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 108  Listen to Psalm 108

Psalm 108 has been categorised as one of the Psalms of “Prayers for Restoration From National Distress and Defeat.” Often, as we have explored the psalms, we have focused on how they relate to us as individuals. It is interesting to remember that many of the psalms were written to respond to the collective experience of a wider group of people. In the case of Psalm 108, it is likely that the psalm was written in response to the Babylonian exile.

Following Jesus is a collective experience as much as we also relate to God as individuals. Remembering the nature of God together in a group in times of trouble can be a hugely uplifting experience. I wonder if you were writing a psalm for our church today, considering your hopes and dreams, what would it say?

Lord, would you speak to us about your vision for our nation.

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 107:23-43  Listen to Psalm 107:23-43

We continue to read of God's dealings with his people. Those who were involved in overseas trading, sailing across seas which became dangerous to negotiate in storms and gales. These men called on God for help. He stilled the storm and guided them to safety. Our Father still protects and carries us through the storms in our lives, be they physical or emotional. When his people were disobedient God sometimes allowed the land to lose its productivity and people to be hungry and thirsty. He rescued them again with restoring rain so that crops could be grown and animals pastured. A memory of the famine in the book of Ruth? God deserves thanks and praise for saving both land and people.

Another time they suffered calamities from their enemies’ oppression resulting in sorrow throughout the land. Some were too proud to acknowledge God and uncaring of his power. So he left them to their own devices, to run their own lives but saw their helplessness and again rescued them. Families flourished again. The faithful saw what was happening and rejoiced, but those who had not walked in God's way were silenced. The final verse is an exhortation to learn from these accounts of others and recognise how great God's love is for his people – both in the past and now.

Lord, thank you for the times you have rescued me. Help me to be aware of your saving hand on my 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 107:1-22  Listen to Psalm 107:1-22

Originally composed for use at one of Israel's festivals, it tells of how God has been good to Israel – that must be acknowledged. Although some have gone through hard times when they called out to God, he rescued them. He led them to a new city (Oh, let's thank him for his never ending love). He provided all their needs. Others were in darkness and suffering because of their rebellion – still God heard and rescued. They too must give thanks. Others were foolish; later they suffered from anorexia and nearly died but again when they called to him, he saved them. At his command their distress was relieved and they were healed.

God's unfailing love provokes the response of thankfulness – the giving of thanks to him for the amazing deeds he has done for his people. Let us come to him with thanks and praise. In difficult times it is good to look away from our surrounding circumstances and look to our heavenly Father and recall his love for us, recall how he has saved us through his beloved Son's sacrifice for us and his love in sending his Holy Spirit to live in each one of us.

Thank you Father God, for all the love you have shown me in protecting me from harm. Thank you for rescuing me by sending your Son to die for me. Thank you that he now intercedes for me with the Father.

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 106:24-48  Listen to Psalm 106:24-48

God remembers.

Yesterday we saw that God’s people forgot him and today we see how this massively led them astray (verses 33-43). The psalmist recalls how Moses, ’stood in the breach’ (verse 23), and prayed to God for the people (see Exodus 31:11-14).

Prayer is a powerful weapon and can change people’s lives. I learnt this when I met an older lady on a Christian conference, who told me she had been praying for me before I became a Christian. In my teens, I had some difficulties, my mum told her sister about these. The sister told her neighbour who was a Christian, and she prayed a lot about me! I was so humbled by this, for she had prayed me into God’s Kingdom!

The psalm concludes with the people of God turning back to him and ‘he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented’ (verse 45), resulting in praise! (verse 48).

Jesus offers us his grace and forgiveness for our sins, lets pray this for our family, friends, and work colleagues.

Lord, thank you for the power of prayer. Today, I want to stand in the breach in prayer for…

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 106:1-23  Listen to Psalm 106:1-23

Remember.

Does your memory need improving? A search in google for, ‘How to improve my memory?’ came up with 1,090,000,000 results, suggesting that lots of us need help to remember.

The need to remember is an important truth in this psalm. The writer remembers that in the past, despite their sinfulness, God acted in mercy to save his people (verses 6-12). What was the result of this lesson, for the people of God? ‘They soon forgot what he had done’ (verse 13). Because they forgot God, verse 14 says that they ‘gave in to their craving.’ Our unfaithfulness to God begins when we forget him!

God ‘gave them what they asked for’ (verse 15). Sometimes when we forget him, God lets us have our desires, even if they are not good for us. We can wrongly go after money, praise of other people, and the things of the world.

Let us ask God to prompt us by the Holy Spirit in areas where we are prone to forget him so we can stay faithful.

Lord, help me to never forget just how much I need you, and to never lose sight of you in my daily 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 105:23-45  Listen to Psalm 105:23-45

This psalm continues remembering how God looked after the Israelites in Egypt and brought them through the desert and into the land he had promised to Abraham. Although Egypt was not easy for his people they did well in adversity and, even though slaves, they became more numerous than their oppressors (verse 24). This can happen in the church today ‘the more they oppressed them the more they multiplied.’

When God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, they were given riches as they left, and then he helped them through their wanderings in the dessert to the Promised Land. He guided and guarded them with a cloud by day and fire by night. He provided bread - Manna (verse 40) and water from a rock (verse 41). These were shadows of the spiritual blessings we have in Christ Jesus. God guides and guards us all the way. He satisfies us with the bread of heaven and water of life from the rock of salvation and so we will be brought safely to heaven.

It is good for us to remember how God has been at work in our lives over the years as the psalmist does. Maybe you could take some time today to think of all the times when you have seen God guiding you and working in your life and thank him for them. If we tell others of how God has looked after us, it increases our faith and theirs and brings glory to God.

Thank you God, that you are in charge of history and you guide the outcome for the benefit of all your people. Praise the Lord!

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 105:1-22  Listen to Psalm 105:1-22

This psalm is probably a composition of David written for bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. The first fifteen verses can also be found in 1 Chronicles 16:8-22. It starts with a call to worship, which is full of exhortation. Later in the psalm we will see many reasons for thanksgiving, but the writer encourages us to give thanks to the Lord (praise) and call on his name (pray) and to sing (verse 2).

One of the best ways to praise God is to sing. Sadly in the present pandemic we have not been able to get together and sing face to face and encourage each other as we praise God for all he has done and is doing in our lives. We can sing on our own though, where ever you are - Let us rejoice and make a joyful noise to the Lord!

When we look to the Lord and remember all he has done for us, our faith will be strengthened (verses 4, 5). The psalm goes on to say how Joseph was sold as a slave and brought low, and his brothers meant it for evil, but God turned it into a blessing for all the people when later Joseph was lifted up and saved many. Christ was brought low, but then was lifted up in a most wonderful way for our salvation.

Lord, we want to give you thanks, call on your name and sing praise to you for all you have done in our lives.

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 104:19-35  Listen to Psalm 104:19-35

“God is great!” Earlier in this psalm we have seen God revealed in the heavens and on earth. Now the psalmist visits space-time. Look at the periodicity of day and night and our own built in clock that demands fruitful work for him and adequate rest for our body (verses 19-23). We abuse it at our peril.

After another explosion of praise comes a focus on creation’s dependency on our God who sustains it (verses 27-30). “All creatures look to you to give them their food and are satisfied” (The Message). I see here the emphasis “on seeing God’s face” through the Holy Spirit (verse 29). There is spiritual as well as physical hunger in each one of us that God through Christ alone can satisfy. We all experience times when personal sin can be a barrier. Paul speaks of spiritual death in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1-2).

The psalmist concludes with a prayer. That we may continue to see his revelation through creation and intervention. That life-giving relationships broken by sin and evil will be restored. We know that Jesus Christ’s death on the cross has made that possible for us all.

Therefore, praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen

Thank you, Lord, that you have sustained us during this Covid-19 crisis. Thank you, that when I look to you, you open your hand and satisfy me with good things. Please forgive my sin.

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 104:1-18  Listen to Psalm 104:1-18

A poem of praise. The psalmist starts with the explosive cry “God, my God how great you are.” Everything he has created is good: So come with me and see his celestial dwelling place; described through the eyes of Genesis chapter 1. “God is robed in sunlight, his dwelling is in the third heaven, the sky is the roof of his tent and his palace is on the ocean deeps” (The Message verses 1-4). So great is our God.

See the celestial water cisterns in the clouds and see both powerful wind and fire as his messengers (verse 4). Fast forward to Pentecost where the Ruach power of the Creator Holy Spirit in wind and fire transforms the disciples with his new creative life (Nicky Gumbel).  Now look at the earth (verses 5-9), a solid reality yet moulded by water and volcanic action. The water is life giving (verses 10-14) to animals, birds and plants. Here we see God the provider of shelter for birds’ habitats, different terrains for wildlife and food for mankind. Wine like olive oil is good - a shiny face and a glad heart! Note in verse 14 how God has appointed us to care for and cultivate nature and to participate in his work.

Yet I see how humanity can abuse and exploit his provision. Forests are destroyed and climate change renders the weak, poor. Alcohol too damages the body mind and soul with an effect on society.

Thank you Lord, for this glimpse of you and what you have created. Forgive us for abusing your creation. Thank you that your Holy Spirit was there at the beginning to transform with his power. Thank you for the transformation you bring us as we experience this power and passion and his purity in our lives. I pray “Come Holy Spirit now.”

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 103  Listen to Psalm 103

Psalm 103 may be familiar to some of us as the source of the Matt Redman song “Bless the Lord.” The song (and the psalm) are a declaration of God’s faithfulness in both the good times and the bad.

Psalm 103 also features heavily in the Anglican pattern of morning prayer. Perhaps the reason so many people respond to it is that it is a reminder of the status of humans in relation to the gospel. We follow a forgiving God who is faithful in both good circumstances and bad. Psalm 103 is a fantastic prayer to use in quiet times. I think as schools go back this week this is a great prayer to pray as a reminder of the constancy of God throughout times of change.

Praise the Lord, my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, my soul,

and forget not all his benefits—

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion.