Psalm 147: He thunders and whispers

by Sean Theunissen

Psalm 147 (NIV)

I'm so glad to be finishing my last psalm blog with this one, it's incredible. It describes the wonders of God, switching from universality (the big stuff) to particularity (the small, seemingly insignificant us). 

Here's the particular:

• He gathers the outcast
• Heals the heartbroken, bandages their wounds
• Puts the fallen on their feet again and pushes the wicked into the ditch
• He's not impressed with horsepower and mans' muscles
• Those who fear God get God's attention
• Jerusalem, he makes your city secure, blesses your children, keeps peace at your borders
• Puts the best on your table
• Launches his promises earthward
• He hand picked us for relationship

Here's the universal:

• Counts the stars, assigns each a name
• He is great with limitless strength, we'll never comprehend
• Fills the sky with clouds, preparing rain for the earth
• Then turns the mountains green with grass
• Feeding cattle and crows
• He spreads snow like a white fleece, frost like ashes, hail like birdseed
• Who can survive his winter, yet he breaths on it and it melts.

A lot of people only believe God is capable of the first lot of actions: He meets us on a human level; sympathises with our weakness; He's a friend; a confidant, but possibly lacks power to really change a situation, maybe He's not in full control against the powers of evil all around us.

Others only believe Him to be a powerful force, stronger and bigger than anyone can comprehend, creator of all things, but aloof from the micro. Angry at times and striking out randomly against His creation.

Here we get a reminder of the fulness of our God: He reveals and conceals, invites and hides, confounds and confides, He thunders and whispers, terrifies and befriends, God of the smallest detail and the grandest design, called in to being the tree He later hung on.

We have the ultimate God, he used His power to save us and now gently sanctifies us, making us ready for an eternity in his pure and holy presence. 

Lord thank you for showing yourself through these psalms, I've so enjoyed getting to know You or be reminded of your awesome attributes. Be glorified and honoured as we offer our lives in praise to You.

Psalm 141 Are you teachable?

by Sean Theunissen

Psalm 141 (NIV)

'Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in the company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!

Let a righteous man strike me - it is a kindness; let him rebuke me - it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it.'

This psalm for me characterises a life of worship. Here the psalmist pretty much says to God: "Here's my life. Shape it, break it, use it to bring glory to you. Let my life, my prayers and actions be like incense before you."

What distinguishes this prayer from some that I've prayed is that there is a genuine openess for God to work on his life. I don't know about you but whenever I've been rebuked or corrected, every bit of selfish pride that was lurking below the surface, that I didn't even know was there, suddenly springs to life. It lashes out, it tries to defend itself by recalling past successes, by bringing to mind all the 'good' I've done.

In order to be completely available and useful to God, we must be broken, and not broken after fighting for our pride, but offer up our allegiance willingly to the only true and living God, for His plans and purposes.

This is true worship. Everything else; all the corporate singing; dancing; bowing down; lifting hands; playing music; serving God's people...it all needs to stem from a life that's had it's own pride and honour smashed.    

Unfortunately it's not a one off event, but a regular breaking down of self in order to glorify Him.

God I constantly need you to rid me of the hard clay that seems to form in my life, so inflexible and immovable. God keep me malleable and soft, shape me for your purposes. Help me to live a life that is a pleasing aroma to you.

Psalm 135: Living God or useless idol

by Sean Theunissen

Psalm 135 (NIV)

"The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them, so do those who trust them!" (vs 15-18)

This psalm was used by Israel to renew their faith and gratitude to God. There is an obvious comparison between the Living God and the dead idols of the Gentile nations around Israel.

Our culture is like a factory of idols and yet we're so often oblivious to them being around us. Love, money, success, power, glory, religion, in fact anything we hope in that is not God, and even anything we are more troubled; anxious or apprehensive about, rather than the honour of God.

But rather than focusing our full attention on the idols themselves, the psalmist 'bigs up' God throughout the psalm: 'For He has chosen Jacob for himself', 'For the Lord is great, He does what he pleases in heaven and earth', 'He struck down the firstborn of Egypt', 'His name endures forever'.

Our God chose us before He made us, he breathed all creation in to being, he redeemed us from death and we will reign with him forever. In light of this incredible God, these other idols look pathetic.

We need to constantly look up in order to rid ourselves of the rubbish that we've grown attached to below.

Col 3:1-5

'Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.'

God it is so easy to lose our sight of you in this culture we live in. Help us to let go and hold on to you, to constantly seek after You and in so doing bring honour to You.

Psalm 129: How long do I have to wait?

How long do I have to wait, Lord?

by Sean Theunissen

Psalm 129 (NIV)

"Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me." (vs 1)

We're often impatient as people, we live for the moment, we want an answer straight away, we want something to change in our lives so as to relieve pressure, or worry, or even pain and heartache. We often conclude that when change doesn't come or an answer is not given, that somehow we've failed or worse yet, God has.

My parents lost their business when I was very young, which meant bankruptcy, losing our family home and from then on money has always been difficult to come by. Amazingly, Rachel's upbringing is very similar and it's obviously meant that we've not been able to buy a property and there are many things in life we've had to forfeit having. Now before you think I'm after a sympathy vote, I'm really not!

This psalm makes me realise that though there is a constant battle in getting through the month financially, and wondering what the future holds, the enemy has never prevailed over me in this situation. God has worked on my heart, he has provided every single time and through experience I've learnt, or am still learning not to put my trust in wealth.

Some of my friends have far worse situations they are facing, and the psalm is very explicit in the abuse that Israel was having to take from their enemies. Some of my friends have had years, even decades of ill health and pain, but guess what, the enemy has not prevailed over them, their trust is in God. What a slap in the face to Satan!

Not getting an answer straight away, or seeing a change to a situation straight away is not failure. If your trust is turned to God, then it's prevailing.

Psalm 123: Daddy, daddy, daddy

by Sean Theunissen

Psalm 123 (NIV)

"So our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us." 

If you've got kids you'll know how impatient they can be and how demanding and unrelenting they are. I find this most often when you've said, 'you can have it a bit later'.

First of all hope is born, 'dad has said it's going to happen so it's going to happen'.

Next comes the persistence and relentlessness for me to fulfill the promise, 'dad, you said I can have it, can I have it now?'

A child's attitude is so often what God requires of us. Jesus referred to it in terms of how we are to enter the kingdom of heaven. Kids have a simple, uncomplicated view on life, a faith without doubt, not yet tainted by rejection and unfulfilled promises.

We so easily forget that God has promised many things and yet instead of persisting in asking for the fulfillment of what our perfect, all powerful Father has promised, we somehow lose interest or determine to gain it on our own, or lose hope in it altogether.

Our God calls us to be persistent and bold in our prayers, like little kids who just can't wait any longer and so go to the one who is able to fulfill their requests.

Lord, I know I am not persistent enough in asking you to step in and change a situation. God raise us up to be men and women who will stand in the gap and petition heaven for your cause and will. God come and do what you promised.

Psalm 119:73-96: God's word above circumstance

by Sean Theunissen

Psalm 119:73-96 (NIV)


Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.
Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.
Your laws endure to this day,for all things serve you.
If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.
Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts.
The wicked are waiting to destroy me,but I will ponder your statutes.
To all perfection I see a limit,but your commands are boundless. 

(vs 89-96)

In this section of Psalm 119, we witness what it is to prioritise God's Word above the circumstance. Here the psalmist basically says that if he did not trust in God's promises in scripture, his worrying and stress would have killed him. I'll never forget John Hosier speaking about his experience of trusting God's word when he found out he had cancer. He said that he was tempted to read more about cancer than God's word.

For me this is a real temptation and one I honestly give in to often. I find myself worrying about a task I've got to do or meeting I've got to have, or money that doesn't seem to be there for the month ahead. But the stressing doesn't better the situation one bit. Whereas when I have done the right thing and choose to open the Bible in times of stress it is amazing how on every occasion God provides perspective and supernatural peace. You would think that from experience I would take the logical approach and continue each time to go for the option that has had the 100% success rate!

God, help me to choose your word above my own efforts. How amazing that You would give us your word to show us how to live and show us your redemption plan so that we may believe and know eternal life forever. Your Word became flesh and dwelt among us, He fulfilled your law so that His righteousness would stand in the way of our wickedness. God is there any end to your love? No, it is utterly limitless. What a glorious God you are! 

Psalm 116: In view of your mercy I will...

By Sean Theunissen

Psalm 116 (NIV)

'What can I give back to God for the blessings he's poured out on me?

I'll lift high the cup of salvation - a toast to God!

I'll pray in the name of God; I'll complete what I promised God I'd do

and I'll do it together with his people' 

vs 12-14 (The Message)

How fitting for this psalm to come up ahead of our 3rd Citygate Worship Gathering this Sunday evening. 

The songwriter here tells of how God rescued him from impending death. A hands-on experience of what it is to know your life snatch from the grips of death. Yet we often forget that it is no different for us who were all doomed for an eternity outside of God's presence. Death being just a taste of the hell to follow.

'For you have delivered my soul from death,

my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; 

I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.' 

v 8-9

His mercy towards us is staggering. In view of it what can be done, what can I give back? I will join with his people and toast to this incredible salvation vs 13. I will choose to call on his name in good times and bad vs 13 and I will let my life be a living sacrifice of praise vs 14.

Ahead of this Sunday evening I want to urge you that we don't gather together for a sing along, we don't gather together because we enjoy music or because we know our friends will be there. We gather because we're thankful for being caught up on the side of the Almighty Creator and because of that we choose to align our lives with His cause and His will. 

God I pray that you'd smash to pieces our small minded ideas of what You are capable of doing as we gather to lift high the name of Jesus. Be our attention, our focus, our hunger, be honoured, be lifted high and move in power I pray. 

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 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 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 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 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.

Psalm 74: Would you drag God's name out of the mud?

By Sean Theunissen


Psalm 74 (NIV) 


Mark and remember, God, all the enemy taunts, each idiot desecration. Don't throw your lambs to the wolves, after all we've been through, don't forget us.

Remember your promises, the city is in darkness, the countryside violent. Don't leave the victims to rot in the street, make them a choir that sings your praises. 

(vs 18-21, The Message)


This psalm is a lament after the temple has been smashed to pieces while God's people were worshipping Him in it. God's people were confused, offended that anyone would stand up to the God of all creation and desecrate His dwelling place, but even more offensive than that is that God doesn't seemed to be moved by it.

I don't know why God allows His name to be dragged through the mud and it seems so often in our generation. In the West it's not so much an attack on a church building, burning it to the ground, but it's more subtle, it's ridicule in the media, it's celebrities, humanists doing and speaking despicable things and the only come back is everyone laughing with them.

This psalm challenges me about my reaction to events and situations that belittle God. I often get angry at the TV and give some stupid outburst with the audience being my wife. Whereas Asaph goes to God and asked Him what's going on. He recalls God's past wonders, the deliverance from Egypt, sustaining His people through the wilderness and just the grandeur and power of God in creation.

God wants us to act, He wants us burning with a passion for His renown, His fame, His name to be lifted to the highest place and our first step is prayer, petition, questioning God, asking Him why. Instead of just shouting at a newspaper, or even shouting at the perpetrator, it's asking God what are you going to do Lord, and then Lord what do you want me to do, what's going to glorify You.

Lord, I can be so lazy, so passive, even when your name is dragged through the mud. Father I need your Holy Spirit to make me burn with a sustainable passion. I want to glorify you, I'm in it for the long run.

Psalm 68: Summon your power!

By Sean Theunissen

Psalm 68 (NIV)

Summon your power, God; show us your strength, our God, as you have done before...Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens, who thunders with mighty voice. Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the heavens. You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God! v 28, 32-35


There is nothing that stirs my faith more than remembering times in my life where God has stepped in when I've desperately needed Him, or when I get a small glimpse of God's plan and how pieces just seem to fit in place, or just thinking of all the incredible things he's given me over the years. It always gives me hope for the next big thing, the next climb, the next challenge God has given to us corporately as a church or personally.


In this psalm David reminisces and retells of God's incredible saving hand throughout Israel's history and finishes with the quote above. I can just imagine the passion with which he is singing this, or probably shouting this!


This psalm has challenged me to reminisce. I so often pray for God to change a situation and then when he does I find myself just moving on with life. These times are huge testimonies for us to bookmark and go back and remember especially during tough times, so that our view of God remains huge and our passion doesn't die.


Father thank you for being so heavily involved in every aspect of my life. Lord help me to never forget but rather to remember and to use these testimonies to fuel my prayer and praise.

Psalm 56: Why we suffer trials?

By Sean Theunissen

Psalm 56 (ESV)


"You've kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights,
 Each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book." v 8 (The Message) 


Here we see how God fathers us to maturity. David is once again in despair being beaten up almost everyday, feeling despondent and yet you can see God working behind the scenes making all things work to together for His good. But the image isn't of a God standing with arms folded from a distance thinking, 'That will do you good.' Rather He's close by, He remembers every tear, every anxious moment, every sleepless night.

Gradually through the psalm we see how these situations have made David turn to God, rather than away from him. Our trust in times like this has to go to that which doesn't fail, that is stronger, more reliable, more trustworthy.


"I'm proud to praise God; fearless now, I trust in God.
What can mere mortals do?" vs 10-11


David then finishes with thanksgiving.

"I will render thank offerings to you. For you have delivered my soul from death,
yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life." vs 13 (ESV)


From a worldly point of view this response is illogical, saying thank you to the God who has allowed us to bear trial after trial, pain and suffering and yet rather than walk away from God, we actually grow closer in love and thanksgiving towards Him.

What the world doesn't know is what we're actually made for. We're made to bring glory to Him, every breath, every word, every response to hurting words, every thought, every reaction to pain, sickness, suffering. Everything is in order to glorify Him. But He's not standing aloof throwing trials and pain at us to test whether we pass. Sometimes He does test us as in the case of Job, but actually He really just wants us to be satisfied in one thing, Himself. That is where He is truly glorified, when we are most satisfied in Him.


Lord, thank you for caring so much that you're willing to develop in me a trust for You, the only one who can truly satisfy,'what can mere mortals do?'. Help me to learn from the situations you allow me to face. God help those who are really going through it at the moment, let them really feel you close.

Psalm 50: Need more meat!

By Sean Theunissen

Psalm 50 (NIV)


"The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to the one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God." v 23

Israel had a privileged position, they were the first installment of renewed mankind, but with great privilege comes great responsibility. God was starting to detest Israel's so called sacrifices.

It wasn't that God hated all animal sacrifices, it's just that that He could see straight in to the heart of each 'worshipper'.

Israel's sacrifices were being used to try and bribe God as if God was somehow hungry and needed more meat before He got up and did what they wanted. This may be how my body works but not God. God had to remind them that, "Every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills...if I were hungry I would not tell you”.

He wants a sacrifice of thanksgiving; it was the only type of sacrifice in which the worshipper would eat some of the animal. The function was to eat a meal with your family and the needy with God as the host, a prelude to the Lord's Supper. It's about being welcomed in to His presence, fully dependent on Him and dealing justly with others. This type of worship engages the heart.

God doesn't want lip service. Worship, which glorifies God, is that which says, “I love you Lord with all my heart, soul and mind, and I choose to love and deal kindly with those around me.”

He wants our time, our money, our relationships to orbit around Him, a sacrifice which says, “Thank you for all this stuff you give me, it’s all yours Lord, I hold tight to You alone.” What our lips say or sing are important and relevant but only in light of our heart position.

If we want things to stop becoming our trust then we need to start giving these things to Him. I find the times when I'm most fully engaged in worship is when I've had to sacrifice something or make a decision that lifts Him high and bows my heart low.

Let's bring more fragrant offerings.

Father, show me the areas of my life I'm not letting you in to and then help me to offer these things to you. Let my lips say what my life and heart are already reflecting.

Psalm 44: Are you sleeping?

By Sean Theunissen


Psalm 44 (NIV) 

23 Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.
24 Why do you hide your face
and forget our misery and oppression?

If someone had prayed with the similar tone and content as the second half of psalm 44 in a prayer meeting, it would have been unsettling. The first half, great, the second AWKWARD!

To say to God: 'Get up, God! Are you going to sleep all day?' to me seems irreverent when you consider who you're speaking to - God of heaven and earth who can crush whole kingdoms like a tortilla chip. If however the God of the entire universe calls you His children and calls Himself a perfect Father, then it changes things a whole lot. The tone and content are still quite bold but it's a prayer backed with promises and it reflects a very open and honest relationship.

The writer here is at a loss to understand why God has seemingly stopped going before Israel in battle. The Israelites have started to 'retreat before the enemy...and have been scattered among the nations'.

There are so many people that I know who have gone through massive hardship, some of them even recently. These aren't people who have turned their back on God, or have allowed sin to take root, and yet they have found themselves in situations, which are difficult to understand.

I have not had to endure hardship like some of my friends but I do know that those who have come through are stronger and more mature in their faith than before. God isn't a slot machine and He also doesn't sleep. He is a perfect Father who wants to see His children fruitful and pruning is a big part of the process.

Interestingly the first half of the psalm is one of thanksgiving and speaks of a mature relationship with God. "I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory, but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame." (Vs 6&7) It's so often in the storm that we realise what is important and who is really trustworthy.

We are allowed to be honest with God, this isn't petulance, it’s an open relationship between a child and his dad. When my children stand at my bedside asking me when I'm going to get up, I don't say, "Treat me with respect," I say, "It's not time yet!"

Lord, help me to see you for who you are, sovereign and powerful, but also perfect Father. Lord, help me to seek you in every trial, to ask you why, rather than turn my back on you and walk away. Lord, I know it's better to be broken by You than from You. Thank you that I'm your child and you work all things together for my good.

Psalm 38: It's My Brain's Fault

By Sean Theunissen

Psalm 38 (NIV)

'My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.' Ps 38:4

This lament is quite brutal in its description and incredibly honest. It seems that it was used to be sung during the memorial offering where people would come to consecrate themselves before God.

Throughout these psalms one thing that has stood out above the rest is David's sensitivity of spirit. I mean that in a good way, not that he took things the wrong way or couldn't handle constructive criticism, but rather that he hated sin and was so aware of it in his life. He was aware of how it spread and how it had the capability of numbing the soul to its deadliness. He was unable to tolerate it.

Here is an incredible example of it.

'My wounds fester and are loathsome
because of my sinful folly.
I am bowed down and brought very low;
all day long I go about mourning.'

Being honest I often find that when I'm guilty before God, my gut reaction is to scrape around for some excuse, or find something else or someone else to take at least some of the blame.

My son Tom is a good example of this. One day when Rachel picked him up from school his teacher told her that Tom had bitten someone that day. Now don't worry it wasn't vampire style angry biting, it was more puppy dog messing around biting. Nevertheless he shouldn't have done it.

Amazingly when we sat him down to talk to him about it to try and understand what the reason was for doing it, he blamed his brain. Apparently he didn't want to do it but as his brain told him to do it!

David is such a mentor in loving his Father in heaven and prizing that relationship above all things including pride that often stops us from even confessing the sin that He's already seen.

Lord, I pray you'd help me to be more open with You, not to put sin to one side as if it doesn't really matter. Lord I want to hate all sin the way you do. Thank you for the blood of Jesus that takes it so far away from me and allows me to start all over again.

Psalm 32: He holds nothing against you

By Sean Theunissen

Psalm 32 (MSG)


'God holds nothing against you and you're holding nothing back from Him. When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder, my words became day-long groans. The pressure never let up; all the juices of my life dried up. Then I let it all out; I said, "I'll make a clean breast of my failures to God." Suddenly the pressure was gone, my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared.' The Message


I broke a lot of windows when I was a kid. I used to play tennis in the back garden and there is a moment after you've hit the ball that you realise it's not going to hit the wall, but it is going to hit the window. Desperately you shout at the ball to stop but not once did it listen!

You know you're going to be found out soon but for some reason you just can't bring yourself to say anything. Your dad's in a good mood, but you know that it's all going to change in a while once you've been found out.

Our heavenly Dad is different. Not only does He know everything we've ever done wrong and will do wrong - and believe me, breaking a window is a drop in the ocean of mistakes I've made - but He loves us all the same.

There's that wonderful moment when all is out in the open and the punishment and telling off is over, forgiveness is granted and the slate is wiped clean that you feel like a ton of bricks have been lifted off of you.

David reminds me of those moments where I've just not wanted to come before God with my sin, thinking that maybe if I just give it a few days He won't be so disappointed with me. We forget that He sees everything, and through perfectly pure eyes, but He also sees Jesus blood completely covering us and declares us righteous.

When we keep it all inside, our conscience is weakened. When we fail to repent and keep a short account with God, we're actually in our hearts deciding that the blood Jesus shed was not enough to cover this sin, that somehow His sacrifice was not enough for this one and that we can deal with it ourselves. We'll dry up and decay as David puts it. Let's make sure that it's our sin that dissolves rather than our hearts.

Father, thank you for your Son Jesus through whom I am found righteous, through whom the price for my sin is paid. Thank you for looking at me with your x-ray eyes and still loving me. Lord, help me to keep a short account with you. I don't want my heart to decay and my conscience to be numb but rather I want my life to be consumed for nothing but you.

Psalm 26: How do I look?

By Sean Theunissen

Psalm 26 (NIV)

'Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.'

You've got to have guts to ask God to examine you from head to toe and let you know if there's any sin lurking inside!

When you first read this psalm you get a bit of a shock at how seemingly confident David is about his own righteousness. It's not until you read the psalm preceding this one that you realise he's very aware of sin in his life and his need for God's mercy. Psalm 26 is written on the back of David being accused of murdering someone who wanted his throne. With regard to this situation, David's conscience was clear, so much so that he was willing to ask God to look at him and clear his name.

It's important to distinguish between a clear conscience and a proud spirit. One God loves and one God hates. A clear conscience recognises our standing before God in the light of the cross. It's also a place we get to when we've repented of our sin having come before His throne of grace with a broken heart pleading forgiveness. A clear conscience also teaches us to fear God alone, not man. No matter what accusations are thrown at us, if our conscience is clear before our fearsome God, we have nothing to fear.

I'm challenged by David's spiritual sensitivity and I'm not talking about super-spirituality, I mean his heart position in God's assembly. I know I have come in to a time of worship without even a thought about my heart and stuff that's not been dealt with. What was the worship I offered up to God during those times, I dread to think.

Verse 6 sums it up:

I scrub my hands with purest soap, then join hands with the others in the great circle, dancing around your altar, God,
Singing God-songs at the top of my lungs, telling God-stories.
(The Message)

Lord remind me to come to your throne with a clear conscience, not confident in my own righteousness, but in Yours, fully repentant and trusting in your forgiveness having scrubbed my hands with the work of Christ ready to belt out your praise.