Monday, July 22 – Psalms 25, 29 – Additional Reading, Steps to Christ, chapters 2 – 4

1. What seems to be the greatest challenge you are facing keeping you from experiencing God’s grace?

2. Have you experienced the desperation of David in Psalm 25? Why or why not?

3. How can the glory and power of God free you to trust in Him more fully?

4. Is there someone who needs to hear this message that you can reach out to today and share the hope of God with? What is their name? Commit to text or call them today.

Most people know the heaviness of guilt and shame. It is part of the human condition. Whether young or old, the age stage of life provides sufficient opportunities to fall short of God’s ideal and then end up on the receiving end of the enemy’s accusations. The Bible describes Satan in various ways. He is an accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10), he is the deceiver (Revelation 12:9), he is the father of lies (John 8:44), and he is the adversary (1 Peter 5:8-10). No doubt, if you’ve been alive long enough, you have encountered the multi-faceted attacks from the enemy of God. Is it any wonder that the psalmist finds himself crying out? It’s almost a guttural expression of a dying soul desperately reaching up to God for the needed divine rescue. Maybe today, you find yourself in a place of spiritual desperation and don’t know who to turn to.

When David refers to God, he expresses that there is no way for us to be cast off by him (25:3). Anyone with a humble heart can come to God, be accepted, and receive the divine instruction they need. In this Psalm, David shows how we can come to God in our sincere and deep need and receive instruction from him (25:8). God is available to guide us if we are willing in His path of truth.

It is the enemy’s desire for us to believe falsely that we cannot come to God on simple terms. The only thing we need is to know the true nature of our Father. God is gracious, kind, patient, and all-loving. Verse 11 gives a key to receiving God’s grace; it describes confession and repentance. When we acknowledge how far we have fallen and how short we come up on God’s holy requirements, we open the door to redemption. How can someone receive help if they don’t realize they need it? Impossible. Our deliverance is assured once we have the proper perspective. We are like someone who is drowning in the ocean, and our only hope is to cry out and surrender to our divine rescuer in Jesus Christ.

Psalm 29 describes God’s power and supremacy. There are powerful allusions to lightning, thunder, shaking, and twisting of the natural elements. As you go through life’s ups and downs, I pray that you can know for sure that our God is a powerful God who can conquer all of our fears and challenges. Embrace this power today by faith!

Dear God, please grant us the ability to hear, understand, and embrace the powerful message of repentance and confession today. May your grace wash over us and lead us into a continual right relationship with you!