Prayer – His Mercy is New

Summer in the Psalms

“If you need a guide for your ongoing relationship with God, read Psalms.”
― Jim George

“The more deeply we grow into the psalms and the more often we pray them as our own, the more simple and rich will our prayers become.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The Psalms have been my prayer book, my hymn book, my conversation with God book for so long. Any time I feel the nudge to slip away and spend time with the Lord, the Psalms is my go-to. If I feel a need to re-focus and get back to my first love, I head to the Psalms. We see the humanity of David. We see the battles fought, the confession and repentance, the worship, the HOPE. We see David crying out to God in the depths of his despair and we see him preaching the gospel to his heart as he reminds himself of where his true hope lies.

Spend a few moments each morning this summer reading one or two Psalms. You can take this deeper and WRITE the Psalms. Pray them. Journal them. Speak them. Choose one verse to meditate on for the day. Make this reading plan your own.

I will not be posting daily on social media, but if you want to follow my STORIES on Instagram or Facebook, that is where I will share the most often. I will periodically share a post in both of those places, too. Join me on Instagram or Facebook. If you decide to share posts as we go along, I would love for you to use the hashtag #summerinthepsalms

I would love for you to join me!

Extra: If you’d like a devotional to use as we read through the Psalms (totally optional!) I love this one by Timothy Keller! The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms. (I will follow the number of the Psalm and not the date as I’m reading.)

Print the Summer in the Psalms Reading Plan

Click the graphic or this PDF link to print your own copy!

Summer in the Psalms PDF

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Made for anticipation…

In a recent conversation with a wise friend it came up that I’m a “worst case” person. I tend to think the worst pretty often. And it’s probably all my fault, too. But in a recent counseling session something she said to me has stayed with me…she said, “Candace, it’s ok to anticipate good. It’s actually a good thing. Our hearts were made for expectation.” Then, the very next day I was at church exercising and I overheard this quote on a tv sermon that was playing, “It is good to expect God to do good things.”

Well then, God. Ok, I’m listening.

Looking back at the faithfulness of God + meditating on His Word + praise = readies our heart to anticipate good. He has been faithful in the past and He’a going to do it again.

Do It Again by Elevation Worship

Walking around these walls
I thought by now they’d fall
But You have never failed me yet
Waiting for change to come
Knowing the battle’s won
For You have never failed me yet

Your promise still stands
Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness
I’m still in Your hands
This is my confidence, You’ve never failed me yet

I know the night won’t last
Your Word will come to pass
My heart will sing Your praise again
Jesus, You’re still enough
Keep me within Your love
My heart will sing Your praise again

Your promise still stands
Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness
I’m still in Your hands
This is my confidence, You never failed

Your promise still stands
Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness
I’m still in Your hands
This is my confidence, You never failed me yet

I’ve seen You move, come move the mountains
And I believe, I’ll see You do it again
You made a way, where there was no way
And I believe, I’ll see You do it again

I’ll see You do it again

If you’ve never listened to this song, go listen now and then put it on repeat.

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When the Storm Doesn’t Let Up & a Psalm I’m Praying

In this world we will have trouble…yes, we live in a broken world…and sometimes we find ourselves in a storm that we aren’t sure is going to let up. Or, we may wonder what the outcome will be. How is this going to end? What if it doesn’t end well?

Yesterday I woke up with this pit of hopelessness about a situation our family finds itself in. I found myself dwelling on the outcome and what it might be.

I realized I had taken my eyes off the prize: Jesus.

Our hope is Jesus. Not in outcomes, circumstances or other people. Jesus, only Jesus.

I’m sharing about a Psalm that I’ve been clinging to this week as well as a song that has become a favorite. I pray it encourages your heart, too!! (scroll down to read Psalm 130.)

You can also see me talk about 3 of the oils I’m using during this storm of my own life.

(If you’re reading this in an email, click here to watch the video.)

Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.

Did you catch that?? With Him is FULL REDEMPTION. The NKJV says “abundant redemption.” Oh those words make me want to cry.

Our God is busy redeeming all things. With Him is ABUNDANT REDEMPTION. I wrote the words “He will redeem…” on a card and have been carrying it with me. He is so faithful, friends!

Morning by morning new mercies I see…

P.S. the study on The Forty Day Word Fast has been postponed.

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A Plan for the Rainy Days of the Soul

We all have them. Rainy days of the soul. Because we live in a fallen, broken world, it’s just a part of it. Oh but to gaze at the Savior and be reminded of our FUTURE HOPE that one day there WILL be a day with no rainy days of the soul! Praise Him!

Until that day, we need a PLAN. We need to do some battle. Find our armor. Replace the lies with truth.

Choosing joy can be hard. But it can also be simple. Let’s make a list together of the “little things” that bring us joy. I say “little,” but we all know that these little things do bring us moments of joy. And moments of joy lead to a grateful heart and a content spirit.

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” William Arthur Ward

(Click here to watch the video if you’re reading this in an email.)

A Plan for the Rainy Days of the Soul

The Simple Joys

What are the “little things” that bring you joy? Joy is a fruit of the Spirit…let’s seek it, choose it, fight for it!

What would you add to this list?

Memorize Philippians 4:8 (grab this free printable)
Meditate on a Psalm
Memorize an encouraging passage of Scripture
Turn on praise music
Have a dance party in your kitchen
Read a chapter in a great fiction book
Go for a walk
Exercise
Have a cup of hot tea or coffee
Walk outside even for a few moments of fresh air
Text a friend
Call a friend
Write a thank you note to bless someone else
Meet a friend for coffee or lunch
Watch a favorite feel-good movie
Serve someone else
Pray
Speak the Name of Jesus aloud
Turn on your diffuser with happy, mood boosting essential oils (citrus or joy blend!)
Open a bottle of frankincense or joy, take a deep breath and breathe it in
Write down 3 things you’re thankful for
Start a gratitude journal if you don’t have one
Let someone know you are thankful for them
Drink more water
Eat clean, healthy foods
Get out of the house for a little while
Have a small piece of dark chocolate
Tell someone you love them
Preach the gospel to our own hearts (Jesus is the GOOD NEWS)

40 Days of Praise

I’ve been going using the books 31 Days of Praise and 40 Days to a Joy Filled Life. Both such great books for helping us to change our focus and mindset.

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What If We Spent the Next 40 Days Cultivating Praise?

“Joy is an outward sign of an inward faith in God’s promises.” Tommy Newberry

What would our lives look like in 40 days if we spent them cultivating PRAISE, GRATITUDE and JOY and not complaints and broken records of failure that often run through our minds?

Praise needs cultivating. Gratitude needs cultivating. Joy needs cultivating. “Could it be that one of Satan’s major strategies is to divert us from praise? After all, he knows that God delights in our praise, and that doesn’t exactly make him happy. He also detests the rich benefits that praise brings to us and others.” Ruth Meyers

I’m a day late and a dollar short for starting Lent on time (February 14th) but isn’t that what Lent is all about? Lent is about offering myself to Him in all my weakness and depending on His strength. When I am weak, He is strong.

I don’t have a set schedule, but every week I will hop on sometime live on my facebook page to share thoughts from these 2 books: 40 Days to a Joy Filled Life and 31 Days of Praise.

“I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 34:1-3

An Invitation to Join Me

Philippians 4:8 Printable

Whatever is true printable PDF

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