The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. PSALM 23:1–2 (NKJV)

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PSALM 23

 I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. - PSALM 23:6 (NIV)

Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known psalms. If you grew up in Sunday school, every verse was a memory verse and when you hear the start of verse 1 – ‘The Lord is my shepherd’ – for some, the rest of the psalm just rolls off the tongue because it’s so familiar.

However, we all know that familiarity sometimes brings loss of meaning – a rote recitation of a passage that contains a message of hope and comfort in a season of wilderness and loss.

As we dissect this psalm verse by verse over the next five days, we pray that it won’t just be familiar but that it will take on new depth and new meaning in your life.

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Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 CORINTHIANS 9:14–17 (NIV)

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SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

‘God has given us the disciplines of the spiritual life as a means of receiving His grace. The disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that he can transform us.’ - RICHARD FOSTER

For so many of us, when we hear the word discipline, we automatically associate it with punishment or a negative experience.

However, the word ‘discipline’ also refers to training, activity, or a regime that improves a skill. 

When we talk about spiritual disciplines, this training or learning that improves a skill is the discipline we’re referring to – disciplines and practices that develop our relationship with God and draw us closer to Him.

As you read through these next devotionals, we hope you start to cultivate new disciplines in your life. Disciplines that bring you life and deepen your relationship with our creator God.  

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And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. 1 SAMUEL 30:6 (ESV)

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DISCOVERING HOPE IN THE LIFE OF DAVID

A Series by Heidi Wysman

David is one of the most referenced people in the Bible with sixty-six chapters dedicated to him. His encounter with Goliath is probably the best-known Bible account of all time. A shepherd boy who puts his trust in God and defeats a huge, experienced warrior with only his faith, a sling and a stone. David’s story is not only inspiring but very human. David was the youngest of eight sons of Jesse, a farmer and sheep breeder of the Israelite tribe of Judah, and became the second king of ancient Israel. David began his career as a court musician of King Saul, the first king in Israel. But as he grew, David began to write down his inspired songs, or psalms . His compositions inspire readers today, filling nearly half of the Book of Psalms.

David was a mighty warrior who learned to trust God in the depths of depression and the extremes of danger. He also knew how to offer the high praises of God as he saw God in all his victories. But like all of us, David had his flaws. In his life’s story, we watch a man who falls very low, but repents to take hold of God’s grace and forgiveness and is ultimately restored and redeemed. By studying David’s life, we discover that God is writing the story of our salvation. We may feel like we have very little to offer God, but that’s based on our limited perspective. When God calls, He empowers us. David’s story points us to hope in God’s mercy and His unfailing love.

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I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. HABAKKUK 2:1 (NIV)

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WHEN GOD SAYS NO

The key is you have to trust that God only has the best in store for you. If God says no to something, He says yes to something even greater. It is when you fully surrender all of your desires to His will that His perfect will is done. - NICK VUJICIC

God saying ‘No’. It’s not something we really want to think about God saying to us. Even a ‘Not yet’ is better than a ‘No’. But the reality is sometimes God says ‘No’, but it’s what we do in these moments and our response to this answer that will guide our next step.

As we wrestle with this topic over the next five days, we hope you’ll see how our sovereign God is writing a story on our lives that is far greater than we can even think, dream or imagine. However, sometimes God needs to say ‘No’ in order for us to get to the greater.

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This week Neri Morris joins us to chat about a practice that we all know is essential, but for many people can fall a bit lower on the priority list. 

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MEETING WITH GOD

What is amazing is how we treat a meeting with God as ordinary or burdensome. FRANCIS CHAN

 God desires to be with His people. We read it time and time again in the Bible. However, the question that always remains is, are we desiring to be with God in the same way He desires to be with us? Do we want to be with Him? Is that important to us?

On the other side is the question about how we meet with God. How do we intentionally set up time and moments to spend with Him throughout the seasons of life?

This week, we’ll be discussing all these questions and more as we seek to understand the heart of our amazing God for us, our personal motivations to spend time with Him, and ways for us to practically start meeting with Him throughout our daily rhythms.

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We're back with a brand new conversation, this time with our dear friend Druvi Pererra to talk about our journey through the book of Exodus.

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SECOND CHANCES
A study of Exodus 33–37

The day we find the perfect church, it becomes imperfect the moment we join it. - CHARLES SPURGEON

It’s a cycle we’ve seen over and over again in history. God’s people complain and doubt God, they turn away from Him and try to do it their own way, so He warns them of the consequences but they are stubborn and continue down their own path. God continues to provide and inevitably proves Himself to them. They run back to Him and He forgives them time and time again.

The thing is, this cycle, is still happening today. It still happens with you and me, and still God continues to give us second chances.

As we dive into Exodus chapters 33–37 we hope you can see how rich and full of important life lessons this book of the Bible is. That you will be able to see the everlasting love our heavenly Father has for you and your community of believers so much so that He continues to forgive us because He is a God of second chances over and over and over again.

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Dwayne is Hope Media’s chief content officer working with Christian media professionals and volunteers in sharing the good news of Jesus through their media ministries. 

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PEACE IN THE CHAOS

If God be our God, He will give us peace in trouble. When there is a storm without, He will make peace within. The world can create trouble in peace, but God can create peace in trouble. - Thomas Watson

Sometimes the noise of the world is overwhelming. There is so much pain. So much distrust. So much confusion. So much chaos.

It’s easy to turn to fear, anxiety and worry rather than to turn to our righteous Saviour.

This week we’ll look at finding peace in the chaos. In the world, in our community, in our own lives, chaos will come. But in those moments it’s good to know where to find peace that brings greater perspective, understanding and direction, and knowing that God is working all things together for His good and in His time.

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Kath Henry is one of the founding Pastors of the Northridge Vineyard Church and Chaplains here at Hope 103.2.

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HANNAH AND SAMUEL - A Study of 1 Samuel 1–3

My heart rejoices in the Lord… There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. - 1 SAMUEL 2:1–2 (AMP)

The story of Hannah and Samuel is one of love, persistence, faithfulness and joy. A story that has reverberated through history. A story of impact that shows God’s perfect plan at work.

This week as we look Hannah and Samuel and how God used both of them to change a nation, our prayer is that you’ll be encouraged. Encouraged that God is in control, encouraged that God’s plan is perfect and oftentimes beyond our wildest dreams, and encouraged to find the joy in the midst of the grief and sacrifice.

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Heidi Wysman is the founder of Hope with Heidi which aims to disciple people to have a revelation of Jesus. She's also been going through Isaiah with us this week on the Real Hope Podcast.

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FINDING HOPE IN ISAIAH

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. - ISAIAH 6:1 (ESV)

Recently I read the book of Isaiah and it stands as a testament of hope in the Lord, the One who saves His people from themselves. It’s filled with many promises and prophecies that pointed to Jesus: from the announcement of the Lord’s coming (Isaiah 40:3–5), His virgin birth (7:14), the good news He would proclaim (61:1), His sacrificial death (52:13 – 53:12), and His return to claim His own (60:2–3). In this plan, Finding Hope in Isaiah, you’ll discover our wonderful God and experience His faithfulness to keep His promises.

Let’s look at the prophet Isaiah. He lived during a time when King Uzziah, a popular king, died. Uzziah had ruled some 52 years on the throne and his death was a national tragedy. It reflected a changing time, and the people began to fear for the future. Everything was getting turned upside down. All that the people could see with Uzziah gone was an empty throne.

But Isaiah wrote: In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. In the midst of it all. Isaiah’s eyes shifted from an earthly king, and an empty throne, to the King of Kings, seated on the throne of all thrones. God was on the throne and God was still in control. The one Isaiah would describe only a few chapters later

 

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Neri Morris is an accidental entrepreneur and owner of 'Thread Harvest'. She is also the author of 'Single Me' talking about her experiences and her work with God through singleness and relationships.   

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DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS

Never underestimate the power of a conversation. - Anonymous

We have all been in one of ‘those’ conversations that challenges us and makes us uncomfortable. Maybe it was aggressive, or filled with anger or condescension. Maybe it was a conversation you knew you would never win or resolve.  

However, as Christians we are called to be the light of Christ in the world and that includes in our conversations. So how do we approach these conversations with non-Christians and Christians. How do we display Christ and His love in these moments?

This week we’ll explore these questions. As you read through this week’s devotions, may you be encouraged, challenged and equipped to step into these conversations with confidence and the ability to navigate your conversations in a way that glorifies God and points others to Him.

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