Tap here for a video meditation on Psalm 13.

A brief psalm of only six verses is yours today. Three couplets of two verses each bear dramatic shifts in David’s spirit as he prays. First come four repeated cries of “How long, O Lord?” However far away God seems, David believes that God is listening. What intimacy David has with his God! A couplet comes next with three imperatives for God. Two of them are commands for God to listen, the third, a plea that God put the sparkle back into David’s eyes. Finally, there is the dramatic shift in the two final verses that express David’s singing for joy.

It does not take long for shifts to take place in your soul, if you model your prayer-life after David’s. Whether or not you identify with the eclipse of God’s presence, pray this psalm in profound intercession for those at the edge of despair—or deep into it, as in some black hole. Grab hold of them with this psalm and lift them up to peace.

Psalm 13

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More
Example: Trusting your unfailing love v. 5

We read the Psalms in numerical order.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information

Whole sections of aisles in supermarkets are devoted to products designed to have your house smell fragrant. A sophisticated name, “aroma therapy,” is given to further the marketing of these sprays, oils, and candles. A device will periodically spray fragrance into your room every few minutes.

The sense of smell leads us into spiritual feelings associated with our world. God’s Word can do the same, especially chapters such as the one for today. An aroma of wisdom and spiritual understanding will fill your day if you let God’s presence through the Word pervade it. Periodically let each verse “spray” its sweet fragrance into the agenda of your day. The aroma of God’s presence will not only transform all that you do, but your life itself will smell sweet to others and lead them to God.

Proverbs 3

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More…
Example: Seeking you in all I do. vv. 5-6

Tuesdays are dedicated to the Old Testament books of history
and the Hebrew “Writings.”
In the seasons of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Joshua and Proverbs 1—3

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information

Jesus uses the image of the secret place in his teaching about fasting. This is one of the six “means of grace,” taught by John Wesley and uplifted in other spiritual traditions. By setting a limit to our response to the appetite for food, the soul is purified, the focus shifting to God alone as nourishment, as is found in found in Deut. 8:3 and Matt 4:4: “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (NRSV). The other four means of grace are prayer, searching the Scriptures, Holy Communion, and holy conversation.

Listen to these words from the Sermon on the Mount as special inspirations from the Lord to live this season in the grace that flows from that mountain.

Matthew 6:16–34

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Where my treasure, there my heart v. 21

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the seasons of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Luke 1 2; Matthew 1 7.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.