Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 17:6-10
Ps 17:6-10
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me. They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
2 Cor 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
One of the most difficult things for us as we try to serve the Lord is to learn to truly trust him. We see things that need to be done, and we try but it doesn’t work, so we get discouraged. We try to teach, and people don’t respond. We want to help but people will not let us do what we think needs to be done. As a preacher I have been asked for advice on many occasions for all sorts of issues. I would estimate that less than ten percent of the time the people who asked for advice will follow what they have been told. So why bother? Just do your part.
Jesus told a parable about a man who gave three of his servants some money, each one according to his particular ability. When he returned, he asked how they had done. The two who had been given the most had invested it and had earned double what they had been given. The one who had the least buried his and did nothing with it. He was condemned. The point is that we use what we have.
Use what you have. Trust God for results. You can mentor a young person. You can visit or call an elderly person. You can talk to a homeless person. You can encourage the person that you know is struggling. You can pray for the one who is sick. During my wife’s cancer, there was a ninety-year-old lady who never missed a week sending her a card. Use what you have. Trust God for results.
O Lord God, help me to use what you have given me and then to trust you for the results. Open my eyes to see the many opportunities you place before me and move me to use them. Help me be like Jesus and go about doing good. Help me remember that often the most precious thing that I have to give is my time and to listen to what someone has to say. Lord, there are so many friends who are sick, and I ask you to give each of them your peace and healing. Be with our nation and guide our leaders so we can live peacefully. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
