Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 71:16-19
Ps 71:16-19
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. 17 Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. 18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. 19 Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you?
Luke 1:34-38
34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God." 38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
Nothing demonstrates our trust in God and in turn praises him and honors him as God more than an attitude like Mary in our latter text. When we submit to his will without understanding and without hesitation, we show absolute trust. This is the kind of faith that will save us. Mary was saying that God was the potter and she was the clay and would thus be at his mercy as to how things turned out.
In the world all around us we can see the wisdom and power of God. In the Bible we see his plan for our lives and how we are to live for him. Yet, we see so many (maybe you and me at times) who argue with God about how to become his child or how we are to live as his children. In spite of plain teaching many will say “but I think,” or “but I feel” or “but” something else. We cannot “but” God and please him. That is the opposite of the trust shown by Mary as we read earlier.
When we trust him, he will take care of us in our youth and will not forsake us when we are old. He delivered David from the lion and the bear when he was young and he will deliver us from every youthful lust today. He forgave him when he was old and sinned. He will do the same for us at any age today.
Heavenly Father, I am so thankful for your love, your compassion, your mercy and your marvelous grace. Increase my faith so I will willingly submit to your will in all things. Give me wisdom as I study your word, so I will know how to live for you in every part of my life. Help me get my focus off of myself, off of this world and off of the things of this world so I can truly keep my eyes on Jesus and on the things above. Increase my faith so I will use all I am and all I have to your glory. I want to have your love show forth to all around me. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
