NorMel House Devotions

Psalm 7 – In You do I take refuge (see below) Persecution comes in many forms. In Psalm 7, David cries out to God because people were making false accusations against him and wanted him dead. He feared them as one fears a lion, afraid they would tear him apart. This is not an unusual encounter for God’s children; In Matthew 5:10-12, Jesus said, Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Many verses in the Bible remind us that anyone who follows Christ will be persecuted. John 16:33 tells us, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” We know that this life won’t be easy; the type of p...

My father once said, "There's no artist like The Artist," and that sentence has stuck with me ever since. It's what comes to mind when I see a beautiful sunset or a blooming flower; indeed, so much of creation reminds me of God's power. The overwhelming sense of grandeur when standing on the edge of a canyon, or hearing the thunder boom, is a gift. It's incredible to think of all the amazing, intricate,  and beautiful things God has, and continues to, give.  Everyone has been given talents, but I find myself drawn to the ones that evoke feelings and emotions. I admit I'm a little envious of those whose talents lie in the arts. Hearing a beautiful voice singing, or a well-played instrument, or absorbing the beauty of a painting or sculpture, can have a profound impact on one's emotions. So often I find peace in the beauty of this world that our awesome God has created. Psalm 19:1 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above procla...

Psalm 6: My soul is greatly troubled. God’s wrath against sin is great and something that unrepentant sinners should truly fear. David was very ill, and people were saying that his sickness was a punishment from God for his sin. He was greatly disturbed by this and afraid of dying because of his sins. David wept and pleaded with God because he did not want to die in his sin; he wanted to live in remembrance of and praise to God. There are times in our lives when we, like David, live in fear. We may fear the possibility that our sins are so great that they’re unforgivable, or we may be afraid of what lies ahead in our future. When we struggle with our health, or disputes and controversies with others, or perhaps even the consequences of our own sins, we may, like David, fear death, but also the possibility that we may fall further into our sin and then be punished by God for it. As believers, these fears are often misplaced; Jesus took God’s full wrath against all sin. “For our sake...

Psalm 5 –  LEAD ME IN RIGHTEOUSNESS (See Below) Psalm 5 is a lament but also a reminder of who God is. He is our King and our God. He is just but also shows steadfast love and preserves His children. This should have a profound effect on how we live our lives. Our relationship with God is the most important one in our lives, and as such, we ought to make it our priority. You’ll notice that both Psalm 4 and Psalm 5 start with a cry for help at different times of the day. Psalm 4 speaks of going to sleep in peace, whereas Psalm 5 reminds us that God hears our prayers in the morning. These prayers show us that we ought to start and end our day with prayer. Prayer is how we communicate with God and therefore an important part of our relationship with Him. Prayer not only helps us grow in our relationship with God, but it also allows us to commit our whole lives to Him. Every morning we can start fresh; before the chaos of our lives fills our minds with other things, we are bless...

Psalm 4 – Answer Me When I Call – See Below Once again, David calls out to the LORD in his distress. While the exact date of Psalm 4's composition is unknown, it makes sense that it follows Psalm 3. It, too, can be a response to his son Absalom’s betrayal and his supporters. David speaks of men who were spreading lies about him and trying to bring shame to his name. Absalom was a great source of stress and trouble for David; he turned many of the people against David and usurped the throne. Whether he was writing in response to this or not, we can understand how frustrating it is when the world around us believes lies instead of God’s truth. Satan earnestly seeks to destroy God’s people and tries to tempt us with many false gods, delusions, half-truths, and lies. When we are dealing with this type of attack, it can feel relentless at times, causing us to despair. David starts the Psalm with a plea for help, calling on God for relief. He recalls God’s faithfulness in the past ...

  Psalm 3 - See below David’s son, Absalom, loved his sister Tamar. When he found out that their own brother, Ammon, had violated her, he killed Ammon. Fearing his father’s wrath, he then fled to Geshu. When David allowed Absalom to return to Jerusalem, he commanded him to stay out of his presence. This continued for 2 years (see 2 Samuel 14:28). After 2 years, Absalom “came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom” (2 Samuel 14:33). Absalom spent the next 4 years undermining David’s authority and “gaining the hearts of the people.” (See 2 Samuel 15). He sat at the city gates, charming them daily and turning them against David. After the 4 years, Absalom sent messengers throughout the tribes of Israel, planning a coup. In 2 Samuel 15, David flees to prevent a blood bath from Absalom’s takeover. In Psalm 3, David cries out to God because his own son rose against him and stole the hearts of the people. In verses 1 and ...

Psalm 2: The Reign of the LORD’s Anointed – see below When we looked at the first Psalm, it became obvious that the company we keep matters. In Psalm 2, we see what happens to those with whom we shouldn’t spend time: those who mock the Lord God and His people. Our society thinks that we all can have our own beliefs, and yet, it mocks Christians for believing in the one true God. God’s word gives us comfort because we see that, although evil may seem to prosper at times, God is in control and He will punish those who “plot in vain” against Him. David’s words in Psalm 2 are prophetic, describing the rebellion of the nations, but also the coming of the Messiah. In verse 7, he points forward to when God would say of Jesus, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17). David also knew that God had anointed him to be king, and he trusted God’s promises. A Savior would come into the world through his own bloodline; true God, true Man, the only begotten Son of God....

Psalm 1 (see bottom). The book of Psalms opens with a profound, foundational truth: true joy is found in obeying God. As a collection of wisdom, poetry, and truth, the Psalms teach us how to live and remind us to turn to God in every situation. To walk in this joy, we must be mindful of our influences. The people we surround ourselves with shape our character and our faith. If we closely associate with those who mock God or ridicule His Word, their worldview can easily skew our own, tempting us to drift from the truth. Instead, we should actively seek friendships that build our faith—friends who encourage us to draw closer to God and walk in His ways. Following God requires knowing His heart, which comes from intentionally engaging with Scripture. Meditating on His Word, searching the Scriptures, and studying His commands allow us to apply biblical truth to our daily lives. Just as a tree soaks up water to bear good fruit, we must soak up God’s Word to align our minds and actions w...

"When it rains, it pours." Ever heard that expression? Ever felt like that expression describes your life? Sometimes in life, we get hit hard, and then it seems the hits just keep on coming. One thing after another.... after another... after another. Every time you try to "get back up" again, something else hits and keeps you down. It's like the shoe fell, but then more shoes just keep on falling! As Christians, we know that there will be trials and suffering in this life, but God's word is filled with comfort and promises to give us strength. Matthew 11:22-30      Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.    Isaiah 41:10      Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my ri...

Some days, the words just flow through my fingers and onto the page. I feel like a conduit, not a writer. But then there are days when the words just don't seem to come; when there's so much on my heart, but I just can't seem to put it into words. Grief can have that effect sometimes. There are no words that will truly express my thoughts and feelings right now, so I'll let God's Word speak for itself: No more shall there be in it     an infant who lives but a few days,     or an old man who does not fill out his days Isaiah 65:20 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.                           ...

Waiting is hard, waiting for something you long for, even more so. There are so many things we wait for in life, but waiting for someone to fulfill their promises can be frustrating and make us impatient. As Christians, our waiting should look a little different; the Bible teaches us that even in our waiting, we must remain faithful to God and be patient. God is faithful and trustworthy; He always keeps His promises. Are you willing to wait patiently? Could you remain faithful, steadfast, and patient even if it took 45 years for someone to fulfill their promise? Or an entire lifetime? Turning to the book of Joshua, we can see an example of true faith and patience. Caleb, of the tribe of Judah, son of Jephunneh, was chosen to be sent out as a spy into the land of Canaan. God had brought His people out of the land of Egypt, as He had promised He would. When they drew near to the land of Canaan, the Lord commanded Moses , “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to ...

  Have you ever thought, “Wow, it’s a good thing others can’t hear my thoughts right now!” I know I definitely have, more often than I’d care to admit. So often, throughout the day, my thoughts are not in line with what the Bible teaches us they should be. As Paul says in Romans 7:15, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” It’s a constant struggle and battle to control not only our actions but also our thoughts! By the Spirit, we may be able to hold our tongues and keep our thoughts to ourselves, but our thoughts matter to God! I am a Christian, not because I am perfect, I’m not. I am a Christian because I know I need Christ! Part of knowing my need for God is recognizing how important it is to have a living, active relationship with Him. Prayers are a vitally important part of living out your faith and being a Christian. Prayer is part of how we commune with our heavenly Father, and therefore, vital to our relat...