“For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out over the land of Egypt, I heard a language that I didn’t know.” (Psalm 81:4-5)

In this world, we will experience things that are foreign. Our lives will takes twists and turns that are unanticipated, but the Lord knows all of our days. You have been appointed to give a testimony of the faith you have received amidst those who do not understand what you are talking about. The Lord sends you as His witness to speak the truth and reality of His salvation.

Lord, I often see myself as a foreigner in this world, for many do not receive the word I speak. Yet, it is You who has called me to live humbly in this faith You have given me. Lead me no matter the circumstances to sit at Your feet knowing that You alone hold all things in Your hands. Guide me according to Your mercy to walk with You wherever this life may lead, knowing that all things are in Your hands.

Lord Jesus, You spoke several times about the hostility of this world. It was a hostility that eventually put You to death. Help me know that I should expect no less. Guide me in the goodness You came into this world to bring that I may now and always live according to that goodness and simply be a witness in this world of the truth that You came to reveal. Amen.

“Sing aloud to God, our strength! Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob! Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp. Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.” (Psalm 81:1-3)

God is good and provides for all the people. The harvest seasons come and those in need are satisfied. Come and see that the Lord is good; so rejoice and give thanks. Have a thankful heart and join with others to celebrate. We were created to rejoice, praise and give thanks. It comes naturally and we love being together in celebration. Come then and praise the Lord for all things.

Lord, I do love to celebrate. Teach me to rejoice each day in the goodness You provide. Help me now and always to be one who is thankful for the many gifts You provide knowing that all things are made available through Your hand of goodness. Bring me to the place where my celebrations always include You, that I may learn to be truly thankful for all things.

I am thankful, Lord Jesus, that You have led the way. You often joined with others in celebration and have taught us to delight in each other. Guide me, Lord, to walk with You in thankfulness each day knowing that You more than provide for all that is needed. Your love is showered upon us through grace upon grace. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for all the good gifts You bestow upon us. Amen.

“Let your hand be on the man of your right hand, on the son of man whom you made strong for yourself. So we will not turn away from you. Revive us, and we will call on your name. Turn us again, Yahweh God of Armies. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.” (Psalm 80:17-19)

We were created to be in fellowship. In union with one another, we can and do prosper. God demonstrates this with Trinity and shows us definitively with His Son who is our Savior. When the people wander off, they flounder, but when they come together to Him, they see the Lord is with them. Come then into the presence of the Lord and walk in His light.

Lord, the wisdom You give seems so simple, but often it is hard to do. Turn my heart to receive You and then do what it is You say. Help me now and always to hear and heed Your Word of wisdom and walk in Your counsel, not as an expectation of results, but as a way of life. In You alone is there hope for any and all people and apart from You comes the guarantee of failure.

Lord Jesus, You are the right hand of the Father Who has come and freed us from the recompense of sin. There is still the battle against sin, death and the forces of darkness. Help me now and always to live into the hope You give knowing that only in You is there life. As You have modeled for us, so help me live in my daily life to be an example for others of fellowship and faithfulness. Amen.

“The stock which your right hand planted, the branch that you made strong for yourself. It’s burned with fire. It’s cut down. They perish at your rebuke.” (Psalm 80:15-16)

The great nations fall and their power is forever gone. The wicked who maim and destroy are themselves destroyed. It does come to pass as You have said. There is nothing secret that will not be revealed. Lead me, O Lord, to see in You the hope of glory and the truth that all things are always in Your hands. You are bringing all things together for good for those who love You.

Lord, I am often impatient and I want to see it come to pass before my eyes. You have given Your Word that all of us may see the truth that the nations rise and fall before You. Help me see things through Your word and simply trust, no matter the circumstance, in Your good provision. Guide me away from thinking of things from my own viewpoint to thinking on these things through the worldview of Your Word.

Lord Jesus, all things have always been in Your hands. You who have come to lead those who know You into eternal life, guide me now and always in the way that has been established from the beginning. Lift me up to see things as You would have me see them. Give me a heart that looks with love on all and desires the peace You have granted me to be given to others for the Father’s glory. Amen.

“The boar out of the wood ravages it. The wild animals of the field feed on it. Turn again, we beg you, God of Armies. Look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vine,” (Psalm 80:13-14)

There are those who ravage the lands and feed off others, wrapped in legitimate garb or the outright thief, who come and take what they did not work for. Yet the Lord does amply supply. The Lord provides in spite of the wicked who devour. Yet even if it is devoured by the wicked, still lift your eyes up to the Lord that You may know His goodness and mercy.

Lord, I want revenge against those who have harmed me. Yet it is not what I desire, but the truth that vengeance is Yours and that all things are judged in their time. Lead me to simply look to You, O Lord, and know that You are the One who freely gives that we all may have what is needed. Do hold the wicked at bay if it be Thy will and remind the faithful of Your perfect justice.

Lord Jesus, while yet we were all sinners, You came that we might have liberty from sin by Your grace. Guide me, O Lord, in the way You have established, knowing that You Who will judge all things, hold all things in Your hands. Help me today and every day to simply trust in Your provision of grace and walk by faith in the goodness I have already received from You. Amen.

“It sent out its branches to the sea, its shoots to the River. Why have you broken down its walls, so that all those who pass by the way pluck it?” (Psalm 80:11-12)

Why does the Lord allow things we consider adverse to happen? Why doesn’t the Lord just make everything perfect? He did in the beginning, but our first parents chose the way of sin and death and it has reigned in this age ever since. It is no use arguing over what is. It is of use to hear the Word of the Lord and of the salvation He grants to all who come to Him.

Lord, move me beyond what I think is a need to figure all things out. Life is filled with mystery because life itself is a mystery. Guide me, O Lord, to come humbly into Your presence and simply trust that You are God. Guide me in Your ways, knowing that only in You is there hope and a future. Lead me away from my own thinking to see things as You have revealed them to be.

Lord Jesus, You taught publically and everyone who listened could hear what You said. Your words have rung true over the ages and You have given the words of eternal life. Lead me through all the difficulties of this age to see simply that You call us all to simply follow where You lead; for You Who are the author and finisher of our faith will bring all things into submission and lay them before the Father’s feet. Amen.

“You cleared the ground for it. It took deep root, and filled the land. The mountains were covered with its shadow. Its boughs were like God’s cedars.” (Psalm 80:9- 10)

The Lord prepares the way for all people. There are those who question, “Why did God allow this?” But that does not mean that all things are not in His hands. His ways are not our ways and He has given the promise that all things work together for good for those who love Him. Come under the covering of the Lord and be in His presence and know that He watches over you.

Lord, I see the times and seasons and when things are good, I am pleased. When they are not, I become upset. Help me move to the place where in season and out of season I see Your hand of mercy upon all things. Guide my eyes to see and my ears to hear the truth of Your Word and to know that I have always been in Your hands. Lead me into faith where I trust You above all things.

Lord Jesus, Your very life demonstrated twists and turns not unlike the lives we all live on this earth. At the end You were crucified and that was Your plan all along. In the great mystery of this unfolding age, guide me away from wanting all the answers to trust in the answers You have given. Lead me to see more clearly the truth that You are there and will always be there for those who come to You. Amen.

“Turn us again, God of Armies. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved. You brought a vine out of Egypt. You drove out the nations, and planted it.” (Psalm 80:7-8)

The Lord is Lord of all. Those who turn away from Him do not see His might nor power. It is there; they just do not see it. He will rescue all who turn to Him from sin, death and the devil. In whom then will you believe? Will it be the nations, or the One who is over all the nations? He who created the universe knows all things and knows His by name. Come to Him and live.

Lord God, I do become distracted in life and live it the way I want rather than living it with You. I need rescuing and You have come to rescue. Guide me, Lord, away from faulty thinking and into the light of Your countenance. Help me to see that in You alone is hope, for You are the One who is above all. Cause Your face to shine upon me now and always in the grace You give.

Lord Jesus, You are the grace, for in You alone and by Your work alone can we hope. You have come into the world to shatter the power of the nations and uplift as many as would receive You into the eternal presence of the Father. Guide me now and always in the way I should go. Lift me up when I see darkness that I may once again stand in the light of Your presence. Amen.

“You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in large measure. You make us a source of contention to our neighbors. Our enemies laugh among themselves.” (Psalm 80:5-6)

The world laughs at those who listen to the Word of the Lord, thinking those who follow Him are following after wives’ tales. Not subject to debate, for such things feed into the derision, but believers simply say that the ways of the Lord are evident to those to whom He has given faith. Let them laugh and weep, for their foolishness is evident just as the truth of the Lord is evident. God is good and looks after us all.

Lord, help me see through the foolishness of every generation which denies you. Guide me in the way of truth that You have revealed for all people. Lead me in Your ways that I may forever hold fast to Your goodness and mercy. You alone are the One who holds all things together and in You alone is life. Lift me up from amidst the contentious ones that I may remain faithful.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being an example. You also met the derision of those who hated You. You went to the cross on behalf of us all in the midst of our unbelief that we might have the opportunity to live in the truth of Your eternal love. Lead me this day to hold fast and stand true in the goodness You have given that I may now and always simply stand fast and hold true. Amen.

“Turn us again, God. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved. Yahweh God of Armies, how long will you be angry against the prayer of your people?” (Psalm 80:3-4)

The Lord is merciful. Has He not said over and over again to turn to Him? Come to the Lord and live in His blessing and know His goodness. He who created all things, created us to be in union with Him. When we wander it is not He who is far off, but we who are wandering. His anger is against those who will not come to the One who created them and knows them better than they know themselves.

Lord, turn my heart to see humbly and truly that I was created to be in relationship with You. Guide me according to Your goodness to know that only in You will I find peace and rest. Lead me always through this simple way of understanding that I am Yours, for You created me. Guide me into the purpose for which You created me that I may rest always in You in peace and harmony with Your ways.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way for all who come by Your grace in forgiveness into the peace that surpasses all understanding. Now and always, may I rest in You as You abide in me knowing that You alone are able to lead me where I need to go. Guide me this day in the way of truth that I would be one who does what is pleasing to the Father and fulfills His will in my life. Amen.