Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 31:9-13
Ps 31:9-13
9 Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. 10 My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. 11 Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends--those who see me on the street flee from me. 12 I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. 13 For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life.
Heb 4:14-16
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
God describes himself to Moses as a God of mercy and full of compassion. God cares about us and what we face in life. Jesus had this concern for his disciples and told them that when he ascended back to the Father, he would not leave them alone but would send the comforter to be with them and guide them. We have that same Holy Spirit in us today to protect, comfort and guide us. While he does not work in the same way today as he did in the apostles, he is still very much in us and working for our good, giving us wisdom and strength.
Jesus understands our plight, our sorrows and our diseases. He knows what it means to suffer (far more than most of us will ever experience). He has faced the temptations to sin just as we do today and intercedes with the Father on our behalf. It is in his name that we approach God with confidence.
As we face the day, let each of us determine to put our trust in God. Throw away all worry and anxiety and trust God. We are not alone. The Lord will walk beside us and hold our hand. The Spirit whispers to us “peace, be still.”
Thank you, heavenly Father for your mercy. It is a comfort to know that you care about me, love me and protect me. I need your wisdom. I need your strength. I need your reminders in my heart to be like you in all I say and do. Increase my faith and take away my fears and worries. Lord, I am mindful of so many who are suffering from various problems and I ask your care on them. Use me to reach out to those who don’t know you and gently lead them toward you. Forgive me when I fail to be all you want me to be. I pray in the name of Jesus my Lord.
Robert
