feel distraught and discouraged, take a break and read over the list in Psalm 103 of what to praise God for and read it out loud to yourself. May you then say, “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” Psalm 23:1 NLT. Yes, never forget the good things God has done for you. God sees it all and knows you better than you know yourself. Bless and praise his holy name! Psalm 103:1.

Listen to Leanna Crawford – Every Day Here. Music Video.

Psalm 32:8-9, “The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

A horse or mule are examples of animals that are not easily guided, as shown in Psalm 32:9. I found some interesting information regarding these two animals in my research. In Biblical times, horses were often associated with strength in warfare. There are 14 instances in the Old Testament where mules are mentioned. It has been said that horses and mules are trainable and have deep emotional intelligence. Mules are bright and desire to take charge and learn things independently. However, they have a strong-minded will that makes them inclined to resist and want their own way. If they cannot see the point of doing something, they won’t. They evaluate conditions before acting, so they may refuse to go further if unsure of their footing. They can be unforgiving due to their long memory. I can see similar traits at times in myself in all of these. How about you?

Horses’ personalities are kind, and they generally have a calm temperament. However, they have a short attention span but are loyal and people-pleasers. Due to their sensitivity, they can become irritable, which can mean trouble, especially if they pick offense quickly. When undergoing training, it is vital to establish boundaries and let the horse understand they are not in control – the trainer is. This requires the use of bits and reins to keep them under control during their training process just as David refers to in this Psalm.

“Like the horse, David rushed ahead impetuous, and like the mule, he was stubborn and tried to cover his sins. The only way to control animals is to break them and harness them, but God didn’t want to do that to His beloved servant David. Instead, He would teach him His word and keep His eye upon him, surrounding him with mercy (Ps. 23:6).” [1]

Psalm 25:8 promises, “The LORD is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray.”

Psalm 33:18 states, “But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love.” Throughout our day-to-day situations, we must have hope, faith, and trust in God, our loving and righteous advisor, who will direct and nimbly guide us along the best life pathway. The Message version says Psalm 32:9 this way, “Don’t be ornery like a horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to stay on track.” I am now understanding there are challenging lessons to be learned from a horse or a mule in reading and applying Psalm 32:8-9 in one’s life. We must learn and soak up God’s Word for it has the power to transform and revive one’s soul, make one wise, bringing joy to the heart, giving insight for living, warns us and rewards us (Psalm 19:7-9). God’s Word reveals His greatness and sufficiency, as David proclaimed in Psalm 19:11, “They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey him.” I will be thinking more about the characteristics of mules and horses now in light of Psalm 32:8-9.

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[1] Be Worshipful. Glorifying God For Who He Is. Psalms 1-89. Warren W. Wiersbe, page 124.

Listen to Songs of Wisdom – His grace will carry you/Official Lyric Video

1 John 5:4-5, “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Abiding in Christ needs to be the goal and mindset for every combative conflict we face when we feel trapped and burdened, but when challenged, do we stand the test? Does the gospel of Jesus Christ take priority? How does one strive for victory in achieving harmony? The conflict must not hold one hostage. That is when we prepare through prayer with an ongoing reliance and trust in Jesus Christ. After all, as born-again Christians our position in Christ gives us the victory as children of God. But the key to our victory is our faith and obedience in trusting in Christ to help bear our load (Matthew 11:28-30).

Some people are enslaved by what they have won and are absorbed in winning awards. “On the other hand, I conquer it when I lay my hand upon it and force it to help me to get nearer Him, to get liker Him, to think more often of Him, to do His will more gladly and more constantly. The one victory over the world is to bend it to serve me in the highest things – the attainment of a clearer vision of the Divine nature, the attainment of a deeper love to God Himself, and of a more glad consecration and service to Him. That is the victory – when you can make the world a ladder to lift you to God. That is its right use, that is victory, when all its tempting voices do not draw you away from listening to the Supreme Voice that bids you keep his commandments. When the world comes between you and God as an obscuring screen, it has conquered you. When the world comes between you and God as a transparent medium, you have conquered it. To win victory is to get it beneath your feet and stand upon it, and reach up thereby to God.” Alexander MacLaren’s Expositions Commentary 1 John. As 1 John 5:21admnishes, “Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” Take God as His Word promises and act on it.

May we not forget that the one thing we must live for is to know the truth of God’s Word for our life, to love and obey Him, to hear Him speak to us through His Word, and to be more Christ-like. Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Jesus summed up all He had told His disciples in that upper room when the world was about to kill Him, yet He said He had overcome the world and, at thirty-three, was about to be murdered. That is a reminder to keep one’s eyes, heart, and mind on Jesus and not be held hostage by our conflict, which has turned into a storm, because Jesus rose again from that grave and sits on the throne at the right hand of God.

Be uplifted by God’s power of protection, grace, presence, comfort, shield, and defender, and prepares a feast for you in the presence of your enemies (Psalm 23:5). “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Romans 5:37. In Jesus Christ resides victory. Believe in the power of the Son of God that has overcome the world, and don’t allow any conflict to hold you hostage. Ask Him to increase your faith and let Him take captive any attacks against you. Jesus Christ has full accessibility – you are good to go!

Listen to Hymn of Heaven (Hebrew – Arabic – English) Worship from Jerusalem).

Psalm 125:1, “Those who trust in the LORD are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever.”

Charles Stanley said he read Psalms 125 – 128 and 133 every day. These Psalms talk about putting one’s trust in the Lord because He has His sovereign plan (Ps. 125:1). These Psalms speak about the eventual end of our burdens and the blessings from following God.

When burdened by sorrow, know that grief will end, as it says, “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.” Ps. 126:5-6. It is hard to have patience during times of suffering, but praising God despite the circumstances will lift one’s heart’s emotions and give the brain a boost. It is said that prayer changes the cingulate cortex part of the brain. This part of the brain manages feelings, emotions, and emphatic thinking. It is said to help decrease blood pressure and heart rate, as well as depression and anxiety. I could use more brain growth! How about you? Prayer will open doors of opportunity we never realized before besides receiving the health benefit of peace and rest by trusting solely on the Lord.

Psalm 127 states that life without God is senseless. Without God as one’s foundation, all of life’s work and establishing a home will lack the spiritual bond God brings to those relationships. Psalm 127:1 states, “Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.” Hard work is essential, but maintaining a healthy balance and trusting in God to provide the necessary results is also needed.

Psalm 128 has been called the marriage prayer. The word joyful is used two times in this Psalm, attributing it to following God’s ways by one’s obedience. It ends with verse 6, “May you live to enjoy your grandchildren. May Israel have peace!” David Guzik’s commentary in the Blue Letter Bible states, “The psalm ends with this happy and confident declaration. The psalmist understood that if the people of Israel did fear the Lord, this blessing of shalom would be evident in their community, in their family, and in the kingdom as a whole.”

Psalm 133’s theme is about harmony in relationships. We are all marred sinners who have received salvation through Jesus Christ, saved by grace. David sang about harmony, being wonderful, pleasant, precious, and refreshing. We will have conflicts with each other but keeping the goal to serve Christ in humility and love for each other needs to be our intention, as it will reflect our relationship with the Lord and put Him first in our lives, as verse 3 declares, “Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from mount hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the LORD has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting.”

There will be an ending to your times of grief and burdens. So, how does one move from hectic to heavenly? By spending time in prayer, having the mind of Christ (Philippians 4:6-7), and reading and obeying His Word. Then, receiving the health benefits of having one’s brain rewired by prayer is a remarkable finding for me, as reported by a study by radiologist Andrew Newberg. May your prayer be today that of Psalm 125:1, “Those (put your name there) who trust in the LORD are as secure as mount Zion; they (put your name there) will not be defeated but will endure forever.”

Listen to Natalie Grant – My Weapon (Sacred Version) – (Official Music Video).

Psalm 145:13-15, “For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The LORD always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it.”

Some weeks are easier than others, wouldn’t you agree? But we all have times when we are carrying our burdens, and maybe no one else is aware of them or sees them. But the LORD knows, and He sees it all. He understands because, as verse 3 declares, “No one can measure his greatness.” It is beyond our understanding; therefore, it gives us hope by reading His Word and reading what He wants to tell us in reviving our lost hope, heavy disappointments, failures of our own, or someone else breaking a promise to us. In Jewish practice Psalm 145 was recited twice in the morning and once in the evening. I can see the value of doing just that to get my mind back on thinking about God’s everlasting kingdom we (I) will be joining soon.

David wrote this psalm as a praise to God. David knew influential people, but he saw them as inadequate saviors, as he states in Psalm 146:3, “Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.” Some people in high positions make promises they cannot deliver or keep, which is what David experienced. In contrast, we have a God who will supply all our needs as Philippians 4:19 is one of 46 verses in the Bible that tells us this and states, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” ESV. That is a promise to hold onto. Our God has no financial limitations or lack of warehouse space.

At the end of each day, think about how God has helped you through that day and praise Him for His faithfulness, mercy, grace, provision, and presence. Psalm 145 exemplifies how, where, and why to praise and glorify God. Take notice of how your mood changes when you spend a few minutes thanking God for what He has done for you. Note how weaknesses, mess-ups, mistakes, and inadequacies do not dominate your thoughts as much, although they may still be there. But focusing more on God and not ourselves changes our minds and hearts.

One of God’s promises is found in 2 Corinthians 9:8, which states, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” ESV. Note the word “all” means all, and I love the word “sufficiency.” God’s favor is upon His children. Ask the LORD to bless and make you “abound in every good work” you do. You are part of the “all” so don’t forget that. Then Psalm 145:18 promises, “The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.”

So, the next time you are deeply disappointed in someone who broke their promise to you, remember that you are a child of the living God who never breaks His promises and protects you (Psalm 145:20). Read through Psalm 145. Share with someone how God has helped you through your day. Then be determined to live out as David did and sang in Psalm 145:2, “I will praise you every day; yes I will praise you forever.” You have no broken promises from our great and mighty God!

Listen to How Great (Psalm 145) – Sovereign Grace Music (Lyrics).

Psalm 107:1-2, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.”

The plus side of becoming older is how I see the faithfulness of God in my life and my family’s life. There have been times of stress and suffering when I didn’t know what I would do, why this was occurring, treated unjustly, financial hardship, but God did provide His divine and sufficient leading throughout each of those complex trials. However it was not on my timeline. You can read about some of these in the Bible study book I wrote while desperately searching the Scriptures for God’s wisdom, comfort, and guidance. The year was 2014. That book, which you can find on Amazon, is “Taming the Lion’s Roar. Handling Fear in the Midst of a Trial.” From His Word, God showed me that He wants to bring glory to Himself out of every trial we go through. My prayer then became, “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction (Psalm 119:92).” My prayer then became, “Teach me Your Word during this season of my life like I have never known it before and make this verse my testimony when I emerge from this place.” That still is a go to verse of mine.

Psalm 107 was written to celebrate the Jew’s return from their exile in Babylon. The author is unknown. It is a psalm of praise, as Psalm 1, 19, 24, and 103 are also Psalms of praise to God. God rescued these Jews. They had been wanderers, prisoners, distressed, sick, and caught in a storm at sea, and God’s people saw the LORD’s power in action. “LORD, help!” They cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor!” Psalm 107:28 – 30. Are you in a season of needing to be brought into safety or healing bad memories? Those who have not gone through hard trials will not understand and have empathy. They will not appreciate God as much as those who have gone through times of suffering, which produces maturity, endurance, patience, and satisfaction in the faithfulness of God. When you have delved deeply into God’s Word for answers, it is complete; it is a book of the sufficiency of answers to life’s dilemmas whereas man’s philosophies are incomplete.

The Psalm ends with the statement, “Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the LORD.” I don’t have all the answers. But I can rejoice that the LORD has redeemed me, as Psalm 107:1-2 states. I need to tell others more often as verse 2 admonishes, “Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.” The ESV says it this way, “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, who he has redeemed from trouble.” Either way, God is faithful! I have seen the goodness of God in my life in being redeemed from those that appeared to me as my enemy and from trouble all by God’s mercy, love and grace. Do you need this right now? God is aware as Psalm 23:5 declares, “You prepare a feast before me in the presence of my enemies.” Remember that.

No matter what the calamity is in our life, God will speak to you of your needed comfort, healing, instruction, and give light to your path as you pray and seek the Lord’s answers of provision through the Scriptures. As John 14:6 declares, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ESV. Jesus is the life-giver of souls. Therefore, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies!” Ps. 107:1-2.

Listen to Aware Worship – Trust in God (Featuring Mark Gutierrez).

Psalm 103:2, “Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.” NLT

With age comes wisdom, wouldn’t you agree? It is reported that Charles Spurgeon thought David wrote Psalm 103 when he was older because David “had a higher sense of the preciousness of pardon, because a keener sense of sin, than in his younger days. His clear sense of the frailty of life indicates his weaker years, as also does the very fulness of his praiseful gratitude.”[1]

When fears and doubts steal our joy, we need to remember the past, present, and future blessings our LORD has done and will do for us sufficiently. David’s solution was to praise God, as he states in Psalm 103:1, “Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name.” David looked into his soul and heart, realizing he needed to praise God more. The ESV version states Psalm 103:2 this way, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits. All that is in within me, bless His holy name.”

Psalm 103 is a good reminder to praise the LORD, when we fall into discouragement. David lists what good things God has done for him and the benefits from God’s great mercy and love given to David and for us:

• Forgives all our sins. Verse 3.
• Redeems us from death and crowns us with love and tender mercies. Verse 4.
• Fills our life with good things. Verse 5.
• Gives us righteousness and justice to all treated unjustly. Verse 6.
• Compassionate and merciful. Verse 8.
• Slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. Verse 8.
• Does not punish us for all our sins; does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. Verse 10.
• Unfailing love to those that fear Him. Verse 11.
• Removes our sins as far as the east is from the west. Verse 12.
• Tender and compassionate. Verse 13.
• Knows how weak we are and all of our weaknesses. Verse 14.
• His love remains for us forever and His gift of salvation is for all who believe. Verse 17.

I encourage you to write down your needs and burdens that are heavy on your heart as you commit them to the LORD as Psalm 55:22 states, “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” Then Isaiah 41:13b God promises, “Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.” Lastly, and I know this, you know this, but how often don’t we need to be reminded of Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

For me, I am especially thankful that God knows how weak I am and all my weaknesses. That has been especially comforting to me this past week as I have been in turmoil over many of them. That word “all” means the whole quantity. Therefore, I say with David, “Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.” Psalm 103:1. May I never forget all the good things He has done for me. I love how God’s Word intertwines itself as it leads me back again to Psalm 23:1 which states, “The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” Yes, there is that word all again – the whole quantity! Praise the Lord.

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[1] David Guzik, Blue Letter Bible Commentary, Psalm 103.

Listen to Michael W. Smith – In Christ Alone (Live).

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Psalm 97:11-12, “Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right. May all who are godly rejoice in the LORD and praise his holy name.” NLT

We have another new year, 2025, which will bring new beginnings. In January of 2023, I chose the word perseverance as my goal. I am sure I had many tests on persevering patiently and not giving up, but I do not remember what they might have been now. But looking back, I did have Romans 12:12 written down in my journal, associated with this word, “perseverance,” which states, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Being constant in prayer keeps us in continual and ongoing communication with the LORD. I find that to be more and more important and needed as time goes on, I humbly admit.

Then, for 2024, I chose the word “trust.” Abraham, Moses, and Job were examples of how they each trusted in God even in the most impossible and troubling situations. I am reminded of Nahum 1:7: “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.” The word refuge is also found in Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” I also had written down, in my journal in 2024, “When life doesn’t make sense in this coming new year of 2024, I will choose to trust in what Psalm 84:11 declares, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield, the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

We had to put our faith in this into practice in three to four different instances over 2024 of trusting in God and having perseverance. It was mainly health issues for both my husband and me. The following verse 12 of Psalm 84, declares, “O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!” I think trusting in God is a lifelong journey and process and we did receive many blessings throughout 2024. Then our fourth circumstance of trusting in God, was our six-year-old granddaughter, who was thought to have a cancerous tumor in her left arm near her shoulder right before Thanksgiving. All scans and X-rays gave the appearance of it being cancer. However, after the biopsy was performed the following week, the result showed it was benign! Surgery has been scheduled, and we praise God for so many people praying for her. That, again, was a time of trusting and praying for our dear granddaughter. We praise God for His faithfulness as we have put our trust in Him throughout the times of testing in 2024 as I know more will be forthcoming. I have my trust and faith placed in God our caring shepherd as Psalm 23 has become a psalm that I read and recite every day.

So, what is ahead for us, for me, in 2025? I think the sufficiency of Scripture is vital to emphasize for this new year and beyond that. God’s Word has the answers to equip me (us) for how I (we) live so that I (we) may be “complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:17b. We all have dark and difficult days. David had many of them. But as we persevere, trust, and rely on God’s Word to give us instruction, guidance, comfort, and hope, that is where the answers are contained. He is our refuge. God protects His people and delivers them as it promises us throughout the Psalms, and as Isaiah 41:10 declares, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

The ESV says Psalm 97:11-12 this way, “Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!” Yes! Give praise and thanks to our holy God for His holy light shining on you and the joy that that brings! For whatever comes about in 2025, may we seek God’s Word for His sufficient answers calming our doubts and fears, for our new beginnings for this new year one day at a time.

Listen to Hallelujah Anyway (Official Music Video) – Charly Perry.

Psalm 139: 1-4, “O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I am far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it LORD.” NLT

It is comforting to me to know that the LORD knows everything about me. He can see into my heart and examine the sin, the wrong and right motives of all of my intentions. Nothing is hidden from Him, even when I [we] am unaware of His presence. Hebrews 4:13 says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we all are accountable.” Yet He loves us unconditionally as Romans 8:38-39 tells us, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ESV.

When you have uncertainties and doubts, as David did in the Old Testament, rest on Psalm 94:19: “When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.” NLT. When God protected David from Saul and his enemies, David declared, “But God is my helper (Elohim Ozer Li). The Lord keeps me alive! May the evil plans of my enemies be turned against them. Do as you promised and put an end to them.” Psalm 54:4-5 NLT. God never goes on vacation from our lives. I love reading David’s honesty in expressing his needs and desires to God. David is an example of having complete confidence in God’s promises and protection no matter the obstacles.

So, remember, when you are driving to that doctor’s appointment, you may be uneasy about, God is right there with you and knows what you are thinking. When you are enroute on a trip or a vacation, God is with you and knows your thoughts. When you sleep at night, God already has His plan for your day when you wake up so you can get the rest you need as Psalm 139:18b says, “And when I wake up you are still with me!” Nothing is hidden from our great Shepherd, Savior, Redeemer, and Helper because He is Jehovah Shammah – the LORD is there (Ezekiel 48:35).

God knows your heart. He knows your anxious thoughts (Psalm 139:23). No matter what your age is, be it a child, teenager, fall into what is considered the more educated, well-behaved, stressed, and depressed Generation Z or fall into the age group called Baby Boomers, it doesn’t matter. God sees you. God knows your heart. God knows your thoughts and what you will say even before you say it. Yes, the daily news is filled with scary reports and fears of the future in some respects. Expectations being unfulfilled can cause discouragement. But remember, God is omnipresent – He is everywhere, no matter where we are or what we do. So, when you get up each morning, ask God what He wants you to think about and do. What impressions does He want you to be aware of? Ask God to help make you of benefit to others you interact with throughout your day. Finally, pray Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

Listen to Leanna Crawford, Ben Fuller, David Leonard, Mix – The Battle is the Lord (1 month ago). Still Waters (Psalm 23).

Psalm 1:2-3, “But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like the trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”

God’s Word gives us the wisdom and instruction to successfully endure the hard seasons we go through during our lifetime by following God and relying on His promises. But it is necessary to take the time to think and meditate on what He is saying to us in whatever verses and chapters we are reading. That is how we realize we are in God’s presence and can see His goodness through the complex and good times.

Our days are filled with so many various responsibilities that drain us of our energy and cause our bodies stress. We get pulled in many different directions. That is why it is essential to start meditating on God’s Word daily, which will fill our hearts and minds with what God wants to teach us and instruct us in applying His Word for what will transpire. Spurgeon had said, “Mediation chews the cud, and gets the sweetness and nutritive virtue of the Word into the heart and life: this is the way the godly bring forth much fruit.” We must take the time to digest it; much like a peach tree or myer lemon tree soaks up water and bears rich and juicy tasting fruit, we must soak up God’s Word, which will produce actions and attitudes that glorify Him from living by the Holy Spirit’s power. As Galatians 5:22-23 states, “ But the Holy Spirit produces the kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

Jesus spoke of bearing fruit in John 15:5, when He said, “Yes, I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” All fruit-bearing trees, such as peaches and Meyer lemon trees, have a season when the fruit is just right for picking. Meyer lemon trees usually can bear fruit in one to two years but need to be fed with fertilizer during the growing season. The skin changes from green to dark yellow when ready to be picked—peach season in California runs from May to September. However, if the leaves turn brown and wither in any fruit tree, that is a sign that the tree is in distress and not having enough water. “The righteous man does not have these signs of death and dryness; his “leaves” are green and alive.” David Guzik, Blue Letter Bible Commentary. The more we delight in “the law of the LORD” the more fruitful we will become.

So the next time you are having a bad day, feel frustrated, and maybe insecure, read out loud to yourself Psalm 1:2-3. “We must also remember that fruit isn’t the same as “results,” because fruit has in it the seed for more fruit. Fruit comes from life, the life of God flowing in and through us.” Be Worshipful. Warren W. Wiersbe. Psalms 1-89, page 22.

It took seasons of time for the fruit to be ready to pick such as that juicy peach and/or Meyer lemon. Those that trust in the LORD will flourish as it says in Jeremiah 17:7-8: “Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” God will be your strength in times of crisis. Ask Him to help you bear fruit. You will then be like a strong tree and your leaf will not wither due to your soul being deepened into the rich soil of God’s Word, much like a juicy peach and/or luscious Myer lemon.

Listen to Michael W. Smith – King of Glory ft. CeCe Winans.