Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 22:25-31
Ps 22:25-31
25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows. 26 The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise him--may your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, 28 for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations. 29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him--those who cannot keep themselves alive. 30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. 31 They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn--for he has done it.
1 Thess 3:11-13
12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
I read a story of a young man who decided he was going to compete and win an Olympic event when he got older. He began getting in shape, learning all he could about the event and practicing what he learned. He spent countless hours in his room watching films of the event as it was being run each year. He especially focused on the winner each year and would watch in slow motion every bodily movement. People laughed at him and even his father told him he was wasting his time. But he persistently continued to get ready for the big day.
Well the day came and he was in the Olympics. Just before the event began, he heard the words of his father telling him he was wasting his time and that he could not win. He re-focused on his training and put into practice all he had leaned over the years. He was ready to win and it all paid off in victory.
When we focus on heaven there will be those who will tell us we will never make it. When we put our eyes on Jesus there will be many who will laugh and tell us we are wasting our time, maybe even our own family. But if we will let the Spirit of God live in us and we will set our hearts on living for Christ, we will one day, by his grace, have the crown of victory; not us only but all who love the Lord.
Heavenly Father I am thankful for your love. Thank you for showing us in your word how to live for you. Thank you for giving me your Spirit and your power to overcome all temptations I face in life. Help me stay focused on heaven and on you so I will not lose my way or give up on serving you. When I fail, continue to forgive me, pick me up and use me in your will. Help me truly put others ahead of myself and their interests ahead of my own. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
