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01/17/2026

Dose of Encouragement: PRAY Through Psalm 54

This is a difficult and oh so humbling Psalm for me to go through. It’s personal. It calls me to the reality, that I am capable of being, and have actually been “the enemy” who allows my flesh, fear, and pride to whisper subtle lies laced with just enough truth that the ugliness of bitterness led to betrayal. And, I have been blessed because when I have become a Ziphite against ones I love, God called me out immediately to call me up. He has been gracious enough to bring healing rather than division. He has brought the ones I hurt to trust Him to deal with what only He can as they choose to walk in forgiveness and restoration. That’s hard stuff. All praise His mighty name. With that said…

P – Pause, Praise, Pray
Pause and take a breath. Let the noise settle. Psalm 54 is short, but it is not simple. It was born out of betrayal – deep betrayal – by David’s own people, the Ziphites of Judah. Not enemies from afar, but countrymen. Familiar faces. Shared lineage. Shared history. There are few pains sharper than betrayal by those who should have been loyal.

Praise God’s name. It represents His character: faithful, covenant-keeping, unchanging. While human loyalty may fracture, God’s loyalty never does. He is the One who is truth. He does not betray. He does not waver. He does not sell His people out for gain. Praise Him for this – He is not fickle. He is steadfast and righteous. He keeps covenant even when we fail. Before we name our enemies, let us be like David and name our God, “O God, save me by your name,” (v. 1, ESV).

Pray for God to steady our hearts enough to face not only the betrayal done to us, but the betrayal that lives in us.

R – Read and Reflect
Read through Psalm 54 – it’s short, read it several times and check out multiple translations like ESV, CSB, AMP, and NIV. David names the situation honestly: “Strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves.” (v. 3, ESV). The Ziphites, however, were not ethnically “strangers.” They were covenant people. But betrayal made them strangers in action and allegiance. They feared Saul more than God. They chose self-preservation over righteousness. And here is where Psalm 54 presses uncomfortably close.

It’s easy to condemn the Ziphites – until we ask: What do I do when self-interest tempts me to compromise truth? When silence is easier than faithfulness? When fear reshapes my loyalties? My earthly Dad used to tell me, “C.R., you’ve always got to look in the mirror. If you don’t like what you see – change it.” Wise words – oh that I would be obedient. Let’s take a look…

From Genesis onward, the enemy of our souls takes truth and bends it – just enough – to sound reasonable. (He has always worked this way.) We often know it’s wrong, yet somewhere along the way we align ourselves with the lie. The battle is fought in the mind, but it is settled in the will. Still, David anchors himself in truth: “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.” (v. 4, ESV). David has confidence in God’s moral governance of the world. David believes God sees rightly and acts rightly and the psalm ends not in bitterness, but in worship. With a “freewill offering” that was not coerced. It was a response of gratitude. A choice to come into God’s presence.

A – Ask and Be Accountable
Ask the harder questions gently, but honestly:
• Where am I tempted to act like a Ziphite in word, deed, or even in thought?
• Where has fear, pride, or self-protection bent my loyalty?
• Have I justified attitudes or actions that God’s Word does not justify?
• Am I fighting the enemy out there while ignoring alignment issues in my own heart?

We are reminded in Psalm 54 of a sobering truth: We are capable of becoming the very thing we despise.
Yet, it also reminds us of a greater truth: God is a helper, not an abandoner. Conviction is not condemnation. Exposure is mercy.
God reveals sin because He intends to heal and restore. Ultimately, our greatest enemy is not flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). And in Christ, sin itself has been defeated at the cross.

Y – Yield
Yield means coming out of alignment with deception and back into alignment with God’s commands and character. Yield means confessing not excusing. Repenting not rationalizing. Trusting not controlling.

You are not the enemy. You are a flawed human and a justified child of God, being sanctified by grace. The invitation of Psalm 54 is to come to the table – to sup with the Lord – and make a freewill offering of honesty, humility, and obedience. Lay it all down. Let God deal with the true enemy. Let Him cleanse what sin has distorted. Let Him finish the work He has begun (Philippians 1:6).

Pray with me:
Father God,

We come honestly – without pretense and without defense. You see what others cannot see, and You know where fear, pride, or self-interest has shaped our thoughts, words, or actions. We confess that we are capable of betrayal, in subtle and blatant ways. Forgive us for aligning with lies rather than Your truth.

Thank You that our justification does not rest on our faithfulness, but on the finished work of Jesus Christ – His sinless life, His atoning death, and His victorious resurrection. Because of Him, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Search us, O God, and know our hearts. Expose what must be confessed, Grant us repentance where we have sinned and soften our hearts where we must forgive others. Continue Your sanctifying work in us – reshaping our loyalties, renewing our minds, and conforming us to the image of Christ, while bringing protection and a soothing balm to those who have been hurt by our recklessness.

We yield ourselves to You afresh. We trust You as our Helper, our Defender, and our Deliverer. May our lives become freewill offerings of gratitude and obedience.

In the strong and faithful name of Jesus, Amen.

Resources:
• Psalm 54 (ESV, CSB, AMP, NIV, KJV)
• 1 Samuel 23:19; 26:1 (historical background of the Ziphites)
• Romans 8:1 (ESV)
• Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)
• Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
• ESV Study Bible, Crossway
• CSB Study Bible, Holman
• Derek Kidner, Psalms 1–72 (Tyndale Old Testament Commentary)
• John Calvin, Commentary on the Book of Psalms

01/12/2026

Dose of Encouragement: PRAY Through Psalm 53

Psalm 53 feels familiar – almost uncomfortably so. It echoes Psalm 14 nearly word-for-word. Scripture doesn’t repeat itself because we’ve mastered the lesson, but because we haven’t. This psalm presses on a stubborn human instinct we never quite outgrow: “I can do it myself.”

P – Pause, Praise, Pray
Pause. Slow down long enough to notice what this psalm is really confronting. It isn’t aimed at atheists holding protest signs; it’s aimed at hearts that quietly live as though God is unnecessary. That toddler declaration – “I can do it my own self! – doesn’t fade with age. It just matures into competence, control, and self-reliance dressed up as wisdom.

Praise Elohim – the mighty Creator and Judge. Praise YHWH, the covenant-keeping God. Together, the names of God remind us that One we are tempted to ignore is neither weak nor optional. He’s both powerful and personal. “He looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God” (v. 2, ESV). Praise Him that He looks. He isn’t distant or disengaged. He sees clearly and still acts mercifully.

Pray to quiet the reflex to manage life apart from God. Rejecting Him isn’t just relational rebellion; it’s cosmic foolishness that ignores the Creator who sustains all things (Colossians 1:16-17). Pray for humility that doesn’t merely confess sin, but renounces self-rule.

R – Read and Reflect
Read Psalm 14 alongside Psalm 53 and notice the diagnosis: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God” (Psalm 53:1, ESV). This isn’t simply denying God’s existence; it’s dismissing His authority. It’s functional atheism – living as though God is irrelevant to daily decisions, reactions, and desires.

“They have all fallen away… there is none who does good, not even one” (v. 3, ESV). That’s not poetic exaggeration. Paul quotes this in Romans 3 to tell of humanity’s total need for grace. The original audience (Israel) would not have been insulted by this; rather, they would have seen their reflection as if in a mirror. Covenant people were not exempt from corruption; they were accountable for it. John Trapp noted that the repetition of this psalm is a warning: there is no safety in following our natural inclinations. Left to ourselves, we don’t drift toward righteousness – we drift toward autonomy and decay. The goal is full salvation, not partial reform.

The problem Psalm 53 exposes isn’t lack of intelligence. It’s lack of submission.

A – Ask and Be Accountable
What does this psalm reveal about God? He is observant, not absent. Righteous, not permissive. Powerful, yet patient. He exposes sin not to shame us, but to rescue us.

We must ask ourselves honestly (take a look in the mirror): have I replaced dependence with competence? Do I pray after acting instead of before? Does my confidence rest more in my ability than in God’s provision? We are prone to self-deception. We drift toward autonomy and we forget that we need more than information – we need redemption. Accountability begins when we stop excusing self-rule as maturity.

Y – Yield
Yielding means surrendering the illusion of control. Psalm 53 doesn’t end in despair – it ends in hope (v. 6). This longing for salvation is fulfilled in Christ. What David hoped for, we now know by name. Salvation has come – not through human effort, but divine intervention. Will you yield? Will you agree with God about sin, trus fully in the finished work of Christ, and welcome His ongoing work of sanctification (Philippians 1:6)?

Pray with Me

Lord,
We confess that too often we live as though You are optional. We trust our instincts, our strength, our plans – and only come to You when those fail. Forgive us for the quiet pride that says, “I’ve got this.”

We acknowledge that we are justified not by our effort, but by the finished work of Jesus Christ – His life, death, and resurrection on our behalf (Romans 5:1). Thank You that while we were still sinners, Christ dies for us.

Search our hearts. Reveal where repentance is needed – toward You or toward others we need to forgive. Grant us grace to turn, humility to yield, and willingness to be changed. Continue Your sanctifying work in us. We do not want partial surrender – we want wholeness and we gladly submit to the One who saves.

Amen

Resources:
Psalm 53 (ESV, CSB)
Romans 3:10–12; 5:1; 5:8 (ESV)
Philippians 1:6 (AMP)
Colossians 1:16–17 (CSB)
Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture
John Trapp, Commentary on the Psalms

01/10/2026

Today is quitters day!! So let's quit quitting on ourselves! You can do this one moment at a time! I'm stepping toward a half-marathon and BOY is it getting hard, what keeps me going is that I am focused on helping others and you can support them too!

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01/08/2026

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01/07/2026

Dose of Encouragement: PRAY Through Psalm 52
P – Pause, Praise, Pray
Pause. This is not a psalm meant to be skimmed; it is meant to be pondered. Psalm 52 invites us to slow down and gain wisdom through contrast—between the loud boasting of the wicked and the quiet confidence of the righteous. It exposes not only violent evil, but the subtler sin beneath it: pride, comparison, and trusting in self rather than in God.
Take a breath. Set aside urgency and defensiveness. Sit with this uncomfortable question: What do we do when evil boasts, and when are we tempted to do the same in quieter ways? David doesn’t deny the reality of wickedness; he names it clearly. Yet he refuses to let it define reality or determine his response.
Praise God for His steadfast love that “endures all the day” (v. 1). Evil is loud, urgent, and self-promoting. But God. His goodness is constant, covenantal, and unthreatened. Contrasting the fleeting confidence of the wicked with the enduring faithfulness of God, we praise Him because God preserves while the enemy plots. The wicked boast – God abides.
Pray for the Lord to help us see reality as He does – not through fear, comparison, or self-protection, but through trust in His character and promises.
R – Read and Reflect
Read through Psalm 52 slowly. Note the movement though verses 1-4 in which the enemy boasts, lies, and destroys, then verse 5 – God intervenes decisively and the righteous gain clarity and confidence through vv. 6-7. Trust takes root and the faithful flourish like a healthy olive tree (vv. 8-9).
The wicked trust in their own power, influence, and cleverness. By contrast, those who make God their refuge gain a quiet, unshakable confidence. As the ESV footnote states, “the righteous person who trusts God is confident that he is always safe.” Lacking that security, the wicked strike preemptively – accusing before being accused, destroying before being exposed.
Charles Spurgeon observed that Doeg boasted in what should have brought shame. Matthew Henry writes, “It is bad to do ill, but it is worse to boast of it… Those that glory in their sin glory in their shame.”
This psalm calls us to reflect beyond overt violence. Sauls’ downfall began with comparison. He could not rejoice in what God was doing through David because he feared losing status. Instead of embracing his God-given role, he became resentful and suspicious. What might have been a legacy of mentorship became a legacy of hostility toward the righteous.
A - Ask and Be Accountable
Where am I tempted to measure my worth by comparison rather than calling? Do I struggle to rejoice when others flourish? Am I trusting in reputation, position, control, or self-justification instead of God’s steadfast love?
David shows us another way – acknowledging evil without becoming embittered, honoring God’s anointed, and waiting patiently, rooted in God’s truth.
Ultimately, this psalm points us beyond David to Christ – the truly Righteous One who was slandered, betrayed, and killed by boasting evil, yet entrusted Himself fully to the Father (1 Peter 2:23 ESV).
Y – Yield
Yield the “what-about-me” temptation. Yield comparison. Yield the impulse to defend your status or justify your heart.
Let the Spirit convict where pride has crept in or where resentment has taken root. Receive again the truth that your identity is secure – not because of your performance, but because of Christ’s finished work. “For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:24 ESV).
We are justified fully and sanctified progressively. We are secure in Christ, yet still being shaped.
Pray with Me:
Lord,
We come honestly, laying aside pretense. You see where pride, comparison, resentment, or fear of losing status have taken root in our hearts. We confess the sin You are revealing - boasting in our own righteousness, withholding forgiveness, or quietly rejoicing when others stumble.
Thank you that our standing before You doesn't rest on our goodness, but on the finished work of Jesus Christ – our righteousness, refuge, and peace. We repent where our trust has shifted from you to ourselves. Cleans us, restore us, and re-root us in Your steadfast love.
Teach us to wait on You. Shape us through sanctification. Make us like green olive trees in Your house – rooted, fruitful, and secure. We trust You and give thanks forever because You have done it.
In the name of Christ, our Savior and King, Amen.
Resources:
Scripture ESV unless otherwise noted
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary
Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David

01/07/2026

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01/06/2026

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01/05/2026

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01/05/2026

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01/05/2026

Dose of Encouragement – PRAY Through Psalm 51

P – Pause, Praise, and Pray
Pause and picture two friends sitting together – coffee and conversation between them – unhurried, honest, and safe. Psalm 51 invites us into that kind of truth-telling before a long-suffering and merciful God. There is no room for small talk here.

This is David’s prayer after grievous sin – adultery, deception, murder, and prolonged silence – until God lovingly confronts him through Nathan (2 Samuel 12). Repentance didn’t come quickly, but when it came, it came honestly. David shows us that forgiveness, restoration, and change come only by God’s grace, applied by the Holy Spirit, according to God’s covenant mercy. Human effort cannot cure sin; only God can cleanse the heart.

Slow your heart before the Lord. Lay down distraction and self-defense. Sit honestly before Him without excuses.
Praise God for His steadfast mercy – it isn’t fragile or fleeting. Like David, appeal not to your worthiness but to God’s character. He delights to show mercy to the repentant and is faitful to forgive (Psalm 51:17, 1 John 1:9).

Pray with humility, not presumption. Do not minimize or rush past sin. Ask God to do what only He can do – to blot out, wash, and fully cleanse.

R – Read and Reflect
Read Psalm 51 slowly – then read it again! This psalm reminds us that forgiveness is real, change is possible, and grace is not cheap. It’s costly, complete, and secured by Christ.

David makes three requests: blot out, wash, and cleanse (vv. 1-2). He longs for the record of sin erased, the stain thoroughly removed, and guilt fully forgiven. True repentance recognized that sin if first and foremost against God (v. 4). This does not deny harm don’t to others, but ir rightly centers repentance on the One most offended.

David grieves over sin itself – not merely its consequences. He knows sin has robbed him of his joy in the Lord, and his intimacy with God (v. 12) and that surface-level change is insufficient (vv. 6, 10). What he needs is inward renewal, anticipating God’s promise of a new heart by His Spirit.

Lasting obedience will require dependence, not self-discipline alone.

A – Ask and Be Accountable
Ask honestly: What does this psalm reveal about God? What does this reveal about me?

God is holy and merciful, responsive to confession, and fully able to cleanse. As for me, I learn that sin runs deeper than my behavior – it lives in my heart – and I cannot change myself apart from grace.

True repentance produces accountability. Like David, we commit to future obedience and to guarding others from sin’s ripple effects (vv. 13-15, 18).

Y – Yield
Yield to God’s conviction without resisting or rationalizing. David does not ask merely to be forgiven, but to be transformed – to be upheld by God’s generous Spirit rather than self-confidence (v. 12). Yield not to perfection, but to dependence.

Pray with me
Father,
We come without defense or disguise. Our sin is ultimately against You. Forgive us where we have loved comfort, secrecy, or self-rule more than holiness. Cleanse us completely – not because we deserve it, but because Christ has finished the work. Thank You that we are justified by grace through faith and that there is now no condemnation in Christ. Create clean hearts in us. Renew right spirits within us. Lead us in repentance, forgiveness, and humble obedience and You continue Your work of sanctification. Restore to us the joy of Your salvation. We yield ourselves to Your mercy and transforming grace.
Amen

Resources
• Chuck Smith, Sermon Notes on Psalm 51
• David Guzik, Enduring Word Commentary on Psalm 51
• The Holy Bible, ESV, CSB, AMP

01/03/2026

Winter can be a season of purpose, not pause.

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