This verse is a regular refrain throughout the Bible. As long as a person walk with pride, that person gets what is earned and deserved: “For the wages of sin is death.” But as soon as the heart is humbled before a holy God, He is willing and able to save: “Whosoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

This is how I must come to Jesus beginning with salvation and continuing through each day of life. When I act with arrogance as if God is not needed, then I discover pain and trouble. But when I come humbled and needy to the God of the universe, He demonstrates grace and mercy to me.

Why would I ever act arrogantly with God? Father, forgive me.

Jesus, thank You for Your ready willingness to save when I humbly call on Your powerful name.

This is one of my favorite verses in Psalms. I picture a deer traveling through the hills, parched but remembering where to find a stream of water. It seems like a long journey to the water, but the memory of the last, long drink pulls him forward, ever forward to the refreshing waters.

There are times when my spirit is parched. It seems like it has been a long time since I was renewed, but the remembrance of how God blessed me, filled me with joy, and restored my soul keeps me moving forward to Him. More than anything else in life, I want – I need – to be in the presence of the holy God.

How long will I have to wait to be in His presence again? I am dry and need a long drink.

The kingdom had been restored to David and Shimei, who had previously cursed him, was now humbled and apologetic. This did not stop some of David’s loyal men from wanting to kill Shimei, but David would not allow it.

Pardoning someone who has openly rebelled pictures what Christ has done for me. My sin is not secret or accidental but flagrant and intentional. Yet Jesus died for my sin in order that He might restore me to the Father. David sparing Shimei, as noble as it was, pales in comparison to what Jesus has done for me.

Jesus, my sin is too great for me. Thank you for pardoning me through the power of the cross.

In a day of distress, David called out to the Lord. David described his problem as “the pit of destruction” and being stuck in “miry bog.” It strikes me how quickly he shifts from trouble to triumph. Now a song is in his mouth and, as a result of God’s work, many people will trust in the Lord.

That is the power of God at work when we call on His name. There is no pit too deep that God cannot pull us out. And when He raises us from the pit He places us in a place of security.

The victory that God brings into the life of His followers becomes a stirring testimony of His greatness to those who observe it. Our troubles become an avenue of bringing glory to God.

Father, thank you for hearing me when I call during my time of trouble. May my life – in times of joy and in times of sorrow – be used for your glory.

David faced a hard circumstance with his son, Absalom, trying to wrest control of the kingdom away from him. The king is fleeing from Jerusalem with his loyal court. On the sad way, this isolated man, Shimei, begins to curse David, throwing rocks at him. Some of David’s mighty men asked permission to kill Shimei. David demonstrated tremendous restraint, allowing Shimei to live and to continue with his discouraging and disrespectful actions.

When feeling beaten down, many people often strike out at others, especially at those who seem weak. Everything and everyone else may be against us, but we will not allow a perceived injustice go without punishment if we think we have the power to create a fuss or to hit back.

This is foolish.

When we strike out in this fashion, we too often are acting out about other pain and not actually addressing what is happening before us at the time. Attacking a powerless person makes us look petty and weakens our character.

A better course of action usually is to turn the other cheek, to go the second mile, to demonstrate meekness (power under control) as we cast ourselves on the Lord. Jesus cares for us and we know He will raise us up in His time and in His way for His glory.

Father, when I feel worn down by the circumstances of life, please strengthen me for Your service. Your grace is sufficient for me.

This psalm, like many of David’s psalms, reveals his deep emotion and anguish. The source of his pain, however, is not an enemy nation or general marching against Israel. No, he understands those battles. This struggle grew out of friendship. A companion who feigned allegiance to David turned against him. His words were still smooth and soft, but behind the words was a heart intent on war.

Yes, pain like this is agonizing. We can shrug off when someone who never liked us – or who we could barely tolerate – says spiteful things about us. It is just one more dart from them. But when the arrows fly from a friend we feel the wounds more deeply.

The response from David in this psalm is the same course of action I should take in all circumstances: trust in God. God sees my pain. He hears my cry. I can trust Him to bring righteousness and justice. It is not my place to destroy the other person’s character of dignity. My heart, though hurting, must be continually surrendered to the love of Christ and to trust in God.

Loving Father, thank You for caring for me in my deepest hurts. Help me show Your love to others as I trust in You.

David’s anger stemmed from the disgraceful way his son, Amnon, treated his daughter (Amnon’s half-sister), Tamar. But for all of David’s anger, he did not take any action to punish the gross sin of Amnon. For two years Amnon went about life as if nothing had happened. Tamar’s brother, Absalom, was not willing to do nothing. He waited for two years then took revenge on Amnon, ruthlessly killing him. Absalom fled and David, again, did nothing.

It is difficult to take decisive action to punish or correct people, especially when someone could call us hypocritical and throw our own sin back in our face. But avoiding our responsibilities as parents or leaders of churches or organizations leads to greater problems in the future. To not punish our children gives them license to other sin. To not deal with flagrant sin in the church, particularly from those in leadership, creates division in the body and brings harm to the name of Christ. Permitting  sin to remain allows it fester and spread.

As difficult as it is to punish or correct, it is easier than facing the consequences of inaction. Our private anger with sin will do no good unless we bring it to the cross and ask God to give us wisdom and courage to move forward with humility and holiness for His glory.

Father, help me deal first with my own sin. Then give me a mixture of courage, strength, and gentleness to deal with flagrant sin where You have called me to leadership.

David’s sin bore grave consequences, the most painful being the realization that it was his sin which caused the death of a man, the death of an infant, the struggle within his family, and a broken relationship with his God. All of this now rested on David. His only hope was casting himself and his sin on the merciful forgiveness of the Lord.

My sin brings difficult consequences, too. And my only hope is repentance, laying all my sin at the foot of the cross that my Savior and Lord might forgive me.

That sounds easier than it really is. My natural instinct is to brush aside the seriousness of my sin. Or maybe to perform some religious act – a penance of sorts – and expect that my good deed will cover my sin. God will have nothing of this. David says clearly that God will not accept my sacrifice or burnt offering if that is all I bring. What God wants from me is a broken spirit, a humility that casts myself at His mercy knowing that I cannot cover my sin.

Jesus, thank You for paying the price for my sin. My sin overwhelms me and You are my only hope. I’m sorry for all the times I thought I could find forgiveness through some grand action on my part. I come to You and trust in You alone.

Warrior king David ruled with strength. When he sinned with Bathsheba then murdered her husband, he believed he escaped accusation. With great courage, the prophet Nathan approached the king and laid the blame for Uriah’s death at David’s feet.

We need more men like Nathan.

Nathan did not speak from his own indignation but from the heart of God. His words carried power because they came from God and because Nathan spoke with personal integrity.

We need more men like Nathan.

Where are the courageous voices who live with integrity and listen to the Lord who will tell presidents that they cannot rewrite the Bible to fit current cultural standards in order to meet political goals? Who will speak to industry leaders with a word about fairness for laborers around the globe? Who will address the courts about justice for the downtrodden and wrongly accused?

We need more men like Nathan.

We need men and women who listen to the word of the Lord, who live for the glory of the Lord, who speak with the courage of the Lord.

Many a person has called out to the Lord in a time of trouble. In fact, it is in these times that we are more likely to call out to the Lord. When all is well we think we can do anything. We deserve the good times, we think.

Then the hard times come and we call out to God. Yes, He hears the hurting heart when we cry out in our pain.

How do we respond after the crisis has passed? Do we breathe a sigh of relief and go about our merry way? The right course is to continue to call out the to the Lord, realizing that we need His help in all circumstances. Promises that we make in times of trouble are to be fulfilled with a glad heart to the Lord.

Thank you, Father, for always hearing me when I call to You with an honest heart. Guide me to live for you in times of joy and in sorrow. I need Your help.