As I read Psalm 22:1 it immediately reminded me of Matthew 27:47 when Jesus quoted the first part of this verse as he was dying on the cross. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? The verse finishes with, Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? The cries from Jesus were not from doubt, but as an urgent appeal for deliverance. The rest of the chapter takes us through David’s suffering all the way to a future day when God would deliver him from his suffering. As I read chapter 22 it also became an amazing description by David of the future suffering the Messiah would endure hundreds of years later. This chapter is a reminder of how God will never leave us. Our suffering has a purpose whether or not we ever understand the “why”.

I don’t have a lot to say about today’s reading, but I do have an observation. In Psalm 89:3-4 it says, 3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, 4 ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’ ” Selah This reminded me that Christ’s lineage was established through David. With all the terrible things God’s people went through from generation to generation, God’s plan was still perfectly aligned. Why do I ever worry? God has it all figured out. I need to trust and obey Him to put lead me exactly where He wants me to go.

One of the hardest things for me to do is nothing when I am waiting for something to happen where I have not control. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Nowhere in that verse does God say “Hey Dino, can you help me be exalted? Can you help my name and my presence be known?” It simply say for us to be still when everything is falling apart around us and know that He is God and He is in control. God makes His own way. He doesn’t need me to block or make a way for Him.

As I was reading this morning, Psalm 34:8 jumped out to me, Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. I looked at the notes in my Bible to see what this verse was trying to say. What it means is to try God out and see for yourself what He is really like. When we step out in obedience to Him, He does not leave us standing alone. He is always good and kind and takes care of us. The more we trust in Him, the more we realize how good He is.

I don’t have a lot to say about today’s reading, but Psalm 27:14 reminded me of the importance of waiting on God’s perfect plan and His timing, Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Waiting on God is not always easy, but when we trust in His perfect timing, we will receive exactly what and when we need.

The first two verses of this chapter are timely for us in this political season. Verses 1 and 2 says, 1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone– 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. No matter who is in power and controlling our government, God is still in control and allowing us to live according to His perfect plan. We should always pray for our leaders and ask God to work through them no matter who they are or what they stand for.

As for the second half of the chapter… I’m not going there!

It is my true belief that God’s plan is always perfect. Even when we are in the heat of battle, His plan is always going to lead us where He wants us to go. Verse 21 says, Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Lately I have been trying to think more in terms of eternity when it comes to the circumstances of my life. It is easy for me to be frustrated with a lot of things in my life whether it’s work, family, or even friends. But when I allow myself to digest the individual issues of my life and I try to weigh it against eternity, I realize that most things in this life are temporary and have no impact on the things that God really cares about. When we get hung up on the things that frustrate us, we lose site of the bigger picture. With Paul, he didn’t take the opportunity to run when the prison doors broke open. He saw it as an opportunity to be used by God and in the end he was able to reach the jailer and his family. I hope and pray I look past my present circumstances and allow God to use me for a bigger impact though the circumstances of my life.

Seeing how God help Peter escape from prison with the help of an angel shows how much the Apostles depended on God for everything. There are times, especially recently, where I realize I do not depend on God enough. As an American we are able to theoretically provide for all our own needs. I wonder what my “needs” would look like if I allowed God to provide according to His plan as opposed to what I think my “needs” are.