Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 99:1-5
Ps 99:1-5
1 The LORD reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. 2 Great is the LORD in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. 3 Let them praise your great and awesome name--he is holy. 4 The King is mighty, he loves justice--you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right. 5 Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy.
Phil 4:12-13
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Somewhere, about the dawn of the ages, my wife and I got married. We were young and had all the answers to life, and we had lots of love, but that was about all we had. I quickly found that she worried a lot, so I asked her about it and she said I never worried about anything and someone had to worry. As our lives progressed, and reality sat in, I began to worry so she could stop. Well, I did get more serious but never really learned to worry too much about anything.
One of the things I learned about worrying is that it seldom (if ever) solves anything or even does anything worthwhile. It is best described as being like a rocking chair – it keeps us busy but never gets us anywhere. What it does do is that it takes away our joy. Another thing I learned about worry is that most of what we worry about never even happens anyway. But the really sad thing is that worry is the result of thinking that life is up to us instead of trusting God.
This does not mean that we are not to be careful about things. We still must use good judgment and put forth effort in our lives. We must follow the will of Jesus and be at peace with others as we treat them the way we want to be treated. But in the end, we believe that God will never allow us to be tempted, tested, tried, or burdened, beyond what we are able to bear. We can do all things through Christ because he is able to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond all we ask or think.
O God, what a joy to belong to you and to know that you always have my back and that even when I fall or do something really stupid, you will pick me up and you will use my worst mistake for your good and to your glory. Help me keep a smile on my face and a song in my heart so that my presence will cheer those who are faint or depressed. Help me never be obnoxious or hypocritical with a put-on smile but to have joy, joy, joy, down in my heart! Thank you for Jesus who saved me and gives me your peace through the Spirit. In Jesus name I pray.
Robert
