Psalms 20 - 02.20.25

SCRIPTURE :Psalms 20:7 NIV

“Some trust in their chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

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OBSERVATION

This is a Psalm of David, and what beautiful lessons we glean here.

A Psalm of Great Encouragement for a battle that King David is being sent off to face.

There is ONE name that commands ALL power in heaven and on earth.

God puts high value on His name because it represents His character and reputation. To evoke the name of ""the God of Jacob"" is to call on HIS power and majesty.

To trust in God's name— is to trust in Him.

David, the king of Israel, was intimately acquainted with the power of God's name.

So were the people of Israel. In this interesting Psalm, the people and the king had come together to call on God's name in prayer—and—to proclaim their trust IN HIM.

APPLICATION

Jesus is The SAME, Yesterday, TODAY, and FOREVER

We still face battles. In ancient times when the enemy would advance with their chariots and horses—the loud sounds of whipping, and rattling, and rumbling of the wheels along with the hooves of the thousands of horses racing down were enough to cause horrific fear and trembling. The earth literally shook.

Though we don’t face Horses and Chariots we CAN still experience the “earth shaking” under our feet spiritually.

And we have all had Or currently are facing battles that “appear in the natural” to be overpowering and overwhelming.

But even as a very young Shepherd, David knew as he faced Goliath that any GIANT (no matter how seemingly terrifying) was NO match for God. (1 Samuel 17: 45-49).

In psalm 20, we also see the importance of Intercessor Prayer support. The entire believing community has come together praying and believing for Victory THROUGH God.

Some Trust in Chariots, their money, power, or influence.

But, we as believers place our Trust in God, Alone.

If we are seeking God’s will for our life, If we are living by His word and Holy Spirit,

If we are daily praying and yielding our lives to HIS Lordship,

Then—Like David we can be confident—of Victory-

TRUSTING in the NAME of JESUS.

“Now this I know:

The Lord gives victory to His anointed.

HE answers him from his heavenly sanctuary

with the Victorious Power of His right hand.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

They are brought to their knees and fall,

but we rise up and stand firm.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭20‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Blessings of Psalm 20 apply to us; He is a refuge and a fortress that surrounds us (Psalm 91) a very Present help in time of need (Psalm 46:1)) When our prayers are in alignment with Him, He answers our prayers and gives us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4).

PRAYER

LORD JESUS,

Thank You for saving knowledge in who YOU are. The God of Jacob, The King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, The Sovereign Authority over ALL. If God is for us who can ever stand against. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, Thank You for Your Word that is Truth and Life, Power and Authority to strike down the enemy and be Your Witness.

Thank You for All You are doing in and through Desert Streams. Here we are, Lord, send us to Santa Clarita and beyond. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Tina L Kudelka

2 Kings 6 - 2.19.25

Scripture

Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (2 Kings 6:16)

Observation

The king of Aram suspected that there was an Israeli mole within his closest circle of advisors! How else could every plan that was made in top secret to attack Israel, be made known to the king of Israel? Whichever route of attack they planned and executed, they always found the army of Israel waiting for them, well-prepared for the attack. The king of Aram was enraged. “Who among you is the Israeli spy?” he asked (2 Kings 6:11).  He eventually found out from his own soldiers that there was no spy. Instead, there was a prophet of God in Israel (Elisha) who would reveal every plan made and every word uttered by the King of Aram in his secret chambers to the King of Israel! (2 Kings 6:12)

The King of Aram sent an army to capture the prophet. The servant of the prophet looked outside and saw their home surrounded by horses and chariots and was terrified. Elisha comforted his servant saying, “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them”.

Elisha prayed that God would open his servant’s eyes. The Lord answered his prayer, and opened the servant’s eyes. He saw that their house was surrounded by angelic warriors on chariots and horses of fire. God protected Elisha and gave Israel a supernatural victory that day.

Application

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them (Psalms 24:7). The Lord is our defense (Psalms 94:22, 89:18). The Lord fights for us (Exodus 14:14). The battle belongs to the Lord (Deut 20:4, 1 Sam 17:47, 2 Chron 20:15). Having the Lord with us makes us the majority. One thousand may fall on one side, and ten thousand on the other side, but it will not come near us (Psalms 91:17). Though an army may encamp against us, we will not fear, and though war may rise against us, we will be confident (Psalms 27:3). They might come at us from one direction but will flee from us in seven (Deut 28:7).

No matter what the opposition we are facing today, our God is bigger than that. No weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). We are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37). The Bible continually exhorts us not to fear. God is with us. Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23). He has promised to be with us always to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

Prayer

Dear Father, thank you because you are always with me. Lord Jesus, thank you because you are Emmanel, God with me. Thank you for your promise that you will never leave me, nor forsake me (Heb 13:5). Thank you because you are my defense.  You fight for me. You have commanded your angels concerning me, to guard me in all my ways (Psalms 91:11).

Help me to cling on to you in the middle of adversity and opposition, knowing that you will deliver me when I cling onto you (Psalms 91:14, NAB). Thank you because you are faithful. Thank you because in you, I am more than a conqueror.

Father, I commit everything I am up against at your feet. I know I can trust you. I know you will deliver me. I know that you are the lifter of my head (Psalms 3:3). By you, I will run against a troop, by my God I will jump over a wall (Psalms 18:29). I receive my victory in Jesus’s name. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George

1 John 5 - 2.18.25

SCRIPTURE:  1 John 5:3-5 “This is love for God: to obey His commands.  And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world?  Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

OBSERVATION:  John’s concern for the believers was for them to know that keeping God’s commands is not a burden, but a blessing, EVEN while going through very difficult circumstances! The apostle Paul modeled this so well!  Even when he was afflicted, and while he was facing extraordinary persecutions, because of his commitment to God, no matter what he went through, he never lost focus on how God had shown him such incredible grace and mercy in spite of him being the worst of sinners.

He had once been a persecutor of Christians, even approving their death because of his ignorance, but when God revealed Himself to him on that Damascus road, it was God’s mercy and grace that changed Paul’s heart and motivated him to not only become a Christ follower, but to live AND die for Christ. 

It was BECAUSE of God’s grace and mercy that Paul wrote in Romans 12:1,2 that we should present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.

APPLICATION: When I was born-again, I became free to live for God, and free to please God.  The reason I am not able to sin “comfortably” anymore is because I am being transformed by the renewing of my mind, and I am now able to discern the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. (It is to walk according to His will), AND the Holy Spirit gives me all the help I need to be able to do that as I call out, and depend on Him.

I am human, and I will fail Him from time to time, but God is willing to forgive me, and to restore me back into right relationship with Him when I turn from my sins and ask for His forgiveness, because of His great love for me.

PRAYER:  I pray God’s commands will never be a burden to me, but a great blessing!  In view of all He’s done for me, and because of the mercies He’s shown me, I pray I will always remember and be motivated by His love. What a great privilege it is to follow His commands! Amen

- Robin Orefice