When you read this passage, you may think you are disqualified. You would be wrong, if you have accepted what Jesus did on the cross for the forgiveness of your sin. 

Christ’s work on the cross is enough to make you qualified. All you need to do is confess with your tongue that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9). 

God is not hiding the path to Him. It is clear. The path to God is Jesus Christ. Ask God to search your heart. He will show you any area that you need to remove. When He shows you, do not negotiate, remove it from your life. This is how you remain qualified and allow God to draw others to Himself through the life they see you live in Him. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 24:3-4

3 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 24

When I was a kid, I used to play a game called Follow the Leader. We had to do whatever the leader did. As a child that game was fun as my friends and I joyfully did whatever the leader did. We would all get an opportunity to be the leader and would take everyone on an adventure of our choosing. 

In Christ, we have a leader we must follow. As we follow Him, we have the opportunity to inspire others to follow Him as well. The life you live will either draw people to Christ or it will not. 

As you go about your day, make a conscience effort to glorify Jesus in all you do. After all, as our Shepherd, He is the best Leader ever to live. Follow Him. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 23:1

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 23

Yesterday I talked about how people believe Jesus lost hope when He said, “My God My God why have You forsaken Me.” However, this is not Him losing hope, but rather this is Him quoting Psalm 22. 

Notice how Psalm 22 ends. There is much hope for the believer in this Psalm. As you read the Bible, be careful not to put your present day culture and ideologies on the meanings shared. That’s how we take the Bible out of context. Once we start doing that, our understanding of who God is can spiral out of control. Seek His understanding, always. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 22:27-28

27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, 28 for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.

Today's Reading:

Psalm 22:19-31

When I saw we were reading Psalm 22 over the next two days, I was excited. Any opportunity I get to dispel the belief that Christ “lost hope” on the cross, I’m going to take it. 

Right before He gave up His life, Jesus is recorded as saying, “My God My God, why have You forsaken Me.” Many Christians use this passage to show that Christ was “losing hope.” This is not so. Jesus knew that the Jewish people there would know Psalm 22, which begins with, “My God My God, why have You forsaken Me.”  As you read it, you will see sections of the Psalm that point to the events that happened while Jesus was being crucified. 

When Jesus made that statement, He was not saying that His hope was fading. He was giving the Jews one more piece of evidence that He is the Messiah, the Holy One of Israel. He is the One for whom they were waiting. The very One they were crucifying. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 22:16-18

16 Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. 17 All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. 18 They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 22:1-18

I had to read this passage twice. I got to thinking, “Is my faith unshakeable?” I believe it is, but God has not placed me in every situation possible. So far, my faith has proven unshakeable. How do I live in such a way that my faith can withstand anything that confronts it? 

I find the answer in Psalm 119:9. I must live according to God’s word. This is why I start every day reading the Bible. But I don’t read it to check a box. I read it to draw closer to God by getting to know Him better. This is my prayer for your life. 

It can be easy to receive this text daily and not read it. The question I would ask you is why. Why would you not take every opportunity presented to draw closer to God? The closer you are to God, the more unshakeable your faith will be. And that’s always a good thing! Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 21:7

7 For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 21

When I was a kid, I learned a song that has a chorus which says, “There is power, power, wonder working power in the NAME of Jesus.” The Bible says “At the NAME of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.”

Think about that! If you believe in the NAME of Jesus, you will be saved. The enemy trembles at the NAME of Jesus. I encourage you to stop playing Christian and get serious about your walk with Christ. When you do that He can save you and your whole family! THAT’S how powerful His NAME is. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 20:1 & 7

1 May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 20

I don’t know about you, but when I think of Psalm 19, this passage is the first to come to my mind. However, I don’t always pay attention to the words. 

Take a little time and really soak in the words to verse 14. Think about what it means to be redeemed. God did that for you without you asking. 

Some people live their lives not realizing they are in need of redemption. They believe they are the captain of their ship. Even so, God’s redemption plan is available for them the moment they realize they are in need of a savior. He is their Rock and their Redeemer, even if they do not realize it. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 19:14

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 19

Notice who the Psalmist credits for his success. When you are living your best life, do you give God all the credit? When things are going wrong, do you blame God? 

Unfortunately, far too many Christians say no to the first question and yes to the second. They view God as their Genie, which would make God their slave. Let that sink in! When you refuse to give God all the glory in your success, yet blame Him for your failings, you have no idea who He is and how much He loves you.

Stop playing “christian” and start being a Christian, one who follows Christ. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 18:39-40

39 You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me. 40 You made my enemies turn their backsin flight, and I destroyed my foes.

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 37-50

*HOMEWORK ALERT*

As you read this passage, you may wonder why the Psalmist says the Lord gives him feet like deer. If you do not know the meaning, I encourage you to look up deer and learn about the traits of their “feet.” Then think about what the Psalmist means by this statement. I pray that you will become stronger in your faith as you realize, nothing can knock you down if you are a child of God. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 18:30-33

30 As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. 31 For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? 32 It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. 33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 18:16-36

The power of God on display! 

I encourage you to take a second and meditate on this passage. This is an image of God fighting your battles. Note what He has at His disposal. Why would you not allow Him to do for you that which you could NEVER do for yourself? 

In your darkest hour, trust God. In your most vulnerable state, trust God. When you look at your life and it appears to be irreparable, TRUST GOD! When you live like that nothing else matters. Just trust God. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 18:12-14

12 Out of the brightness of his presenceclouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. 13 The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. 14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them.

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 18:1-15

The confidence David has in praying to God this boldly is the confidence we can have as we pray. Notice the definitive way he ends this Psalm. He is confident that God will come through. Why? Because he has kept his heart on the path God has laid out for him. 

We know that David did not live a perfect life. Yet, he took his request before the Lord with confidence and an unwavering faith. How do you approach God when you pray? Try confidence. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 17:3-5

3 Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed. 4 Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded. 5 My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 17

I encourage you to pray this passage over your life. It is a good reminder of who God is for you. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 16:1

1 Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 16

One day I copied this Psalm onto a slide, added a pic of my wife and daughter, then printed it, laminated it, and put it in my bathroom so I could read it from time to time. Maybe you would consider posting this reminder in your daily eye view so you can see who may dwell in the Lord’s sacred tent and who may live on the Lord’s holy mountain. Here’s today’s Bible verse and reading. Enjoy. 

Psalm 15

1 Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? 2 The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; 3 whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; 4 who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; 5 who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.

As I read Psalm 14, I was reminded of Elijah when he encountered God. He was convinced that there were no other believers. He thought he was the only one. Actually, God had kept 7000 people who had not bowed to another god other than Him. 

The writer of the Psalm paints a picture of a world in which no one does good. There is some truth to this, however, we do not know what God knows. God has always maintained a remnant for Himself. There has never been a time that He has not had someone on this earth seeking Him. 

Your shortcomings, once you are living for Christ, do not disqualify you from having a life with God. He knows you’re likely to fall short. The question is “why.” Are you seeking your own and are falling short? That’s a problem. Are you seeking the Kingdom and His righteousness, but falling short? God will cover you. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 14:2-3

2 The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. 3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 14

As you consider all that you deal with daily or in a season of life, may you always come back to the words in this passage. Allow them to be your reminder that in Christ you will always win! Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 13:5-6

5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 13

Talk about a tough passage to read. How many times have you withheld the truth for fear of hurting someone’s feelings? I’ve lost count. 

What is the answer? One thing we can do is choose our words better. We can tell the truth without saying things that may hurt someone’s feelings. This can come down to timing. On the other side, we must be willing to hear the tough stuff. We must accept that we are not perfect and our loved ones say things to help us, not hurt us. 

If we begin to practice this behavior, we may be able to eliminate one type of deception from our lips. Let’s get started now. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 12:1-2

1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race. 2 Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 12

​In our country, we focus on our civil liberties and we do things because it’s our right as a US citizen. However, as a Christian, our first priority is to our heavenly citizenship. I wonder if people understand what this passage says about God and how He feels about the wicked? Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 11:4-7

4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. 5 The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. 6 On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. 7 For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 11

Take one look at current events and you can see the state our country is in. As a Christian, you have the power and authority to make a difference. The Psalmist ends Psalm 10 with an encouraging message to the readers. God will prevail. 

No matter what it looks like, God will prevail. The only questions that remain are “do you believe that” and, if you believe it, “what are you going to do about it.” Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 10:16-18

16 The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. 17 You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, 18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 10:16-18

Today’s Reading is essential to your walk with God. Many “Christians” see how prosperous evil is, so they walk away from Christ to do what they see “working.” Unfortunately, any act that goes contrary to God’s moral law, the Ten Commandments, will not end well for the one who commits such acts. Jesus came to be the sacrifice for all who have sinned, but call on His name. This is not up for discussion. Trust God or live eternally apart from Him. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 10:12-15

12 Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. 13 Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, “He won’t call me to account”? 14 But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of the wicked man; call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would not otherwise be found out.

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 10:1-15

As I read this passage, I thought about the state of our country. I thought about how divided we are. Unfortunately, I was not thinking about the citizenry in general. I was thinking only about Christians. 

We all claim to serve the same God, but our behavior says otherwise. The Bible says, “God is love.” The Bible says the we are created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, the essence of who we are must be love if we are truly following Christ. 

This is an agape type of love. This is an unconditional love freely given to all. Yet, I witness many of us Christians condemning people, dishonoring God by our behavior, while justifying it by saying, “God knows my heart.” It saddens me. 

Let’s pray for each other and hold each other accountable. Everything we do is known by God. We will not “get away with it,” so let’s straighten up and fly right. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalm 9:15-18

15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. 16 The Lord is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. 17 The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God. 18 But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

Today’s Reading:

Psalm 9:13-20