Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 56:1-6
Ps 56:1-6
1 Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me; all day long they press their attack. 2 My slanderers pursue me all day long; many are attacking me in their pride. 3 When I am afraid, I will trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? 5 All day long they twist my words; they are always plotting to harm me. 6 They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, eager to take my life.
Rom 8:26-27
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
As word continues to come in, we see the many tragedies that have resulted from the storms that struck middle Tennessee earlier this week. Living in an area that is known for the prevalence of tornadoes, it is easy to understand the destruction and loss that comes with them. The question that so many will ask is how God can allow children to be maimed and killed or families lose all of their possessions or why good people have to suffer. But we cannot and must not blame God.
When Job, who was one of the most righteous men of his day, lost everything in storms and to his enemies, he turned to God. He said that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord. He went on to say that since we accept the blessings of God eagerly, we must be willing to accept adversity when it comes too. He sought for the answers to our questions but was given none. What he was told was that God is in control and we are to trust him.
Having faced so many of the problems that are common to all mankind, I know it can be hard to bear. The death of a child tears out ours insides. Loss of material possessions eats away at our spirit and will to go on. When our physical health is taken, it changes our whole lives in an instant. What I have learned is to trust God and know he will hear our cry and answer our prayer. We then use what seems so bad to make our faith stronger and to help others in their afflictions.
Holy God, giver of life and all blessings, give your peace to those who are facing such difficult trials today. Be with those who have been diagnosed with cancer or some other terrible disease. Give your healing where you see best and your tender mercy to all. Use me to help others when I have opportunity to do so. Be with your children as we seek to know you and become more like you. Kill the desires of this world and the love of things from my heart so that I will love you above all else. Forgive me when I fail. I humbly pray in Jesus name.
Robert
