Today we're in Psalm 85 where the psalmist acknowledges the great things God has done for them, and then humbly goes to Him concerning their present troubles. Today, we'll be reading from The Message translation.

1-3 God, you smiled on your good earth!
    You brought good times back to Jacob!
You lifted the cloud of guilt from your people,
    you put their sins far out of sight.
You took back your sin-provoked threats,
    you cooled your hot, righteous anger.

4-7 Help us again, God of our help;
    don’t hold a grudge against us forever.
You aren’t going to keep this up, are you?
    scowling and angry, year after year?
Why not help us make a fresh start — a resurrection life?
    Then your people will laugh and sing!
Show us how much you love us, God!
    Give us the salvation we need!

8-9 I can’t wait to hear what he’ll say.
    God’s about to pronounce his people well,
The holy people he loves so much,
    so they’ll never again live like fools.
See how close his salvation is to those who fear him?
    Our country is home base for Glory!

10-13 Love and Truth meet in the street,
    Right Living and Whole Living embrace and kiss!
Truth sprouts green from the ground,
    Right Living pours down from the skies!
Oh yes! God gives Goodness and Beauty;
    our land responds with Bounty and Blessing.
Right Living strides out before him,
    and clears a path for his passage.

This psalm reminds us of three things:

FIRST to give thanks to the Lord, no matter the circumstances, and not to be surprised when He allows a rebuke when we’ve strayed.

SECOND, it reminds us to ask Him for a renewed life.

And THIRD, this Psalm teaches us to listen to God’s message for our lives.

Let us know your thoughts about Psalm 85, and may you live deeply into your calling this week.