Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 90:7-12
Ps 90:7-12
We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. The length of our days is seventy years — or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Eph 5:15-18
Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Life is short so we need to use every opportunity to do good that comes to us. We often have good motives and intentions but just get busy and don’t do the things we want to do, or we feel we need to do. It may be in our self-improvement, or it may be things we want to do for others, but we keep putting it off and never get around to actually doing it. This is one of the most effective tools of the devil.
The other side of this is that we cannot fix everyone’s problems, and it is not our place to even try. The same Paul who said that we are to do good to everyone, as we have the opportunity, also said for us to mind our own business and live a quiet life. We should not beat ourselves up because we don’t accomplish all that we see needs to be done in the world. We need to pray for wisdom and use our time wisely. God will give us the opportunity to do what he wants us to do.
For some, the desire to help others stems more from a desire to control or thinking that we have all the right answers – especially for others, than it does from a sincere heart of helping them. But even when our motive is good, and it may be that our past life has given us wisdom to see certain mistakes and the results of these mistakes, it does not mean that others will heed our advice. Jesus let Peter deny him but was ready to forgive him and let him learn from it.
O Lord God, use me to help others in every way I can, but also give me the right motives that come from a heart of love. Never let me forget that I can be wrong and that not everything is my business. Help me learn from your patience that comes as a result of your love, so I can be more patient with myself and with others. Lord, help our nation be more united, to know how to love each other, even when we don’t agree. Give us godly leaders, who respect you and respect your word as authority. Thank you for all you do for me. In Jesus’ name.
Robert
