A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 37

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 37
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness (Psalm 37:3).
 
It would be hard to pick a favorite psalm, but Psalm 37 would be on my top ten list. Verse three of this psalm would be included in my list of top ten favorite Bible verses. This verse came alive to me when I was a young believer preparing to serve the Lord in Mexico. I’d like to share with you the circumstances in my life that made this passage so meaningful…
 
My wife Char and I, along with my brother Don and his wife Bev, were renting a small house near the beach in Ensenada, Mexico. We were there for three months to study Spanish before moving to central Mexico to begin missionary work in the back country.
 
When we moved to Ensenada, we had enough cash and supplies to last about a month. We had no reserves, no backup plan, and no committed support.
 
Our first test of faith came one morning when both fuses blew in the electric fuse box, and we ran out of drinking water. At that time fuses cost 10 cents each, and drinking water cost 20 cents for a five-gallon jug. Our total need was only 40 cents, but among the four of us we didn’t have a cent.

We didn’t know what to do.
 
Later that morning, my brother told us he was going to take a walk on the beach to pray. About fifteen minutes later he opened the front door of the house with his hand extended.

“Look what I found” he said. 
“What is it?” we asked.
“A five-peso bill” he calmly replied. (At that time a peso was worth 8 cents.)
“How did you get it?” We asked in amazement.
“I was walking and praying on the beach when I saw something sticking up in the sand. I couldn’t make out what it was, so I bent down and picked it up. There in my hand was this folded five-peso bill!”
 
Later that day, with our electricity working and a five-gallon jug of water in the kitchen, my brother shared this scripture with me, “Dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness.” That day, the Holy Spirit planted that verse in my heart, and it’s been a treasure ever since.
 
Insight: The old, old story from someone’s life, can become your new, new story whenever the Holy Spirit plants within your heart a seed from the Word of God.

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©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 36

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 36
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O Lord, You preserve man and beast. How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore, the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright in heart (Psalm 36:5-10).
 
In Psalm 36 there are so many beautiful revelations of God’s heart and character. It is clear from the writings of David that he knew a great deal about what was in the hearts of those who were against him. It is also clear that he knew even more about the heart of the One who was for him.
 
Here is what we discover about God’s heart and character in verses 5-10:

• The Lord’s mercies and unfailing love will never have a stopping point or an ending point.
• God’s faithfulness reaches beyond anyone’s reach of faith. There is always more to grasp and receive.
• God’s righteousness stands more secure and unmovable as the greatest, biggest, and mightiest mountain range.
• God’s justice is never superficial. He will go to the deepest level to make things right.
• God cares for all He has created, down to the smallest detail.
• There is no gift of higher value, no treasure of greater worth, no virtue of deeper meaning than God’s unfailing love.
• God’s gentle presence will shelter you from any storm.
• God’s ways with you are always generous. He never measures according to how little He can give.
• God’s fruits are never sour. His water is never bitter. You drink from a fountain, not from a cup.

 
Insight:Everything that comes from His heart to yours is delightful.

 

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©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 35

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 35
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Plead my cause, O Lord, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, And stand up for my help. Also draw out the spear, And stop those who pursue me. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.” And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; It shall rejoice in His salvation (Psalm 35:1-3,9).

Psalm 35 reveals many of the attacks that came against David from his enemies. They responded with evil when David did good. His enemies intended and attempted to harm him physically, mentally, and emotionally. Anything that would bring David harm, his enemies were for.

How did David survive? How did he find shelter from the storms, comfort from the sorrows, peace from the conflicts, and victory from the battles?

David’s answer is also our answer, and our answer is always God’s answer, YESHUA!

In the Hebrew Scriptures the word for Jesus and the word for Salvation are the same word. You can’t have one without the other! The word is Yeshua (yshuw`ah, יְשׁוּעָה).

Yeshua is God’s Salvation. Yeshua was David’s Salvation. Yeshua is our Salvation. And, Yeshua is so much more! Yeshua is our victory, our deliverer, our aid, our health, our welfare and our help in every conflict.

Insight: David knew Jesus. He knew Him before Jesus left heaven and was born of a virgin in Bethlehem. David knew Yeshua as the eternal word of God who became flesh and dwelt among us. Yeshua is eternal because Jesus is God.

(Read Mark 12:35-37)

Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

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

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 34

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 34
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all (Psalm 34:19).
 
What a great, great blessing is ours to have the Lord. Better still, that He has us! During difficult times, I have often heard it said, “How do people get through hardships without the Lord.” 
 
We know life is hard and filled with many unwanted and unexpected things. Psalm 34 reminds us that as followers of the Lord our lives are filled with many afflictions. Afflictions are identified as those things which are disagreeable, unpleasant, painful, hurtful, or unkind. Even though these unwanted intruders come against us, the resources that are available to us in the Lord are greater than the afflictions that come against us. Here are three of those resources that this psalm mentions:
 
Prayer—In every situation, at any time, we can seek the Lord. We can call upon the Lord. We can cry out to the Lord. 
 
God’s attentiveness—The Lord listens and hears us when we cry out to Him in our fears, or in our troubles.
 
God’s responses—God does more than listen to us. He responds, He answers, and He brings about change. One of those responses is deliverance. He rescues us or snatches us away, even when things seem hopeless or out of control. 
 
As a boy I often went to the Saturday matinee to watch a western movie and a variety of cartoons. The last thing that appeared on the screen was an episode from a serial. The serial always ended with a “cliffhanger”. When leaving the theater, I would wonder how the hero could ever be rescued from the perils he was in. I couldn’t wait to go back the following Saturday to see how he was rescued. Usually, I was surprised how the rescue took place and wondered why I hadn’t thought of that solution. 
 
Insight: Psalm 34 tells us that our afflictions will be many. God’s ways of delivering us can also be many, and often unexpected.
 
Insight: Here are five things that can contribute to our afflictions—Sin. Satan. Selfishness. Sorrow. Setbacks. None of these are a match for Jesus. He is victorious. All these things, and many more, are under His feet.

 
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©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 33

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 33
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. Praise the Lord with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. For the word of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You (Psalm 33:1-5, 20-22).

Listen to the news and there is little to be happy about. Look around you and you don’t see many bright, shiny faces. Yet Psalm 33 is filled with celebration! Consider these responses that come from those who look upon the Lord and listen to His voice…rejoicing, praising, making melody, playing an instrument, singing, shouting for joy.

Looking upon and listening to the Lord can’t help but change our outlook, our countenance, and our disposition. Here are some reasons why:

• God’s words are right, all the time.

• God does everything in truth.

• God loves seeing His character formed in us.

• God’s goodness is still doing great and mighty things in the earth today (He hasn’t gone out of business or closed up shop).

• God is still working out His perfect plan, while the plans of leaders and nations continue to fail (God’s words are exactly the way things will be).

Insight: God’s decisions are perfectly made. That means no one can make a better decision.

Insight: God’s plan and purpose for your life was perfectly made. They came from His heart. He loves you too much to move you into a “plan B”. If you should drift, He will lead you back to the main road.

Insight: Wait upon Him. Wait for Him. At times He may seem slow, but He is never late.

 
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©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 32

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 32
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit. I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, “And You forgave the iniquity of my sin (Psalm 32:1-2, 5).

The burden of sin is so heavy, no one but Jesus can lift the weight of it from off our shoulders. The stain of sin is so dark, only the blood of Jesus can cleanse it from us.

The happiness that comes to us when we are forgiven is deeper and more intense than any happiness we have known before. It is not a happiness based on circumstances. It is instead a happiness based on the inward reality of knowing that our hearts are right with God.

One winter, a little girl received a cute white puppy as a birthday gift from her parents. The girl loved the puppy and played with it everyday. Whenever she would give the puppy a bath she would say, “You are so, so white! You are the whitest thing I’ve ever seen.”

One night, while the girl was sleeping, a big snowstorm covered the ground outside. Next morning, when the girl looked out her bedroom window she couldn’t believe how much snow had fallen. With great delight, she put on her snowsuit and gloves, took her puppy in her arms, and ran outside to build a snowman.

When she had finished her snowman she stepped back to admire her handiwork, while the puppy scampered around nearby. At that moment, the sun came out from behind the clouds and everything was bathed in light. As she watched, her eyes lit up with wonder. “Why, compared to my snowman, my puppy is not as white as I had thought!”

This story shines a bright light on the difference between our efforts to cleanse our hearts from sin compared to the purity of a heart that Jesus has washed clean by His blood. Only Jesus can make our hearts whiter than snow!

Insight:
Forget about all your efforts,
And all the things you know;
Your heart will not be happy,
Until it’s whiter than snow.

Insight: Forgiveness not only delivers us from the darkness of the past, but it also shines a light of hope upon our future.

Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

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

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 31

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 31
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. But I trust in the Lord. I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; But as for me, I trust in You (Psalm 31:1,6,14).

‘Trust’ is an important word in the psalms. It appears 50 different times and is used several times in Psalm 31. The word often appears where difficulty, hardships, and opposition are found. During these times, some people will often put their trust in other people, in their resources, or in their own strength. Followers of Lord, however, put their trust in the Lord.

Recently I co-authored a song with Cheryl Elaine called TRUST ME. Here are the lyrics…

(Verse 1)
Each sunrise finds me trusting in my Father.
Trials come, worries rise; He calls me higher.
In darkest storms, He is there; His voice is clear.
Down His cheek, a gentle sign, I see a tear.
(Chorus)
How many times have You waited patiently,
Whispering softly, “Child, do you trust me?”
When I kneel and pray about my need today
I hear my Father say, “I will make a way.”
(Verse 2)
Weights disappear when I give them to my Father.
Let them go; cast my cares; hold them no longer.
In my heart, his words divine: “Do not fear.”
Trust me, fully trust me for I am here.
(Bridge)
Trust me when the night is long.
Trust me when your strength is gone.
In every shadow, I am near—
Trust me, child, and do not fear.
(Outro)
I hear your words, in my heart: “Do not fear.”
Trust me, fully trust me for I am here.
Trust me, fully trust me for I am here.
 
To listen to the song for FREE you can tap here and be redirected to Blessed Day Cards. Then scroll down to the bottom of the page where it says "Trust Me" and follow the prompt. If you are on Facebook or Instagram, just type in your search bar meetinginthemeadow.com and it should open the page for you.

Insight: In everything you face, every circumstance you are in, every need you have, every place you are, and in every decision you make…God can be FULLY trusted!

Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

meetinginthemeadow.com

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

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 30

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 30
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. Now in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.” Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled. I cried out to You, O Lord; And to the Lord I made supplication: “What profit is there in my blood, When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth? Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!” You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever (Psalm 30:1-12).
 
Psalm 30 is filled with reminders that anything in our lives can change at any time, such as;

• What looks like defeat can turn into victory.
• What looks like failure can change into success.
• Sickness can experience healing.
• Death can become life.
• Anger can be replaced by favor.
• Tears can turn into joy.
• Judgment can be replaced by mercy.
• Mourning can be turned into dancing.
• Sadness can be turned into gladness.
• Silence can be exchanged for praise and thanksgiving.

 
Change
Walking through the wilderness—
Barrenness now my home.
Yet, I am not forsaken,
I’ll never be alone.
I lean upon the shoulder
Of He who draws me near.
Who gently reassures me,
“Come rest, and do not fear.”
Under His wings I’m sheltered—
Upon His wings I soar!
I know I’m not abandoned,
My future is secure.
Ahead are greener pastures,
And waters of delight;
In every test and trial
My King will win the fight!

Insight: The God who never changes can change all things, even us.

Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

meetinginthemeadow.com

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

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 29

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 29
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

The voice of the Lord is powerful; The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace (Psalm 29:4, 11).

How wonderful it is to recognize and to know the voice of the Lord in our daily walk with Him. Knowing His voice is not a hunch or a guess, but a quiet certainty of what He is saying or asking us to do. He speaks to us in many ways. The main way is from the Scriptures. Another way is by the still small voice of the Holy Spirit to our hearts. His voice is always in agreement with Scripture and with the will of God. Following the Lord’s voice will always strengthen us and place our feet on the pathway of peace.

One day a man was returning home from a long trip overseas. In route, he needed to switch planes for the final leg of his journey. He was weary and couldn’t wait to get home to see his family. While waiting in the terminal to make connections, he heard an announcement over the loudspeaker, “There is a doctor who has just arrived and needs to board this flight. It’s a medical emergency. The flight is full and we need someone who would be willing to give up their seat to the doctor.”

The man quickly dismissed the idea of giving up his seat. A few moments later he heard the still small voice of the Holy Spirit speak to his heart, “Give up your seat.” The man struggled with what he heard and replied, “But Lord, You know how tired I am, how long I’ve been gone, and how I want to be home with my family. There are so many people waiting to get on this flight, could you please ask someone else?”
When he finished speaking, the Lord replied, “I have asked others, but you are the only one who is listening.”

Insight: When the Holy Spirit speaks, He will speak to us in words and in ways that we will understand. He is an excellent communicator!

Insight: God doesn’t need to yell to speak with authority.

Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

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

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 28

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 28
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Save Your people, And bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, And carry them up forever (Psalm 28:9).

The Scriptures tell us that David “was a man after God’s own heart”. That heart was a shepherd’s heart. God wanted His people to be ruled by someone who cared about them, watched over them, and protected them from their enemies.

God is the Great Shepherd who shepherds His sheep. He is not like the hireling who flees from the sheep in times of danger. The hireling flees because he doesn’t care about the sheep. Because God cares for you He will never forsake you, and in times of danger He will never leave you helpless and abandoned. He cares so much about you that He sent His Son, the Good Shepherd, to lay down His life for you so you could become the sheep of His pasture.

David ends this psalm with a prayer for God’s sheep. It is a prayer that could only be prayed by someone with a shepherd’s heart. In it we hear the words, ‘carry them up’. David knew sheep daily needed to be led, provided for and protected.

David also knew sheep needed to be carried when they had lost their way and were too scared to move, when they were weak, or when they were hurting due to an injury.

Insight: The last verse in Psalm 28 wouldn’t mean much to a stubborn mule, but it brings great comfort and hope to needy sheep.

Insight: God says to cast all your cares upon Him because He CARES for you…that includes the times when you’re lost, scared, weak, or hurting!

Insight: Come rest with Me in pastures green,
Step into the waters of My healing stream;
Through shadowed valleys and mountains steep
I will never forsake, nor leave my sheep.

Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

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

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 27, Part 2

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 27, Part 2
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1a-b).

There is one more thing I’d like to focus upon in verse one of Psalm 27. David tells us the Lord is not only his light but his salvation. This is an amazing and awesome revelation. Just as light is not a thing but a person, so also salvation is not a thing but a person. If we don’t have the person we do not have light or salvation. David’s light and salvation, and our light and salvation, come from the same source, the Lord!

Jesus is our Light and Salvation.

Salvation is not found in our good deeds, our church attendance, or our religious practices. No one else and nothing else can be our Light or our Salvation.

Insight: Jesus never said, “I have the light” but he did say, “I AM the Light.” He never said, “I have the way, I have the truth, I have the life.” but he did say, “I AM the Way, I AM the Truth, I AM the Life.”

Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

meetinginthemeadow.com

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

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 27, Part 1

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 27, Part 1
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1a)

The winter solstice brings a smile. It’s the beginning of more daylight. I wouldn’t choose Svalbard, Norway as a place to retire. I doubt it shows up on many people’s bucket list. The reason? It’s one of the darkest places on earth. Months go by without any sunshine. What a blessing light is! Its benefits are amazing, especially to the health and well-being of our minds and bodies.

There is another light that is far more important to us than sunlight, and that is Sonlight. Sonlight is light that comes from a person. Psalm 27 identifies that person as The Lord. Who is the Lord? God is. God doesn’t have light, He IS light. There is no darkness in Him.

In the tabernacle God told Moses to build there were three sources of light. The first was natural sunlight, it illuminated the outer court. The second was candlelight (the menorah), it illuminated the holy place inside the tabernacle. The third was glory light, it illuminated the Holy of Holies. The source of glory light came from God’s presence.

Wherever God’s presence is, no other source of light is needed!

In Psalm 27, David made the light of God personal. He said the Lord is “my” light! And, because the Light of the Lord is a person, He can be our light too.

Insight: Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world.” Only God could say that. That means Jesus is God. And that means Jesus can be our light too!

Insight: Jesus—the morning light, the night light, and the highlight of each new day!

Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

meetinginthemeadow.com

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

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 26

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 26
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart (Psalm 26:2).

The next time you do something good, don’t be surprised if God’s response is not “Well done”, but rather, “Why did you do it?”

For a few years I managed the Editorial Department at DaySpring Cards. One day, as I walked past one of the workers, I tapped their shoulder and said, “You’re doing great work. Thanks.”

After giving my compliment I went to my office. As I headed to my desk I suddenly heard the still small voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart.

“What was that all about?” I knew the Lord had heard my comment, but I also knew the Lord saw my motive behind the compliment. 

What sounded like a word of appreciation from a manager to a worker was actually a word of manipulation. Hidden away in my heart was a desire to be recognized and appreciated by those who were above me. I really wanted that worker to continue to do good work so I could continue to look good as a manager.

Insight: It’s better to have God’s approval, even if others disapprove.

Insight: Do what you do to please the Lord, and let your motivation also be pleasing to Him.

Insight: A simple prayer…”Lord, I choose to do what I am doing as unto You and for You.”

Restore, Renew and Refresh in the Psalms

Green Pastures. Quiet Waters. Righteous Paths.

meetinginthemeadow.com

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

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 25

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 25
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You. Redeem Israel, O God, Out of all their troubles! (Psalm 25:1-3, 20-22).
 
Back in the seventies there was a song written by Andre Crouch titled ‘Through It All’. Here is a portion of the song’s lyrics…
 
Through it all
Mm, Through it all
I've learned to trust in Jesus
I've learned to trust in God
Let me tell you that
Through it all, oh
Through it all
I've learned to depend upon His Word.

The chorus…
I thank God for the mountains,
and I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.
For if I'd never had a problem,
I wouldn't know God could solve them,
I'd never know what faith in God could do.

Andre Crouch was not a man who lived his life on “flowery beds of ease”. He was a man, however, who had put his trust in the Lord. In that trust was included Andre’s desire for a wife. He wrote Through It All, not after he found the love of his life, but after he had lost the love of his life when she walked away from their relationship and married someone else instead.

The loss broke his heart and brought him into deep sadness. But Andre’s life wasn’t ruined. The opposite is true. God’s favor rested upon Andre, and the song that was born out of his deep trial has been used to bring comfort and hope to a countless number of believers who have walked through great trials and broken hearts.
 
Insight: A life of ease has never been the lifestyle of those who walk with the Lord.

Insight: As you wait for the Lord and upon the Lord, it is important to remember that He WILL redeem you OUT of troubles, not FROM troubles.

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 April Mullen. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 24

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 24
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah (Psalm 24:7-10).
 
Gates and doors are entry ways and exit ways. They welcome the welcomed in and keep the unwelcome out. 
 
There are many things in our lives that represent gates and doors. Our thoughts have gates and doors, so do our hearts, our souls, and our spirits.

A handshake, a smile, a hug, or a kind act can all be indicators of a door being opened in our lives to let someone in as a new acquaintance or as a friend.

Behind every gate or door is a gatekeeper. Gatekeepers are represented by our wills. We are the ones who decide who can come into our lives or be kept away.

Psalm 24 tells us there is someone who wants to enter our lives. The relationship he wants to have with us is like no other. It is the Lord who is knocking. He is not seeking a casual acquaintance or someone to hang out with. It is the King of glory who wants entrance! He doesn’t want to come in for a visit or to give you a few tips on how to live. A king comes in to takeover.

Insight: A king has the authority to reign and rule. No wonder so many keep the gates and doors of their hearts closed and locked so the King of Glory can’t come in.

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 23

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 23
-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever (Psalm 23).
 
This simple story takes us to the heart of Psalm 23, one of the most beloved portions of Scripture ever written…
 
At a social function, an aged minister asked an actor who was in attendance to recite something from memory. The actor, thinking to please the minister, decided to recite the Twenty-Third Psalm.

With perfect diction, elocution and in delicate shades of tone, he repeated the psalm in a manner that caused the audience to reveal their enthusiastic praise and applause.
 
Afterward, the actor, in order to honor the minister, asked if he would recite something for them. The minister could not think of anything and decided, if it was okay with everyone present, to repeat the Twenty-Third Psalm. Quietly, prayerfully, he slowly began to speak out the psalm as it came to mind. At its end, those in attendance sat hushed.
 
Taking the preachers hand in his, the actor said, “We both know the psalm, but it is clear to us all, that you know the Shepherd.”
 
Insight: Sheep don’t need a plan, they need a shepherd!

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 22

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 22

-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

 

A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done this (Psalm 22:30-31).

 

From the moment of the fall of the human race in the garden, God’s redemptive work of forgiveness and salvation began to be revealed…And the story continues to be told from generation to generation.

 

At the end of the 19th century an organization called Gideons International was formed. One of their goals was to place copies of the Bible in public places such as hotels, hospitals, and prisons.

 

Approximately 50 years later a Bible was placed in a Las Vegas hotel room by a member of the Gideons. My father, an Orthodox Jew, was staying at that hotel. He was gambling in the hotel casino but became restless. He returned to his room, and to his surprise, discovered a Gideon Bible in his nightstand. Curiously, he began to read. The next morning, after stealing the Bible and hiding it in his suitcase, he checked out of the hotel.

 

Six months later, he was reading in the book of Isaiah. As he read chapter 53, his spiritual eyes were opened to see that Jesus was the Messiah of whom Isaiah spoke. That day he became a believer and a follower of his Messiah.

 

Since that time the salvation that he found in Jesus Christ has been heard and received by his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. From generation to generation, God’s light continues to shine. As Psalm 22 declares, “This is a work that God has done.”

Insight: How much does Jesus love you? He loved you to death!

Insight: Jesus’ suffering upon the cross was for you so you could be forgiven and have eternal life. Be His light to your generation. “May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering.”

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 21

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 21

-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

Be exalted, O Lord, in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power (Psalm 21:13).

 

God, who is good, can bring to your life the blessings of His goodness, the favor of His kindness, the security of His mercies, and the fulness of His salvation. How is it possible for God to do these things in your Life? It is because of the following four attributes that only God possesses…

 

The first attribute is God’s daily presence; Without the Lord you have nothing that really matters. But in His presence you have everything that matters most. Without Him you would easily fall prey to every spiritual enemy who is against you. God’s presence is the difference maker!

 

The second attribute is God’s limitless knowledge; God is not only with you, but He knows you. Every part of you. Inside and outside. Head to toe. He made you. Formed you and shaped you. He “gets you”. He knows your thoughts. Your needs. Your gifts. Your talents. Your sense of humor. Your interests. Your likes and dislikes. Best of all, He knows your heart!

 

The third attribute is God’s loving care; God is not only with you and knows you, but He also cares about you. If He didn’t care about you, He would walk away. He wouldn’t respond to your needs or listen to your cry. But He does cares for you, deeply, as a father cares for his child, or as a mother comforts her young. Everything that happens to you matters to Him.

 

The fourth attribute is God’s unmatchable might; Even though God is with you, fully knows you, and truly cares about you, if He lacked the power to keep you or fulfill His promises to you, all would be lost in the end. God, however, is all victorious! You can rejoice for the Lord God almighty reigns. The Lord is strong in word, in character, and in deed. He is almighty in resources and in authority. He and He alone has the final say!

 

Insight: God’s greatness is revealed, not only in the big things of life, but in the tiniest details.

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 20

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 20

-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; May He send you help from the sanctuary And strengthen you out of Zion; May He remember all your offerings And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah. May He grant you according to your heart’s desire And fulfill all your purpose. We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand (Psalm 20:1-6).

Psalm 20 is the “encouragement for those who pray” psalm. It is filled with “mays” not “maybes”.

It begins by the writer offering prayers for us and ends with the blessings that prayer brings to us.

 

The Lord not only answers your prayers, He is also the Answer to your prayers:

• In times of trouble the Lord will be your Shield around you, and your Defender on every side.
• When you need help, the Lord will quiet you with His love.  He is your ever present help in time of need.
• In your weakness, the Lord will be your strength. He will raise you up to higher ground. He is the Almighty one who has placed His hand of blessing and covering upon your head.

He is the only one who is able to fulfill all the desires He has placed within you. His plan for you will continue to unfold. His purpose for you continues to have eternal meaning. Marvelous are His ways with you.


Insight: Psalm 20 is a wonderful prayer to personalize. Here’s how. Whenever you see a personal pronoun replace it with your name instead.

Insight: Prayers are requests not solutions, petitions not suggestions, supplications not manipulations.

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 19

A Devotional Journey Through the Psalms: Psalm 19

-Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward (Psalm 19:7-11).

Psalm 19 holds within its verses a transforming revelation of why the words spoken by God are so beautiful, powerful, and life-giving. Here are five examples:

The Lord’s law.

It is God’s way of giving direction and instruction. If the GPS in your car consistently took you to the wrong location you would quickly mistrust every instruction it sent your way. The freedom found in God’s law comes from its perfection. No need to fear or worry about God’s laws, they will bring your soul rest and reassurance. They won’t confuse you, deceive you, or mislead you.

The Lord’s testimony.

The testimony of God bears witness that everything that He speaks is true. Nothing is fake. Nothing is false. Every word from God is a reality word. Nothing shaky or sneaky can be found. His word is the daily sustenance the wise can feed upon.

The Lord’s statutes.

God’s word causes our hearts to celebrate the authority of our King. God’s laws and commandments have weight because God alone has the authority to speak them. God alone reigns and rules over all that He has written. Our heart obedience to what God has spoken always puts us in the right place for the right reason.

The Lord’s commandment.

God’s commandments are such a blessing to us. It is His way of letting us know how life should be lived, how relationships should be built, how values should be formed, and how priorities should be established. Like the opening of a rose, God’s commandments are the unfolding of perfect love.

The Lord’s judgments.

God, as our judge, will always get it right. He knows and understands every thought and intent of the heart. His holy laws and commandments reveal our sin and show us our need of a Savior. His mercy welcomes every repentant sinner to receive His cleansing and forgiveness. God sent His Son to make our salvation possible. Jesus died in our place. The judgement for our sins was placed upon Him. He died so we could live and become a part of His family of the redeemed.

Insight: God is good, righteous, true and just. All the time!

Insight: The fear of the Lord comes to our hearts because God’s word is not a collection of suggestions, but a revelation of absolute truth.

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.