Faith over fear

Psalm 8 is a hymn of praise that exalts God’s majesty and the special role of humanity in His creation. David marvels at the vastness of the heavens, recognizing God’s power and glory. Yet, despite humanity’s smallness compared to the universe, God has crowned people with glory and honor, giving them dominion over creation. The psalm emphasizes both God’s greatness and the incredible worth and res...

Psalm 7 – A Cry for Justice David pleads for God’s protection from false accusations, declaring his innocence and asking for righteous judgment. He trusts that God sees all, defends the upright, and punishes the wicked—who ultimately fall into their own traps. The psalm ends in praise, affirming that justice belongs to God and that the righteous will be vindicated. A powerful reminder that no evil...

Psalm 6 is a penitential psalm where David pours out his distress, pleading for God’s mercy. He feels overwhelmed—physically weak, spiritually anguished, and emotionally drained. • Verses 1-3: David begs God not to discipline him in anger, crying, “How long, Lord?” • Verses 4-7: He describes deep sorrow, weeping through the night and feeling abandoned. • Verses 8-10: Suddenly, his tone shifts—“The...

Psalm 5 is a morning prayer of David, seeking God’s guidance, protection, and justice. He begins by earnestly calling on the Lord, expressing his trust that God hears the prayers of the righteous. David contrasts the wicked, who oppose God, with those who take refuge in Him. He asks God to lead him in righteousness and to defend him against his enemies. The psalm ends with a declaration of God’s b...

Psalm 4 is a heartfelt prayer of David, expressing trust in God during times of distress. It highlights the contrast between those who seek fulfillment in worldly things and those who find true peace in God. David calls out to God for help, urges others to turn from sin and trust in the Lord, and ultimately rests in the assurance that God alone provides safety and peace. This psalm teaches that tr...

Psalm 3 is a prayer of trust and deliverance written by David while fleeing from his son Absalom’s rebellion. He begins by acknowledging the overwhelming number of enemies rising against him (verses 1-2). Despite this, David declares that God is his shield, his protector, and the one who lifts his head (verse 3). He confidently cries out to God, receives an answer, and finds peace—even able to sle...

Psalm 2 is a powerful declaration of God’s sovereignty over rebellious nations and rulers. It describes how the world resists God’s authority, rejecting His rule and the reign of His Anointed One (ultimately, Jesus Christ). However, God is not threatened—He laughs at their defiance and establishes His King on His holy throne. The psalm ends with a warning: those who oppose God will face judgment,...

The two paths of life - a sermon on Psalm 1

If you have built your life on a church, it is the wrong foundation. If you have built your spiritual life on a person, that is a faulty foundation as well. Build your life on Christ Himself.

During those dark nights of the soul when our friends have abandoned us and our family has let us down, when we are lonely, when it seems as though the whole world is closing in on us—that is the time to pray.

Some of us have known the Lord for years, but we’re still like babies spiritually. We still need to be spoon-fed. We’re still looking for something new. It’s time to be mature and have a faith that sustains us instead of living on fickle emotions that come and go.

Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for us so that we could be forgiven of our sins. We put our complete trust in Him because it is only through His blood that we can approach God.

We can come to God right now, but not because of our worthiness or because of the good deeds we’ve done. We come to Him because of a relationship with Him—and that relationship was purchased through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

It’s important to realize that salvation does not come from anything that we’ve done. So, let’s not boast about what we’ve done or what we gave up to follow Jesus. Granted, we may have given up some things, but they’re nothing compared to what God gave us in their place.

Stay in a place where God can show His love to you. Keep yourself from all that is unlike Him, from all that would violate God’s love and grieve Him. Stay away from the things that would tear you down. Instead, stay close to the Lord and around people who will build you up spiritually.

We can go through life saying, “I need this” and “What about my needs?” Or, we can say, “God has blessed me. He has provided for me. I had a meal this morning. I have clothes on my back and a roof over my head. What can I do for someone else?”

Our finances are often the last area that we’re willing to turn over to God. We want to retain complete control. In fact, we are uncomfortable when someone brings up the topic. It may be that our discomfort is an indication that this area is not in its proper order in our lives as Christians. The Bible does address it quite frequently. Not only does Paul address it in this passage, but it’s worth...

In the race of life, the objective is not to run fast; it’s to run long. The objective is to cross the finish line. The apostle Paul wrote, “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:14 NLT).

Maybe as you look at your spiritual life today, you realize that you’re not doing well. You realize that you’re easing up and slowing down. Or maybe you’ve even walked off the track, so to speak. Now is the time to get back into the race and give it your all so that one day, you won’t wake up and realize that you’ve wasted the resources and potential God has given you.

Caleb followed God fully and completely. And if we can learn to follow the Lord wholeheartedly like Caleb did, then the results can be the same for us. Because Caleb’s God is our God.

Every Christian will be tempted. And if you’re being tempted, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it could indicate that you’re on the right track spiritually and that Satan is trying to take you down. The problem isn’t being tempted. The problem is giving in to it.

The Bible says, “When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong” (Ecclesiastes 8:11 NLT). When we sin, we might not get caught right away, but we must not assume we will get away with it forever. We may not even experience the full ramifications of our actions until we stand before God. But sooner or later, it will catch up with us. There are no exceptions.

What will you do with the life that God has given you? You have a choice. Will you conform to the will of God, or will you resist it?

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name” (Psalm 23:1–3 NLT)

Our culture today is enamored with beauty. We elevate attractive people in our culture and give them a lot of attention. If God has given you natural good looks, that is a wonderful thing. Just be sure that you don’t neglect what’s on the inside.