Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 66:8-12
Ps 66:8-12
Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.
Heb 12:4-6
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
O, for the days when I was younger! I understood life. I had the answers for almost all of the hard questions people could ask. In my wisdom, I knew how to advise people in marriage and raising kids so there would be nothing but good results and happiness. I could expound with insight on almost any scripture. But then came life and I found that a lot of my confidence was based on ignorance.
Life happens. Why did this person do what they did? Why did this happen to me, my family, or someone I love? I was doing a great job, why did they let me go? How could this child turn out this way when their siblings are so different? Bad things happen to good people and some bad people prosper. People betray us or tell others what we shared with them in confidence. Rose bushes have thorns.
Praise the Lord! When testing comes, he never gives a test that is beyond our ability to pass, in fact he provides all of the answers for us. How does this work? It may be this is a part of what James was saying when he told us to pray for wisdom that comes from above. With each test we pass in life, we grow closer to the Lord as our faith is strengthened. It is in trials that we most often see the goodness of God. It is in betrayal that we learn his faithfulness. In the death of those we love, we learn the temporary nature of life and the importance of preparing for being with Jesus forever. In hurt we learn love, compassion, and caring. God is good!
O Lord God, I just want to thank you for all the wonderful things you have given me in my life. Thank you for my family, for many dear friends, for the spiritual family that surrounds me, and also for the physical things you have given me. I also thank you for the trials, the disasters, the diseases, and even the times that I gave in to temptation. These have all been really bad, but each has taught me invaluable lessons. Use me and all that has happened to me to be able to help others as they face similar things in their lives. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
