Psalm 71

 Psalm 71

By the time of Absalom’s rebellion, David was an older man. While a specific timeline isn't given, we can assume that David was in his 50s at the time of this rebellion. The young, great warrior is fading in strength, but during this rebellion David is still vigorous in spirit and love of God. David asks not just for safety or victory but that in his older years he will enjoy God's company (vs. 9 & 18) and that he will be a faithful messenger of God's greatness.

Nothing apart from God's intervention will protect against the physical decline of age. We may, with self-care, slow it but never stop it. But as our bodies decline, we can grow in our spiritual vitality. Verses 22-24 are a beautiful song of praise that David expresses because of his spiritual condition, not his physical strength. Nothing is more pathetic than an older person that vainly tries to hang on to their youth. And nothing is more beautiful than the older person who ages with grace and their relationship with God.

“As I age, Lord, help me to grow in wisdom, grace, and love for You. AMEN.” 

Psalm 70

 Psalm 70

This little song and the last 5 verses of Psalm 40 are virtually identical. Perhaps this emotional expression prompted the rest of the story in Psalm 40. Perhaps the final verses in Psalm 40 were used for a different circumstance and so were written separately here. Whatever the relationship, the emotions are still as powerful.

There comes a point when we realize the only help and hope is God. In verse one we see that time is almost up. God is eternal and not constrained by time, but we live in and with time; deadlines are a part of our everyday lives. God is never late, but he rarely comes early. He is aware of the timelines that we face, and we can be sure that God will not be too late with too little when it comes time for our help.

This does not change the reality that there are terrible people who will, in the meantime, put us through terrible times. The psalmist identifies three behaviors of his wicked opponent. First they want him dead. While most of us will not face this kind of pressure in many places in the world today, this is the daily reality for Christians. Second, the opponent delights in hurting the psalmist. This may include physical harm, but it's by no means limited to that behavior. They may hurt us in jobs, in relationships, in reputation, and in any other form of personal distress. If not sticks and stones and if not a sword, then the opponent is active in insulting. In our culture “Aha” is an interjection of discovery. But in the psalmist's world, this was an expression of contempt at a guttural level. This was a wordless but clearly audible expression of contempt and insult. In every culture we have ways of expressing our feelings of someone's inferiority without words.

The psalmist finds encouragement and praise to God and that he is not the only person who is turning to God. In times of trouble is when we most need to be a part of a community of faith. Suffering is hard; suffering alone is almost impossible. The song ends much as it began, with a plea that God will move quickly. God has never failed one of His own, but at times it feels like if He doesn't hurry, we will be the first. When we feel that it is good to recall, “Thou art my help and my deliverer.”.

“Lord help me to remember that You are my help and my deliverer. AMEN”

Psalm 69

 Psalm 69

We must never discount or forget the two main sources of evil that come into our lives. And in this Psalm we will look at both and consider what will become of each. The first source of evil is the evil people around us, verses 1-4. These people are like a flood sweeping us away; we feel like we are in quicksand and can have no foothold, no way to help ourselves out of the trouble in which we find ourselves. Overwhelmed by evil people, we are dependent upon their mercy, and they have none. The second source of evil in our lives is ourselves, verses 5-12. We suffer because of our own foolish behavior and sin.  Even when we try to live right and to turn things around, our past hangs on us like a monkey bent on our misery. (Note that v. 9 is applied to Jesus. This song is not predictive of Jesus, but portions are applied to him; that difference is important.)

In the misery, the Psalmist pleads for help in verses 13-19. Between evil people and our own self-inflicted evil, the only hope is God's loving-kindness and his tender mercies. We are sometimes reluctant to be honest in our prayers.  We want to sound good and religious and pious.  It is pointless for us to try to pretend. God knows our sins and the affliction our enemies cause. Confession will never surprise God but is the only way we can be honest to and with ourselves.

We see the power of the gospel of Christ when we look at the contrast between verses 22-28 and the prayers of the New Testament. These verses are fully appropriate under the old covenant of the law, but the cross changes how we view our enemies and how we pray for them. “Father forgive them” were among the agonizing words of Jesus as He approached death. Stephen’s last words were, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” What a striking contrast to “May they be blotted out of The Book of Life.” The cross makes the difference.

The song concludes on a hopeful and positive note. Even in the midst of pain there is hope because God sees and notes suffering. So the Psalmist has plans to worship and offers preemptive praise because God will save his people.

“Help me, Lord, to be different because of the cross. AMEN”

Psalm 68

 Psalm 68

Adam Clark, whom I believe to be one of the best scholars on the book of Psalms, says the Psalm 68 is the most difficult of all the Psalms.  It may have been a Psalm built on prior Psalms.  The general theme is of God’s people traveling after God.  We see glimpses of the Exodus, the Ark being moved into Jerusalem, and Israel returning from Babylon.  Travel is always hard, and in the middle of the psalm is a beautiful promise.  In verse 19 we read, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, the God who is our salvation.”

Travel in ancient times was one of burdens.  Few owned a beast of burden, and fewer still owned a cart or wagon, and there were certainly none of the vehicles that make travel for us so easy. The rule was if you wanted it, you carried it.  We think of traveling light as 1 or 2 bags we carry or roll a few hundred feet to the car or plane.  They carried their baggage or burdens all the way all the time. This was especially difficult for the solo traveler.  In this complex Psalm we find the simple, hope-filled truth that God daily bears our burdens.  Ours, in many ways, is a different kind of journey; it is nonetheless difficult, but we have the same hope: Daily the Lord bears our burdens.

“Lord, help me to lay my burdens down and trust You as the One who bears my burdens. AMEN.”

Psalm 67

 Psalm 67

If you don’t know the proper use for something, you will end up abusing it, misusing it, and ultimately losing it.  It is difficult to imagine a case where this is not true.  We often ask God for blessings in our lives without knowing the purpose of those blessings.  As a result, many of those blessings are abused, misused, and ultimately lost.  This Psalm explains the purpose of blessings in our lives.  The first two lines in verse 1 are the quintessential Hebrew blessing.  But the purpose for blessing is given in verse 2, that God’s way and salvation can be known worldwide.  We are blessed to bless others, not to acquire luxury, pleasure, and ease for ourselves.  This Psalm is an evangelistic Psalm and directs that our blessings are for a testimony and witness to the world.  It is natural that under the new covenant of the Cross and in the community of evangelism and faith of the church that we would see the support of missionaries and benevolent efforts as the proper use of our blessings.  

We receive no blessing if we try to keep it only for ourselves and try to use it only to gain more or to be used to gain selfish pleasure; we cut ourselves off from the purpose of the blessing and eventually from the source of the blessing Himself  In contrast to this selfish attitude, we see in verses 5-6 that in the investment in blessing others there develops a repeating cycle of blessings, so that the earth yields its produce.  Stewardship, the godly use of God-given resources, extends not just to our money but also to our environment, indeed to the whole of creation.  This Psalm concludes with verse 7’s summation: God’s blessing came to us so all the earth may fear the one true God. 

“Lord, help me use Your resources to honor You. AMEN”

Psalm 66

 Psalm 66

This Psalm that calls for and expresses praise to God because of His wonderful works and answers to prayer. It holds for us some unexpected insights that help prepare us for the realities of life.  Notice in the first section, “Because of the greatness of Thy power Thine enemies will give feigned obedience.” We are sometimes surprised that we find wicked people in worship or that wicked people in positions of power, social or cultural, pretend to be an adherent of God.  There are those who give deceptive obedience because they perceive in that an advantage for themselves.  Often it is these people who are the source of our hardship and suffering.  It is understandable that we might be disappointed, but with such warnings we should not be surprised. 

God preserves our life and keeps us from slipping (vs. 8-9), but have we considered how He does this?   Here is our second insight. We see in the middle of this Psalm the “secret formula” that prevents our slipping.  The list provided in vs. 10-12 is no vacation brochure and is not very likely to be a popular message for those wanting to please a shallow audience.  What is that formula that keeps us from slipping?

He tries us.

He refines us like silver (read into this a smelting furnace).

He entraps us in a net, like the capture of a bird or animal.

He places oppressive burdens on our loins-this may refer to the burning pain we feel in extreme terror or fear.

He makes men ride over our heads.  This likely refers to defeat in battle, after which the beaten army is made to lay down before the victors.

We have gone through fire and water, either of which is fatal for people, but used by a blacksmith finishes the work and provides maximum strength to the metal.

How does God keep our feet from slipping by the training of difficulties?  Only after these do we find the last line of verse 12, “Thou didst bring us out into a place of abundance.”

The third insight comes from the last section of the Psalm.  God has delivered and rescued and the Psalmist praises, but he notes that if he had “regarded wickedness” in his heart God would not have heard him.  There is a necessary integrity, not to be mistaken for perfection, that we must have or God will reject our pleas no matter how pious they may sound.  No doubt these struggles will purify us and of the things that must be removed are the hidden agendas of our hearts. People who are thoroughly corrupt can obtain earthly wealth. But the great blessings of God, temporal and relational, only come in our walk with Him and that sometimes requires significant heart conditioning.  

“Lord, if need be purify me and make me strong by hardships. AMEN”

Psalm 65

 Psalm 65

It takes considerable effort to not worship God.  If we are silent, really silent for a moment, it is easy to glimpse God’s greatness.  If we think about God’s perfect moral law, both in the individual points and in its totality, it fits together beautifully.  When we silently contemplate the wonder of creation, from the expanse of the universe to the careful details of the smallest particles, it works.  Whenever we find ourselves viewing a peaceful valley, majestic mountains, a roaring seashore, rushing rapids, or expansive wetlands, we see majesty that points to a majestic One.  In the marvel of a clear night sky, exploding sunrise, or settling sunset, we see Someone behind it all.  Even the cycle of agriculture with rain or harvest, pasture, and livestock can be an opportunity to worship if we are silent long enough.  

Sadly, our world is almost never silent.  So much of our lives are wrapped up in the inanity and banality of hearing and sharing opinions.  Perhaps there needs to be in our lives a discipline of silence.  It might take some time, but by listening less, we might hear more.  

“Lord, grant me the grace of listening for You in the silence.  AMEN.”

Psalm 64

 Psalm 64

In verse 6 the same word is used, in three forms, to describe the activity of the wicked. The root word (chaphas) means to examine, seek out, or investigate.  The wicked carefully and thoroughly plan out the evil they do.  Their plan seems foolproof, perfect, and absolutely flawless.

What they fail to bring into their calculation is God’s action.  Not only does their plan fail because of God’s involvement, but He turns their plan onto or against them.  In verses 2-3 the evil sharpen their tongues and prepare poison arrows.  But in true irony they are the ones who end up being shot, and their sharpened tongues inflict their own wounds.

While we don’t know what prompted the Psalmist to pen this poem, we can see the same story in our world.  The forces of evil are at work planning their advantage and the fall of the innocent.  But God is still at work, and while in the midst of it all we may not see the Lord’s victory, it is coming. One of the tools the Lord uses is the powers of evil.

“Help me to never fear the plans of the evil, because, Lord, You will be victorious. AMEN.”

Psalm 63

 Psalm 63 

With the rise of ever-advancing technology, there has been a disturbing rise in ‘virtual’ relationships and connections.  As video began to stream over the internet, churches began to attempt to draw people to ‘watch their services’ online.  This accelerated in response to the Covid pandemic.  Many in the church community laud this as a great benefit to the church.  Certainly there are good uses of internet-available teaching.  But the gathering of worship via individuals connected only by watching is like looking at a video of a campfire; it is only a shallow representation of the real thing.  As Christians, or even emotionally healthy people, we find a digital girlfriend, boyfriend, or spouse disturbing.  How can we imagine that a digital worship experience is adequate?

In contrast to this, when David was on the run, he longed for the worship of God, and that longing was rooted in his experience with God in the sanctuary.  In the forms, the sights, the smells, and the total experience of being in God’s presence, David was bound to God spiritually, emotionally, and psychologically. Shaped by worship, when David was away, he wanted to be in God’s presence.  Day or night, David’s thoughts and heart turned toward God.  If that was true in the time of David, how much more ought it to be true for us in the time when the people of God are His temple?  If worship in the community of faith is absent from our lives, very likely our longing for God will be as well.

“Lord, help me to desire deeply to be with Your people, Your temple. AMEN.”

Psalm 62

 Psalm 62

We all have a tendency to want to talk and talk too much.  Especially in difficult times when we are under attack.  This psalm may have been written when David was under attack from Absalom.  David does something we need to replicate when we are under stress.  He emphasizes the importance of being silent. 

In verse 1 David describes himself with “My soul waits in silence for God alone.” After describing the wicked behavior of evil men, there is a subtle change. In verse 5 we see “My soul, wait in silence for God only.”  In verse 1 he describes the state of his soul; in verse 5 he commands it.  Being silent and waiting on God is not a one-and-done kind of thing.  We seem to be at peace, and when reminded of evil, we have to take action to move toward the peace or silence before God.  But this time David doesn’t rehearse their evil behaviors but rather God’s greatness.  Notice also what David heard in verses 11-12.  Power belongs to God, and loving-kindness, or mercy, is His.  

“Lord, help me to be silent so I can hear Your words of mercy. AMEN.”

Psalm 61

 Psalm 61

It seems that we are better at working on our relationship with God in times of hardship than in times of ease and comfort.  The Psalmist is far from the temple and almost spent, verse 2, and is calling out to God.  His desire is to be near the Lord, under His protection.  The Psalmist has made vows to God and God has heard them.  

We have all made vows to God.  Since God needs nothing from us, it's pretty foolish to try to bargain with Him.  What He desires is a relationship with us.  So when we make a vow, it ought to be to that end.  

These vows need to be fulfilled, and that is where the rub, or the challenge is.  When we became Christian, we made certain vows or commitments.  In short, we gave up control of ourselves, and we surrendered or gave our lives to the Lord.  We gave ourselves completely to Him, as a sacrifice, albeit a living one.  So the question we must answer is, “How are we doing in keeping the promises we made to the Lord?”  Not keeping promises is bad, especially those made to God.

“Lord, help me every day to die to myself and live completely for You. AMEN””

Psalm 60

 Psalm 60

When the insanity we call World War 1 began, all the combatant nations held these two things in common.  First, they believed it would be a quick war ending in glorious victory.  Second, they believed this to be the case because they were convinced that God was on their side.  They lived like this in ancient Israel.  Today many of us have the capacity to assume what we deeply desire must be God’s will.

The traditional title of this psalm doesn’t seem to fit the record of Scripture.  Perhaps this was written in a retrospective during the return from exile, calling Israel to reflect on and reject the folly of presuming upon God’s favor. That is the lesson for us.  

It recalls an occasion where apparently Israel was badly defeated in battle after assuming God’s protection and blessing, verses 1-5.  Certainly God’s will is going to be accomplished, verses 6-8.  But His will is going to be accomplished by those in submission and obedience to Him.  The important question is not “Is God on our side?” He alone chooses.  The question is “Am I on God’s side?”  If my loyalty is anywhere else, victory for instance, we may find ourselves beaten and broken.  

“Lord, help me to never presume on Your grace and favor. AMEN.”

Psalm 59

 Psalm 59

This Psalm has traditionally been attributed to David, but there are some scholars who believe it may have been written by Nehemiah while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.  This seems to fit the Psalm better, especially the difficult-to-translate and understand verse 9.

When there are limited or scarce resources, you better put those resources to the best use possible, and that is what verse 9 is all about. What the Psalmist seems to be saying is either “Because my enemy is stronger, I will wait on God” or “With all my strength, I will wait on God.”  Perhaps the reason this verse is vague is that the writer meant both.  Compared to the power of darkness, our personal resources are very small.  The best use of our limited resources is to direct them to connecting with God. 

In this Psalm the forces of evil are powerful, relentless, remorseless, and cruel.  Clearly the author is over matched, so he will use what he has to connect with the One who saves. In the last 2 verses we see the hope of this strategy.  

“Lord, I will trust You because You are my stronghold. AMEN.”

Psalm 58

 Psalm 58

We believe this psalm was prompted by the rebellion of Absalom.  Recall that Absalom began to steal the hearts of the people by means of promising justice and social reform (2 Samuel 15).  

There are few things more harmful than those in a position of public trust who have evil motives.  They are like a deadly snake that is unresponsive to its handler/charmer.  David’s descriptions or curses are highly aggressive: a toothless lion, poured-out water, arrows with no point, snail slime, or a miscarried child.  David says their punishment will be fast.  Thorns burn fast and hot but not for long.  David is not predicting a soon-to-arrive justice, but when it happens, it will be a short and complete demise.  

At the fall of the wicked, righteous people rejoice.  This should not be a matter of personal revenge or angry retribution.  Rather, this is the delight of seeing God’s justice prevail.  We rejoice that God’s standards are vindicated.  “Surely there is a God who judges the earth. ”.

“Grant, Lord, that I will wait for Your justice.  AMEN.”

Psalm 57

 Psalm 57

The question often comes down to: “Whose solution or answer do you really trust?” From home repair to medical care, we follow the advice of those we deem trustworthy.  When it comes to the matter of life, whose solutions do we trust: God's or our own?

The events that prompted this psalm are found in 1 Samuel 24 and pose to David that same question.  Some scholars believe that David intended to kill Saul but was prompted or was told by God, ‘Do not destroy.’  David had every right to run Saul through and he had the perfect opportunity to end Saul’s pursuit.

But David realized there was a greater security and peace in submission to God’s will than his own solution.  The ESV translates verse 2 beautifully: “I cry out to God most high, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.”  It was a sure thing that David could have killed Saul.  But it was an even more sure thing that God would accomplish His purpose for David.  

The question for me is do I trust my solutions and answers or God’s?

“By Your grace, Lord, help me never to substitute my solutions for Yours. Amen. ”.

Psalm 56

Psalm 56

David is between a rock and a hard place.  Fleeing from Saul, David goes to the Philistine ruler Achish.  But Achish’s war council reminds him that David has reportedly slain 10,000 Philistines (1 Samuel 21:10-11).  How does David respond to this situation?  He responds with confidence, but why confidence?  In verses 4 and 10, David expresses his love for God’s word.  Clearly this is not the same as our Bible, but the principle is the same. David knows God, and that knowledge of God gives him confidence in God’s care and direction.  Familiarity with God’s past dealing is derived from His word.  God’s story about Himself—how He interacts with His people, what He cares about, and what He thinks about me—can be more important than the circumstance.  Indeed these ought to be more important than the circumstances, people, or emotions.  The result of this confidence is we fulfill our vows or commitments to God.  Knowing God by His word, having confidence in Him, and living a holy life: this is a life worth living.  

“Lord, help me to know You by pouring faithfully over Your word. AMEN.”

Psalm 55

Psalm 55

The story behind this Psalm would make an excellent movie about high-level political intrigue.  This psalm is David' s response to the rebellion of Absalom and especially the treason of David’s trusted longtime friend and advisor Ahithophel.

David’s distress is complete, and he expresses his desire to retreat into the wilderness.  During the oppression of Saul, David was on the run engaging in guerrilla warfare.  Without the constraints of urban life, he was one step ahead of Saul.  But he wants to be like a dove, to get more than one step’s distance between him and danger.  

But David knows that safety isn’t in the dreams of a wilderness retreat or a bug-out location.  Security is found in God alone.  Traitors can be found even in the most secure locations.  The advice of verse 22 is for kings on the run or simple people trying to live faithfully in a crazy, evil world.  Our obligation and only real choice is to be sure that we are the ‘righteous’ as seen in the second part of verse 22.  This is greater security in righteous living than in a fortress.

“In times of ease or trouble, help me, Lord, to be righteous before You. AMEN.”

Psalm 54

 Psalm 54

The backstory or historical context is critical to this Psalm.  The men of Ziph aligned themselves with Saul and chose to betray David.  Saul’s response is interesting; he plans to capture and murder David, but he sounds pious in the process: “May you be blessed of the Lord, for you have had compassion on me” (1 Samuel 23:21).  Not everyone who is fluent in ‘God talk’ is a good person.  

David has a narrow escape and pens these words as a response.  In v. 7 we see the word ‘delivered’ in NASB.  This word carries the connotation or implication of a covenant relationship. David’s rescue was not mere happenstance.  It was God acting out of the relationship between God and David. For David’s benefit, God even used the wicked heathen Philistines.  God rules all things for the benefit of His Kingdom.  We need not fear the plots, plans, and operations of the godless or the powers of darkness.  Nevertheless, it was a close call.  In the past part of verse 7, David says that his “eye has looked upon my enemy.”  Often translations insert words to clarify the meaning, but a literal translation may be best. David was within visual range when the rescue occurred.  God will not fail us.  But He may allow things to develop so that we are frightened occasionally.  

“Help me, Lord, to live in complete confidence and trust in You. AMEN.”

Psalm 53

Psalm 53

This Psalm and Psalm 14 are very similar.  The subject of human evil is a nearly inexhaustible subject.  The source of evil is, at its root, a denial of God.  We are apt to apply this to the lives of dictators, exploitative captains of industry, or leaders of criminal organizations.  But perhaps we ought to apply this a little closer to home.  When I sin, I do so either by intentional choice or by drifting, under the influence of the world, the flesh, or pride, I am denying God.  I cannot in the same moment hate someone and submit to God, who calls me to love even my enemies.  In fundamental ways, purity and lust, truth and lies, and generosity and greed are so incompatible as to make the act of sin a statement of, in practical terms, atheism.

Perhaps rather than consider this Psalm a rebuke for wicked monsters in our world, I ought to take it as a confrontation to that part of my heart that still wants to harbor sin.  When I act sinfully because I think it is a solution, in that moment and space I say there is not a God and I am free to do as I will.

“Lord, never allow me to confess You with my words but deny You with my deeds. AMEN”

Psalm 52

 Psalm 52

This psalm is a reflection on one of the most barbaric events in the history of the kingdom of Israel.  If you are not familiar with the story, take a moment to read 1 Samuel 22.  We can’t say for certain if this Psalm is a rebuke of Saul or Doeg, but that doesn’t really matter; the principles apply to both.  

Verses 1-4 are descriptive of the depth of evil.  Note in v 2 is the reference to a sharp razor.  The one welding the razor is a trusted barber.  The image here is that of betrayal; expecting to have a shave, the victim has his throat cut.  This is an apt description of how wicked evil people are.

Verses 5-7 are descriptive of the destruction of the evil and the reaction of the righteous to their ruin.  God’s justice is perfect, complete, just, and devastating.  Far better than anything humans could accomplish, that is one reason it is commanded that we leave it to God to repay.  But there is an important point in this section about motivation.  Why such evil?  The evil one made wealth his security; anything that threatened his wealth was a threat to his very being (v. 7).  Their ruin is both an occasion for the righteous to fear God and rejoice in His judgment.  Should we laugh at the ruin of the wicked (v. 6), or is laughter an irresistible result of witnessing the ruin of the evil?  

“Lord, bring Your righteous and just judgment against all evil, including the evil of my own heart. AMEN.”

Psalm 51

 Psalm 51

Next to Psalm 23, this is perhaps the most well-known of all the Psalms.  It is the response of David’s heart when it is finally broken over the murder of his loyal friend, prompted by the affair with his friend’s wife.  It is hard not to identify with this Psalm even if our sin is not murder.  As with all the Psalms, this one deserves deep study and meditation from the opening letter to the final period.

For our purposes we will focus on three points in the first verse.  The theme and desperation of the whole Psalm are expressed in three words or phrases.  In the NASB those words and phrases are “be gracious,” “loving kindness,” and “compassion.” There is a growing intensity of these words.  In these three words/phrases, David is asking for ‘kind affection’ that is expressed over one that is loved.  Next he asks for a disposition of ‘beauty and goodness.’  Third, there he places his hope in a deep gut-level emotion that moves the whole person, that is, God, to act.  Herein is the only hope for a sinner.  Thankfully that beautifully describes our Lord God’s passionate want and desire to forgive us.  His desire to forgive is greater than our desire to be forgiven.  But if we have that desire, however imperfectly and incompletely, He is both willing and able to forgive.  

“Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. AMEN.”

Psalm 50

 Psalm 50

It is all about the focus.  When I was a motorcycle riding instructor, I taught my students, “Where you look (focus), you will go.  That is true of riding and of life.” One of the dangers in our lives of worship is we get the wrong focus.  This Psalm is a warning about misplaced focus.  Some made the focus of their worship their sacrifices and imagined that their practices made them right.  These folks were in grave danger and were warned about God’s punishing judgment (vv. 7-13). Others offered the same sacrifices along the way, but their focus was on God.  As a result they were right with Him (v. 14-15).

We often make, or try to make, worship about performance, our style, emotions, traditions, or us. An entire industry has grown up around marketing the worship of church to suit the wishes of people.  There is serious danger here, because worship is not about us.  The grandeur of the God of the universe draws from us worship and relationship.  When He is at the center, everything else falls into place.

“Lord, help me to focus on You, and out of that focus, worship You. AMEN.”