Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 105:23-27
Psalms 105:23-27
23 Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham. 24 The LORD made his people very fruitful; he made them too numerous for their foes, 25 whose hearts he turned to hate his people, to conspire against his servants. 26 He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen. 27 They performed his miraculous signs among them, his wonders in the land of Ham.
The wise man tells us that we never know what the future holds for us. We make our plans and think we can carry them out but often everything changes and is beyond our control. When Jacob entered the land of Egypt he was an honored guest, the father of royalty. He was welcomed with open arms and given the best part of the land for his family. Who could have imagined what was to come? His family would grow into a nation and be made slaves to the Egyptians.
So it is today when we make our plans for the future. James says we need to be careful about this and always include God. It is not wrong for us to plan ahead but it is wrong if we think we are in complete control and we forget God. If the Lord wills we will do this or that but it will take place only if the Lord is willing. His plan will trump our plan every time; even if we become ruler of a country that is a world power. After all, God is the one who puts rulers in and takes them out. He is the one who makes nations strong or brings them to ruin.
Even Jesus recognized this as he prayed for the will of the Father to be done in the Garden. He knew what he wanted but was willing to submit his desires to the will of God. This was because he knew that God knows best and also because his first objective in life was to please the Father.
When we make our number one priority to please God by knowing and living in his will, we will always be willing to submit to his plan for our lives. This is not always easy because we may not know his plan and we may not see how what is happening to us could possibly be his will for us. Even though God may not cause things to happen to us, he will provide a way for us to carry out his purposes and then weave our lives for good when we submit to his will.
Heavenly Father, I know you know what is best for me. I also know that things happen to me because I make bad choices or even because I may be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I trust you to take these things and use them for my good as I submit to you and to your will. Give me a stronger desire to study your word and then to put it into practice in my life. Use me to help others, to teach and to encourage them. Please give strength to those who are struggling today because of trials they are facing. Thank you for guiding me. Thank you for the many material blessing you give. I pray in the name of Jesus my Lord.
--Robert
