Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 92:6-9
Ps 92:6-9
6 The senseless man does not know, fools do not understand, 7 that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed. 8 But you, O LORD, are exalted forever. 9 For surely your enemies, O LORD, surely your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered.
James 4:13-16
13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.
A reader’s response to a recent devotional prompts these thoughts today. My personal belief is that if God does not deal with us individually in his providence, there is no need for us to waste our time praying. There is nothing too small or too large to pray about. The more we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit and allow him to give us the wisdom from above and motivate us, the more we will become like our Savior, Jesus Christ. The more we become like him the more ready we are for living with him in eternity. God is just getting us ready for that new life.
But to do this is not easy. Especially when God is dealing with people who don’t want to open their minds to his will and his ways (and at times that is all or most of us). When we pray for God to give us what we think is best and do it in the way we have planned, we may be disappointed because he has a better way.
For me to become a better person and have stronger faith, I need God to give me what I ask for in the material world and empower me with his Spirit to do his will in all things. (At least that makes good sense in human wisdom.) In reality what he gives to make me more like him is often trials in the form of accidents, diseases, heartaches and even persecutions. It is in these (and other things like these) that God slows us down so we will see him and the beauty of his creation. It is by these that our faith is made strong because we realize we are not in control. God is!
O Lord, help me overcome all that I face in this world each day. There is so much that is so alluring and would take my time and efforts away from serving you. Use me in a greater way to lead others to you and to encourage those who are hurting or struggling to be faithful to you. Fill my heart with compassion, mercy and love so I am not judgmental toward them but helpful and encouraging to them. Help me be patient with them as you are with me. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
