Devotion for Thursday, December 13, 2018

“Then He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance,” when they were only a few men in number, very few, and strangers in it.” (Psalm 105:10-12)

 

The promise of the Lord is from ancient times, before any of the existing tribes now present were around. This is not politics, but promise. God gave the land to Jacob. The Word of the Lord has been with us throughout history and it speaks not wishes, but truth. What God speaks comes to pass. Live in the promise of the Lord and know the truth of the ages, for He will accomplish what He promised.

Lord, I hear so many conflicting messages in this world. Help me to see through the false ones to hear Your Word of truth. Guide me in the path of righteousness that I may be one who inherits Your goodness and mercy. Adopt me as one of Your children that I may abide in You and Your truth, and Your presence may abide in me. You are the God who has always been, Who makes unbreakable promises.

Lord Jesus, You are the fulfillment of all promises, for in You is hope and eternity. Lead me into the way You have established that I may abide in You and You in me. Teach me as Your disciple that I may come into the heavenly promised land and dwell in the house of the Father forever. May I be found this day doing Your work and living in the hope You give. Amen.




Devotion for Wednesday, December 12, 2018

“He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth. He has remembered His covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations, the covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac.” (Psalm 105:7-9)

 

The nay-sayers and skeptics discount the Lord and do not believe this is His creation. His judgements are upon the earth. People do take into themselves the recompense of their actions. Come into the grace of the Lord and His Spirit will abide with you. Know the covenant He has made to redeem you and not let you go down into the pit. Walk humbly before your God.

Lord, You know the struggles I have in my heart. You know the problems I face and the doubts that rule me. Lift me up out of the uncertainty of this age to stand up for Jesus knowing that in You alone is there hope and a future. Guide me according to Your goodness to learn the way of the humble servant. Lead me, Lord Jesus, that I may be guided by Your grace and mercy now and always.

Come Holy Spirit and in the gift of grace bought by Christ, counsel me this day. You know what I need to learn this day. You know the obstacles I will face. Help me today to see You, listen to You and walk by Your direction. You have brought me into the covenant promised of old. Sanctify me to walk in the way of salvation and to do those things which are pleasing in the Father’s sight. Amen.




Devotion for Tuesday, December 11, 2018

“Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth, O seed of Abraham, His servant, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!” (Psalm 105:5-6)

 

The Lord has called all to the truth that He is Sovereign over all that He has made. Do not linger or tarry as those who are asleep do, but come to Him by His grace and know that the Lord is God. He called through His chosen servants and He calls to you. Marvel at His work. Marvel at how history is unfolding according to His plan. Do not rebel against Him, but awaken and come into His presence.

Lord, the world feeds me pablum and satiates me to lull me to sleep. Awaken me, O Lord, that I may abide in Your presence now and forever. Guide me according to Your goodness to see in You the hope of glory. Guide me by Your precepts that I may now and always walk humbly with You, my Lord and God, rejoicing in Your goodness and the work of Your hands.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way. Guide me by Your grace to live according to Your never-failing principles that You have laid out for those who will come into the salvation You have prepared. May I learn to marvel at all that You have done and abide in You as You abide in me. Guide me, Lord Jesus, that I may learn more this day about walking in the truth You have revealed. Amen.




Devotion for Monday, December 10, 2018

“Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually.” (Psalm 105:3-4)

 

A life of faith in this world is not easy for the Christian. If you believe almost anything else, some will listen. Sharing your faith in Christ is often resisted. Be gracious and kind, but always willing to share the hope that is within you. Know that He who made you is always present and an ever-present help and support. Seek the Lord always and lean upon Him for all things.

Lord, I am often tempted to go it alone. I think that I need to figure all things out before moving forward. Help me, O Lord, to lean upon You knowing that only You know all things. Guide me in the way You know I need to go that I would follow You all the days of my life and speak praises of You. Strengthen me for the tasks You have prepared for me that I may fulfill Your will.

Come, Holy Spirit, and grow in me the image of Christ my Savior. Help me to lean upon You more than just to seek knowledge. Lift up my spirit to always seek Your counsel. Help me in every difficult situation to see that in You is my hope and glory. Let my lips speaks to others of Your goodness and mercy. May I learn to live in the grace You give and share the hope that is in my heart. Amen.




Devotion for Sunday, December 9, 2018

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of all His wonders.” (Psalm 105:1-2)

 

Do you share your faith with others? No, not to convert anyone to anything, but sharing that the Lord is a part of your life, real and present? Living with the Lord as your companion in life is no different that acknowledging any friend you have in this life. Make His name known by how you live, showing that He is present and lives through you. His wonders are known, in part, through those who share this truth.

Lord, in this goofy world I will share favorite movies, places I’ve enjoyed, and experiences, but I often am quiet about the most important person in my life – You. Guide me, O Lord, to never be ashamed, and to speak of Your goodness in my life all the day long. Let Your deeds shine through me in all I say and do that Your presence in my life might be known by others.

Holy Spirit, remove the hindrances in my life that I might speak Your goodness through my life. Keep me from being insistent or obnoxious, instead learning how to genuinely care for others as You have cared for me. Lead me in the way of salvation that I may now and always sing praises of Your grace and mercy in my life. You have done great things for me. Help me to share these graciously. Amen.




Devotion for Saturday, December 8, 2018

Let sinners be consumed from the earth and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 104:35)

 

Lord, I am a sinner, but in the promise of the redemption by grace in Christ I am a new creation. Let me see the upward path You have prepared for those to whom You have given eyes to see. Lead me according to Your will to praise, thank and bless You in all things and for all things. Let my heart be transformed by You to become one that is full of praise and thanksgiving now and forever.

This world is difficult, Lord. There are so many obstacles and barriers that get in the way. In spite of these things, You have granted great promises through grace to those who learn to love You. Guide me now and always to walk in the way of praise and thanksgiving. Lead me to see in You the hope of all eternity and to not waver from walking the good path You have set before me.

Holy Spirit, by the example of Christ, help me to live this day and every day in praise and thanksgiving for the gift of life. No matter what happens, guide me to see through Your leading the hope that is always before me. Let not my circumstances ever hinder me from seeing the truth that eternity is before me. You are good, and it is right and salutary to always offer You praise and thanksgiving. Amen.




Devotion for Friday, December 7, 2018

“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. Let my meditation be pleasing to Him; as for me, I shall be glad in the Lord.” (Psalm 104:33-34)

 

What is the direction of your life? Are you looking to the Lord for all things? No matter the circumstances, do you see in Him your hope and future? God is good all the time, but this age is filled with trouble and heartache. Know that there is purpose in everything and that what the Lord is doing is beyond our ability to begin to comprehend. Rejoice and be glad in the goodness of the Lord.

Lord, You know me and my circumstances beyond my ability to begin to comprehend. In spite of my own sin and rebellion, You have provided all that is needed that I might now and forever abide in You. Guide me, O Lord, into the depths of the goodness of Your grace and mercy that I would walk the upward path of being in Your presence. Lead me in the way I should go now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You provide the way to walk and the example by which to live. Lead me in the tensions of this life knowing that often I have to choose between two things neither of which are palatable. Help me to know that only in the grace You give am I able to abide with You. Lead me today to praise You no matter the circumstance knowing that all things are in Your hands and for the Father’s glory. Amen.




Devotion for Thursday, December 6, 2018

“You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the ground. Let the glory of the Lord endure forever; let the Lord be glad in His works; He looks at the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smoke.” (Psalm 104:30-31)

 

Your Spirit comes and new life springs forth. Jesus said that those who come into the promise will drink the water of life and never thirst again. Bring this water of life, that those who come to You may know the fullness of Your presence and purpose. You who sustain all things have given good gifts to those who fear You. Your love alone endures forever, calling us to rejoice in Your lovingkindness.

Lord, You know the struggles of my heart. Guide me, O Lord, in the way I need to go that I would now and always abide in Your promises. Help me see the truth and not go astray in any other direction. Lead me according to Your purposes to be one of Your works. It is You alone whose will shall be done in all times and places, for You are the Sovereign God, above all Your creation.

Come, Holy Spirit, and minister to my mind and heart. Lead me in the upward path by stripping away the things that will fall away in the end. Help me walk humbly by grace in Your mercy and according to the Father’s will. Lift my countenance to reflect Your presence through all I say and in all I do. May I abide in your presence forever and praise the goodness of the works of Your hand. Amen.




Devotion for Wednesday, December 5, 2018

“You give to them, they gather it up; You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good. You hide Your face, they are dismayed; You take away their spirit, they expire and return to their dust.” (Psalm 104:28-29)

 

Everything you gather, all that you collect, will one day go to another. All that we have on this earth is temporary, with the exception of our character. All are destined for the dust, but all have a promise before them. Come into the presence of the Lord and seek Him while He may be found. Know that in the Lord is liberty and life and apart from Him is nothing good.

Lord, You are good and I do not know the fullness of Your goodness. I tend to cling to what I know. Help me learn to walk in the faith You have given me that my journey be according to Your Word and not according to the foolish ways of this age. Guide me in the fullness of Your grace and mercy that I may abide now and forever in You, the God who created all things and for whom all things exist.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for walking in our midst and granting the promise of grace. Lead me now and always in the grace You give that I may forever abide in You and You in me. Grow in me wisdom and understanding that I may live into the promise of becoming like You. Take me where I need to go and remove from me the obstacles that hinder this life into which You are bringing me. Amen.




Devotion for Tuesday, December 4, 2018

“There the ships move along, and Leviathan, which You have formed to sport in it. They all wait for You to give them their food in due season.” (Psalm 104:26-27)

 

The hyper-pietist might be offended to think the Lord laughs. He created the leviathan for fun. He did it because He can. Were we not created in God’s image? Do we not laugh and have joy when we do? The Lord is complex as we are complex and He is diverse as we are diverse because we were made in His image. He made us, we did not make Him. Abide in His presence and know that He is good.

Lord, I often fall prey to thinking of You as a two-dimensioned creation. You are God, the Creator of all things. Help me to delve into Your mystery and majesty knowing that You who created all things provides for what You have created. Teach me to rejoice and laugh with joy in the midst of this marvelous creation that You have made. Guide me into the right spirit that humbly bows before You in all things.

Come, Holy Spirit, and minister to my heart that I would now and always praise You for the goodness that is all around me. Yes, I am in a world filled with evil. Yes, there are problems and difficulties, but help me now and always to see through these to see Your ever present goodness in all things. Lead me to be one who loves and praises You above all things. Amen.