by Holly Newton

Have you ever wondered if God wants to hear your honest pleas? Is He really near when hardship hits? The Psalms give us a beautiful glimpse into who God is. They are a collection of songs and poems written to express the full range of human emotion to Him.

Join us this summer as we walk through Psalms. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from June – August we’ll post new devotional content, questions, and scripture passages right here on the She Lives Fearless blog and further discussion in an engaging community of fellow believers on Instagram @shelivesfearless.

The Summer In The Psalms Devotional Series will:

• Remind you that in life’s highs and lows God is faithful and good
• Encourage you to honestly express your fears, joys, and concerns to the Lord in prayer
• Reveal God’s nearness no matter your circumstances so you can find true rest

I’ve learned firsthand that crises don’t relegate the goodness of God; they are an opportunity to discover His goodness. Today’s struggles disappointments and difficulties don’t tell our whole story. There is always a bigger picture.

There’s no better place to learn the vocabulary of prayer than in the book of Psalms. God’s people have used psalms as a guide for worship and prayer since before the time of Christ. They help us find words to express ourselves to God in every circumstance.

Read Psalm 1-2 today in your Bible or on your Bible Ap.

He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Psalm 1:3

I love the imagery of the tree in Psalm 1. As we pursue Christ, our roots deepen and strengthen The deeper we grow the more we begin to desire God and His Word. It’s in this place, when we look to Him and rest in His presence, that we grow in His likeness. It’s nothing we can do on our own or with our will, we’ll inevitably fail. Psalm 1 assures us that the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, and the only way we are found righteous is in Him and through Him.

Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles”, they say. The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.

Psalm 2:3-4

Psalm 2 describes the coming of Christ to establish His eternal reign. Recent and current world events highlight more than ever how much we are not in control and how much we need to have confidence in God. Crises help us discover what we believe and where we have questions about our faith.

Everyone serves somebody and something. Too often, people think they will be free if they can get away from God. The truth is, only surrender brings true freedom. Only God can set us free.

Verse 4 tells us that the One enthroned in Heaven laughs. Here God isn’t laughing at the nations, but at their confused thoughts about power. He knows their limited strength, and He knows His power.

Continue reading Psalm 2 on your own, and you see that in obedience, there would be a blessing. We can live in a realm of peace and hope because God is faithful and gives us strength one day at a time to the very end.

What do you need to receive from the Lord today? Perhaps it’s peace, wisdom, guidance, or rest. Whatever it is He wants to meet you where you are. Feel free to leave a comment below on your thoughts or how we can pray for you. And if you’re on Instagram we’d love to engage with you there on today’s devotional as well! Find us here @shelivesfearless.