Prayer of Confession of Sin – Psalm 95

According to a simple reading of Psalm 95, My love, adoration and joy in you has been too measured and too contained.  Tim and Kathy Keller write in their devotional on this Psalm: "When the love of the immeasurably great and transcendent God of the universe becomes real to us, the joy should be uncontainable.”My … Continue reading Prayer of Confession of Sin – Psalm 95

A Prayer of Adoration – Psalm 95

If the fire of your heart's devotion to the Lord needs some fuel. Here are things for which to praise Him from Psalm 95. 1. We praise you for rescuing us from all of our spiritual enemies. For You are the Rock of our salvation (1). 2. We praise you for giving us access into … Continue reading A Prayer of Adoration – Psalm 95

Praying Scripture | Psalm 32

Here is a simple way to pray through a portion of God's Word - Psalm 32 1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 For when I kept silent, … Continue reading Praying Scripture | Psalm 32

Psalm 51 and Becoming a Chief Repenter

Last evening I led a seminar on "The Gospel-Centered Parent." We talked about what it looks like to become the chief repenter in our families. The classic text on repentance is the penitential Psalm... Psalm 51, where David confesses and repents of his sins of adultery and murder. Here is a simple thought and a … Continue reading Psalm 51 and Becoming a Chief Repenter

True and Lasting Happiness

The Word of God cuts through the fog of Satan's lies and shows me where true and lasting happiness is to be found. And so the Word helps me stop trusting in the potential of sin to make me happy, and instead leads me to trust in God's promise of infinite, lasting joy. Psalm 16:11 … Continue reading True and Lasting Happiness

Hope for the Hopeless

From Isaiah 61:1-3... To those who think that their lives are so broken that they have no more heart to try… To those who are bound up in various addictions and besetting sins so that real liberty seems like a cruel mirage… To those who think they will never experience again the favor of the … Continue reading Hope for the Hopeless

The Power of Gospel Freedom

Let me encourage you to go see the movie "Harriet" that chronicles the life of Harriet Tubman. I was moved by her undaunted courage, her strong faith, and her perseverance through overwhelming circumstances. Her first act as a free woman was profoundly simple. After crossing the Pennsylvania state boundary line in September 1849, she says, … Continue reading The Power of Gospel Freedom

Taking Time to Examine Yourself

Why do followers of Jesus take time to regularly confess their sins to God? The regular discipline of confession enables us to grasp more fully the beauty and wonder of grace as we are made continually aware of the depth of our need of God’s unmerited favor. Christopher Ash explains: We desire “to encourage self-examination … Continue reading Taking Time to Examine Yourself

One Way to Pray for Yourself Before Sunday

Have you or someone you know ever said, "Well, I didn't get much out of that sermon." Certainly most pastors are pretty self-critical of their attempts at preaching God's Word and can do a poor job at setting forth the wonderful truths and treasures of God's Word. Yet, you have a responsibility to prepare yourself … Continue reading One Way to Pray for Yourself Before Sunday

One Reason to Pray for Your Church & Pastor Today

There are many reasons to pray for your church and her ministries. Westminster Larger Catechism Question 159 sets forth not only the way pastors are to preach, but also how they are to lead in ministry. To do the following well, your pastor and church desperately needs your prayers! How is the Word of God … Continue reading One Reason to Pray for Your Church & Pastor Today