Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 27:11-14
Ps 27:11-14
11 Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. 12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. 13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
2 Tim 4:1-3
1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.
We often hear that to be close to God and to grow in his grace, we must study the word and spend time in prayer. This is true because our communication with him builds our relationship with him. The more we know his word, the more we can know him and become like him. But this brings up the other thing we must do to grow spiritually; we must put into practice what we learn. We exercise our senses to discern between good and evil.
Even if we could quote the entire Bible but did not use what we say, it would do us no good. Putting God’s word into practice includes living morally and using speech that glorifies God and builds up those who hear us. Spiritual exercise means we use what we have from God (our abilities, material goods, time and opportunities) to help others and in so doing we lay up treasures in heaven.
God is love and he loves each of us. His love is a caring love, a merciful, giving and sharing love. His love is not just a feeling or thought but is action toward every one of us. He gave his Son for us. He gives his Spirit to us. He guards us, he guides us, he protects us and provides for us. He shares our joys and our sorrows. He feels our pain, our doubts and fears and gives peace and comfort to us.
So, when his love is complete in us, we give to others as he gives to us. One gift we can give is the gift of listening to others; hearing and feeling with them in their situation. This gift requires what may be our most valuable asset, our time. Real love, God’s love in us, will cause us to care, to share and to pray for others.
Heavenly Father, open my eyes to see the opportunities all around me to love and to show your love in me. Thank you so much for so many who have loved me and have shown that love to me. Keep me from being selfish with your love but help me use all I am to glorify you and your name by loving others. Help me always be motivated to study your word. Give me wisdom to understand it and strength to apply it. Forgive me when I fail. I pray in the name of Jesus my Lord.
Robert
