When we are anxious, exhausted, overwhelmed and beatdown, we may want to quit. We are done. Like a piece of toast left in the toaster way too long, we are done done (yes – not just one done, but double done). We don’t understand why. We don’t really even care why at this point. We are just over it. And we are done. It’s during these times that I want to crawl back into bed, pull the covers over tight, and hide – daring anyone to come and take the covers. Some days, that might be what we do. Although this is my desire, I have never been able to convince myself to stick with it. But it doesn’t change the fact we may be just done done.
What do we do in this case? Hiding only lasts for a while – I don’t know about you, but I get hungry easily and being done doesn’t mean I don’t want food. I still want to eat. When we can’t hide and we don’t know what to do, this Psalm reminds me I am not alone in this. It tells me about a time when God’s people were in deep distress and they cried out to him. He didn’t ignore them, even though they weren’t always the most obedient or faithful. He didn’t dismiss their cries as foolish or petty. He heard them. And he rescued. He brought calm. He brought peace. They needed quiet. They needed a haven. God knew this. And this is what he provided for them. It doesn’t mean they camp out there. It simply means that for a time, God knew this is exactly what they needed.
I believe he knows exactly what we need too. He hears our cries in our distress and he rescues. It might be a period of quiet and calm. It might be a place to simply know we are safe. But he provides when we cry out to him.
If you feel done done – call upon God. He hears, he cares and he provides. May you find exactly what you need in God.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 107:28-30
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress; 29 he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
We forget. We get in the rhythm of life and we just forget. We don’t mean to. We don’t seek it out. It just happens sometimes. And when we forget, we make moves that are not so wise. We take steps that are not often advantageous. We choose our own path, we do it our own way, just because we forget. We forget to seek the Lord. We forget how much he has done for us and how far he has brought us. We forget he loves us more than we could imagine and wants good for us. But because we forget, we go about our lives the way we want. And this doesn’t always turn out well.
We could do it differently. We could seek God’s wisdom. We could ask for his guidance. We could look to him for counsel. We could see just how much he has already done and know he hasn’t left us. We could. And if we do, we might find our steps will be completely different. We might find peace and joy. We may find his path is perfect, even if it is really difficult. We may find his ways are higher than our ways. We may find we are living as we were created.
Today, don’t forget. Don’t forget to seek God and his ways. Don’t forget to go about your life without seeking his counsel. Don’t forget all he has done for you. May your paths be filled with unspeakable joy today.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 106:13
13 But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
God doesn’t need us to be what the world says we need to be. He doesn’t work like we might think. He doesn’t need powerful people to do powerful things. He doesn’t need people of influence to influence the whole world. He doesn’t need the most courageous to do incredible works. God simply needs us to be who he created us to be. We are enough, just as he made us. We don’t have to wait until… We don’t need to wait until we have more money to serve him. We don’t need to wait until we have more influence. We don’t need to be older or younger. We don’t need to be bigger or smaller. We don’t need to wait to be servants of the Most High God. He knows who we are. He knows what we are capable of accomplishing. He knows all about us. And he will give us all we need to accomplish the plan he has for us. We don’t need to be someone else to be God’s. We are already enough. We simply need to be willing.
As I was reading Psalm 105, these two descriptions stuck out to me – while they were few in number…of little account. The world sees numbers. The world sees worth according to accomplishments and accolades. God sees the willing. He sees his chosen. He sees his children. And that is all he needs.
Stop waiting until… There are always plenty of reasons not to do what he would have us to do. All he asks is that we are willing. We can do that.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 105:12-15
12 When they were few in number, of little account, and strangers in it, 13 wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, 14 he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, 15 saying, “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.”
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
The mysteries of God surround us. The beauty of God captures our attention. The love of God enfolds around us. The peace of God is offered to us. God provides. God is there for us in our times of weakness and pain. His joy is unspeakable. His mercy and grace are incomprehensible.
If all of this is true (and I do believe it is), then where is our reverence for God? Why do we struggle to worship? Why are we not always as faithful as we should be? Why would we choose to go any other way? What excuses can we come up with for not following him, for not being obedient to our Creator, Redeemer and Provider? Maybe we forget. We could get so consumed in what we are doing we forget. We could become self-reliant so we forget. We could become independent so we forget we need him. We may forget who God is. He is God. And yet, we seem to forget.
Today’s Psalm is, for me, a great reminder. Over and over again, the proclamations of the Psalmist begin with you. He is offering praise and worship to God. He is speaking to God, so the ‘you’ is God. And continuously, the Psalmist is speaking of the wonders of God. There is acknowledgement of just a few of the attributes and gifts of God. It is a starting point. It is an opportunity for us to pause and consider the wondrous works of God. It should cause us to be awestruck by God.
Let us not forget today. Let us not pass it all by. May we experience his power, his provision, and his love. May he remind us we are his. And may we be amazed.
Psalm 104
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty, 2 wrapped in light as with a garment. You stretch out the heavens like a tent, 3 you set the beams of yourchambers on the waters, you make the clouds your chariot, you ride on the wings of the wind, 4 you make the winds your messengers, fire and flame your ministers.
5 You set the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never be shaken. 6 You cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. 7 At your rebuke they flee; at the sound of your thunder they take to flight. 8 They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys to the place that you appointed for them. 9 You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth.
10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills, 11 giving drink to every wild animal; the wild asses quench their thirst. 12 By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches. 13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
14 You cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for people to use, to bring forth food from the earth, 15 and wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine, and bread to strengthen the human heart. 16 The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. 17 In them the birds build their nests; the stork has its home in the fir trees. 18 The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the coneys. 19 You have made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. 20 You make darkness, and it is night, when all the animals of the forest come creeping out. 21 The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. 22 When the sun rises, they withdraw and lie down in their dens. 23 People go out to their work and to their labor until the evening.
24 O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 25 Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great. 26 There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.
27 These all look to you to give them their food in due season; 28 when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. 29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 30 When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works— 32 who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke. 33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. 34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. 35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
It can be hard to get back on track once we derail. It seems to take so much more effort to get going again than it does to maintain the momentum. This past year has derailed so many things. It has caused us to stop or at least put many of our plans on pause. The way that we live and understand life has been altered, at least in the short term. So it can be challenging to get back in the swing of things when the opportunity finally presents itself.
As I attended church yesterday, that seemed to be a common theme. Sunday School began again. The choir sang for the first time. It was good to be in worship, in person, with God. I am not discounting what has happened over the last year. We have figured out ways to worship that we may have missed otherwise. But it was good to get back into a rhythm. So many people I encountered had the same thoughts – it is challenging to get back and start again. Even with the anticipation of worship, it can still be a push to change our routines.
I find this is the way much of our lives operate. We want to exercise, but we are tired. We know getting up and going will help. We understand that starting is the key. But it is so hard just to get going. We want to start a new project but it seems so daunting. We plan to read our Bible but there is so much to read. The thought of it all quickly becomes overwhelming. And so we either stop or doing get started.
What if we simply tried today. We don’t worry about the entire week. We don’t think about the number of pages in the book. We don’t try to see the end of the journey. We don’t even worry about how long the path seems. We simply do one thing in the right direction today. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Just try today. Just read today. Just pray today. Just plan to attend worship this Sunday. Just take one step at a time. It is amazing how freeing it can be to just take the first step. We will probably find it wasn’t nearly as difficult as we thought.
One day…one step…one little change – this could be the key to becoming what we were created to be.
Focus Scripture:
Matthew 6:34
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
Do you ever wake up with so much on your mind that you are already worried about the day? Do you dream (or have nightmares) of the work you need to do or the plans you need to accomplish? Does your to-do list feel more like an impossibility list? These can all lead to a point of dread, fear, anxiety and depression. We go to bed concerned and wake up worried. This can be a miserable way to live.
There are many tips offered to help organize and get us on track. There are best practices which are offered to help alleviate our load. But in today’s Psalm, the ultimate best way to start became evident to me. The Psalmist cries out to the Lord, and in the morning, prayer comes before him.
Before we begin our to-do lists, before worry makes a home in us, before we even say good morning to the day – begin your day with prayer to God. It seems so simple. We’ve heard it so many times. This is not necessarily a new revelation. But so many of us don’t begin our morning this way. We get up and move right into our day. There are things to do and it seems only natural to get in gear. But what if we simply spent time with God before we ever got started? What if we let God know our worries, our anxieties and our fears before they ever became engrained in our heart? God is our creator. He knows how much we suffer. He knows how much we worry. He understands our fears. And he is with us through it all. We do not need to carry all of these burdens alone. The Lord offers to carry them for us, all in his most powerful love.
Make a morning prayer your offering to the Lord. It may just change your outlook on the entire day.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 88:3
3 But I, O Lord, cry out to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
We can easily forget the wondrous things God can and does do. We get caught up in our own lives and fail to see what is right in front of us. When God performs a miracle, the things which take our breath and blow our mind, we notice. What we often miss are the everyday gifts, the wondrous things. We miss the start of a new day – maybe because we are dreading the day. We miss the blooms of hope in the trees – maybe because our allergies act up. We miss the joy of rain – maybe because we had something planned outside that day. We miss the hope of life – maybe because our lives are so overwhelming and stressful. We miss the love of God – maybe because we don’t feel like we deserve such love. We miss the gifts, the everyday wonders, which are a part of our life. We miss them because we are looking for something else.
I remember growing up and my mom would ask me to go get something out of the cabinet. She knew it was in there (moms always know these things). But I could not find it. It didn’t help I refused to move anything to look – but I digress. I would give up and she would walk right to the cabinet and pull it out. And then she would say, “if it was a snake, it would’ve bit you.” That’s how I feel we are with God’s wonders. There are wondrous things all around but we miss them because we are short sighted or we just refuse to see.
Today, experience the wondrous things. They are there. They are waiting. God has provided. May we see.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 86:10
10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
We never know what will brighten our day. We cannot imagine how God might bring a bit of light into an otherwise dark situation. He sneaks it in through the most beautiful and wonderous parts of his creation. Sometimes it is a flower or a bird’s song. Sometimes it is the kindness of a stranger or a note written from a friend. It could be through kind words spoken over us or a invaluable listening ear. One of the ways God displays joy for me is through Leo. Leo teaches me how to love even when I may not feel lovable. He teaches me adventure – even though he may never catch anything, he never gives up his sense of exploration. He motivates me to get up and get moving – he always has an agenda of fun and play. And when I watch him with the water hose, my whole face lights up as I see the joy beaming from him in his excitement.
For some, a dog is a dog. But for me, Leo is a teacher. He is a guide. He helps me see better in me. I’m grateful God gives us mirrors which enables us to see our best selves. God created us and loves us beyond measure. He gives us hope and joy to help us see the beauty in his creation. He gives us mercy and grace when we fail him (and others). He reminds us that we are beautifully and wonderfully made. Sometimes we cannot hear those words – so he sends his creation like Leo so we can feel those words.
My prayer is that you experience how loved you really are. May your reflection tell the story of someone who is God’s beloved child. May your joy be full and may you experience hope in God. And may God send you a way to see just your beauty.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 139:13-14
13 For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
When something is repeated multiple times in a single chapter, I take note. In this case, the Psalmist is expressing the repeated request, a plea. There is a desire to be restored – a longing for salvation. There is a feeling of being out of place, out of sorts with God. What is the request? The request is for God to let his face shine. Their restoration and salvation plea is tied to God’s face shining. I am reminded of one of my favorite benedictions (from Numbers). It is a blessing to ask God’s face to shine upon us and be gracious to us. I think of Moses – when he came down from the mountain – after he has met with God – his face is shining. I think of the time when a few of the disciples were up on a mountain with Jesus when he began to shine so brightly. Paul was knocked down by the brightness of God’s presence. These are all powerful instances of God’s presence shining bright.
What might it look like for us? Might it look like being so overwhelmed by God’s goodness we are in awe? Might it look like God’s love begin poured into us allowing us to experience him like never before? Might it look like loving God and loving neighbor and God’s light shining through us? Might it simply look like grace? I’m not sure. But I am sure it is an experience I don’t want to miss.
May God shine his face upon us and be gracious to us. May he light the world with his love.
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 80:19
19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY 
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