April 21, 2020

In Psalm 4, King David expresses quiet trust in troubling circumstances. David’s recollection of past experiences of deliverance gives him confidence that what God has done before, He will do again.

The psalm reminds the reader to not give in to anger that would lead them to take revenge. The way to prevent sin is found in verse 4 – ponder in your hearts and be silent.

Remind yourself in a quiet moment of the trustworthiness of God, and He will give you genuine joy despite your circumstances (Philippians 4:12-13).

Psalm 4

Answer Me When I Call
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
    You have given me relief when I was in distress.
    Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
    How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
    the Lord hears when I call to him.

Be angry, and do not sin;
    ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
Offer right sacrifices,
    and put your trust in the Lord.

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
    Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
You have put more joy in my heart
    than they have when their grain and wine abound.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
    for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.


Prayer – 

Father,

Please answer me like you have in the past. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

Although there are those that may be against me, I know that you chose me, set me apart, to have a personal relationship with you.

Help me to meditate on your trustworthiness instead of giving in to my anger and seeking retribution on my own.

Thank you for giving me a joy through Jesus Christ that does not depend on my circumstances, whether good or bad.  I will rest in your peace because ultimately nothing can separate me from your love.

Amen.

67 thoughts on “RHYTHM: DAY 2

    1. Heavenly Father, I felt your presence today and was comforted.
      And I know you will be here tomorrow…..and every day hereafter.

  1. Psalm 4: 8
    In peace, I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

  2. Luke 6:31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

    John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

    Thank you Jesus for changing me through prayer!

  3. Father, in the stillness of the morning, I know You are listening. I surrender my all to You. May I love my wife this day the way Christ loves the church. May all my work duties bring You glory and honor. Guide the selection and topics to discuss over the airwaves. May words be spoken that lift hearts and encourage souls. Speak through the various guests. As for those reading this prayer, may You bless their socks off. In all today, may You be glorified. It is Your Son who enables me to approach your throne. Amen

    1. Amen! I pray this as well planning to face 100 students today over the airwaves. They bring anxiety and stories that call on me to speak through their pain – bless their socks off!

    2. Amen Terry. You put a huge smile on my face today. May the Lord bless your socks off as well. ?

  4. In my life – my attitude issues – verse 4- often lead to insomnia…maybe that’s why Psalm 4 finishes with verse 8-
    “In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
    for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety”.
    And verse 5 tells me what to do this morning – obey and trust so that tomorrow night is not a repeat ? Thank you Lord For practical guidance!

  5. God hears and answers our prayers! He knows what we need even before we ask but He enjoys His children’s talking with Him. We are dependent on God no matter who we think we are! I yield my will to you Father that I might walk by your Spirit and be pleasing to you. Thank you for the many blessings You have given in the past, for those we are now receiving and those that we will receive in the future. To God be the glory.

    1. Amen brother Sunny we can always rely on god to be there for us. We can always depend on him when we need comfort and understanding.

  6. thank you Father God that i can always rely on you for comfort and peace in this world.

  7. Father,

    Thank you for hearing every one of my prayers — every day.

    I look back to my past and see how you’ve been with me. I look forward into the future and know you’ll be with me then, too. And I look to this present moment and know you’re here with me, right now, in this quiet moment of prayer. How amazing is that thought!

    I lift my voice of praise to you.

    Help me through my current troubles, and give me the ability to hold my tongue when I’m offended or angry. I’m trusting you today because you’ve given me an inner joy — through the good times and the bad — it remains with me even today as I face new challenges.

    Thank you for the peace you give every night when I place my head on my pillow and my day is over. I can sleep soundly because I know I’m safe in your arms. Amen.

  8. Thankful that God is trustworthy. Thankful that no matter what may be going on I don’t need to lose sleep or worry, for in Him
    I have peace.

  9. He is our peace. He said, cast all your cares on me, for he because he cares for us. I will rest in peace that comes through your word. Amen.

  10. I’m blessed and grateful because my Father in heaven takes care of me and my family everyday. When I experienced betrayal and rejection by a loved one, I drew closer to the Lord by reading and meditating in His word. Isaiah 26:3 helped me during those sleepless nights – “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in You.”

  11. Thank you God For being with me every hour of every day. You give me direction hope and your everlasting love.

  12. This is why we can trust in His Word:
    2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for …
    … All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
    for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: …
    Thank you, Lord, for giving us your Holy Word!

  13. Your faithfulness has never failed me. Help me to be still and trust you. And glorify you in all I say and do.

  14. I my devotion today, I learned that “Be angry and sin not” is not the best rendering of Psalm 4:4. Angry is better translated as “stand in awe” or tremble as before your sin. It is not a license to get angry.

  15. Oh God thank you morning that as I continue to to wake up and pray you are teaching consistency with. You are showing how to pray and how to be still. Father I love because of who you are today, just to be in your presence is making me whole. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to bow at your feet, I am honored. Now please equip me with the tools to be light in this world that I may be change agent for someone who needs to see you today. Thank, I love you. In Jesus name. Amen!

  16. Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God. Lord, help me to watch and learn from your glory today, in every circumstance of my life. Amen.

    1. Thank you Father GOD for giving me another day. Thank you Lord Jesus for your daily sufficient grace even when each time I fall short of your glory your forgiveness abound. May you continue to mold me and shape me to be like You. May your Spirit guide me and give me strength to obey you and draw closer to you through the reading of Your Word. Thank you for your patience Lord.

  17. The line from the scripture and prayer I have modified for my circumstances: “meditate on your trustworthiness instead of giving in to my anger and seeking retribution on my own.” My modification is for me to meditate on God’s trustworthiness instead of giving in to my fear and defeated attitude of depression. Instead Lord, empower my thoughts and meditation to you and your power, grace, and winning this battle over the evil one!

  18. Because God knows everything, he is everywhere and is all powerful, I can trust his care for me. Help me stay focused on you Lord, to resist the temptation of being distracted by my fallen nature, others, struggles and temporary circumstances. Today I will live in the joy and peace only you can provide as I see my life in light of your glory.

  19. Heavenly Father, continue to bring relief to those in distress. Our faith is anchored to Your character! You alone are worthy of our worship. Be glorified in us today!

  20. Dear Heavenly Father,
    Thank you for growing me. Your words remind me that I am not able to just want change. I can say all the right things and do all the right things, but it is the process of surrender that yields Your good growth for me. I know that is how you have changed me before. So please give me your patience. Teach me how to give it to you and rest.

    Again, thank you. I am better than I used to be. But, as You go deeper into changing me, You fortify my trust in You. You teach me to fully surrender what I thought I controlled, so I can receive all the blessings that You have for me. Lord, I give you permission to remove any obstacles in my heart. Please lay ax to the deep roots of things the enemy had planted. “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:2

    I love you so much! It’s in your name I pray,
    Amen

    1. Nadia, I love where you pray “Please lay ax to the deep roots of things the enemy has planted.” Thanks for the reminder that those “things” are from the enemy and ask that God remove them.

  21. Lord as we go through this turbulent time in our life, we ask that you have mercy on us. We know that you here us and you will act according to your will, because you said “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. Give us the faith to Trust in you always because you are our God. Amen!

  22. Lord, you have given me righteousness, joy, and peace. You hear my prayers. In you I lack nothing. Thank you for your grace.

  23. This is a keeper that I will copy in my daily prayer notebook to pray again and again, a perfect psalm and prayer for these times, thanks

  24. You are so faithful to hear my prayers. You have done so very much for me in the past and I am so thankful.

  25. Thank you lord for the assurance we have in your character because your word declares your faithfulness, kindness, loiving mercy endures forever!

  26. So many mornings its these replies that bless me the most. That grow me the most, and inspire me. Seeing the application of Gods word in my fellow believers is powerful. I am so thankful for the comment section. I for sure had my socks blessed right off me. Ha! Thank you friends.

  27. Heavenly Father, Thank you for the joy and peace you have given me regardless of what is going on in our world today. I pray that the people you place around me notice the joy & peace that they will want to know what is going on in my life. Give me the wisdom & understanding to share your word and let it be you speaking through me and not my own words. Thank you for the confidence you have given me because only you know that in the past I was to ashame to share you with others outside my circle of comfort. I am no longer ashame and proud of who I am and whom I’ve become as I stand and proclaim you are my Lord & Savior. Lord, Father I pray for my children that they may trust in you and come to you for wisdom and understanding Father I pray for guidance in their everyday lives. Thank you, Father, for loving me for who I am. I love you, praise you and adore you. In Jesus Name, Amen!

  28. Father, you are the God of my righteousness. Thank you for hearing my prayer. If/when I am slandered, help me to find my hope and satisfaction in you alone, knowing that you hear me and that is all that matters. In moments of frustration and doubt, help me to be silent and ponder your faithfulness to me and help me trust you again and again. YOU are the source of joy, nothing material. Teach me that truth anew every day. You alone are the bringer of peace.

  29. Thankful that He hears when we call out to Him! Makes me think about Pastor Trammell’s question from last Sunday, “What am I doing with the access I have been granted?”

  30. I have Joy in my heart in all circumstances because He is trustworthy and faithful in carrying me through past circumstances. Praise you God!

  31. Dear Father, thank you for hearing & listening to me when I cry out… In times of distress, help me to remember those times in the past when you have graced me with your faithfulness… Father, help me to be silent… and with joy in my heart, lie down and rest in your perfect safety… Amen

  32. Two things jumped out at me when reading this Psalm.
    1) You have given me relief when I was in distress. / This is SO TRUE! It is important to reflect back on the many times that God has given me much needed relief from various situations / circumstances.

    2) Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. / There is something about being angry that makes me want to do something! But here God tells me – BE SILENT!! How many times have I been angry where I was not silent and things did not go well…how differently things would have turned out if I had obeyed God’s word and pondered and was silent.

  33. Dear Heavenly Father,
    I come to you today as everyday, first to thank You for loving me. I am going through so many trials and heartaches in my life right now, as You know. But I have faith that You will provide and make a way. Knowing this, I can face today and hopefully many more tomorrows. Thank you for your faithful and steadfast love. On You, I can safely stand. You are my solid rock. Amen.

  34. Thank you Lord for your Love and Mercy that you have showered me with through my life. I thank you that you have brought to mind all the times you were watching over me, and I wasn’t even aware of it. Your Word is my Safety Net and you Oh Lord are the Keeper Of My Heart. What a Gracious Father you are!!!!

  35. Father God, when I keep my mind stayed on you, I know you will give me genuine joy and peace despite my circumstances. Thank you Father for your love and grace.

  36. Lord may I never take your trustworthiness for granted! Help me to be thankfully assured that you are always there for me.

  37. Thank you Lord Jesus for reassuring me every day that you are with me. Thank you that I don’t have to worry about tomorrow because you’ve got it covered. You always have a reason and a plan for all that comes our way and I take comfort in that. Lord, let your word dwell in me so that I can be a blessing to those around me.

  38. While David displays fear (in the sense of reverence) in the presence of the Almighty Father, he is not afraid of Him. David expects the God of his righteousness to answer his call. Lord, help us all to trust that you will answer when we call out to you.

  39. My favorite part: You have put more joy in my heart
    than they have when their grain and wine abound.
    God surely provides greater comfort than any worldly object.

  40. I’m adding verse 8 to my prayers every night….I know that God will keep me safe. Needed this tonight.

  41. Thou oh Lord, are a sheild for me, my glory and the lifter of my head.
    Thou o Lord are a shield for me, my glory and the lifter of my head.
    I cried unto the Lord with my voice and He heard me out of His Holy ear, I laid me down and slept and awaked for the Lord sustained….The Lord He
    sustained me..?..??Love you so much heavenly Father.

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