Psalm 119:171

My lips will pour forth praise, for You teach me Your statutes.

Let the high praises of God be in my throat and two-edged sword in my hands, for it is only by praising You that I and my friend can be restored. Lord, I repent of my willful failures that have led to this situation. Forgive me, Lord, and heal this relationship.

Psalm 125:1-2 A Psalm of Ascents

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people, from this time forth and forevermore.

I learn to trust You in all things, to absolutely rely on Your grace, my life becomes more stable, more serene, joy filled and at peace. I become less subject to the turmoil of life and more reliant upon Your Spirit. I am at rest in You.

Psalm 125:3

For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong.

Even so, Lord, I must continue to lean into you, submit to You and draw near to You as You draw near to me. I must seek Your guidance in resisting the devil so that he will flee from me.

Psalm 125:4-5

Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts! But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the LORD will lead away with evildoers! Peace be upon Israel!

Lord, a warning here to Your church to maintain our trust in You and not to turn to the wicked ways of the world. And so, Lord, this begins with me, to be diligent to not stretch out my hand to take up the scepter of wickedness and to be diligent to seek Your word and instruction.

Psalm 126:1-3 A Psalm of Ascents

When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.

You, Lord, have done great things for me, You mercies are new every morning, Your faithfulness fails not, Your love is endless, You pour through my life as a fresh stream through the arroyos of the desert bringing life to the barren sands. All my tears and fears turn to joy and rejoicing.

Psalm 126:4-6

Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb! Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

Revive Your Church, Oh Lord, fill us once again with the Fire of the Spirit, let our mouths be filled with shouts of joy, send us out to spread the seeds of salvation and to reap the harvest of Kingdom living. Fill us with Your Fire!

Psalm 119:1-3

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in His ways!

Lord, You have many individuals within the DoC and other state agencies; individuals who are seeking in a quiet way to perform their duties, meet their responsibilities and in so doing, to bring honor to Your name. Bless them, Lord, the guards, caseworkers, counselors, and staff who love You. Give them strength against discouragement; help them to continue to reflect Your glory amid the filth and squalor that are the consequences of sin. Equip them to carry the message of Your love through the testimony of their lives and through the words of their mouths. May Your glory shine in the prisons and halls of the state agencies.

Psalm 119:4-5

You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!

This day, this Lord's Day, is a day for examining how I keep the precepts in my daily walk before the Lord. First, that the obedience is truly one of desire to please the Lord. And if the desire is not there, to be on my knees seeking repentance, searching for the sin that stands between me and my Lord. Than and only then, is it a living sacrifice acceptable unto the Lord, to examine how my obedience is applied to every aspect of my life.

Psalm 127:1

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

When will I learn, Lord, that unless You are the center, the focus, the guiding light, all my labors are in vain? When will I learn to wait for You to instruct? When will I learn to seek Your counsel before beginning something that even though I know it comes from You, I need to be constantly in communion with You? Lord, help this self-willed man.

Psalm 127:2

It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Ah yes, my Lord, how often do I stretch my day by rising early, laboring too long at night, and avoiding that precious gift of sleep? Another form of self-will is that I am convinced that I can be productive beyond the hours of wakefulness allotted to me. Help me, Lord.

Psalm 127:3-5

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Thank You for the gift of children and grandchildren. You have blessed me mightily even though I have not been faithful in raising them according to Your word. Bless them, my Lord even though I have failed You.

Psalm 128:1

A Song of Ascents. Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways!

Lord, continue to draw me deeper into Your presence, continue to reveal Yourself to me, continue to open the eyes of my heart to Your glory and to come into an intimate knowing of You. Oh, Lord, that a proper reverential fear of You would consume my soul exposing those elements of disobedience that prevent me from fully walking in Your way.