Psalm 28 - 2.28.25

Scripture: Psalms 28:6-7

6  Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy. 7  The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Observation

This is a Psalm of David. He is very distressed in the beginning of the chapter and he is crying out to God to hear his supplications. Supplication is a specific kind of prayer; it’s a cry for mercy. When David gets to verse 6, he starts to praise the Lord and thank him for hearing his cry for help and he has faith that God is with him and will help him.

Application

Many years ago, when I was married to my first husband, he was very abusive verbally and mentally. He kept having affairs with other women and blaming me for his actions. When I would confront him or make him go to marriage counseling, he would try to make me out as being crazy or what they now call “gaslighting”. I spiraled into a deep, dark hole and felt so afraid and alone. My life was crumbling all around me and there was nothing I could do about it. I would lay face down on the floor and cry out to God to help me. I was so desperate for His help and I would voice my supplications with tears streaming down my face. I started seeing a Christian Counselor and she would speak the truth to me and always bring me back to Jesus. She told me to keep my eyes on Jesus and not look at my circumstances. That God loved me and He was my strength and my shield. She helped me climb out of my dark hole and start to live again.

When life is unbearable and you can’t see a way out, Jesus is there to take your hand and walk with you or even carry you…if necessary. Write down all the times God has helped you through a hard time. Read it every day and KNOW that he is working in the background for your good. You have to keep your eyes on Jesus and not look at the circumstances. I use to quote the scripture Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint”. I would picture myself soaring above all my problems and then I would start thanking and praising the Lord for how He was going to work everything out for my good. By the time I showed up at work the Joy of the Lord was bubbling out of me. I will forever Praise the Lord with all my heart and soul because His mercies are new every morning!

Prayer

Dear Lord, Thank You for loving us so much and hearing the cries of our heart. Thank You for being our strength and shield when life becomes overwhelming. Lord teach us to Trust You in all things and keep our eyes fixed on You. Help us to surrender our lives to you so that you can mold and make us into your precious vessels. The Joy of the Lord is my Strength and I will worship the Lord all the days of my life.

- Michelle Craig

Psalm 27 - 2.27.25

Psalm 27:1-3

S - 1The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked advance against me
    to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.

O - Like many psalms, King David wrote this from a season of trouble. Yet it is a song of confidence and triumph: because David was not in darkness or ultimate peril because the LORD was his light and salvation. (Blue Letter Bible). God offers help for today and hope for the future. Unwavering confidence in God is our antidote for fear and loneliness.

A – Fear is darkness. It envelops us and ultimately imprisons us within ourselves. It can overwhelm us, causing physical and emotional sickness. We all experience fear at one time or another. I believe how do we react in the face of our fears, and how we get through it, says a lot about our walk with Jesus. Are we allowing HIM to be our helpmate, our protector. Do we put our trust in HIM to make it through?

Hebrews 13:6 6 So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
                 What can mere mortals do to me?”

Seriously! What can they do? People may not like us, there may be bills we cannot pay, the economy and decisions being made on a global level are indeed troublesome. We may be in a relationship that is volatile and hurts us emotionally and/or physically. We or someone we love may have a sickness we cannot escape. However, if we REALLY believe that God is who He says He is, and that we as Christians have already received our eternal salvation, then WHY do we spend so much time being fearful over temporary circumstances and situations? Especially ones outside our control. Why do we let ourselves go down a rabbit hole of worry and/or depression. People are so lost and hurt, fearful, and full of anxiety. They are angry, sad, lonely, and many are suicidal, or one step away from becoming so.  Mental illness statistics have become increasingly alarming.

2024 results of the American Psychiatric Association’s annual mental health poll show that U.S. adults are feeling increasingly anxious. In 2024, 43% of adults say they feel more anxious than they did the previous year, up from 37% in 2023 and 32% in 2022. Adults are particularly anxious about current events (70%) — especially the economy (77%), the 2024 U.S. election (73%), and gun violence (69%). This increase may be due to the unprecedented exposure that we have to everything that happens in the world around us, or to an increased awareness and reporting of anxiety. (psychiatry.org) 

In 2025, the United States witnessed a significant rise in suicide rates, reaching levels not seen since 1941 according to the USN. The age-adjusted suicide rate climbed to 14.7 deaths per 100,000 individuals, surpassing the 2022 rate of 14.2. This marks a concerning 30% increase over the past two decades. Notably, the number of suicide deaths in 2024 exceeded 49,300, indicating a persistent upward trend. (nchstats.com)

Those numbers are astounding and should NOT BE! As Christians, we need to always be praying. Praying for ourselves, our friends and family, our community, the leaders, our nation and our youth!

Philippians 4:6-7: "Be anxious [or fearful] for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

As Katie has discussed in our recent Dream Team meetings, Science has been able to prove that there are so many positive, physical changes to our brains as we pray. We can literally rewire the way our brains work by praying regularly and reduce the fear and anxiety within. Attached is a link for anyone who wants to delve further into this. It’s pretty amazing.  New research says praying can change your brain, no kidding | Broadview Magazine

P – Lord, I pray that as a church family we would encourage one another to pray! To pray alone, pray corporately, to pray with and for others around us. May we be the light needed in the darkness to defend ourselves and others from the darkness that tries to defeat us with worry and fear. I pray we would turn off the “News” loops and the social media that add to our fear and anxiety and instead, turn to Your Word for comfort and guidance. Help us to point others in the same direction. Help us to pray in a way that changes the trajectory of our suicide, anxiety, and mental illness percentages. May we be like David, filled with that unwavering confidence and assurance that comes from YOU alone!

Amen!

- Crystal Flory

2 Kings 13 - 2.26.25

Scripture

2 Kings 13:4-6 Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord’s favor, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel. The Lord provided a deliverer for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before. But they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them.

Observation

The book of Kings tells the stories of the kings of Israel who came after David. With few exceptions, they were corrupt and followed other gods, leading the people farther and farther away from the one true God, until the collapse of Israel and the exile of its people.

In the middle of a long line of kings who refused to follow God, Jehoahaz sought the Lord’s favor and the Lord listened to him. God granted favor. But even then, the people did not turn from their sin and continued on the path to ruin.

Application

We cannot earn God’s love and salvation. He freely gives it, even though we do not deserve it. When we ask, He shows us mercy and grace, forgives our sin, and restores us into relationship with Him. But that does not mean that we should test God. 

We are humans and no human is, or ever will be, perfect. We have all sinned, and even when we come into relationship with God, we will continue to sin. So how do we reconcile that with Jesus' command to go and sin no more? This is a question I continue to wrestle with. If I truly love and want to serve God, why would I continue to sin? Here is an understanding that I am coming to: I continue to try to earn my salvation. My goal should not be to attain perfection, my goal should be to follow God. When I focus on my sin and my failure, I am putting the attention and importance on myself instead of God. Following God is not about working in my own strength to attain perfection for myself. It is about putting God first and following Him with my whole heart. 

Romans 6:15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!

When I acknowledge my weakness and failure, I acknowledge His lordship. When I acknowledge my sin, I understand my need for a savior. The more I pour myself into running after God, soaking Him in, letting Him fill me up and change me, the less room I have for sin. 

Prayer

Lord, may my heart’s desire first and always be to please you. May I love the Lord My God with all my heart and all my soul and all my mind. May I always be open to your promptings and correction. Thank you for your unfailing love, forgiveness, mercy and grace. 

- Debbie Dunn