praise ⁽⁵³⁾

Psalm 102; Matthew 6:7–15; 1 John 5:12–15 (read online ⧉) Prayer is mysterious. Prayer is powerful. Prayer is…confusing. The psalmist’s opening is the simplest and purest, hear and listen to me (yes, they are different). The psalmist is miserable. The psalmist wants things to stop…

Lamentations 3:1-9; Matthew 27:62-66; 1 Peter 4:1-8; Lamentations 3:19-24 (read online ⧉) Imagine the heartache Mary and the remaining disciples. Imagine the heartache and disappointment that Jesus wasn't really the Messiah (he died after all). Imagine the relief of the leaders, as the troublemaker was…

Psalm 94; Zechariah 13:7-9; Hebrews 12:1-4; John 16:1-15 (read online ⧉) The psalmist declares that the Lord's people will not be forsaken, and justice will return. He continues with the steadfast love of God holding him up when he slips. The beginning of this psalm…

Psalm 31:9-16; Isaiah 40:4-8; John 12:12-16 (read online ⧉) Jesus the wandering teacher comes to Jerusalem. The crowds are building around Jerusalem with Passover coming. Foreigners, wanderers, believers, and scoffers make for a very busy time in Jerusalem. What's one more? This one more has…

Psalm 107:1–16; Exodus 15:22–27; Hebrews 3:1–6 (read online ⧉) Water is essential to survival. Not having water was a death sentence. What made the waters of Marah too bitter to drink can only be guessed. It would have been horrible to be thirsty (3 days…