Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 65:1-7
Ps 65:1-7
1 Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. 2 O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come. 3 When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions. 4 Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple. 5 You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, 6 who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, 7 who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.
John 17:17-21
17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
It is easy to allow our focus in life to be on the problems we face, both personally as well as in the world around us. We all have them and will have them. But when we believe that God can and will take care of whatever we face, it leaves us free to focus on his blessings, both physically and spiritually.
As we focus on what God has done for us today and every day, we begin with the country in which we live. We enjoy freedoms here in the United States that many in the world only hold as a dream. While it is true that many fought and gave their lives for this freedom, it has always been God who gave the victory and allowed this great nation to flourish. We thank God for our land of abundance.
We have been allowed to study God’s word and share it with others. By studying his word, we have come to faith in Jesus. Based on our faith, we have committed our lives to him and have been baptized into his name. As his people, we know that his grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, so we seek to be holy, as he is holy. Our sins are forgiven and we praise God and Jesus our Lord.
Father, God and giver of life, I come to you today with praise and thanksgiving for all the wonderful blessings you have given me in more ways than I can count or even know. Thank you for the physical blessings I enjoy today and for taking care of me in so many ways over the years gone by. Thank you for all of the spiritual blessings I enjoy in Jesus Christ. Keep me from being selfish or self-righteous, but use me to teach, help and encourage others. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
