Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 85:1-7
Ps 85:1-7
You showed favor to your land, O Lord; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. Selah You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger. Restore us again, O God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us. Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.
Acts 4:27-30
Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.
One thing we can count on in life is that things will change. We may be on top of the world today and then in the depths of depression the next day or we may think all is well, only to find that we have some terrible problem. The same thing is true in our spiritual lives where we find ourselves really being what we think we should be, and then we give in to some temptation and feel the load of guilt and remorse. But at times, the best seems to follow the worst. Life changes.
What does not change is Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever. His love never fades, his compassion never wanes, and his support never fails. He is our Rock and our Refuge in the times of storm. He weeps when we are filled with sorrow, and he rejoices when things are really good for us. He feels what we feel, both good and bad. Jesus is our brother, our friend, our Savior and our Lord.
In spite of all the platitudes of the love and goodness of our God and of Jesus, there will be times in our lives when we need him the most and it seems that he is not to be found. Bad gets worse. Sickness abounds. Relationships are torn apart. Death comes, even though we pour our hearts out in prayer. It is then that we must have faith and reach out for his hand. He will hear and he will heal our broken hearts. He will give strength to carry on. He will never forsake us.
O Lord, you know exactly what I need, when I need it and why things are like they are. Increase my faith so I will trust you in the bad times but help me never forget to be grateful and give thanks to you when things get better and when good things happen to me. You have blessed me beyond anything I ever imagined could be possible, and in more ways than I can even know. Thank you for the life you have given me in this time and place of the world. I pray in Jesus’ name.
Robert
