Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 79:9-13
Ps 79:9-13
9 Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name's sake. 10 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Before our eyes, make known among the nations that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants. 11 May the groans of the prisoners come before you; by the strength of your arm preserve those condemned to die. 12 Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times the reproach they have hurled at you, O Lord. 13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
2 Thess 2:16-17
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Do we give God the thanks for all the good things he does for us? At least one meal a day we will offer thanks for our food but what about all the other things he gives us and does for us? Paul says we are to give thanks for all things. How can we give thanks for the trials we face and the pain we suffer? When we realize and truly believe that God is in control of our lives and only gives us what is best for us, we see that even the things we call “bad” are there to prove our faith or to strengthen us or to purify our hearts. God knows what we need.
When we are tested and tried and are faithful in our commitment to God, we are bringing glory to him and to his name. We can offer no greater praise to him than humble trust and obedience. In Hebrews chapter eleven we read how Noah by faith built and ark, Abraham by faith left his home country and his family. By faith Able offered a more excellent sacrifice than his brother Cain. While the emphasis in this chapter is on faith, their faith is always extolled in their obedience.
James tells us that faith without works is dead. We can claim faith but if we don’t trust God enough to obey, then our faith is useless and cannot save us. If we go to a doctor and he prescribes a treatment and we refuse to follow his instructions, we are showing that we don’t trust him and that we want our way.
Heavenly Father, I am indeed thankful for all you have given to me and done for me in my life. I thank you for my home and my family. I thank you for my parents who taught me to trust in you and the importance of doing your will. Lord, there are so many who over the years have been a tremendous influence in my life and more who have been an encouragement to me in my service to you. I give you thanks for each of these. Help me be a good influence and encouragement for others who are seeking to serve you. I pray in the name of Jesus my Lord.
Robert
