Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 106:1-5
Ps 106:1-5
Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare his praise? Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right. Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them, that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise.
Rom 8:12-14
Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation — but it is not to the flesh and its desires, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Blessed are those who constantly do right. Even when our heart is set on serving God and we are trying to be like Jesus, we still mess up and say things or do things that we realize are wrong. Absolute perfection is a tough goal for any of us. This is the standard that God has given to us, to be like Jesus and to live up to the glory of God. But it is a joy to be in Christ and to know that our sins are forgiven.
One of the many blessings that God has given his children is the presence of the Holy Spirit living in us, in our hearts and lives. This is so much more than just some nebulous influence, derived from our own study and efforts. The Spirit living in us is the source of our strength. Our godly living is the result of his work in our hearts and our minds. Our fleshly desires are working against the Spirit living in us, but his power is greater than anything the devil can throw at us.
Paul says that when we fail to allow the Spirit free access in our lives, we grieve him. This is why Jesus said we are to pray for God to give us the Spirit to work in us. The Father is sad whenever we fail to live up to his perfect standard, but in Christ we are forgiven. But if we continually ignore the Spirit and his bidding in our hearts, at some point he will give up on us because we quench his efforts. There are some who act religious but who reject the power that can make them godly. God is working in us, giving us the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
O Lord God, give me a receptive heart to know your will, to want to live for you, and to allow your Spirit to guide me and mold me into the likeness of Jesus. Use me to serve you by serving others. Help me never seek the credit for anything good that comes from my life, but to always remember that it is the result of the work of the Spirit that you have given to me. Be with those who are suffering and give them your healing and your peace. Be with our nation, give us leaders who will respect you and your word so we can live peaceful lives. In Jesus name.
Robert
