CNC Daily Psalms

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 28  Listen to Psalm 28

Have you ever experienced a situation where God seems deaf to your prayers? The psalmist faces a life-threatening scenario and cries out to be heard (verses 1-2). Silence leads to despair. Is it his fault? Does he deserve what the wicked should get (verses 4-5)? Then he remembers that God is merciful and gives what we do not deserve. The story moves on in verse 6, where the psalmist’s prayer finds that God did hear and has answered. God is on his side and he now throws his lot in with Him.

Praise and adoration come naturally, followed by joy, shouting and thanks, with an affirmation that God is all strength for those who are called by Him. Remember that through Christ’s death and resurrection by faith you are one of those, in fact the inheritance of Him, who carries you and shepherds you for ever (verses 8-9).

However, there is always the temptation to be side tracked and be drawn away by those whose motives are evil. Psalm 1 tells us not to walk stand or sit with them. The devil would love to put you in jail with them. They talk a good line of peace but harbour malice in their hearts! Filling our minds and hearts with God’s word and the Holy Spirit of truth is our antidote.

This psalm is pertinent in this COVID-19 crisis where life changing events occur daily. It is also a model for daily prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication. Walking through the Spirit in you with King Jesus our Lord.

Lord, may I always remember that your ear is open to my call. Help me to see through the current doom and gloom that you are always “on my case” for your glory.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 27  Listen to Psalm 27

This psalm is likely to have been written by David during his pursuit by Saul or possibly his flight from Absalom.

Verses 1-7 - This is a wonderful affirmation of the security of God’s people, expressing supreme confidence in God to deliver David from his enemies. It is through him seeking and having the desire to be in God’s presence that he knows he would be delivered. Compare this to when Jesus calmed the storm on Lake Galilee, even though the disciples had seen Jesus perform many miracles, they were still scared. “Why are you afraid”? Jesus asked, implying that in His presence there is safety. Perhaps a lesson for us in this current health crisis – with Jesus in our ‘boat’ we need not be fearful.

Verses 8-12 - David quickly turns to prayer which shouldn’t be neglected even when we are confident of God’s provision.

Verses 13-14 - The psalm ends as it began with an expression of confidence. He who earnestly desires to see with the eye of faith, the beauty of the Lord (verse 4) is sure, that before he dies, he will see the Lord’s goodness in his life. David is so certain that he urges others to ‘wait for the Lord’.

Lord, your word tells us that your presence is always with those who love you. Please drive this into our hearts and remind us every day so that we need not be fearful about the events of life.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 26  Listen to Psalm 26

The psalmist almost boasts about his blameless life, which feels odd to me being a shy, English, lady. But we see elsewhere in the Psalms that the writers examine themselves and acknowledge their deep need for forgiveness - e.g. Psalm 32:1-5. He asks to be vindicated and claims moral integrity (verses 4-5) and religious integrity (verses 6-8) and goes on to make a confident statement of faith and commitment to worship (verse 12). The washing of hands (verse 6) was a rite of purification that symbolised innocence and it prepared the worshipper to be ready to enter into the presence of God.

He feels he has acted in a blameless way in his walking, sitting and acting and hopes that he will do better in life than those who do not act in the same way. So he asks confidently for God’s mercy (verse 11). We should show love to the faithless whilst at the same time walking, sitting and acting differently from them.

He is assured that his feet stand on level ground. Are you standing firm on level ground or are you losing your balance in these uncertain times? We need to abide in Jesus, trust in his love and believe the truth of his promises to regain our balance.

Lord, may I keep your love ever before me and walk continually in your truth.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 25:11-22  Listen to Psalm 25:11-22

In this second half of this psalm, there are some useful practices to go back to amidst the heaviness of desperate times.

In desperate times we need a focus. Verse 15 tells us that our eyes should be on the Lord. It’s so easy to focus on the problems especially when we don’t know what to do next. When Jehoshaphat faced the attack of a massive army, he prayed, “We do not know what to do but our eyes are upon you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12. This is a verse I have often stuck on the fridge in desperate times.

We need to be honest before God. In verse 17 David reminds us of the great truth that the God of our salvation also cares about, ‘The troubles of my heart’. Sometimes we must admit that ‘all my sins’ verse 18, may have contributed to our tough times and we need to ask for forgiveness.

During a raging thunder and lightning storm, it makes no sense to take refuge under a tree, it’s too dangerous! So, in desperate times why do we take refuge in things that do us harm, such as, sin, alcohol or other addictive practices or burying ourselves in work. For David he reminds us that the safe refuge is in God, verse 20, for where we take refuge is vital.

Lord, help me to keep eyes on you my ‘refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble’ Psalm 46:1.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 25:1-10  Listen to Psalm 25:1-10

In my desperate times, I have often got immersed in the heaviness of the situation and my prayers have been mainly cries for help. In this psalm we see a helpful alternative.

This is an acrostic poem, the verses beginning with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. You could say it’s an A, B, C, of what to do in desperate times.

David knows that trust in God is fundamental, verse 1. He does not want to be shown up by his mistakes. He asks God not to remember the sins of his youth, verse 7. He’s using the word ‘remember’ in the way a teenager does when they say: “Remember how you promised you would give me driving lessons?” It’s a plea to God to act based on what He has promised.

David finds that instead of looking back or relying on his own resources, he first asks God to guide and help him to obey him, verses 4-5 and 8-9. He then remembers the truth of who God is and what he is like: “good… instructs… guides… teaches… loving and faithful” verses 8-10.

In desperate times, we need not to be overwhelmed by our past or the current situation,. We should follow David’s example of looking outward to God and to let him help and lead us forward.

Lord, in desperate times, help me to remember my A B Cs of who you are and to trust you.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 24  Listen to Psalm 24

Everything in heaven and on earth and under the earth is God’s. It is easy in our minds to create a false sacred/secular divide. There is the sacred - church (perhaps!), prayer, the Bible - where we know God is and then there is the secular - our workplaces, wider friendships and Netflix(!). Sometimes it feels that never the two shall meet!

Psalm 24 can renew our confidence in God’s ability to be in all things and all places. This psalm is one of many Psalms of Ascents. They invite people to look up (not because God is physically in the sky!) but to raise our gaze to God. I certainly spend a lot of time looking down at my work and tasks, not considering the impact of what it means for God to be in all things. We are invited to lift up our eyes and invite God into all parts of our lives - allowing him to transform everything - even the bits that do not seem sacred.

God would you show me where you are at work in every part of my life today - even the bits where it seems that you are not so obviously present.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 23  Listen to Psalm 23

I have a complicated relationship with Psalm 23. I originally associated it with that beautiful piece of music that became the Vicar of Dibley soundtrack. Since being ordained this has changed. I have discovered it is the most requested scripture at funerals. The funeral where it featured that lingers the most in my mind was a memorial for a 16 year old boy who had died in a gang related death. The congregation was a group of teenagers from the local estate - most of whom had never been in a church before.

It is in that kind of scenario that the real power and test of the Psalms are shown, in their ability to speak into the most bleak and tragic circumstances. I think this is perhaps why Psalm 23 is so popular. It has an ability to articulate so clearly the human experience of feeling lost and alone.

I am reminded that God doesn’t promise us an easy life - without pain or struggle but what he does promise is his presence. God’s favour therefore is not displayed in how well our lives are going but in his ability to forever show up for us - however dark the valley we are in.

God, however dark the places we might travel help us to know your presence with us.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 22:19-31  Listen to Psalm 22:19-31

This is the second part of the reflection on Psalm 22. It starts with the phrase, "But you, Lord..."

The desperation we saw yesterday pushes the psalmist to pray to God for deliverance (verses 19-21). This becomes thanksgiving in anticipation of what the Lord will do for the psalmist (verses 22-26) and finally thanksgiving on behalf of the whole community - the "families of nations" (verses 27-31). Rather than feeling forgotten by God, there's a complete reversal. The psalmist no longer feels desolation, but instead ends by calling on others to worship God.

It has been said that "crisis does not build character, it reveals it." The psalmist suffers isolation and faces death. His response is to turn to God in prayer. In Jesus, God identifies with all who suffer or face death in this way. Jesus responded with compassion - for the crowd, for the thief and for his mother. There is also a notable difference to the psalmist. The psalmist escaped death, but Jesus died. This is not a deliverance from death but Jesus's deliverance was through death achieved in the resurrection. That deliverance is worthy of praise, both for the individual suffering and for the whole families of nations. The psalm ends with a great cry of victory: "He has done it!"

Lord, thank you that you know the suffering that we face. Thank you that through your death and resurrection you have delivered us and we can declare: "He has done it!"

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 22:1-18  Listen to Psalm 22:1-18

The reflection on Psalm 22 has been split into two, with the first part today. This psalm is in two parts with the first a journey of lament into the despair of isolation and death. The psalmist feels forgotten by God (verses 1-5), is despised by others (verses 6-10), and prays for help (verse 11) as he is surrounded by trouble (verses 12-18). Jesus quotes verses from Psalm 22 on the cross. Much of the first part of this psalm is a description of crucifixion, even though it was written many centuries before that method of execution had been invented.

Jesus was separated from God at his time of death, with no one to hold his hand or be close to him. Doesn't that sound like the isolation that so many are going through at the moment? Whether people are in lockdown on their own at home feeling lonely, or for those with severe symptoms in hospitals and care homes, and particularly those who are dying without loved ones by their side.

We may know of friends and family who are in isolation, either because of their age or because they are vulnerable. We all know people who have had COVID-19 and sadly we may also know of people who have died at this time. We also know that Jesus went through the same isolation as he suffered on the cross.

Tomorrow's reflection will bring the "but..." Often we try to rush ahead to the resurrection on Easter morning, however, it's sometimes helpful to pause at Good Friday and reflect.

Lord, we remember all those who are in isolation at this time. Do not be far from them, when trouble is near and there is no one to help.

We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below.

Read Psalm 21  Listen to Psalm 21

A psalm of praise and thankfulness. David has experienced God's strength, the granting of his prayers. God has given life, long life, victory and displayed and shown others the majesty of the king. Long lasting and continued blessings and a knowing the joy of being in the presence of God have been David's experience. As he experiences God's never ending love he will remain unshaken and sure of God’s love. He is trusting God to sort out his enemies and destroy them and ensure the threat of their successors will also be removed. The Lord's protection means that those who plot against David will not succeed. The psalmist ends with a commitment to sing and praise God for His power and to see God asserting His strength.

Jesus has promised us that we too can be assured of God's protection and strength as we walk with Him. He has sent the Holy Spirit into each of us who acknowledge Jesus as Lord and will give us victory in our struggles, fears and problems. We too are able to praise God for life, the overcoming of our “enemies" and for freedom from those fears and worries.

Father, as I go through this difficult and different period of my life, please let me see you at work bringing victory in the problems and fears I have. Praise you Lord for the way you have brought me so far.