Lift Up Your Heads | Psalm 24 | Morning Psalms & Prayer
In this Morning Psalms & Prayer reflection, Pastor Mark Groen walks through Psalm 24, exploring how its central question—“Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?”—ultimately points us to the risen and ascended Christ. This short devotion highlights Jesus as the One with clean hands and a pure heart, the true King of Glory who entered heaven on our behalf. With pastoral warmth and biblical clarity, this episode encourages confidence in prayer and deep gratitude for our ascended Mediator.
Foundations that Hold | Psalm 11 | Morning Psalms & Prayers
Psalm 11 asks, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” In this episode of Morning Psalms and Prayers, Pastor Mark Groen reflects on the steadfast refuge we have in God, who reigns from His heavenly throne. Through Scripture, prayer, and reflection, we begin the day reminded that God’s righteousness is our foundation, and His mercy is new each morning.
Psalm 7: The Pit We Dig for Ourselves | Psalm Devotional
Psalm 7 is a long prayer, and there was no good place to break it, so we read the whole thing. David begins in trouble again, calling out to God for refuge. This episode of Morning Psalms and Prayers focuses on verses 1 and 2 and verses 14 through 16.
Psalm 6: God Hears Our Weary Prayers | Psalm Devotion
Psalm 6 is the prayer of a worn-out man. David is languishing, and he asks the Lord not to rebuke him in anger or discipline him in wrath. In this episode of Morning Psalms and Prayers, we read the whole psalm and look at verses 1 and 2, verses 6 and 7, and verse 9.
On this side of the cross, we can pray those opening words with a certainty David did not have. Christ bore the wrath we deserved, so we will not face his wrath.
Psalm 5: Take Refuge and Rejoice | Psalm Devotional
Psalm 5 is a morning prayer, and it contains some hard words: God hates all evildoers. In this episode of Morning Psalms and Prayers, we read the whole psalm and spend our time on verses 4 and 5 and verse 11.
It is easy to read those verses and point at the wickedness around us. The devotional asks us to look at our own hearts first. Every day we are sinners, and the evil we see in the world is the same problem we carry. That keeps us from boasting and sends us to repentance.
Psalm 4: Peace in the Night | Psalm Devotional
This Morning Psalms & Prayer episode with Pastor Mark Groen focuses on Psalm 4 and the peace God gives His people even in times of distress. Through heartfelt prayer, honest reflection, and the reading of Scripture, we are reminded that the Lord hears us when we call—and that only He can make us dwell in safety. A timely encouragement for anyone seeking rest in God’s promises.
Psalm 3: Salvation Belongs to the Lord | Psalm Devotional
Psalm 3 is a psalm of David, written as his son Absalom moves to overthrow him. It includes language that can make us uncomfortable, like praying for the teeth of the wicked to be broken, so this episode of Morning Psalms and Prayers starts by setting the scene. David has enemies on every side, and he feels like he is losing.
Psalm 2: Kiss the Son and Take Refuge | Psalm Devotional
Psalm 2 asks a question many of us know by heart: why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? In this episode of Morning Psalms and Prayers, we read the whole psalm and see it as a Messianic song that points past David to Christ, the King God has set on Zion.
Psalm 1: Jesus Is the Blessed Man | Psalm Devotional
We begin a new chapter in our Morning Psalms and Prayer series by diving into the foundational opening of the Psalter: Psalm 1. While often read as a simple instruction for living, we look deeper to see how these verses point directly to the person and work of Jesus Christ. Join us as we meditate on what it means to truly delight in the Law of the Lord and find our strength as trees planted by the living water of the Gospel.
Psalm 119:169-176: God Seeks Us by His Word | Psalm Devotional
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, and it ends the way it has been speaking all along: with a cry for help that is answered by the word of God. In this episode of Morning Psalms and Prayers, we finish the psalm with verses 169 through 176 and notice the rhythm of the psalmist's prayer. He cries, he pleads, and each time the answer comes "according to your word."
Morning Psalms and Prayers | Psalm 119:25–32 Devotion on the Power of God's Word
You may notice that I highlighted things a little bit differently today, and not just because they're in blue. I highlighted smaller sections of the text. And so what you see here is that we have my soul clings to the dust, give me life according to your word. And then I highlighted your statues, then wondrous works, according to your word. Teach me your law, your rules, your testimonies, your commandments, notice what all of those things actually are. They are all things from the word of God. We, obviously, According to your word is the word of God.