Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 55:1-8
Ps 55:1-8
1 Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; 2 hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught 3 at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger. 4 My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me. 5 Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. 6 I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest--7 I would flee far away and stay in the desert; Selah 8 I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm."
Luke 5:13-16
13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 Then Jesus ordered him, Don't tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." 15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
The Psalms were written by people just like you and me. They had problems in life and often others did not like them or what they stood for. Most of the Psalms are written as prayers in times of trouble. They are demonstrations of trust in God and examples of prayer for us today. Our problems are not the same as what they faced so our prayers will not be the same but our trust in God can be identical.
When Jesus had a bad day, he would get away and pray. When he had a major decision to make, he would go off alone and pray. When temptations came or when problems arose, he prayed. There is no greater blessing in our daily lives than the right to go to God in prayer, with the assurance that he will hear us and will respond to us with what is best for us at the time. We should pray often.
Paul said we are to pray always with thanksgiving. When we offer prayer from a genuine heart, without doubting, we are forced to admit that we trust God to take care of us. Nothing is too great or too small to take to God in prayer.
O God, my heavenly Father, I am so glad that you will hear me. When I look at my life and compare it to your glory, I realize just how weak and sinful I am. Yet, I also know that in the blood of Jesus my sins are forgiven and my fellowship with you is constant. Give me a pure heart and a steadfast spirit. Give your strength to those who are faced with persecution for their faith and protect them as you only you can do. Be with your people, wherever they are and help each of us to know how to love, even as you love us. Give us your wisdom. I pray in Jesus name.
Robert
