Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 38:1-8
Ps 38:1-8
1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. 2 For your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down upon me. 3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin. 4 My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. 5 My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly. 6 I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning. 7 My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body. 8 I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.
Eph 2:4-5
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.
David, a man after God’s own heart, committed some horrible sins. Because of his desires of the flesh he took another man’s wife and then had him murdered. For some time he tried to conceal his sin and live with it. But because he was such a good person, the sin in his life took away his energy and left him depressed. He knew he was wrong and life was miserable until he made things right with God.
We all at times have done things we wished we had never done. Some of us have been involved in things we classify as more serious sins while some of us have only done those things that are called less serious because they are more socially acceptable. While some sins have greater consequences on us now, sin is sin and it separates us from God until we turn from it and ask his forgiveness.
When we know we have sinned and try to hide it, cover it up or even deny it to ourselves and to others, it causes depression and sickness in our lives. We know from the story of Jonah that we cannot hide from God and from Cain we know he sees our every sin. When we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us so we can live with a peace unknown to the world and with joy that never ends.
Heavenly Father I am thankful for this new year. As I look back over this last year, give me an honest heart to evaluate myself in my relationship with you. I know I have sinned in many ways but I also know you have forgiven me. As I face this new year, give me a greater commitment and strength to glorify you in all I do and say and give me wisdom to know how and when to keep my mouth shut. Use me in your service as I seek to teach and encourage others. Open my eyes to each opportunity you provide and give me wisdom to know how to take advantage of every one of them. Be with our nation, our leaders and all those who influence others that they will look to you for guidance. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
