Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 25:16-22
Ps 25:16-22
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. 18 Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. 19 See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me! 20 Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 21 May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you. 22 Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!
2 Cor 1:8-9
8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
Many of us have memories etched into our brain that will remain with us as long as we live. Some of these are good memories and some are horrible experiences from our past. These serve to remind us that life has ups and downs but also that when we are “up against the wall” with nowhere to turn, God is there with us and will see us through. These build our faith and mold our character.
One such memory in my life was almost 25 years ago. I took my wife to the emergency room with a terrible headache. She had become quiet and when we arrived, she could not get out of the car. I got a wheelchair and rolled her inside where the lady began to ask questions. My wife started slipping down to the floor and they took her back immediately. After being transferred to a larger nearby hospital, the doctor came out and said she had a ruptured aneurism in her brain.
He explained that all he could do for the next several hours was to wait and see what would happen. Most people would die within 12 hours and about 90 percent that lived would have permanent impairments. I spent the rest of the night walking the floors and praying. I kept reminding myself that the Spirit would intercede on my behalf because I did not know how to pray adequately. I thank God she lived without any mental impairments. Praise the Lord!
Heavenly Father I am thankful for all the times you have carried me through my trials and have given me strength to carry on when it seemed I could not. Thank you for the times you have forgiven me when I became entangled in sin and have failed to be what you wanted me to be. It is easy to take my eyes off of you as I see all of the pleasures and things around me as well as the trials of this life. Give me wisdom to look to you and to trust you. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
