A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 129

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 129
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Neither let those who pass by them say,
“The blessing of the Lord be upon you;
We bless you in the name of the Lord!” (Psalm 129:8).
 
After God created Adam and Eve He spoke a blessing of fruitfulness over their lives. The vastness of His blessings have been spoken from Genesis to Revelation. God delights in blessing our lives!
 
One of the saddest places in life is to live without the blessing of the Lord. Oh, the wonder, the beauty, and the glory that shines upon each life that receives the blessing of the Lord! His blessings are greater than the favors of others, more meaningful than the rewards of others, and more valuable than the treasures of others.
 
What is a blessing? It is a favor, a kindness, a benediction. It is an abundance of Divine benefits. It is grace poured out in overflowing measure. It is God’s merciful hand placed upon your head. It is His smile manifesting His delight over you. It is His glory shining upon your face. It is God’s river of goodness washing over your soul. It is fruitfulness, joyfulness, and delightfulness as He shares His heart with yours.

 
The Blessings of the Lord…
 

• They Bring no sorrow.

The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22 NKJV).
 

• They will make you to be a blessing to others.

I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing (Genesis 12:2 NKJV).
 

• They are abundant.

I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies (Genesis 22:17 NKJV).
 

• Every spiritual blessing is yours in Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3 NKJV).
 
An invitation to enter into the blessing of the “fountain of every blessing”…the presence of your Heavenly Father!
 
Insight: Draw near, then, seeking soul, with boldness; Draw near with the lowly boldness of a child. Dear are you to your Father. Sweet is your voice to Him.
Precious is your person, accepted in His Beloved. You cannot come too boldly-you cannot come too frequently—you cannot come with too large requests.
You are coming to a King, that King your Father, that Father viewing you in His beloved Son. Oh, hang not back. Stand not afar off. He now holds out the golden scepter, and says, "Come near; what is your request? Come with your temporal want. Come with your spiritual need. Ask what you will, it shall be granted you. I have an open hand, and a large heart. -Octavius Winslow
 
Insight: In prosperity God is heard, and that is a blessing; but in adversity God is seen, and that is a greater blessing. -Charles Spurgeon
 
Insight: The blessing of God is the greatest thing any human life can enjoy, giving goodness to every aspect of life. -David Guzik

#psalms #devotional #devotion #roylessin #meetinginthemeadow
©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 128

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 128
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the Lord. The Lord bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life. Yes, may you see your children’s children (Psalm 128:1-6).
 
What does it mean to fear the Lord? We need to understand the importance and value of carrying the fear of the Lord in our hearts. Psalm 128 equates the fear of the Lord with the blessings of the Lord upon us. Those blessings include:
 

• Walking in God’s ways. (His ways will keep us from wasting our energy by walking in the wrong ways that lead to destruction).

• Honorable work and adequate supply.

• A happy disposition.

• Well being (it is well with your soul).

• A fruitful, flowing, fulfilling family life, with an abundance of good things. 

• Longevity.

 
The fear of the Lord should motivate us to draw near to the Lord, not to hide from Him. We don’t fear the Lord because He is bad, mean, and unfair, we fear Him because He is good, righteous and just. 
 
Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
  And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
  The hour I first believed!

-Amazing Grace, John Newton
 
In Nehemiah 5:1 the KJV translation uses the word “terrible” to describe God. In the NKJV translation the word “terrible” is replaced with the word ‘awesome”. This not a contradiction. Both words accurately describe the Lord. At one time, the word “terrible” meant that the Lord was to be revered, that we should be in holy awe of Him, and give Him our highest honor and deepest respect. The word “awesome” comes from the word “awe” and carries the same measure of honor, respect and reverence as “terrible”.
 
Insight: “Awesome” is a God word. God is the “awe” in awesome. The word “awesome” is misused when God is removed from the meaning.
 
Insight: Nehemiah 5:1 tells us that God is “terribly awesome” because He faithfully keeps His covenant promises and because He is merciful to those who love Him and observe His commandments.
 
And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments (Nehemiah 1:5 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.

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Meeting in the Meadow

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 127

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 127
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain (Psalm 127:1).
 
Many people spend a lot of their time and energy building an image, a reputation, a career, a portfolio or a bank account to help them achieve security, independence, comfort, pleasure or fame.
 
God is a builder. A good builder. God builds things that honor and glorify Him. He builds what matters most, and what He builds has eternal value. He is building His church, He is building our faith, our character, our values, our hopes, our endurance, our influence and our love.
 
We have been called to be wise builders and to build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ and His words. God is not looking for us to build something so He can join us but He wants us to join Him in what He is building.
 
Love His ways even though they may not be your ways; 
Take His hand even though it means letting go of what you are hanging on to; 
Depend upon His strength even though you are aware of your weakness; 
Please His heart even though it means not having the approval of others; 
Wait for His time even though you desire to do it now; 
Trust His Word even though you hear something different from other sources; 
Follow His path even though it takes you through deep valleys and rugged hills;
Trust His wisdom even though you don’t understand all He’s doing;
Give Him praise even though you wish things were different;
Be at rest even though you’re tempted to worry and fear. 
 
Insight: Independent building apart from God only leads to the emptiness and futility of wood, hay and stubble.
 
Insight: And now I entrust you to God and the message of His grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those He has set apart for Himself (Acts 20:32 NLT).

#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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Meeting in the Meadow

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 126

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 126
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad (Psalm 126:1-3).
 
Before I decided to write my memoir, I knew the title would come from verse one of Psalm 126, “like those who dream.” Those words touched me deeply as a Jewish believer who had returned to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob through faith in Jesus, God’s chosen Messiah.
 
Psalm 126 brings to mind the many contrasts between our rebellious responses to God and His merciful responses to us. We walk away from Him and He draws us back, we break our word and He keeps His promise, we plug our ears to His voice and He hears our cries for deliverance.
 
The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 has some important similarities to Psalm 126. In both accounts we discover not only the emptiness of the wander’s journey, but the joy-filled celebration of the father, welcoming home the son who had been lost.
 
I haven’t done this before in our devotional journey through the Psalms, but I would like to make the following request…

If you have a family member who has walked away from the Lord, or if you have a friend who is living in bondage because of personal disobedience to God, please pray for that person now. Ask God to bring restoration and renewal…and may verse 1-3 of Psalm 126 be fulfilled to the fullest measure within that person’s heart.
 
Renewed
 
My steps, my times, my plans, Lord,
are daily in your hands—
as a yielded servant,
I wait on Your command.
 
I want to seek your kingdom,
and have You reign in me—
so I can live before You,
as one that’s been set free.
 
I cast my cares upon You,
and trust You for each day—
I want the course You set for me,
to be what I obey.
 
I have no expectations,
there only is Your will—
no need to strive and worry,
my heart has been made still.
 
Yet as I learn about You,
I’ve come to realize—
You do so many little things,
that take me by surprise.
 
Each day is an adventure,
as I set my heart on You—
my mind’s in constant wonder,
when I see all that You do.
 
I’ll let You do Your work, Lord,
just have Your perfect way—
and I’ll enjoy the new things,
You have for me each day!
 
Insight: This is worth repeating:
When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.

#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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Meeting in the Meadow

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 125

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 125
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Those who trust in the Lord Are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the Lord surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever (Psalm 125:1-2).
 
Are you uncertain about tomorrow? Trust in the Lord.
Are your resources about to run dry? Trust in the Lord.
Are you unsure about your next steps? Trust in the Lord.
 
You will keep in perfect peace
 all who trust in you,
 all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the Lord always,
 for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
Isaiah 26:3-4 NLT
 
Early in my Christian life I experienced a time of deep discouragement. I was attending Bible college, but things weren’t turning out the way I had hoped. My future looked uncertain and my present circumstances were filled with doubts.
 
One day while walking across campus I noticed a folded paper and picked it up. Out of curiosity, I unfolded the paper to see if anything was written inside. I found no name, only the following…
 
O you of little faith,
God has not failed you yet!
When all looks dark and gloomy,
Do you so soon forget—
 
Forget that He has led you,
And gently cleared your way;
On clouds has poured His sunshine
And turned your night to day.
 
And if He's helped you hitherto,
He will not fail you now;
How it must wound His loving heart
To see you anxious brow!
 
Oh! Doubt not any longer,
To Him commit your way,
Whom in the past you trusted,
And is "just the same today."
 
When I finished reading the poem I was overcome with wonder. It was a word from heaven that calmed my anxious heart and renewed my trust in God’s plan for my life.

(I have since learned that the poem is from the hymn "Jesus Never Fails" written by Arthur Abner Luther.)

Insight: “Trust in the Lord” is not a Biblical slogan, it is the disposition of a heart set upon God’s faithfulness.

#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.
Blessed Day Cards
Meeting in the Meadow