Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalm 91:9-16
Psalm 91:9-16
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling--even the LORD, who is my refuge--10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
One of the widespread problems in life is that when people don’t know God as he reveals himself in scripture, they tend to create a god in their minds that fits what they want or think he should be. As a result of this, we often hear people who talk freely about how God is love and then they interpret this to mean that God will always (and only) do that which in their minds is good. So they go through life thinking that God is their servant and will just provide their every wish. The other side of this is when things don’t go their way and then they become disillusioned and turn against him because what they see does not fit what they believe.
God has promised to bless his people. This was true before the Law of Moses was given, it was true for the Jewish people and it is true today under Christ. However, he has not promised that he will bless those who do not serve him. This means we cannot just live for ourselves and then expect him to intervene and help us when we get in trouble. There is no divine comfort for those who turn their backs on him and do not thank him as God.
Having said all this, we need to understand that God has not promised to keep us from what we consider tragedy in our lives. He has promised to go through these with us, give us strength to bear whatever we face, never allow it to go beyond what we are able to bear but will use whatever happens for our good. It is our place to just trust him, no matter what happens to us in this life. Serving him in obedient faith, we have assurance of eternal salvation.
Lord God, give me a greater desire to study your word, wisdom to understand it and strength to live it. As I come to know you better, help me trust you more and live my life for you. Forgive me when I fail to be all you want me to be. Thank you for the many blessings you shower on me every day. Help me use everything you give me to your glory. Thank you for helping me through so many tough times in my life. Use me to understand these experiences so I will help others in their trials. Give them greater faith and strength. I pray in the name of Jesus.
--Robert
