Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 118:15-21
Psalms 118:15-21
15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The LORD's right hand has done mighty things! 16 The LORD's right hand is lifted high; the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!” 17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done. 18 The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death. 19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. 21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
Pooh asked: “What day is it?” Piglet whined that it is today. Pooh replied: “This is the best day of all.” The Psalmist says elsewhere that this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. When we start the day with this attitude, there is nothing that can keep us from having a wonderful day. It will not take away our pains or problems but we will know that God is with us and Jesus is walking beside us every step we take.
Is your life filled with sorry, pain, suffering, worry, anxiety or other problems? For all of us, the answer is sometimes yes. For some it is more than others but we all have our problems. Jesus had problems – did he ever! For most of three years he traveled over the land preaching with no place to call home. He faced every kind of temptation, pain and suffering we face today. He was physically abused and attacked every way possible emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
As soon as his ministry started the religious leaders rejected him and out of envy they tried to stop him and his work. They ridiculed him and tried every way possible to trap him. If you think politicians today are scrutinized, you should study how the Pharisees, scribes, Sadducees and chief priests tried to trap Jesus in his words and sought every way possible to discredit him.
When things got really bad, he would spend time in prayer. When things were going really good, he would spend time in prayer. When he had decisions to make or faced problems, he would spend time in prayer. This is why we are told to pray without ceasing and always give thanks for all things.
O God, thank you for all you do for me and all you give me. I thank you for even the problems in my life because these make me stronger and teach me patience. I thank you for the wonderful friends who support me and encourage me in serving you. I thank you for my family who loves me even when I am not loveable. Thank you for the many material things you have given me. Thank you for Jesus who died for my sin so I can be yours and know you are with me and one day I can be with you in eternity. I pray in his name, my Savior and my Lord.
--Robert
