Psalm 105: Get out of My Way!

By Andi Norton

Psalm 105 (NIV) 

Like most kids in their teens I often dreamt of being a rock star. Many of my weekend evenings were spent in a sweat-filled, testosterone-pumped club, ‘moshing’ (jumping) to my favourite bands with the dream of one day, I would be the one on that stage.

I worked hard with my band in London, playing all the right venues, spending hours on musical arrangements and harmonies to produce the best material, to the point where I dropped out of University to try and pursue it seriously.

There was urgency in me, a striving, and a pursuit to make my dream come true. Nothing would stand in my way. As a matter of fact I became so fixated on seeing this dream come true, I pushed friends, and family to the side, I became ruthless and nasty in my actions to others, because this was my purpose, this was my goal.

Now although this is quite a negative portrayal, it does reflect something of God in this psalm, and I love it! The Psalmist writes down the history of God’s commitment to His people, in fulfilling what He set out to do, to keep His promise, the covenant in His word that He first made with Abraham.

He's God, our God,
in charge of the whole earth.
And he remembers, remembers his Covenant—
for a thousand generations he's been as good as his word.

The psalmist shows a great account, the history to God’s promise, right from the oath He made with Isaac, through to Joseph and then with Moses. What a focused God! What a great God! There were oppositions, hardships and challenges - but none of this fazed God - and nothing was going to get in His way. God is a God of his word; His covenant is fixed and will be fulfilled.

God keeps His promises! What promises has He made to you or us as the church? Believe them, pray them back to Him, remind Him, just as Moses did, Joseph did, when it appears that it’s just not going to happen. It will for He is a faithful God, committed to You 100 per cent. It will be fulfilled.

But in the same way all these people God has listed in this psalm were called to act for Christ, to go on a pursuit for Him. We too have been commissioned by God, will we not relent in what He has called us too? God has promised to fulfil what He has started in us, to go with us, so let’s move into action.

Remember this! He led his people out singing for joy;
his chosen people marched, singing their hearts out!
He made them a gift of the country they entered,
helped them seize the wealth of the nations
So they could do everything he told them—
could follow his instructions to the letter.

Psalm 104: Creator/Sustainer

By Sean Theunissen

Psalm 104 (NIV)

This psalm celebrates the wonders of God's creation work. It starts with a view of heaven, considering God's glory, 'He wraps himself in light as with a garment; He stretches our the heavens like a tent.' (v2)

Then we see creation unfolding before us, 'He set the earth on it's foundations it can never be moved.' (v5) We get a picture of God speaking to mountains and waters and valleys and at his voice they obey and move and came in to being.

The psalmist then moves past the macro to give us a glimpse of God's care and attention on the micro, 'He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate - bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, and bread that sustains his heart.'  (v14)

Then we see how absolutely everything is sustained by Him and depends on Him completely, 'These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things. When you hide your face, they are terrified, when you take away their breath, they die and return to dust.' (v27-30)

So often I take for granted what I've been given, often focusing on what is lacking, what I need, what's the next thing to worry about, but take a step back and see that the very air I breathe, the food I eat, the warmth I feel, the love I know are all started and completed in Him.

We need to bask in God's wonders, enjoy them for what they are. We need to wake our souls regularly to the goodness, the mercy, the power of our God and the victory He has won.

'Oh, let me sing to God all my life long, sing hymns to my God as long as I live! Oh, let my song please him, I'm so pleased to be singing to God. But clear the ground of sinners, no more godless men and women! O my soul bless God!' (v33-35)

Psalm 103: How the mama bear in me helps me glimpse the Father God in Heaven

By Priscilla

Psalm 103 (NIV)

My boy turns two next month. This whole motherhood thing has been one giant ride. To be honest, I am quite surprised at how much I enjoy it. You know all those documentaries we’ve watched on National Geographic – where the cameraman won’t go near a mama bear because she’s got her cubs nearby – I recently realised I’m a complete natural at channelling my inner mama bear. Every walk to the shops or trip in the car with Hudson I am overtly careful, watching out for potential hazards or risks. I couldn’t bear for any hurt or harm to come my son.

If this is me - the mum of just one, small child, senses sharpened and armoury out - how, and I mean, HOW much more must our Father in Heaven look out for us then?

I cannot even begin to fathom how great His love and care is for me. This psalm gives us a fantastic insight into how vast God’s compassion is towards us.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbour his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

When we catch a small glimpse of His great love and compassion for us, our hearts can do nothing but bubble forth with praise – all my inmost being, praise His holy name (vs 1).

When we don’t feel like praise in our quiet times, on Sunday mornings or before Friday morning prayer this is great psalm to meditate upon. Forget not all His benefits, He forgives all your sins, heals all your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, and crowns you with love and compassion. (vs 2-4)

Finding it difficult to think of things to praise God for? This psalm has a list, just in case we were lacking in inspiration.

Psalm 102: Fancy a Gin and Tonic with a tears mixer!

By Andy Flood

Psalm 102 (NIV) 

This guy is in bits! He can't eat, can't sleep and even his drink is mingled with his tears! His heart's cry is that God will hear him, if he could bend the ear of the Creator then perhaps he'll get some peace.

I think sometimes we can feel like we're stuck in a rut with our relationship with God, we feel as though we're coming to Him with the same old problems. It would be easy to believe the lie that would whisper in your ear, "He's heard it all before, don't bother Him, He's just not interested."

But the awesome truth is He IS interested, and it's NO bother for Him. He's got time for you and your problems even if its the one hundredth time you've brought to Him.

As you read through the Psalm, it wouldn't seem as thought the psalmist's situation changes at all, but his gaze is. It's lifted to the eternal God, enthroned forever to the One who never ever changes.

So bring your concerns, your complaints, your sorrows and your joys, because He wants them all, trust Him with them, He has time for you. because when He looks at you He doesn't see a useless sack of flesh. He sees a son or a daughter, someone He has paid the highest price for, to restore a real loving and living realtionship with.

Psalm 101: Be killing sin or it will be killing you.

By Peter Roxburgh

Psalm 101 (NIV)

At the age of about 8, I had a wort on my leg. Bear with me on this one! I remember I used to pick at it constantly. It was the smallest wort but I couldn't help but always know it was there.

At that age and living in India, I always wore shorts. I could see it, I couldn't help but pick at it and it troubled me. At times, out of embarrassment, or the desire not to pick at it, I used to put a plaster over it.

After about two years, I managed to pick it right off. And no, I didn't store is safely in a jar.

The reason I recount this delightful story is because sin is like a wort. Compared to the rest of our lives, it can just be a small bit of all that we do. Yet it is there, we are drawn to it, we know that it is ugly, we don't want anyone to see it, we try and cover it up and sometimes we can't seem to get rid of it.

This Psalm joins in with the call to purity that as a church we have heard with particular emphasis over the last few weeks.

v2 'I will be careful to lead a blameless life....'

but that is only the beginning!

He then makes statements that imply that he will kill people that slander their neighbour in secret (v5) and that his morning ritual will be to put to death all the wicked! (v8)

I'm not advocating we do that, but as John Hosier said that when we point a finger at someone we have three pointing back at us.

John Piper says, 'be killing sin or it will be killing you'.

So instead of our daily morning ritual being killing the wicked in the land, let it be us killing sin within ourselves. This requires a conscious decision. Sin doesn't just die or mysteriously disappear. It needs to be picked and hacked at consistently. We have a choice - we kill sin or it will be killing us.

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Cor 10:4-5)

Fight.

Psalm 100: In every circumstance

By Chantalle Wookey

Psalm 100 (NIV)

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.

This is such a well known Psalm that I had to ask God to talk to me again about it, to bring a freshness in the way I read it. God reminded me that this is an amazing summary of what my attitude towards Him should be but also His promises over my life. 

Know that the LORD He is God: it is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. In a time of my life where I am facing extreme struggles God has shown me again that he is my shepherd, responsible for my health and welfare. In John 6:39 He promised never to lose a single one of us, but to raise us all up at the last day.  

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. My part in the midst of whatever season of life I find myself  is to adopt this viewpoint.  To allow God to show me that all the events of my life (even the bad stuff) can invariably bring blessing. Sometimes, especially recently I find myself struggling with joy, because I so often try to link my level of joy with circumstances. 

The thing is that there is no conditional obedience when it comes to joy in praise of God that is acceptable. Not because God doesn't care about my circumstance but because he knows that entering his courts with praise regardless of situation or circumstance is the very best place for me when life is tough. In his courts is a better place to be than anywhere else, it is only in his courts that my brokenness can be satisfied and he will be my shepherd and my advocate. How do I get into his courts, to a place of nurturing as his sheep, to a deeper understanding of God's love for me no matter what? Through unconditional joy, thanksgiving and praise! 

I know more than ever that the Christian walk will contain battles and victories! “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)  I can’t experience a victory without first going into battle but when I follow God's plan, in one way or another (even if it doesn't look like it at the time) every battle ends in victory.  In my current battles God continues to show me that every time I yield  to Him, his victory will always exceed my expectations even if it doesn't change my circumstances. God is good, he is working all things together for my good and he is faithful. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 99: Prayer, Persistence, Power

By Andi Norton
Psalm 99 (NIV) 

We've all heard it, we've all seen it, but often we we can doubt it, yes this is prayer.
Many of us know stories of great healing, miraculous provision, bondage's broken in the name of Jesus in prayer, some of us first hand.
Myself I have had great things come out of prayer: God has provided a job and a house when Nikki and I got married, a new job when we had Daniel, miraculous financial provision in times of desperate need.
One faith-filled cell night when I was struggling with severe eczema, the group laid hands on me and within a couple of days it had completely gone and I've never had eczema to that severity again.
But what about the times when our prayers aren't answered, when we wait and wait and yet nothing. Our thoughts can be one of "Is God even listening!".
We know from these words God is listening, and he want's justice for these injustices we face personally and throughout our world, and he will answer, maybe not always when we want it, but He DOES answers.

V6 

Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
Samuel was among those who called on his name;
they called on the Lord
and he answered them.

Friends of my parents in Kansas told us of a story in which they were praying about the issue of abortion in their nation, day and night they interceded (prayed) for God to step in and do something radical. Day and night they persisted. A week went, nothing, A month-nothing, and so on. Then on the 365th day, on the news they announced that several cities including Kansas were setting a law in place to ban abortions and to close clinics.

God does hear, but we must persist, to reach out with the things that are on God's heart, to fight and seek justice from God.

We see in these verses that God is Mighty and He is Holy, but He cares about the little and the great and that He does answer. but we must persist.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phillipians 4:6

We are seeing great things happen in our times of worship together, and we persist with our times of prayer for this. Often we find when we meet on a Friday mornings that our hearts in a united place as we press into pray. God is stirring a heart of intercession, to draw men and women to stand in the gap and intercede for the injustices in our community/world that are on his heart.

Do you believe there is Power in the name of Jesus, that He cares, He listens, and He is ready to respond?

Lord, thank you for the gift of prayer, to come and speak with you. Would you give us faith to step out not just in the quiet place but on the street, in the work place to grab the opportunities you give us to see lives transformed in the power of Your name.

Psalm 98: Music with a purpose

By Sean Theunissen

Psalm 98 (NIV)

If ever there is a psalm to show the significance of music in worship, it's this one. This psalm is so wonderfully set out, centering on the praise of Almighty God. In a way you can see it broken down in to why, how, and who.

We start with why: 

• He has done marvellous things 
• His right hand and holy arm have worked salvation 
• He has revealed his righteousness 
• He has remembered his love and faithfulness to Israel 

Then we move on to how:

• Shout for joy 
• Burst into jubilant song with music 
• Make music to the Lord with the harp, singing, trumpet, ram's horn 

Then who:

• Let the sea resound and everything in it 
• The world and all who live in it 
• Let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains sing for joy 

To me this psalm epitomises the significance of music in worship. Music is such an incredible gift from God to the world. It has the power to lift you out of depression, or put you in it. It has the power to disarm a mob or supercharge an army. But best of all, God commands us to use it for His praise. What incredible power, God's words of truth mixed with the beautiful gift of music, what incredible potential and what a mighty responsibility for God's chosen musicians.

I therefore appeal to all you gifted musicians and singers, God has singled you out to take the truth of God (the why section) and encourage God's people to passionately, wholeheartedly and unrestrainedly declare that truth. Not to get people to sing out of a sense of duty or default, or because they're forced to, or just because they're being polite or loyal. But because God's word is true and living, and the music God's giving you to write, to arrange, to harmonise, to orchestrate has the potential for being beautiful and fitting and relevant for declaring such truths.

I'm so privileged to play music week-in week-out with such amazingly gifted musicians, but sometimes in the week-in week-out, or even day-in day-out, I can forget the privilege, I might bring what I can get away with rather than 100% of the gift. Let's remember the calling God's put on us, what a responsibility: Enabling God's children to praise; to declare truth; to surrender back their lives; to bring a sacrifice of praise.

I know that we only facilitate, the Spirit does the revealing, the awakening, the convicting, the transforming, the regenerating. But I'm going to facilitate to the best of my ability, I'm going to offer the whole gift, not because I'm repaying a debt, that's impossible, but because for this moment the privilege is mine.

Psalm 97: Pure hatred

By Priscilla

Psalm 97 (NIV)


Back in the day when I was studying journalism – we got set various writing assignments every week. They usually required a good deal of legwork, persuasion and interviewing skills. One Monday however, we were asked to submit a 500-word piece on one thing that we hate. Boy! Was that the easiest assignment I ever wrote? In my head, it was more the case of – now which of the many things that gets me fuming am I going to willingly vent on paper?

The emotion of anger and hatred are strong emotions. Why would a peace-loving God give us such powerful, negative emotions? Strong emotions stir in us strong actions. For example: A man full of rage might be stirred to take it out on his wife, however, an angry man might also use that anger to protect his wife or children from someone.

Vs 10 is helpful in this regard: “Let those who love the Lord, hate evil.”

You cannot love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, without developing a deep and passionate, hatred for sin.

When we do that, Psalm 97 (The Message) goes on to say:

• He keeps safe those who love Him. 
• He snatches them from the grip of the wicked. 
• Light is planted in the souls of God's people, 
• Joy is planted in good heart-soil. 

It is not wrong to hate when what we hate is wrong. We must direct our hatred to the things that God despises.

The Bible tells us again and again that our God who is pure, holy, blameless, and righteous – absolutely hates sin. If our goal is, ‘to be holy and He is holy,’ (Lev 11: 44) then we need to cultivate a heart and body that abhors sin in any form in our lives. Root it out, deal with it. God does not despise a broken and contrite heart. (Psalm 51:17)

Love God. Hate sin.

Psalm 96: Worship the Lord in the splendour of Holiness

By Andy Flood

Psalm 96 (NIV)


If you get time, it's well worth reading the story behind this Psalm. It's in 1 Chronicles 14-16.
It's the passage where David dances through the city in his ephod. I love it when you can cross reference the Bible this way, knowing the history of the Psalm casts a whole new light on it, bringing with it a greater understanding of God’s word.

This is a great encouraging Psalm, an encouragement to sing new songs to Him, to declare His praises afresh. But it also encourages us to, "Worship the Lord in the splendour of holiness," but what does this mean? We're all familiar with phrase but is that our understanding stops?

Does it mean we need to make ourselves holy before we can worship God? NO WAY!
It is IMPOSSIBLE to make ourselves holy. Only God can make us holy, yes we try, as much as possible, to live pure, to please our Father, to keep our relationship on the right track. But it is God who makes us holy, set apart. Without the cross of Christ any attempt at holiness is an abomination, our best efforts would be like being proud to offer a soiled nappy in exchange for holiness.

So to worship the Lord in the splendour of holiness, is to accept the holiness God has clothed us in and worship Him in the full knowledge we are not worthy to be in His presence and not looking to our own efforts to curry favour but looking at the cross in grateful awe and admiration to the One who made us holy.

Psalm 95: Will Spiderman stop you worshipping?

By Peter Roxburgh

Psalm 95 (NIV)

It was all Spiderman's fault! Yup. It was his fault that I was in a foul mood and refused to worship God. I was 10 years old, we had just been given our first TV and one of the few English programs on air those days was Spiderman on a Sunday morning. Despite me regularly pretending to be ill, my parents made me go to church with them. And so I was in a foul mood. And it was Spiderman's fault.

These days there are still some Sundays when I can go to church in a mood that means I refuse to worship God because I don't 'feel' like it or because my circumstances tell me I shouldn't - like somehow witholding my worship lets God know exactly how I cheated I feel.

This Psalm is a real challenge and reminder to us that we shoudn't base our praise and worship of God on how we feel or our circumstances.

Let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation (v1)

Why? 

• For the Lord is the great God (v3) 
• The great King above all gods(v3) 
• In His hands are the depths of the earth (v4) 
• The mountain peaks belong to Him (v4) 
• The sea is His (v5) 
• His hands formed the dry land (v5) 
• He is our Maker (v6) 
• He is our God and we are His people (v7) 
• We are the flock under His care (v7) 

Nothing there about: 

• Because the band sound really good this morning 
• Because life is going really well 
• Because the kids woke up late and you got a lie-in 
• Because you've just got a promotion 
• Because you haven't sinned for the last 24 hours 
• Because you feel like it 

If we praise because of the above (or countless other reasons) then when the opposite of those circumstances is true, we will find it easy not to worship.

The Israelites made this mistake in the desert where they chose to NOT worship God because of their circumstances. Instead of worshipping through their circumstances, they complained about their circumstances. And it cost them dearly! (v8-11)

The truth is that even if God never did anything for us, He would still be worthy of our praise for all the reasons quoted above.

I don't suggest that we sing empty words when our hearts do not mean it. That too is something God detests (Isaiah 29:13). But I do suggest that no matter how we feel or circumstances, we stir our hearts in praise. Sure it wont be easy, it wont be free-flowing, but the praise of a broken heart is the sweetest song of all.

We always have a choice - in difficult circumstances we can choose to complain or choose to worship.

Someone who has exemplified this for me recently is Chantalle. Most of us wont know much of the great trial and testing she has been through over the last few months and yet she regularly makes the choice and effort to come to Friday morning prayers and contributes with beautiful prophetic songs of worship and praise.

Remember, God is worthy of praise because of who He is. You can complain about your circumstances or you can worship through them. The latter will bless you, bless those around you and bless God immensely!

Psalm 94: My foot is slipping

By Chantalle Wookey

Psalm 94 (NIV)

As I have been reading Psalm 94 this week the verse that keeps really jumping out at me is v18-19:

When I said, "My foot is slipping," 

your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. 

When anxiety was great within me,

your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:18-19

I think the reason is I recognise my need for this truth in my life in recent times more than ever. I read these words aloud and they have helped to brig peace in me again for situations that seem impossible and have brought me a lot of anxiety. 

I encourage you to do the same. Repeat the above verse out loud. Yes...... and again and again. 

God upholds us even when we feel like we might fall apart. God is the source of our strength in times of fear, worry and doubt. God is our Salvation, our strong tower, our ever present help in times of need.

God, even when I forget you and attempt to do life in my own strength, when I fall thank you that you are upholding me with your right hand. I know that you won't let me fall apart. When my mind is messed up and made foggy with anxiety and my heart crowded with worry I know that I can rely on your strength, ideas and wisdom. God teach me to look to You before I reach out in my own strength. 

Psalm 93: Trials - smashed!

By Andi Norton

Psalm 93 (NIV) 

Brothers can be a right pain, and mine was no exception.
On a holiday trip to Ibiza when I was 8 we took a trip across to a private island. I was playing catch with a bottle of water by the pier when my brother intercepted and lobed the bottle into the sea. In my annoyance I ran to get it. I jumped off the pier and into the sea, grabbed the bottle then realized my feet were stuck when I tried to wade out – and then worse – I found myself sinking. I was chest high in quick sand and shouting for help. My family were half-way down the beach and couldn't hear me. I cried out to God in prayer and then a man came out of no-where and pulled me out. – True Story.


Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea—
the Lord on high is mighty.

I can relate to these words, the sea does still scare me at times and watching movies of people shipped wrecked or stranded at sea, does make me shiver, but I know our God is so much mightier than the sea, than the trials we face whether physical trials, emotional or spiritual. Nothing is too much for Him.

Many of you know I'm a huge comic book geek, so the recent release of the new film Avenger's Assemble was like a dream come true.
I don't want to ruin the film for you but there's a great portrayal in this film that helps us see the hugeness of our God strong and mighty.
The world is in a hopeless state as the threat of the evil Loki is taking over the earth with his alien army. The team of Avengers, led by Captain America, storms into battle but one by one they take a beating. But ironman boasts that their team has the Hulk!
Then enters the Hulk, the strongest of all, angry with the injustice that is taking over, and his one mission is to smash it to a pulp.
Loki and the Hulk began their battle until Loki becomes infuriated and says enough, "You will bow down to me!"
With this the Hulk grabs him like a rag doll and pulverises him leaving Loki with both his bones and pride broken as he realises he's no match for the Hulk who in his exits says, "Puny God." Justice is served and the Hulk has made it quite clear who is stronger.

The reality is our God is bigger than even this, He doesn't have to become angry, turn green and start smashing the joint up. He is the creator of the rolling sphere, with just one word of His lips were the heavens made. We read in Mark 4:39 that Jesus himself rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace be still" And the wind cease and things were calm once more.

We as Christians may not have a Hulk, but we have someone greater, The King of kings and The Lord of all, The beginning and the end, He is unshakable, indestructible, never ending, He has smashed sin to dust, and will come and stomp out all injustice.


The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.

When all around me gives way, when the sea and wind in mine or your life becomes violent and we find ourselves in a hopeless storm. We can thank God that He listens, He cares, He is for us, that He's on our team, that He has already destroyed our enemy and as Sean so well reminded us yesterday, the trial will come to an end.

Lord, you are Mighty, there is none higher than You, we thank you that You are for us, and for the promise of that final day when all trial, all pain will be gone. Remind me/us when facing the storms that can invade our lives that You are bigger, You are stronger.

Psalm 92: He will get us to the other side

By Sean Thenunissen

Psalm 92 (NIV)


My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still bear fruit in old age,they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him. ” v 11-15
We can sometimes find ourselves in the middle of a massive storm, people around you criticising, fighting against you. I might add that this is not something I'm experience at present, but I know some of my friends are. It's so hard to know why it happens, why your adversaries seem to be having the last laugh, why those who are doing wrong seem to come out on top.

This psalm all the way through, looks at reasons to praise God, it says, "What a beautiful thing, God, to give thanks, to sing an anthem to you, the High God! To announce your love each daybreak, sing your faithful presence all through the night."

I think the reason so many of the psalms start in this way, is because it's only in His presence, in recalling His goodness; His acts of kindness and mercy, do we remember God's called us to a higher purpose and it's a long-term purpose. God wants us to finish well, not like the wicked who see short term success but ultimately fall. God says, 'The righteous will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.' 

In the darkest night we need to stay focused on the marathon victory straight which isn't even the end but the entrance to eternity where death and pain and suffering cannot come with us. These trials are incredibly tough, I do not play them down, but they will end. He takes us through the storm and He said He'd get us to the other side, and guess what? He will.

God when times are tough, when times are confusing, bring me back to this psalm and many others that remind me of your plan, your purpose, the finishing line. God keep me strong and focused my whole life so that this life gives you glory. 

Psalm 91: Who you gonna call?

By Priscilla

Psalm 91 (NIV)


Thanks to a wonderful sub-culture called Hollywood – we all now know that in an emergency in America, we need to dial 911 and sirens blazing help will soon be at hand.

Psalm 91:1 is one of those sort of verses.
The promises listed in this psalm offer tremendous protection and hope. Promises such as:

• Being saved from a fowler’s snare 
• Finding refuge under in His wings 
• His faithfulness being our shield and rampart 
• Not having to fear the arrow of the day nor the terror of the night 

And they go on…the psalm is full of encouraging words.


HOWEVER everything hinges on the first verse of the psalm, which make the promises quite conditional. It is almost like for the police to arrive in America someone needs to dial 911. For God to be present in our lives, we need to dial in Psalm 91:1.

Vs 1: (ESV)
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

The protection and comfort are for ‘He who dwells’ and ‘abides’. These aren’t words that are common parlance these days but we know that dwelling does not imply a mere a visit – it is more of a staying situation - in the shelter or secret place as the NIV calls it.

By believing in our heart that Jesus is Lord and coming under His leadership – we are also under His blanket of protection.

As a growing disciple of Jesus Christ, our focus should be to come to a dwelling place of complete dependency and true intimacy with God.

A great way to develop that is to get into a routine of reading the Bible; Meditating on a verse or two that speaks to you, really chewing over it, perhaps getting a commentary out or looking up a study Bible to understand it a bit more; Praying, asking God to speak to you through the verses; Singing out to God in worship.

These private encounters with God are all instrumental in sharpening our public lives.
Dwelling in the secret place of God is a lifetime pursuit. It completely defines us.

Lord, I pray that amidst life’s crazy schedules I will carve out a time with you that will be the bedrock of my being. Help me God to cultivate a lifestyle that seeks a deep intimacy with You and Your ways. May my encounters with you define me completely. Amen.

Psalm 90: Life is but a vapour

By Andy Flood

Psalm 90 (NIV) 


Guy challenged us yesterday to spend our dash well. (Meaning: as you look at a gravestone all you see is the date of birth and date of death with just a dash in between)

This psalm reminds us that life is short, we're like the grass, here today gone tomorrow. So what are we going to do with our lives, our dash. Are we going to spend it by obtaining stuff, making sure we fit in with the world around us. Or are we going to stand out.

In the parable of the sower, we all assume we're the good soil? Right?

But wouldn't it be closer to the truth that most of us are on thorny ground, choked by the cares and worries of this world. I know I can be like this.

But how do we escape the thorns? How do we get shot of the cares of this world that would choke the life out of us?

Well first of all, as we're reminded in this psalm. Our God is everlasting, He has no end and no beginning and a thousand years passes like a day to Him.

So cast your cares on Him, for His love never fails. It never has and it never will, He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

I hope that as we lift our eyes to this everlasting King that the thorns of life will melt away, and we'll gain a heavenly perspective.

Lord, do it in me!

Psalm 89: When it seems like God has broken His promises.

by Peter Roxburgh

Psalm 89 (NIV)

"BUT you are not doing any of those things you said you would do - if anything you have done quite the opposite. You have rejected us, we are broken, we are a laughing stock, you have not supported us and you have covered us with shame. Where, is your great love that you swore to us????"

Ever felt a little like that? This is my paraphrase of Ethan's lament (vs 38-51) which comes after he has spent 18 verses recounting to God all the things that God promised to David and his line - promised to establish Davids throne forever, promised to protect and sustain, promised to be faithful to them.

There are and there will be times in our lives when we will look at the promises of God and look at our current circumstances and see a massive discrepancy. It will look like God has failed to keep his promises, worse still, it seems that he has done quite the opposite of what He promised.

From where Ethan was standing it looked like God had completely forgotten his covenant to the line of David. But from where we stand today, we know that God did not forsake his promises to establish forever the line of David. In fact, he fulfilled those promises in a way that no-one could ever imagine!

The reminder to us is that our field of vision is very limited. We can not see the future and we do not know the incredible ways in which God can fulfil his promises. But what we do know, and this Psalm reminds us, is that God WILL fulfil His promises to us.

I know I have to challenge myself from this. There have been specific words spoken over my life that are far bigger than I can see being fulfilled in the natural. And I can and do easily dismiss or even just park them in the very recesses of my heart.

But reading this Psalm and knowing what we know about how God did fulfil his promises, I have to remind myself to trust in God to fulfil all his promises to me. Sure, I need to be open to them, work towards them, but no matter how far away they may seem, I must constantly remind myself that God does not ever break His promises to us - even if what we see right now tells us quite the opposite.

If all we see is our circumstances right now, God would have us turn our gaze and our trust back to Him. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. And as Ethan and the house of David know, He did not break His promise to them and He will never break His promises to you.

Until we do see those promises fulfil, the best thing we can do is copy Ethan when he concludes this lament with:

"Praise be to the Lord forever! Amen and Amen." (vs 52)

Psalm 88: Why crying out to God is good

By Chantalle Wookey

Psalm 88 (NIV)

As worship leaders we can often steer clear of the kind of lament seen in this Psalm and I think to an extent this is understandable, it really is a pretty depressing psalm.  "O Lord, my God, my Saviour, by day and night I cry to you."  That mention of God as Saviour is as positive as it gets. This acknowledgement of what God has done is stated as fact even in the face of everything that comes next.

"You have laid me in the depths of the pit, in dark places, and in the abyss.  ...You have put my friends far from me; you have made me to be abhorred by them...  My sight has failed me because of trouble; Lord, I have called upon you daily; I have stretched out my hands to you.  Lord, why have you rejected me? Why have you hidden your face from me?  Ever since my youth, I have been wretched and at the point of death; I have borne your terrors with a troubled mind.  Your blazing anger has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me."

Those of you who know me well, know that this year has been a difficult one for me but even with this I am not at the point of feeling comfortable with making this kind of bold claim of God. Maybe this is because this is something that is just not comfortable in our culture. However, this psalm not only cries out to God in passionate misery, but also lays circumstances upon God as the source of suffering.  There are other psalms of lament, but they usually contain some hint of hope with such words as, "I put my trust in you, O Lord, and you will come to my aid."  There just is no hint of this in Psalm 88.  This is a cry of utter distress, this Psalm offers no words that aim to soften the intensity of expression that come with  grief, anger, and questioning in truly painful times.

This psalm concludes with a gut-wrenching cry of a man who is alone and surrounded by darkness, "My friend and neighbour you have put away from me, and darkness is my only companion."   There is no hint of gentle encouragement.  No glimpse of hope of horizon. No Fear not, God is with you.  This psalm is a cry of unbroken misery. 

I'm glad we have Psalm 88.  I would love to hear it read out loud in public more. The more I have read it the more I have realised there is a place for it in our lives and in our worship (well – duh Channy it is in the Bible!). There are times in our lives when we will experience things that leave us in total sadness.  There are circumstances that really do seem hopeless. 

This psalm demonstrates that expressions of grief are legitimate.  This psalm encourages us to talk to God about any reality we feel we are in. It is not faithless to cry out in helpless and hopeless anguish.  It has reminded me that God is big enough to want to hear how we really are and we don't have to appease him with words of piety or hope that do not feel true in times of desperate pain. Even in the deepest, most hopeless and darkest times, God is our companion even if all we have left to share with him is our brokenness.

Psalm 87: A huge crush

By Andi Norton 

Psalm 87 (NIV) 


Some of you will know that I met Nikki when I randomly popped into a co-op for a cheese and ham sandwich.
This visit turned to a discussion, which led to an invite to my church.
Although I wasn't looking for a relationship, but within a few days I found myself developing a huge crush on her.
I longed to be with her everyday. I would walk a mile after uni to meet her and walk her home, we would phone each other to talk late into the night and some calls that went into the early hours of the morning.
There's a deeper longing to be together and we knew within three months we wanted to get married, to fulfill that desire and longing that was in our hearts, to make our resting place together.

God has a longing and desire for Jerusalem and to make it His resting place.

He has founded his city on the holy mountain.
The Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.
We are privileged to capture a glimpse of Jesus' end plan for His church and His desire to come to this earth again and take up His throne.

Throughout scripture we can see that Jerusalem is significant in this.

• Abraham and Melchizedek: God chose Jerusalem above all other cities for Him to come dwell (Gen 14/Psalm 110) 

• Moses God said He would choose Canaan as a place for His name.
  
• The tabernacle was brought down to Nob near Jerusalem. It was this place that God selected from among all the cities of Israel to be the place where He would place His name forever. (Psalm 132) 

God is constant and perfect, His promises and every word He speaks is true so it's clear that God never gave up on his plans. Although Israel may have turned there back on Him, He continues with His plan and to choose Jerusalem as His resting place, and the great news is that we will meet with Him and will make music and sing.

As they make music they will sing,

“All my fountains are in you.”
It is in God that man lives, moves, and has his continual being (Acts 17:28).

God is the fountain of all things for man. We owe to Him our life, breath, and all things. When the of psalm 87 comes — both Jews and Gentiles, every nation, tongue and tribe — will exclaim that their fountain is indeed in Jesus. All will rejoice in Him and render praise to Almighty God.

My crush for Nikki endures, but God is showing me how much deeper my longing for His day should be. That day when our King comes riding victorious, takes up His throne and all the people of God join together in making music and singing.

Psalm 86: Undivided - Heart and Mind

By Sean Theunissen

Psalm 86 (NIV)

"Train me, God, to walk straight, then I'll follow your true path. Put me together, one heart and mind, then, undivided, I'll worship in joyful fear. From the bottom of my heart I thank you, dear Lord." 

(vs 11-12)

David has an incredibly sober assessment of himself. Considering God's call on his life, the battles he'd led the Israelite army into and won, his prayer life, his worship life. I shamefully, in his situation wouldn't use the phrase 'I'm one miserable wretch'. It does however remind me of Jesus' parable of the prayer of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

"The pharisee prays: God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get. But the tax collector, standing far off , would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!"

God wants our hearts broken for no one but him, undivided. Here the pharisee thought it fitting to compare himself with another human being and say, 'Well, I'm better than him!' I believe David had such a sober assessment of himself because he realised there's no point comparing yourself to another human being, no matter what their successes or failures, but rather, in view of God's pure light, and there realise the depth of God's grace and forgiveness.

God will surely act upon the prayer of the broken and contrite heart, the prayer that says:

Lord in view of your glory and the honour that's due to you, thank you for your grace and mercy that's new everyday, thank you for the forgiveness I have through the saving work of Jesus. Now Lord I give myself to your cause and will.

Psalm 85: Don’t look back in anger

By Priscilla 

Psalm 85 (NIV) 


For a short while at school we had this weird end-of-year tradition. It involved writing terribly cheesy ditties in each other’s schoolbooks. Apart from the ‘Roses are red, violets are blue’ variety of poems that invariably surfaced, this was another one that would do the rounds:


Friendship is like chinaware
So delicate and rare
Once broken can be mended
But the cracks are always there.


For an 11-year-old, it was a pretty ominous poem to read – beware of hits and bumps in any relationship because you are NEVER going to recover from it.

I am so thankful that over the years since becoming a Christian God has shown me the power behind a Godly restoration.
It is one that says, “Behold I am a NEW creation, the old has GONE, and the new has come.”

None of this cracks and mending business - the old has well and truly GONE! We have been made brand NEW!

And this is applicable to anything – a new life in Christ, a marriage that has seen better days, a friendship that has gone pear-shaped, a sibling relationship that has soured – anything!

However Godly restoration requires willingness on our part too:


a) Knowing the truth that God forgives and that we need to forgive too.
(Vs 2 & 3)

You forgave the iniquity of your people
and covered all their sins.
You set aside all your wrath
and turned from your fierce anger.

b) God’s wrath is not permanent, and so ours should not be also
(Vs 4-6) 

Restore us again, God our Saviour,
and put away your displeasure toward us.
Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?

c) Restoration requires a genuine, heartfelt repentance on our part (vs 7) 

Show us your unfailing love, Lord,
and grant us your salvation.

d) Staying close to God and His Word will keep us from pitfalls (vs 8)

I will listen to what God the Lord says;
he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.

e) Help is always at hand – whether through His word or Godly counsel (vs 9)

Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.

Psalm 84: Addicted to God

By Andy Flood

Psalm 84 (NIV) 


I love this Psalm, you can hear the song playing as you read it. The psalmist uses such beautiful & powerful language:


My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God. (Psalm 84:2 ESV)

He's talking like an addict, someone who just can't get enough of God. He needs his fix. Have you ever felt like this? Where getting in to God presence is all you want to do, nothing else will satisfy? It's an amazing experience isn't it?

It absolutely delights God when we seek Him like this, His desire is that we have an intimate relationship with Him, seeking Him all the time, making much of God in our lives. As we live our lives like this we will be transformed.

So you may have all this before, but here's the challenge:

Are you seeking God of just the things He does? Does meeting with God get you excited, do feel like a day in His courts is better than a thousand elsewhere? Or are you just waiting for the next big thing He does? Like a healing or provision.

If this is how you would describe your relationship with God, then I would suggest it's probably a little shallow and your missing out on a worship lifestyle that brings deep joy.

My prayer is that as you read this you're challenged to action, to seek His face. To get addicted to Him to worship Him in every attitude, every action & every motive.

Lord, grow an addiction for You in me.

Psalm 83: How to pray with boldness and purpose

By Priscilla

Psalm 83 (NIV) 


There is no motivation like a calamity or crisis to get us on our knees. And this Psalm is a bit like that. Its writer, Asaph looks at Israel’s enemies who are surrounding them, baying for their blood and he calls out to God in desperation.

As God’s people we do have situations when we face attack in our lives and the church as a whole – whether that is serious illnesses or outright persecution this psalm extols us to pray to God with boldness and purpose.

Asaph is bold in asking for the destruction of God’s enemies. He remembers past victories of God over His enemies and knows God is powerful to do it again.

He goes on to pray that the enemies of God would become – tumbleweed, chaff, be consumed by fire, be terrified by a storm. Pretty brutal stuff.

But what really impresses me with Asaph’s prayer of purpose in verse 16:

Cover their faces with shame, Lord,
so that they will seek your name.

He asks all those things, not only that they might be stopped in their wickedness but that they turn and repent and seek God.

We don’t pray hell, fire and brimstone on enemies – much as sometimes our emotions want us to – we pray ultimately that they meet with God powerfully.

We have great opportunities as a church, to corporately intercede for things that are going on in our lives, in our church, in the nation.

The worship team gathers to pray at 7am on Friday mornings at the church office. The next singers’ workshop on 15th May is going to focus on how can use worship and intercession effectively. And then there is Citygate’s Engine Room our monthly prayer meeting, which is great evening of worship, finding out what God is doing in our church and storming the heavens together seeking for breakthrough and direction for our church.

These are all great opportunities to put this psalm into action – to pray with great boldness and God-given purpose.

Psalm 82: Defending the weak and fatherless

By Chantalle Wookey

Psalm 82 (NIV)

"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;

   Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.

Rescue the weak and needy;

   deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

They know nothing, they understand nothing.

   They walk about in darkness;

   all the foundations of the earth are shaken."  

(Psalm 82: 3-5)

There are times in our history when truths like these seem more obvious than ever before. I decided to test this theory by checking today's newspapers. They are littered with stories about the Eurozone crisis, the fact that Munch's The Scream has sold for £74m and even a pensioner who is requesting a sex change! Article after article of proclaimed experts work themselves into a frenzy over our economic woes and decisions over non-life threatening operations yet I had to search quite hard to dig out a news story on the growing humanitarian crises in Africa's Sahel region as famine spreads across the country or the crisis in the Sudan. Despite terrible oppression amongst the poor in our world and even our nation I cannot escape the constant panic over the potential effect of stock market plunges in our papers. 

I am not saying the state of the economy is unimportant but out of our wealth there is more evidence of concern over wealth than the need to defend the fatherless and maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed or to rescue the needy. 

This Psalm cries for God to rise up and judge the earth and for justice on the behalf of the oppressed.  My prayer as I write this is that I may constantly seek God alone, forsaking all other gods (money, authority, recognition from others, arrogance, pride - to name a few possibilities) whilst being guided to do his will in a desperately hurting world. 

God, we recognise that so many in our world are walking about in darkness while the foundations of the earth are shaken.  Teach us to be guided by your will in a hurting world as we anticipate your return when you will right all things with your righteous judgment and your indescribable mercy.  Come quickly, Lord Jesus! 

Psalm 81: Set a reminder

By Andi Norton

Psalm 81 (The Message) 


Imagine, you've been a slave for years, working for a king. In blistering heat you would be forced to work as a manual labourer for free for many hours at a time.
Hopeless, no escape in sight, this has become your meaningless existence.
Has God abandoned us, would be your cry?


Then comes the day that God sends a man Moses to set His people free.
He sends plagues to kill your and His enemies, He sends a pillar of fire to free your escape and hold back the enemy. He then sets the seas apart for you to escape across and brings the mighty waters down on your enemies.

You then in the desert are provided with manna from heaven.

God cares, God saves, God Rescues, God Liberates, God Provides, and the people rejoice.


1-5 A song to our strong God! a shout to the God of Jacob!
Anthems from the choir, music from the band,
sweet sounds from lute and harp,
Trumpets and trombones and horns:
it's festival day, a feast to God!
A day decreed by God,
solemnly ordered by the God of Jacob.
He commanded Joseph to keep this day
so we'd never forget what he did in Egypt.


Three times a year the people of God would rejoice and give thanks through the festival of Bread and in this case wine, remembering all that God did for them, freeing them from Egypt.

The reality is when we think of what our God has done for us, we rejoice, and it's important to set time aside to do so as we see in this psalm.

But as we know from the story the people of God, soon turned from rejoicing and began to worship other gods, they did not remind themselves of what God had done. They grew weary with the desert and lost perspective.


11-12 "But my people didn't listen,
Israel paid no attention;
So I let go of the reins and told them, 'Run!
Do it your own way!'
This last week I've been doing a study on fear and why people fear for work. As Christians we fear because we lose perspective, we may draw away from God rather then pressing into Him and rejoicing for what He has done.
We forget the truth of His word (as I'm sure Israel did in the desert) - the promises of God.

It's good to set time aside to remind ourselves of all God has done and has promised us is to come.
This way we will not lose heart, we will not stray away.
God is worthy of all our praise, surely we should give Him it.


The challenge is to set a reminder, time aside to bring our thanksgiving to God for all that He's done and yet to come.

Thank You Lord for all that you've done and all that's to come. For you're promises, for the Hope we have in you. Help us to keep perspective, to not loose heart, to abide to You.

Psalm 80: Restore us to purpose

By Sean Theunissen

Psalm 80 (NIV)

Israel had sinned once again and they were feeling the consequence of it. Gentile armies had come in and plundered some of the tribes, Israel felt unprotected, they felt that what they were saved for was being destroyed.

'You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land. The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.' 

(v 8-11) ESV 

Israel had forgotten her purpose, she was to be a light to the Gentiles, a shade to the nations and yet Israel had forgotten.

Our purpose can sometimes allude us. At times I've found myself in a wilderness, feeling dry, having lost site of what I'm called to do, forgetting that this life is not my own but that I'm here to love the lost, to serve God's people, to fight as a soldier alongside friends, for the advance of God's Kingdom.

Sometimes God takes us on a journey of remembering what we're called to, sometimes it's painful, it feels like being broken, being stripped of all confidence in ourselves, but he wants to restore us to purpose, to take us out of the wilderness we somehow got ourselves in to, a place of ineffectiveness, a place where we are exposed and in danger. He wants us to get to a place where we are calling out, just like Asaph:

'Restore us, Lord Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.'
Father, let your name be lifted high in my life, let me not lose sight of your plan. Make me effective in your Kingdom, even if it means things need to be broken regularly in my life, I want to finish well.