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Each Christian has some Psalms that have become favorites to them. On this page we focus on the Psalms that have touched our hearts. We hope that you will enjoy these passages from Psalms also. |
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SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER The book of Psalms is a book of prayer that embraces almost every human experience. Although there are several categorization techniques applied to the Psalms, perhaps the simplest involves subdividing the Psalms into three basic categories. The three categories are lament, thanksgiving, and praise. Perhaps the Psalms we can relate to the easiest are the Psalms of lament. For example, Psalm 63 was written when David was a fugitive in the desert of Judea. He was greatly distressed and depressed over his situation. In this time of crisis, David expressed his need for God as a thirst for God. I n Psalm 64:1-10, David prays for God's protection from the plots of his enemies. In Psalm 63 we see the blessings that David received when he cried out to God. He saw God's love for him, he saw the Glory of God, he saw that his soul would be satisfied. He praised God in the midst of his struggles, knowing that he was in the shadow of God's everlasting protection. Many of us today can identify with David's need for God to assist him. We all have crisis and times of need when we desperately long for God's comfort and deliverance. Examples of human needs include recognition, friends, a life mate, a home, children, health, an education, a job, and money. A spiritual need may be gifts to better serve the Lord, such as wisdom , strength, or courage. But above all we have a basic thirst to love and to be loved. True love is only available from God. The good news is that God's love is always available, but we must accept that love. Many of the Psalms are prayers to God, with these Psalms giving us patterns for our own prayers. For instance in Psalm 42, the writer seeks God during a period of exile in the desert. Every believer should be as honest and open in bringing their needs to God as is presented in that Psalm. First the writer describes the deep longing in his heart for God. This is common to all of us at some time in our lives! The desire to feel God's presence in our lives can only be satisfied by developing a personal relationship with Him. Next the writer describes his distress and his longing for happier times. This is followed by the writer looking inward to question why he is in such distress, when God is the object of his hope. You can almost feel the strength increase within the writer as the Psalm continues and he reminds himself of the resources available through God. Such confidence in God is only available to those who truly know Him. The Psalms are one of the best sources for knowing God better. Studying the Psalms provides a clear knowledge God and how He responds to true needs. It is important to remember that God is not a respector of persons - treating each person who calls upon Him in the same manner. We each need to search ourselves to see if we have developed the knowledge of God required to provide confidence that He will respond to . If we go through life largely consumed with secular pursuits and worldly entertainment, while Bible reading and prayer are considered lower priorities, we can simply not have the relationship with God that it takes to have strong confidence in Him. It is exactly like getting to know a new friend. We have to spend time together! To know God you must know His Word and you must feel free to bring your needs and your failures to Him in prayer. We should seek the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives for power
against such
Below we have provided some of our favorite Psalms. We hope they
touch your heart as much as they did ours: Psalm 51
Psalm 62 Psalm 63
Psalm 91
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| 51:1 (For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the
prophet came to him,) (after he had gone in to Bathsheba.) Be gracious
to me, O God, according to Thy loving kindness; According to the greatness
of Thy compassion blot out my transgressions.
51:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 51:3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. 51:4 Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done what is evil in Thy sight, So that Thou art justified when Thou dost speak, And blameless when Thou dost judge. 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. 51:6 Behold, Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part Thou wilt make me know wisdom. 51:7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which Thou hast broken rejoice. 51:9 Hide Thy face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a
steadfast spirit within me.
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51:11 Do not cast me away from Thy presence, And do not
take Thy Holy Spirit from me.
51:12 Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And sustain me with a willing spirit. 51:13 {Then} I will teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners will be converted to Thee. 51:14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; {Then} my tongue will joyfully sing of Thy righteousness. 51:15 O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Thy praise. 51:16 For Thou dost not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; Thou art not pleased with burnt offering. 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. 51:18 By Thy favor do good to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. 51:19 Then Thou wilt delight in righteous sacrifices, In burnt offering
and whole burnt offering; Then young bulls will be offered on Thine altar.
(NASB)
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| 62:1 (For the choir director; according to Jeduthun.
A Psalm of David.) My soul {waits} in silence for God only; From Him is
my salvation.
62:2 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. 62:3 How long will you assail a man, That you may murder {him,} all of you, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? 62:4 They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position; They delight in falsehood; They bless with their mouth, But inwardly they curse. Selah. 62:5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
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62:7 On God my salvation and my glory {rest}; The rock
of my strength, my refuge is in God.
62:8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. 62:9 Men of low degree are only vanity, and men of rank are a lie; In the balances they go up; They are together lighter than breath. 62:10 Do not trust in oppression, And do not vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, do not set {your} heart {upon them.} 62:11 Once God has spoken; Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God; 62:12 And lovingkindness is Thine, O Lord, For Thou dost
recompense a man according to his work. (NASB)
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| 63:1 (A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness
of Judah.) O God, Thou art my God; I shall seek Thee earnestly; My soul
thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee, In a dry and weary land where
there is no water.
63:2 Thus I have beheld Thee in the sanctuary, To see Thy power and Thy glory. 63:3 Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise Thee. 63:4 So I will bless Thee as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Thy name. 63:5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. 63:6 When I remember Thee on my bed, I meditate
on Thee in the night watches,
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63:7 For Thou hast been my help, And in the
shadow of Thy wings I sing for joy.
63:8 My soul clings to Thee; Thy right hand upholds me. 63:9 But those who seek my life, to destroy it, Will go into the depths of the earth. 63:10 They will be delivered over to the power of the sword; They will be a prey for foxes. 63:11 But the king will rejoice in God; Everyone who swears
by Him will glory, For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.
(NASB)
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| 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in
the shadow of the Almighty.
91:2 I will say to the \Lord,\ "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" 91:3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, And from the deadly pestilence. 91:4 He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. 91:5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; 91:6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. 91:7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; {But} it shall not approach you. 91:8 You will only look on with your eyes, And see the recompense of the wicked.
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91:9 For you have made the \Lord,\ my refuge, {Even} the Most High,
your dwelling place.
91:10 No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent. 91:11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. 91:12 They will bear you up in their hands, Lest you strike your foot against a stone. 91:13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the serpent you will trample down. 91:14 "Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him {securely} on high, because he has known My name. 91:15 "He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and honor him. 91:16 "With a long life I will satisfy him, And let him behold My
salvation." (NASB)
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| Friends ,
When life struggles get too much for you , turn them over to Jesus. He will help you to get through them and he will protect you at all times. A chorus we often sing is: "Reach out and touch the Lord as He passes
by
My friend, in your hunger for Jesus, He is waiting for you to reach out to Him. Please don't pass Him by. He holds the answer to all of life's needs. GOD BLESS !
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