Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 107:17-22
Ps 107:17-22
17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. 18 They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 20 He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. 21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. 22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.
James 1:2-4
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
For far too many people, even Christians, prayer is an action of last resort. We live in a world of self-indulgence and ease with no regard for anyone else or the needs of those less fortunate and wonder why God does not bless us more. When things turn badly for us and we exhaust all avenues of recovery, we turn to God and ask him to deliver us. This has been the action of mankind from the beginning.
Serving God is to honor him in all we do and all we say. It means we realize that all we have in this world is from him. Our health, our intellect, and all we may accomplish is from the hand of God. Our strength to persist and to overcome the bad things in life is given to us by him. The material possession at our disposal are given to us by his grace. But do we give thanks to him for it all?
The apostle Paul came from a wealthy family and he is the one who said we are not to love money or material things. But he gave it all up for the sake of serving Christ. He is who said that greed is the same as idolatry and also said we are to do good to all men, as we have opportunity, especially those of the household of faith. In repeating the words of Jesus, he also said we are to lay up treasures in heaven and not on this earth. He wrote that we are to not worry about anything but with thanksgiving pray about everything without ceasing.
Thank you, heavenly Father for all you give me in this life. Thank you for my life, my health, the material things, my family, and my friends. Thank you for the great opportunity to be in Jesus Christ and the many spiritual blessing that are mine as a result of this. Give me a heart of compassion and a willingness to use what you have given to help others as you provide opportunities to do so. Give healing to those who are sick, peace to those who are hurting, and love to those who are filled with hate. Give us officials who trust in you. I pray in Jesus name.
Robert
