A God Worth Following (Part 1)
Daily Bible Studies for the Week of January 12, 2009
This Week’s Scripture: Psalm 8:1-9 NLT
1 O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
2 You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.
3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are people that you should think about them,
mere mortals that you should care for them?
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
7 the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
9 O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Monday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are an awesome and amazing God! I praise You both for who You are and for all You do! Thank You for the wonders of Your creation, and thank You for creating me! I pray that You will fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may live today giving You the honor You deserve. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
1O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
What sense do you have of the Psalmist’s purpose in writing this Psalm from verse 1?
What do you do in your daily life to show others the majestic name of God?
Today’s Challenge: I will take the time today to glorify God, the Father, for His wondrous creation!
Tuesday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, there is no doubt that even children and infants do tell of your strength, if not in words, then by their very births and growth. I pray that I may have the faith and joy of a child as I live this day. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
2 You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.
How do children and infants tell of God’s strength?
How does this silence God’s enemies?
Today’s Challenge: I will live with childlike faith today, and thus bring honor to God!
Wednesday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I praise You for the beauty of creation! I pray that you will slow me down enough today that I may take the opportunity to look at the works “of your fingers.” I pray that You will also remind me of the amazing blessing You give me, just by caring for me, and providing salvation through Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—4what are people that you should think about them, mere mortals that you should care for them?
What role does nature play in your personal faith?
Why do you think the Psalmist looks to the heavens and then wonders why God cares for us?
Today’s Challenge: I will pause today, to look at all God has created and to thank Him for caring about me!
Thursday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for the blessing of creating us in Your image, and then redeeming us by the blood of Jesus after we had fallen from Your grace and blessing. Let me live today in the power of the Holy Spirit that I may reflect Your image to all I meet! This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.
In what sense are we “only a little lower than God”?
What does it mean to you that God has “crowned” us with “glory and honor”?
Today’s Challenge: I will live in the power of the Holy Spirit today, so that I may reflect the image of God in my life!
Friday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray for the indwelling presence of Your Holy Spirit that I may be a faithful steward of Your creation. Let me use all of the gifts and skills you have given me to manage all that is in my sphere of influence well today and everyday. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—7 the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals, 8the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
What do these verses tell us about stewardship?
What do they say about protecting our environment?
Today’s Challenge: I will be a faithful steward of all God has entrusted to me!
Saturday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, again as we conclude this week of study of You, and the majesty You and Your creation possesses, I praise You once again! You are an amazing God, and I offer myself whole-heartedly to You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
9 O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Why do you think the psalmist closes Psalm 8 with the same statement as he started it?
After a week of reflecting on Psalm 8, what new insights have you gained into God’s majesty and creative power?
Today’s Challenge: I will honor and glorify God through my thoughts, words and actions today!