Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 44:9-16
Ps 44:9-16
9 But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies. 10 You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us. 11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations. 12 You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale. 13 You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us. 14 You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us. 15 My disgrace is before me all day long, and my face is covered with shame 16 at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.
Phil 1:12-14
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
When things are going really good in our lives, we must not forget to thank the Lord and to continue to trust in him. He is the one who has given us the good life and the comforts we enjoy. But when things turn badly and life is really hard, we must not blame God or turn away from him. As Job said in his affliction, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”
God has promised to use whatever happens to us for our good, if we love him and do his will. Whatever happens we are to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the calling of Jesus Christ our Lord. We may not be perfect, but we have been forgiven by his sacrifice and counted as righteous because he became sin on our behalf. Even our trials build our faith and give us wisdom to help others.
What a joy to be a child of God! It is in the knowledge that he will never forsake us that we are able to rejoice in Jesus, our Savior, our High Priest, our brother and our friend. We have blessings beyond our comprehension. But some of greatest blessings come disguised as trials, battles and hardships. Praise the Lord!
O Lord God, giver of life and all things good, it is such a joy and privilege to be able to be your child and to know that you love me and have forgiven me. My goal is to be perfect, to live up to your glory; even though I know I will not attain this in this life. As your Spirit works on me and my heart each day, draw me closer to you and to your will. Thank you for the many fellow Christians you have put in my life and for the joy and encouragement they are to me every day. Help me be a friend to others and to help them in their lives. I humbly pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
