Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 119:65-72
Ps 119:65-72 Teth
Do good to your servant according to your word, O LORD. Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands. Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I obey your word. You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart. Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
Matt 5:13-16
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
When we look to God as our strength and as our guide, we begin to take our eyes off of all the trouble and trials in our everyday lives. The more we focus on Jesus and his love, the less time we will spend criticizing and judging others. The more we trust God and his grace, the less we feel proud or despondent about our lives and our failures. It is in trails that we learn to put our trust in God.
Just because we can profit from some situation in our lives does not mean that we enjoy it or that it is pleasant. It has been in some of the most difficult times of my life that I have learned to lean on Jesus and to know God as my Father. But the more I learn to trust him and his word, the more I realize how much I need his grace to forgive me and lift me up. Do not worry, but pray, the Lord is near.
For God, there are two kinds of people; there are those who trust him and try to live for him and then there are those who do not trust him and do not live for him. The hard part for us is that we trust ourselves or things without realizing it.
Heavenly Father it is so good to know that you love me and that you want me to live with you in eternity. As I try to grasp the beauty and glory of heaven, and as I think about living in your presence, it makes all the troubles of this life seem as nothing. Lord, increase my faith! Help me remember that whatever good I may do is to bring glory to you and not myself. Put kind and gracious words in my mouth today so that I will show your love to all those with whom I come in contact. Use me to help someone draw closer to you and to Jesus. In his name I pray.
Robert
