Azy – read psalms 139 to the kids! 🙂
Dear Azy, Ari, and Rumi,
Today, we’re going to talk about the book of psalms. This was written mostly by king David and those who were responsible for the music at the temple as well as a few by king Solomon. There are over 150 psalms, this great collection of songs and prayers expresses the heart and soul of humanity. In them, we find the whole range of human experiences expressed. From despair, loneliness, desperation, sadness, anger, frustration, to joy, love, peace, praise, and victory. David and his psalmists give us a collection of songs that transcended time and touched our souls where we can relate to them from times of trouble to celebrations of joy.
I’m going to give you some of the verses from my favorite psalms so you can get an idea. But one thing I want you to see is these are not cliche prayers. David had gut wrenching, soul pouring talks with God. Sometimes he would blatantly call to God to hear his plea and don’t ignore him. I want you to know by doing that you’re not disrespecting God. God wants us to come to him when we’re suffering and need him. And one thing that both the psalmists and Daddy have learned he can more than handle it. Remember to leave everything on the altar and end it with a praise and thank him for being there for you.
God may not always answer your prayers. Sometimes, it’s because he has something better planned for you. Other times, It’s because you’re not ready and he’s molding you into something to be prepared for what you’re praying for. But one thing you can count on is he will ALWAYS be there with you in everything you do. He experiences every joy, pain, tear, laughter, tragedy, and celebration. And when you talk to him from your heart, truly telling him how you feel , he is smiling. Because there’s nothing God wants more that you sharing your heart and life with him fully. That’s why he made you. 🙂
And both God and daddy love you so much!!!
Now here are some of the excerpts from daddy’s favorite psalms:
- We will not hide the truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and mighty wonders. (78:4)
- So each generation should set its hope on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. (78:7)
- I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever! Young and old will heal of your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens. (89:1)
- If they do not obey my decrees and fail to keep my commands, they I will punish their sin with the rod, and their disobedience with a beating. But I will never stop loving them nor fail my promise to him. No, I will not break my covenant. I will not take back a single word I said. (89:34)
- He always stands by his covenant, the commitment he made to a thousand generations.(105:8)
- The heaven proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their word to all over the world. (19:1)
- Reverence for the Lord is pure lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true, each one if fair. They are more desirable than Gold. They are sweeter than honey. (19:9)
- How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from their hidden faults. Keep your servants from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. (19:12)
- May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (19:14)
- My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief. (22:1)
- My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat. They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing. (22:16) (also referring to Jesus)
- O Lord, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid! (22:19)
- For has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but he has listened to their cries for help. (22:24)
- The Lord is my Shepard; I have all I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk, through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and staff protect me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will love in the house of the Lord forever. (23:1)
- Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted the Lord without wavering. Put me on trial, Lord, and cross examine me. Test my motives and my heart. (26:1)
- The Lord is my light and my salvation – so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? (27:1)
- Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close. (27:10)
- For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. (30:5)
- I find protection in you alone. I entrust my spirit into your hand. Rescue me, O Lord, for you are faithful Lord. (31:4)
- I am dying from grief, my years shortened by sadness. Sin has drained my strength; I am wasting from within. (31:10)
- But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying you are my God. My future is in your hands. (31:14)
- The Lord looks down from heaven, and sees the whole human race…he made their hearts so he understands everything they do. (33:13)
- In my desperation, I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. (34:6)
- The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. (34:18)
- Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. (37:7)
- Once I was going, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the Godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. (38:25)
- He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the mud and mire. (40:2)
- I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written in my heart. (40:8)
- Why am I so discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my savior and my God. (43:5)
- Wake up, O God! Why do you sleep? Get up! Don’t reject us forever. Why do you look the other way?…Rise up! Help us! Ransom us because of your unfailing love. (44:23)
- Have mercy on me, O God…Blot out the stains of my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; It haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned. (51:1)
- Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your holy spirit from me. (51:11)
- You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. (56:8)
- My enemies have set a trap for me…They have dug deep pit in my path, but they themselves have fallen for it. (57:6)
- Save me, O God, for the floodwaters are up to my neck. Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can’t find a foothold. (69:1)
- So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is…Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understand the destiny of the wicked…In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. (73:16)
- My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart. (74:26)
- Now I will take the load from your shoulders; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks. You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you. (81:6)
- You had fed us with sorrow and made us drink tears by the bucketful. (80:5)
- Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so I may honor you. (86:11)
- If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you. (91:10)
- The Lord isn’t looking and doesn’t care, they said. Think again, you fools! When will you finally catch on? Is he deaf – the one who made your ears? Is he blind – the one who formed your eyes? He punishes the nations – won’t he also punish you? He knows everything – doesn’t he also know what you are doing? The Lord knows people’s thoughts, he knows they are worth less. (94:7)
- But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! (104:17)
- You made the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind. (104:3)
- I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations even as I am praying for them. (109:4)
- It is better to take refuge in the Lord, then to trust in people. (118:8)
- Though hostile nations surrounded me and swarmed around me like bees…I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord. (118:10)
- As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by being as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me! (119:8)
- Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths of your instructions. (119:18)
- You made me; You created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands. May all who fear you find me cause for joy. (119:73)
- Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and light from my path. (119:105)
- I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word. (119:81)
- Rivers of tears gush from my eyes because people disobey your instructions. (119:135)
- I am tired of living among people who hate peace. I search for peace, but when I speak of peace, they want war! (120:6)
- We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free! Our help is from the Lord! (124:7)
- They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return from the harvest. (126:6)
- From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me, but they have never defeated me because the Lord is good. (129:1)
- Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. (130:4)
- I will not go home; I will not myself rest until I find a place to build a house for the Lord. (132:3)
- O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You know what I’m going to say even before I say it, Lord…You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great to understand. (139:1)
- I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there! If I ride the winds, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me…Even in the darkness I cannot hide from you, to you the night shines as bright as day, darkness and light are the same to you. (139:7)
- You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it. (139:4)
- You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day has passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; They outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you’re still with me (139:16)
- Point out anything on me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (139:24)
- Take control of what I say, and guard my lips. (141:3)
- Let the Godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it. (141:5)
- I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. (142:2)
- Bring me out of prison so I can thank you. The Godly will crowd around me, for you are good to me. (142:7)
- I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. (143:6)
- Praise God for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord. (150:1)
Hope you enjoyed these. Go back and read the full chapters of the verses I put here to do deeper into the word. And remember, like these verses, you can say anything to God. The key is speak with your heart with him and do life with him. He will be the very best friend you will ever have. :))))
Daddy loves you so much!!!
Love,
Daddy
6/8/25
