Psalm 119:33–37 (NASB)

Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,

And I shall observe it to the end.

Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law

And keep it with all my heart.

Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,

For I delight in it.

Incline my heart to Your testimonies

And not to dishonest gain.

Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,

And revive me in Your ways.

I remember exactly where I was when I first read these verses and how a melody immediately came to mind. It became a song for Scripture Songs Volume 2 and you’ll hear it at the end of this episode.

As I read Psalm 119:33–37 in the NASB, the NIV, and the NLT, something caught my attention: two phrases remain unchanged — “all my heart” and “to the end.”

James Boice wrote that “to the end” means without time limit, and “with all my heart” means without reservation.

Another phrase stood out too: “Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity.” Many translations render it “worthless things.”

There really is a war over our eyes—over where we set our gaze. Not every “worthless thing” is sinful, but when comparison or discontent rises in us, those things may be climbing into a place they were never meant to have.

Psalm 119:37

Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,

And revive me in Your ways.

May God redirect our gaze, revive our hearts, and help us follow Him—to the end and with all our heart. 

I’ll close with the song, “With All My Heart.”

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This week, we are revisiting a favorite episode. We hope you enjoy going back with us.

In this episode, we re-worked track 11 from ⁠my Comfort-19 project⁠ to fit here at the Quiet Place. 

Here is a sneak peek at a few lyrics from the song I’ll sing:

"You comfort all who mourn

You give them beauty for ashes

Then You look inside their heart

And heal the broken places"

Song: "If I Could"

Inspiration: Isaiah 61, Luke 4, and Jesus 

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1 Samuel 3:10 (NIV)

The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

It was a dark season, but right in the middle of it, God was quietly working in a young boy named Samuel.

My pastor reminded us that Samuel was a bright spot in those days—especially against the dark backdrop around him. Many would have never known that God was working in this young boy who would one day change their nation.

Even today, though there is darkness, it’s not all dark.

There are bright spots everywhere—moments where we can see God’s faithfulness shining through. And sometimes, He even lets us be that bright spot for someone else.

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2 Thessalonians 2:16–17

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

The definition for establish is:

"to make steadfast in mind, confirm, strengthen"

(Complete Word Study Bible)

When my thoughts felt especially heavy, this passage helped me recognize my need for a steadfast mind. I pictured myself diving into a foxhole—a quiet shelter where I could steady my heart while troubled thoughts zipped overhead.

Paul understood this same need. He knew it is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father who accomplish this work in us. It is God who comforts, strengthens, and establishes us in truth—so that we can continue in every good work and word.

That reminder brought strength to my heart as I paused to remember what I know is true. I hope you’ll find the same encouragement in this episode.

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This week, we are revisiting a favorite episode. We hope you enjoy going back with us.

Psalm 139:1

O LORD, you have examined my heart

and know everything about me.

He knows why you do what you do, and think what you think, and say what you say. He knows the land mines within us that set off when stepped on. Even accidentally. 

He knows everything about you and everything about everyone. We, on the other hand, do not.

We need His perspective always.

This Psalm becomes more and more precious as you grow in your understanding of the love with which He examines your heart.

I will read to you from:

Psalm 139:1-24

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Colossians 3:1–3 (NIV)

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary says that “hidden” implies both concealment and safety, invisibility and security.

Paul, who wrote the book of Colossians, understood this deeply. Even while he was concealed in prison, he knew he was safe and secure with Christ.

In this episode, we’ll look at what it means for our lives to be hidden in Him—through the story of Corrie Ten Boom, the example of Jesus, and the secret place described in the Psalms. 

I’ll close with the song “In Him I Will Trust,” inspired by Psalm 91:

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;

My God, in Him I will trust.”

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Isaiah 61:1 (NKJV)

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

Isaiah 61 is one of my favorite descriptions of Jesus. Written 700 years before He walked into the synagogue and read these words about Himself, it is both a forecast of His ministry and, as F.B. Meyer points out, a forecast of a world full of people who need everything about Him.

He is still carrying out this ministry today. I am so grateful and still need His ministry to my soul. My hope is that you’ll be encouraged and reminded that He is everything you need.

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Psalm 59:14-16 (NLT)

My enemies come out at night,

snarling like vicious dogs

as they prowl the streets.

They scavenge for food

but go to sleep unsatisfied.

But as for me, I will sing about your power.

I will shout with joy each morning because of your unfailing love.

For you have been my refuge,

a place of safety in the day of distress.

In this episode, we spend time with the Miktam Psalms—which I discovered are also called the Golden Poems. There are six Miktam Psalms and all were written by David in some of his hardest seasons, when danger and distress surrounded him. 

There is something so encouraging about the fact that, in the middle of David’s distress, he takes a hard turn toward faith and worship. It’s a reminder that we can do the same. 

Just as David’s golden poems all have places that shine with trust, we can remember our own “golden lines” of comfort and moments where God has carried us through.

I hope you find encouragement (like I did) in these verses. 

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This week, we are revisiting a favorite episode. We hope you enjoy going back with us.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labor of the olive may fail,

And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

And there be no herd in the stalls—

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk was told a brutal enemy was coming.

They were known for violence. They would come with a force, and take all the herds and clear out all the stalls. They would demolish the trees and plant life that bore fruit or food for sustenance and trade. It was a dismal, terrifying horizon.

And yet we witness Habakkuk change, even though the circumstances didn’t. This three-chapter book impacts me every time.

Also, this episode comes with a warning. Though I keep things pretty mellow here at The Quiet Place, there may be some percussion and a cymbal or two at the end of this song.

I will sing, "Yet I Will Rejoice."

I will read to you from:

Habakkuk 3:17-18

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Psalm 61:1–4 (NKJV)

Hear my cry, O God;

Attend to my prayer.

From the end of the earth I will cry to You,

When my heart is overwhelmed;

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For You have been a shelter for me,

A strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;

I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.

Selah

I love the word, "attend." We attend a birthday party, we attend a church. To attend is to show up, to respond, to be present.

“Attend to my prayer” — David’s words remind us that God does not ignore our cries. He shows up to our prayers. He shows up for you.

In Our Daily Homily, F.B. Meyer paints Psalm 61:2 with vivid imagery: the scorching desert, the weary traveler fainting under the heat, and the merciful shadow of a great rock offering refuge. He concludes tenderly: “Jesus will be all this to thee, dear heart.”

Meyer wrote with such a tender heart toward his readers. I’ll read some of his reflections in this episode.

At the close, I’ll also share the song, “In the Shelter” from Scripture Songs, Volume 2. I recorded it years ago, but it remains one of my favorites to sing.

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