A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 18

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 18

-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I will trust and take refuge (Psalm 18:2).

Years ago, I lived in Southern California, in the city of Glendora. A few miles behind our house stood a mountain. When you stepped outside our front door you couldn’t miss it! There were days, however, when you couldn’t see that mountain. It happened when big storms blew in, when the thick fog rolled in, or when the gray smog drifted into our neighborhood. On those days, you could stand in front of our house and have no indication that a mountain stood a few miles away.

Because I saw that mountain on clear days, I never doubted if it was there on stormy days, foggy days, or smoggy days. I knew, beyond a doubt, that once the storm, the fog, or the smog lifted, the mountain would still be there, unchanged. I never lost a night’s sleep worrying about that mountain. On the days I couldn’t see it, I never questioned if the mountain had moved.

The Bible tells us that Lord is our Rock (Psalm 18:2).

I don’t know how big of a Rock the Lord is, but I am confident that He is bigger than the mountain outside my old house in Glendora, or any other mountain. The Lord is our “huge” Rock, in whom we trust and take refuge.

You may be in a time when the storms of life, the fog of circumstances, or the smog of hardships have settled over your soul. In the darkness, you may be wondering what has happened to the Rock you beheld so vividly when the days were clear and His presence was unobstructed. Be assured, He has not moved, changed, or disappeared. The darkness is temporary, the Rock is eternal. The storm will pass, the fog will lift, the smog will blow away. Your Rock remains!

Insight: There is another important difference to remember…even when you don’t see your Rock, your Rock always sees you! The storm, the fog, and the smog create no visual obstacle for God. He has His eye upon you, and you will never be out of His sight or His care.

Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

meetinginthemeadow.com

 

#psalms #devotional #devotion #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow

©2026 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 17

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 17
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

 I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me and hear my speech. Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You from those who rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings (Psalm 17:6-8).

Psalm 17 takes us by the hand and brings us into a prayer room filled with the treasures of God’s mercy, grace, and favor. Over the doorway to the room is a sign that reads, “Call upon Me. I am listening.”

Here are a few of prayer treasures that can be ours:

·   The Marvels of God’s Lovingkindness
His lovingkindness sets Him apart from every person on earth and every created being in heaven. His lovingkindness is steadfast, consistent, loyal, and unshakable. It is a covenant love—faithful, true, enduring, and endearing.

·   The Power of God’s Salvation
It is a salvation of deliverance from every bondage, freedom from every sin, and victory over every enemy of righteousness and truth.

·   The Assurance of God’s Keeping Power
It is the Lord who places a hedge about you. It is a thorny hedge to keeping out what God does not want within you. God alone is the assurance that you will be kept because He is your Keeper.

·   The Shelter of God’s Wings
What does the shelter of a mother hen’s wings mean to its chicks? Everything! They are “a roof” over the chicks’ heads! Her wings are a covering shelter from the storm and the foe. Her wings are shade from the heat of the day, and warmth in the cold. In a crisis, she covers her chicks and will not abandon them. She is the only defense her chicks will ever have.

Insight: Have you ever considered yourself precious to God? You are! That’s what the words “The apple of your eye” mean in verse 8 of this Psalm. By the way, you are also deeply cherished, and that means you are watched over with great care!

Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

meetinginthemeadow.com

 
#psalms #devotional #devotion #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow

©2026 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 16

 A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 16
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.” As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor take up their names on my lips. O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance. I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16).
 
The purpose of the Gospel is to make what is true about God become true in us. The gospel is not good news about a theory, but good news about reality!

The wonderful thing about putting your trust in Jesus is that He is not only your Savior, but He is also your Lord. Because He is your Lord the following things are true:

• He will direct your steps.
• All of His decisions will be good ones.
• He has perfect wisdom in every decision and won’t need any of your tips, advice, or suggestions.
• He takes full responsibility for every decision He makes concerning your life.
• He will prepare every place He is sending you.
• You are complete in Him and won’t be needing another god.

 
The very best thing is His presence. His life is present, His joy is present, His fullness is present, His hope is present—present now, present tomorrow, and present forever more!
 
Insight: He is your Shepherd, you are His sheep; He is your Master, you are His servant; He is the vine, you are the branch; He is the provision, you are the one in need! He is so good to you!
 
Insight: Set your heart to stay upon God, and you will stay on track in your daily walk with Him.

Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

meetinginthemeadow.com

 
#psalms #devotional #devotion #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow

©2026 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 15

 A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 15
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change (Psalm 15:1-4).
 
Everything God does is important to us, and everything we do is important to God. God wants us to work out everything He is working within us. The result of His work is the godly character we live out before others.
 
Psalm 15 reveals what many of those character qualities look like. Here are few…
 
*Walking through the day making right choices, even when you walk alone.
*Going in the right direction, even when others are walking another way.
*Doing things with a right motive, even though no one knows your heart.
 
Another important character quality is being a person of your word. Promises made are not promises to be broken. Your words need to be genuine not fake, honest not deceptive, assuring not threatening, reliable not unpredictable.

Jesus spoke of this character quality very simply, “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’”
 
How blessed we are to have a Father who gave His Word, a Savior who fulfilled His Word, and a Helper who lives out His Word within our hearts.
 
Insight: If ‘no’ is not an acceptable answer, don’t ask the question.
 
Insight: Make the commitment before you make the promise.
 
Insight: Don’t walk away from a promise if something better comes along.

 

Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

meetinginthemeadow.com

 

#psalms #devotional #devotion #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow

©2026 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 14

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 14
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God” (Psalm 14:1).
 
Often the Scriptures put things into two categories. Jew and Gentile, light and darkness, truth and error, lost and saved, good and evil, the wise and the fool are some examples. Psalm 14 begins by putting the spotlight on the fool.
 
The fool doesn’t suffer from an IQ problem, but a heart problem. A fool’s heart says, “There is no God.” Why is that foolish? Someone who says “no” to God’s existence has also said “no” to everything good that God could do in that person’s life. How foolish is that!
 
The wise person’s heart says, “There is a God.”

That heart also says “yes” to everything good God wants to do in their life. The wise heart says “yes” to salvation, to God’s presence, to His peace, and to His plan and purpose in their life. How wise is that!
 
Throughout life the blessings of a wise person will keep on rolling in! The wise will increase in learning, will say no to enticement, will depart from evil, will walk in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, will be yoked to Jesus Christ, will partake of the Scriptures as daily bread, and will inherit glory.
 
Insight: Only eternity will fully reveal how wise it was to say “yes” to God in your daily life today.

Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

meetinginthemeadow.com

 
#psalms #devotional #devotion #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow

©2026 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photos by Marina Bromley. Used with permission, all rights reserved.