Category: Spiritual

Psalm 63:2-6

While on the run from his enemies, David took refuge in the wilderness of Judah. Yet his faith and trust in the living and true God never wavered. He confessed of having a deep yearning for God and for the security of being in God’s presence provided when deadly enemies threatened and in a time of need. ^“So, I have looked for You in the sanctuary To see Your power and Your glory” (v.2). Even in exile, the psalmist had an intimate relationship with God and looked for Him in the sanctuary. He desired to see the manifestation of His mighty works and His magnificent presence fill His sanctuary.

“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You” (v.3). “Thus, I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name” (v.4). David testified of God’s love and kindness being more than life and that he would praise God for His unfailing love for mankind. While we were still sinners, His Son Jesus Christ died for us. That’s reason enough for all believers to lift their hands and bless the Lord as long as they have breath. This gave testimony to David’s trust in God as all believers should.

The psalmist continued expressing his delight in the Lord: “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips” (v.5 KJV): “When I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches” (v.6 KJV). In spite of David’s circumstances, he never stopped thirsting for the joy of fellowship in the Lord.

Today, lift your voice and shout, “Glory!” 

Psalm 63:1

David, the anointed future king of Israel spoke, saying, “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1). He declared God, the living and true God, to be his God, and he will earnestly search for Him early in the morning. There is something about starting your day with your mind stayed on the Lord, seeking His guidance and strength for the challenges you may face during the day. 

David continued, declaring that his soul thirsts for the Lord. God is purposeful in all His ways. According to Genesis 1:27a God created man in His own image to be in relationship with Him for His glory. Therefore, we have a spiritual longing deep down in our souls that things of the flesh cannot satisfy. David understood that the thirst in his soul was spiritual and could only be quenched by the presence of God. Then he declared that his flesh longed for God In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. There are times when believers may experience seasons of barrenness, resulting in a feeling of isolation and deeply longing for God as David did in the wilderness. This indicated that no matter where we are in this old sinful world or how dire our circumstances may be, we will need God to sustain us. Humans must have water for physical life, and they must have Jesus for the joy of spiritual life. Today, will you earnestly humble yourself and seek joy in the fellowship of God?

 Lift your voice and give God glory!

Galatians 6:1-5 NKJV

Paul began chapter 6 by greeting his Galatian audience as “Brethren,” used in his day to address an audience of men and women. He instructed the Galatian Christians on how to respond to a brother or sister if they fall prey to the vices of Satan. Believers have the option to yield to the Spirit or to the demands of the flesh. Apostle Paul encouraged those who were spiritually mature to restore one if he is overtaken in sin but do it in a spirit of gentleness. Believers should not respond to a fallen brother or sister with a superior, self-righteous attitude. To help spiritually restore those who are overtaken in sin, Paul told them to consider yourself lest you also be tempted. He reminded these Christians that though they are spiritual, they are not free from being tempted. He encouraged these believers to be careful; they too sin and fall short of the glory of God. 

Believers are commanded to “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ” (v.2). When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He sacrificed His life for our sins to bring us back in relationship with the Father so that we might live for righteousness. Therefore, believers ought to love and support each other during their times of weakness. After all we are all members of the body of Christ; we are family. Our Father is loving and merciful to us, giving us time to come to Him. We then in the family who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of our immature brothers and sisters and not to think about ourselves (Rom.15:1).

Lift up you voice and give God glory!

Matthew 27:11-14 Amplified Bible

After the religious leaders hastily plotted to kill Jesus, they bound Him, and led Him away, handing Him over to Pilate the governor of Judea, who had the authority to condemn prisoners to death (v.2 AMP). Jesus is on trial, standing before Pilate, who questioned Him as to whether He was the King of the Jews. Jesus’ response to Pilate was: “It is as you say” (v.11). Jesus’ response was affirmation of His identity, even though He didn’t state His heavenly status as the Son of God. The chief priests and elders brought accusations against Him, and “He answered nothing” (v.12). Pilate was   amazed that Jesus remained silent, saying not one word to the false testimony against Him (vv.13-14). Jesus is here because the Jewish leaders were envious of Him. They rejected His claim to be the Messiah, the Son of God, Who would ultimately fulfill our need for salvation.

Jesus was God in the flesh, making Him that unblemished sacrifice necessary to exonerate man from the bondage of sin. Standing before Pilate being falsely accused, seemingly put Jesus in a hopeless position. However, He was about the business of fulfilling His Father’s assignment to redeem us to Him, giving us a position of hope. “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him” (1 John 4:9). ^“This is real love – not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (1 John 4:10).

Will you lift your voice today and shout, “Glory! I know who He is?” 

Matthew 27:1-5

Among the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day there was common unbelief and rejection of Jesus because He claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of God, Who would ultimately fulfill our need for salvation. This teaching did not sit well with the Jewish leaders; they felt that their position and authority were under attack. In chapter 26 Jesus has been betrayed and arrested; the religious leaders held a sham overnight trial, making a mockery of Jesus, and Peter denied Him three times. 

The overnight trial was wrong so when morning came all the religious leaders, acting hastily, conspired against Jesus to put Him to death (v.1). They bound Him and handed Him over to Pontius Pilate the governor (v.2). The one who betrayed Jesus was Judas Iscariot, one of His twelve disciples (Matt. 26:14). Judas, realizing that Jesus had been condemned to death, regretted his actions and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders (v.3), saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it” (v.4)! Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed and went and hanged himself (v.5).

What a change of attitude these religious leaders had! They plotted with Judas to betray Jesus and now showed no concern for his confession of feeling guilty for the actions he took. Brothers and Sisters, there are consequences of sin; Judas couldn’t forgive himself so, he hung himself. Scripture warns us that we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices; he will take advantage of us (2 Cor. 2:11 paraphrased).

Lift your voice and give God glory for His Resurrection in your life!