Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 108:6-13
Psalms 108:6-13
6 Save us and help us with your right hand that those you love may be delivered. 7 God has spoken from his sanctuary: “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Succoth. 8 Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter. 9 Moab is my washbasin, upon Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.” 10 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 11 Is it not you, O God, you who have rejected us and no longer go out with our armies? 12 Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. 13 With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.
No matter how many victories and no matter how many nor how terrible the defeats, the psalmist realized that God is in control. The results of each battle was dependent upon God and his desires for them. These were not just arbitrary but each had a reason and purpose to carry out the plan of God for them. Knowing this, the writer did not rest on his past laurels nor did he wallow in his defeats but continued in trusting and serving God.
In our lives today we can never rest on our past accomplishments (no matter how many or how great they were) but must press on in faith toward that heavenly calling. At the same time we cannot allow our past defeats (or what we perceive to be defeats) to get us down, discourage us or make us want to give up on serving God. What we can do is let each situation of our lives make us stronger in our commitment and service to God.
Each trial we face (regardless of whether we give in or not) can be used in our lives to make us stronger and then to help others overcome in their lives. When we fail to be what God wants, we can admit our wrong and ask for his forgiveness and then with a new commitment embark on becoming more like him. This does not trivialize nor minimize sin but faces the reality of it and then allows God to work in us to mold us and fit us for his kingdom.
Paul said he had not yet attained his final goal but forgetting what was behind, he pressed on toward the prize of his high calling. We can too.
Heavenly Father, thank you for your love for me. I do fail on so many occasions to be what you want me to be. Forgive me when I say things I should not say or when I am silent and should have spoken. Create in me a pure heart and a desire to do only your will in every part of my life. Give me courage to admit when I have sinned and a penitent heart to turn me back to your way. Help me use each and every adversity I face to make me stronger. As I realize my strength is in you and from you, keep me humble. I pray in the name of Jesus.
--Robert
