A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 78

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 78
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds;
From following the ewes that had young He brought him, To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands (Psalm 78:70-72).
 
Psalm 78 takes us on a sad journey. It reminds of the failures of the human heart in contrast to the faithfulness of God’s heart. God had a plan, a purpose, a path, and a place for His people, but they rebelled, resisted, and refused to readily follow Him and possess their God appointed place.
 
There is a place for you, a God given place. He wants you to be in that place, function in that place, and delight in that place. In fact, in the Lord, you wouldn’t want to be in any other place. It’s a place where you don’t need to strive, but a place where you will thrive.
 
Keep this prayer close to your heart as you follow your Shepherd…
 
Lord, you are my dwelling place, my safe place, my balanced place. Continue to teach and instruct me to know Your place in every choice I make, and in every action I take.

Raise Up a Barrier to hinder me if I am pursuing a place You have not chosen for me;
Bring Your Wisdom to me if I am not understanding something about Your will that needs clarity;
Dry Up Any Stream I am drinking from that is not being fed by Your river. Slow me down if I am going after something that is premature in Your plan for me;
Turn Me from Any Confidence I am placing in anyone or anything that is taking my eyes off of You;
Keep My Heart from Coveting the place You have to others, and guard heart from envying the ways You are using others. Help me to set my expectations upon You, and not upon the way I think things should be or want them to be;
Settle Me and Help Me take my place—not to run from it, hide from it, fear it, or dread it; not to strive in it, or be anxious about it. Help me daily to know the contentment and the joy of serving You in my God-Given place!
 
Insight: Sheep don’t get “all worked up” over where the shepherd is leading them.

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

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A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 77

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 77
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

I will remember the works of the Lord;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
I will also meditate on all Your work,
And talk of Your deeds.

Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary;
Who is so great a God as our God?
You are the God who does wonders;
You have declared Your strength among the peoples.
You have with Your arm redeemed Your people (Psalm 77:11-15).
 
Psalm 77 is filled with questions about God. Here’s the short list…
Will the Lord cast us off?
Will He stop showing His favor?
Will His mercy cease?
Have His promises failed?
Will He forget to be gracious?
 
Thankfully, the psalmist had a good memory and was able to find his way back to God’s faithfulness, to the greatness of His power, and to the depth of His character.
 
When questions, doubts, or uncertainties begin to attack your faith, trouble your spirit, or cloud your thoughts about God’s nature and character, let this prayer help to settle you in your God-given place in Christ:
 
In my seeing, be my sight;
In my knowing, be the light.
In my listening, be what’s heard;
In my speaking, be the word.
 
In my building, be the stone;
In my living, be my home.
In my praying, be the prayer;
In my helping, be the care.
 
In my seeking, be the prize;
In my thinking, be what’s wise.
In my warfare, be the sword;
In my serving, be the Lord.
 
Insight: In reality, when God said “I Am,” He was giving us the best answer to every question we have about who God is.

#psalms #devotional #devotion #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow

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

Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

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A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 76

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 76
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel (Psalm 76:1).
 
The most amazing, wonderful news about verse one in Psalm 76 is that God is knowable! Think about it, He knows you and you can know Him, personally.
 
I am familiar with many celebrities in music, in film and in sports. Sorry to say, that even though I’ve seen some of them perform in person, I’ve never met them. There are a few celebrities that I have met and been acquainted with because of a business relationship. There is one celebrity, however, that I know personally. He was a very popular TV star, but I knew him as a friend. He would come to our home to visit, and we would visit him in his home. The more we got to know each other, the more we enjoyed each other’s company.
 
In the first verse of Psalm 76 we find two different ways God can be recognized among His people…
One is recognizing God’s greatness.
The other is knowing God’s presence.

Here is how these two ways differ:
 
Recognizing God’s Greatness-
Aware of God’s acts.
Being in awe of what God does.
Giving God deepest respect.
Delighting in God’s power.
Learning God’s importance.
 
Knowing God’s Presence-
Aware of God’s ways.
Being in awe of who God is.
Giving God highest honor.
Delighting in God’s fellowship.
Learning God’s heart.
 
Hannah W. Smith, the author of the classic bestselling book Christian Secret of a Happy Life, had this said about her relationship with God…
“Hannah saw the goodness of God, took in the wonder of His Fatherhood, understood that He is magnificent enough to turn all the evil that arrows into the lives of His children into utter good if we but place all circumstances into His tender hands. Truths about the character of God himself settled like unshakable stones at the bottom of her soul.”
 
Insight: a prayer for you…”Lord, help me to see Your goodness more clearly, to take in more fully the wonder of your Fatherhood, and to understand more deeply how You turn all that comes against me into utter good. Help me to place all circumstances into your tender hands.” Amen.

#psalms #devotional #devotion #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow

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

Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

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A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 75

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 75
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

 
We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks!
For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near (Psalm 75:1).
 
My faith is not in what happens, neither do I lose my faith if nothing happens. My faith is grounded in who God is. Psalm 75 gives thanks to God because His works are wondrous. God’s works are wondrous because God is wonderful.
 
This worship song written by Audrey Mae Mieir moves our hearts to gather in the wonders of His name…
His name is Wonderful, His name is Wonderful,
His name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord;
Jesus my Lord. He’s the great Shepherd,
the Rock of all ages, Almighty God is He;
Bow down before Him, Love and adore Him,
His name is Wonderful, Jesus, my Lord.
 
Here is a short collection of the wonderful names of Jesus that you can include in your “thank you, Lord” list.
 
Advocate—He is your defending attorney in the courtroom of heaven.
Almighty—There are no limits to what He can do for you.
Author—He is writing every chapter of your life and is preparing future editions.
Beloved—He brings you the Father’s heart.
Captain—He is charting and guiding your course.
Deliverer—He sets you free from bondage and fear.
Master—He is in control.
Messiah—The God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob is your God also.
Refuge—He is your safe place and hiding place.
Way—He is the pathway, the highway, the only way into all the desires He has placed within your heart.
 
Insight: Every name of the Lord can meet every need you have.
 
Insight: Begin a “His Wonderful Name” journal. Within its pages record every name of the Lord you discover in the Scriptures, and include what need that name will meet in your life.

#psalms #devotional #devotion #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow

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

Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

meetinginthemeadow.com

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A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 74

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 74
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place; They set up their banners for signs (Psalm 74:4).
 
Psalm 74 reminds us of a very low time in the history of Israel. The enemies of God’s people are inhabiting the places they don’t belong, while desecrating the things that aren’t theirs. It was a time when the enemies’ banners were in full display.
 
Banners are symbols that represent ownership, authority, loyalty, identity, victory, inspiration and pride. Banners are rallying points. 
 
I was born in the Bronx, New York, not far from Yankee Stadium. When I was eight, my family moved to Los Angeles. I eventually became both a Yankee fan and a Dodger fan. My first banner came in the form of a baseball pennant bearing the name of my favorite team. It would be unthinkable for me to hang a baseball pennant on my wall bearing the name of my team’s rival. 
 
Flags were a type of banner I was introduced to while attending elementary school. Our school flagpole proudly flew both the flag of the United States and the flag of the state of California.
No one at our school would ever allow a flag of another country or another state to fly on our flagpole. 
 
During a war, one of the first things a conquering army would do is take down the flag of the enemy and raise up their flag in its place. This victory banner let everyone know who was now in charge.
 
The enemy of our soul wants to raise his banner over our lives as he did in Israel long ago. He wants us to be the defeated ones. The enemy is the destroyer, and he wants to destroy us. But wait, the enemy has been defeated! Jesus finished the work 2000 years ago. His victory is our victory because we are in Christ. We pray in His name! We walk in His way! We speak in His authority! 
 
The Name of the Lord is Jehovah Nissi. 
HE is our banner!
He IS our banner! 
He is OUR banner!
He is our BANNER!
 
And His Banner over us is LOVE (Song of Solomon 2:4)!
 
Insight: Every name of God, every name of Jesus, every name of the Holy Spirit, and every promise of Scripture are your banners. Use them to wave over your heart!
 
Insight: You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth (Psalm 60:4 NKJV).

#psalms #devotional #devotion #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow

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

Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

meetinginthemeadow.com

BlessedDayCards.com