When MH370 disappeared some experts believed it crashed into the Indian Ocean off the coast of Western Australia. The ocean out there is said to be 20,000 ft deep in places. The 777 flies at over 30,000ft above sea level and now could be almost the same distance under the sea. For the sake of the families of those who are missing I pray and hope they find this plane.

While these distances blow my mind, this Psalm reminds me this is nothing for my God.

He holds in his hands the depths of the earth. V4

20,000ft below sea level is nothing for Him! It fits in the palm of His nail-scarred hands.

May my praise ever rise to you Jesus my Lord and Saviour. For you are great and mighty beyond words. That you would hold the oceans in your hands yet die for me blows me away. I am undone in worship and praise.

Amen

 

Written by Boudy Van Noppen

I read this and think: the world need to know this. My family, friends and the people I come into contact with need to know this. God is not dead, insipid, irrelevant, obsolete or a figment of the imagination… He is in control, strong, everlasting, majestic, reliable and holy. He alone is worthy of being number one in our lives.

God, help me push into your greatness, expect more of you and give you plenty of room in which to be great. In my day to day life please open up opportunities for me to share with others how great you are. Help me to communicate you in a way people can understand. May people encounter your greatness through me and see your greatness firsthand in their lives. Amen.

 

Written by Beth Waugh

This is one of my favourite Psalms of all time. I took on the challenge to memorise this entire Psalm when I was 18 years old and it has been a source of comfort and strength ever since.

When times have been tough I have remembered the verses of Psalm 91 reminding me that God is my refuge and strength and that whatever comes against me ultimately cannot harm me if I place my trust in Him.

For me, this is a timely reminder – not only in the power of this particular Psalm, but also of the value, in general, of memorising scripture. I have had over 30 years of encouragement and enjoyment from an investment of a relatively small amount of time to memorise this Psalm all those years ago.

So I am challenging myself to get back into memorising scripture in a more focused way. Can I encourage you to do the same?

Written by Shelley Witt

The psalm begins typically with praise for God because of His love, faithfulness and mighty power which exceeds everything in heaven and earth. Justice and righteousness are the foundations of His nature and out of this He made a covenant with King David. The covenant was Gods promise to always be on David’s side, to honour and perpetuate his throne down the generations.  The psalmist reminds God that as part of the covenant He said that although He may punish the succeeding kings if they are disobedient, He will never withdraw His love, betray His faithfulness, nor violate or change His covenant. Then the tone changes; the psalmist accuses God of doing the very things He said He would not do. Of rejecting them, abandoning them in battle, shaming and defiling the crown of His king. It appeared to the psalmist that God had renounced His covenant.
On one hand he praises the unchanging nature of God and on the other hand he complains that God has caused all His troubles in some vindictive way.  There is frustration and despair here, but not a lot of logic. He feels sorry for himself and the status and wealth he has lost. But… It is still God to whom he directs his lament and he still ends the tirade with ‘praise be to God forever’.
What silly people we are when we start accusing God of doing things in our lives which are not in His unchanging nature to do. God does not go back on his own promises, he will not withdraw his love from us even when we do the wrong thing, and He will always be on our side.  He is faithful, powerful, just, wise and totally reliable.
Please help me God to see my circumstances in perspective and not to see my misfortunes as evidence that you are against me. I want to hold onto the solid rock of your love and faithfulness to me no matter what happens.

Written by Dimity Milne

Zion is the holy city of God. It was the foundation set by God and represents God’s glory. God loves Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

Egypt, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre and Cush represent the cities of the world. They are the enemies of God/God’s people.

One day, Zion will be a community centre of all believers, including people from other cities of world. God will write in the register of the people: This one was born in Zion.

No wonder the Psalm writer said: Better to live one day in your house than a thousand elsewhere. And King David also said: I will live in the Lord’s house for the rest of my life.

The challenge of this passage to me is:

1. In my heart, where do I live? Zion or other places?
2. Am I fully aware that my name is registered in God’s census book?
3. Do I have all my fountains in Jesus?

Dear Lord, thank you for writing my name in your census book. Thank you for always being my shelter and my rock. You are holy and seated among the praises of Israel. Help me to always check that my heart is living in Zion the holy city of God. Amen.

Written by Allen Leu