Daily Encouragements
He Is God! – Psalm 140:6–8 October 15th
Why should you acknowledge God?
Hospital visitation can become very discouraging. Almost every patient wants the chaplain to fix everything. Of course, only God can do this. It may be amazing, but some people in the hospital are angry at God. One young man said, “Why does God never do anything good for me? He only [...]
Preservation – Psalm 140:4, 5 October 14th
How do you know God will preserve you?
Be honest! Do you ever have doubts that God will protect you from Satan’s snares? Why do you have such doubts?
Have there been specific times in your life when you know God spared you from death or preserved you from temptations that you could not resist by your [...]
Don’t Give Up – Psalm 140:1–3 October 13th
How do you feel when surrounded by evil?
Evil influences are everywhere you turn. God’s truths are mocked and rejected. Many of God’s people are discouraged and ready to give up in defeat. This could be called the “Elijah syndrome.” Elijah at one time in his life thought he was the only person alive who was [...]
Being Honest – Psalm 139:23, 24 October 12th
How honest are you with God and yourself?
It is not easy to be totally honest all of the time. It may be most difficult to be honest with yourself. You may be tempted to rationalize and justify some of the thoughts and actions in your life. After all, everyone else may be doing it.
You must [...]
Hatred – Psalm 139:19–22 October 11th
Do you ever hate other people? Why?
A mother taught her little boy that he was never to hate anyone. In fact, he was not even allowed to use the word—no matter what others might do to him. His mother always said, “God loves everyone, and He wants us to also love them also.” This may [...]
Precious Thoughts – Psalm 139:17, 18 October 10th
What does God think about you? How often?
A husband went out of town on a business trip. His wife had packed his suitcase for him. The next morning as he was dressing a note fell out of his clean clothes. On the note his wife had written, “I am thinking about you.” When he put [...]
Omnipotence – Psalm 139:13–16 October 9th
What is the greatest part of God’s creation?
Only God is all-powerful. Everything about the creation of the universe reveals that God is all-powerful. However, His final act of creation most wonderfully reveals His unbelievable power. After God had spoken the universe into existence, He then created man—the most amazing part of all of the Creation.
Every [...]
Omnipresence – Psalm 139:7–12 October 8th
Why would you ever want to hide from God?
The Bible says, “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). Even small children instinctively try to hide when they are doing something they know their parents will not accept.
Evil [...]
Omniscience – Psalm 139:1–6 October 7th
How does God’s omniscience make you feel?
When you were young, your mother or father may have taught you about the “all-seeing” eye of God. Did you ever go around looking in the sky to see if you could discover a huge eye that was watching you? That may not be the best way of teaching [...]
Revival – Psalm 138:7, 8 October 6th
What do you do if surrounded by trouble?
There are many kinds of trouble in the world, and at times you may feel like you are surrounded by it. The Psalmist wrote about this kind of feeling, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble” (v. 7). Imagine yourself going down into a coal mine while [...]
Lowly – Psalm 138:4–6 October 5th
What makes you feel lowly? Why?
It is easy to fall into a pit of discouragement when you are surrounded by “successful” people. You may begin to wonder what you have done wrong, or you may even begin to wonder why God never enables you to prosper in what you attempt to do.
Imagine being at a [...]
Our Source of Boldness – Psalm 138:1–3 October 4th
What do you do when God answers?
Yesterday’s thoughts were not very encouraging. This one is totally different. No one knows whether this psalm was written by the same person, neither is it known if it was a response to the previous one. However, the thoughts certainly go together. In the previous psalm, the Psalmist cried [...]
Remember! – Psalm 137:7–9 October 3rd
What do you need to remember?
The Psalmist who wrote the following words must have been enduring great misery along with the other Israelites who were being held captive. He wrote a cry to God, “Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom . . . O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed” (vv. 7, 8). He was asking [...]
Forgetting vs. Remembering – Psalm 137:4–6 October 2nd
Have you forgotten the Lord’s goodness? Why?
There are many oxymorons in life, such as: depressed believers, discouraged followers of Christ, or unhappy Christians. These all are contradictory. However, there are such people all around. Are you one of these? Why?
Can it be because you have forgotten the Lord’s goodness? He never promised that believers would [...]
Captives – Psalm 137:1–3 October 1st
What do you do if you don’t feel like singing?
People in many parts of the world have experienced slavery or captivity. When a person is born into captivity, he does not know what it would be like to be free. The nation of Israel experienced such physical captivity in Egypt.
This psalm was written about a [...]
Lovingkindness – Psalm 136:23–26 September 30th
How has God shown you lovingkindness?
The word that is translated as “mercy” can also be translated as “lovingkindness.” Either translation is good, but the word “mercy” may seem to indicate a one-time response. “Lovingkindness” seems to have a continual meaning. God continues to show lovingkindness to those He loves.
First, this passage says that He “remembered [...]
Bittersweet? – Psalm 136:10–22 September 29th
If God is so merciful, why does it hurt?
There are times when a doctor has to perform surgery in order to remove the cause of sickness. If it is major surgery, the time of recovery may be very painful, but it is necessary.
There are times in life when you may be tempted to think God [...]
Why? Forever Mercy – Psalm 136:4–9 September 28th
Why does God allow/cause things to happen?
God is in complete control of the universe, and He never does things or allows them to happen without a purpose. As far as people are concerned, everything that happens seems to relate to God’s purpose of establishing a relationship with people that He has created.
God desires an intimate [...]
Give Thanks – Psalm 136:1–3 September 27th
How do you express thanks?
A man and his wife were building a house, and they were committed to staying “debt free.” However, building costs were adding up. The wife wanted some nice kitchen cabinets, but their money was about gone, and the husband thought they would have to install the cheapest kind. Just at that [...]
High and Lifted Up – Psalm 135:19–21 September 26th
What hinders you from blessing the Lord?
Five times in this passage the Psalmist wrote, “Bless the LORD!” Especially notice that in verse 20 he wrote, “ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.” If you reverence the Lord, then nothing should hinder you from blessing Him.
There were some things that hindered Isaiah from reverencing the [...]
Idols – Psalm 135:15–18 September 25th
Whom or what are you idolizing? Why?
Before you answer the above question, stop and think about what an idol really is. In some countries you cannot go anywhere without seeing idols such as those described in this passage. “The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands” (v. 15). You [...]
God Is Great! – Psalm 135:5–14 September 24th
What does God’s greatness mean to you?
The fact is—God is great! This may be good news, or it may be bad news. It all depends upon your perspective. Actually it depends upon your relationship with the Lord.
“For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatsoever the LORD [...]
Praise – Psalm 135:1–4 September 23rd
How often do you praise those you love?
A nine-year-old boy was asked, “How do you feel when someone praises you?” He replied, “Good.” When he was asked, “How do you think God feels when He is praised?” his reply was, “Real good!” It is very possible that his answer was correct. The Psalmist wrote, “Praise [...]
Bless and Be Blessed – Psalm 134 September 22nd
How can you bless the Lord?
Most of the time God’s people continually ask Him to bless them. However, have you ever considered blessing Him, instead of asking for a blessing for yourself? It may be difficult to know how to bless Him; however, the Psalmist wrote, “bless the LORD” (v. 1). Ask yourself if you [...]
Unity – Psalm 133 September 21st
How do you describe a precious possession?
The English language goes through times when certain words are overused. For example, some time ago “awesome” was used as a superlative to describe things that were . . . well, they were “awesome.” Some things are precious, and it is just very difficult to describe your feelings about [...]
God’s Choice – Psalm 132:13–18 September 20th
How does God communicate with people?
It requires special skill to teach small children. Some people have difficulty presenting a lesson on a level that young ones can understand. Imagine how difficult it must be for God to communicate His truths to people whose thinking is greatly influenced by sin.
Also, human beings are creatures of time [...]
Promises – Psalm 132:10–12 September 19th
Why are you sure God will keep His promise?
God will not lie. In fact, He cannot lie. Whatever He has promised will surely happen. It does not matter whether people believe Him or not; God will keep His promises. If you can’t trust God, there is no one you can trust. “For when God made [...]
God’s Presence – Psalm 132:6–9 September 18th
How do you know when God is not first?
It is possible to become so busy “doing your own thing” that you do not realize that the Lord is not with you or close to you. It is also possible to realize that the Lord is not with you and then think you cannot do anything [...]
God First – Psalm 132:1–5 September 17th
Is God first in your life? In what way?
Camping is enjoyable—if you have the right equipment and if you can choose when and where to do it. However, it does not sound like a very enjoyable lifestyle for a long period of time.
The Psalmist wrote, “LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions” (v. 1). Before [...]
Pride – Psalm 131 September 16th
Why would anyone become proud?
Pride is really bad! The first chapter of Romans clearly describes what ungodly people are like. Especially notice verses 28–30, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient [fitting]; Being [...]
Redemption – Psalm 130:7, 8 September 15th
What has God done to redeem you?
Someone once said, “I’m not what I ought to be, and I’m not what I’m going to be, but, by the grace of God, I’m not what I could have been!”
Imagine what you would be like if God had not redeemed you. Then make a list of some of [...]
Wait – Psalm 130:5, 6 September 14th
Why is it difficult to wait for the Lord?
Grandparents are not necessarily the ones to blame for spoiling grandchildren. The problem is that babies are born with a desire for instant gratification. It begins with food. Whenever they feel hungry, they want to be fed immediately—no matter what else is happening.
One way to determine maturity [...]
Choosing to Forget – Psalm 130:3, 4 September 13th
Does God remember all of your sins?
It was almost impossible for a little boy to sit still and be quiet in church. His mother and father were very concerned about training him to act properly, so after several warnings, his father told him, “If you do not sit still and be quiet while we are [...]
God Is Listening – Psalm 130:1, 2 September 12th
Why does God seem far, far away?
It is interesting how people sometimes express themselves. For example, the Psalmist wrote, “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD” (v. 1). It could be that he felt that he was in the “depths of despair” and beyond help. Or, he could have felt that [...]
God Bless! – Psalm 129:5–8 September 11th
Whom do you ask God to bless? Why?
It is not always appropriate to say, “God bless you!” Neither should you always request, “God bless America!” Actually, God desires to bless all people in all nations, but He cannot bless those who curse Him and reject Him. Therefore, you should be careful whom you bless.
There were [...]
Afflictions – Psalm 129:1–4 September 10th
What causes you to feel sorry for yourself?
God never promised that life would be easy and without problems. Consider two analogies about life. Roses are beautiful, but they normally have thorns. Wild blackberries are delicious to eat, but there are difficulties in picking them (many thorns and chiggers).
The Psalmist wrote about the thorns in his [...]
Strong Communities – Psalm 128:5, 6 September 9th
Why does your community have problems?
God’s blessings upon a community are related directly to His blessings upon the families in the community. It is impossible to have morally strong communities, unless the families are morally strong and teach character to their children. It is also almost impossible to teach character in a family unless the [...]
Cause and Effect – Psalm 128:1–4 September 8th
Why should God give you happiness?
If you are not experiencing the Lord’s blessings in your life, you should take an inventory of your life. The Psalmist wrote, “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways” (v. 1). This seems to be a cause and effect sequence. The cause is described [...]
Pass It On – Psalm 127:3–5 September 7th
What are you passing on to your children?
Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: [...]
Life – Psalm 127:1–2 September 6th
What are you doing with your life?
Every person in the world has the same amount of time in a day—twenty-four hours. The number of years that people live varies—some only live a few years, while others live a long time. God is the One who determines the length of lives. The most important question is, [...]
Weeping – Psalm 126:4–6 September 5th
What causes you to weep?
There are hurting people everywhere you look. There are starving children in Africa. Any time there is a war, many people suffer, especially the children. It is terrible to hear about parents abusing and even killing their children. Do these things cause you to weep?
All of the above situations are tragic; [...]
Freed – Psalm 126:1–3 September 4th
What is it like to be freed from captivity?
It was an unforgettable scene as a group of American soldiers, who had been held as POWs in Viet Nam, finally landed in Hawaii. Some of them had been held captive for as long as seven years. They may not have been your relatives, but they were [...]
Doing Good – Psalm 125:4–5 September 3rd
What would you like for God to do for you?
A traveling evangelist was given a credit card and told, “Take and use this for whatever you need.” If this happened to you, how much would you use it? If you use it too much—the owner might cancel it. But, if you do not use it [...]
Unmovable – Psalm 125:1–3 September 2nd
Where do you turn when the world totters?
A certain woman once said, “I never will get in an airplane. I want to keep my feet on solid ground.” This same woman was later visiting in Japan and learned firsthand that the earth is not even solid when she experienced a small earthquake.
Sometimes it seems [...]
The Enemy – Psalm 124:6–8 September 1st
How are you sometimes deceived?
There are many different opinions about how Satan and his demons try to destroy God’s people. It is encouraging to realize that you do not have to fear him. He does not have nearly as much power as some people think he does.
The primary power that Satan has is deception. It [...]
Choosing Sides – Psalm 124 August 31st
What if no one wants you on their side?
A young boy knew he was not very coordinated, and he knew that he really could not play softball. However, this did not keep him from wanting to be part of the group who played. As the two leaders chose sides, he kept hoping he would hear [...]
Confidence in God – Psalm 123 August 30th
What do you expect from God?
If your confidence is in the Lord, you should be able to pray the following prayer, “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens” (v. 1). You can always look to God, expecting Him to give you direction and to provide all you [...]
Lord of Peace – Psalm 122:6–9 August 29th
What prevents you from enjoying peace?
God’s perfect will for all of His creation and for all created beings is that they might enjoy peace. “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all” (II Thessalonians 3:16).
God’s special, chosen people, the nation of Israel, have had [...]
God’s House – Psalm 122:1–5 August 28th
When are you going to the Lord’s house?
When you were young, do you remember hearing the words, “We are going to grandmother’s house?” These are exciting words to most small children. Some of the cause for the excitement may be because grandmother usually spoils the grandchildren. Often she will give them anything they want.
Imagine someone [...]
When It Is Hot – Psalm 121:5–8 August 27th
What if it is so hot you think you will die?
August is usually the hottest month of the year in Arkansas. The day after this writer was born, the temperature was the hottest ever recorded in the state (120 degrees). It was so hot that his grandfather continually walked around the room fanning because he [...]