Devotion for Saturday, July 28, 2018

I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever; to all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth. For I have said, “Lovingkindness will be built up forever; In the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.” (Psalm 89:1-2)

 

Do you praise the Lord for all of His goodness and kindness? Or do you look to the Lord as only providing what you want? Come to the place where you are thankful for all that He has provided knowing that we live in an age that is difficult because of those who are in rebellion. Do not blame the Lord for their sin, but praise Him for providing for the just and the unjust.

Lord, I am often so conditional in my praise. When things go well, I forget about You. When things do not go well, I often look up and blame You. Bring me to the place where I praise You at all times, for You are good and Your love endures forever. Move me away from being conditional to the place where I know that Your promises are true and forever.

Lord Jesus, You know the difficulty of walking in this world of wickedness. You know what it is like to struggle with events and people. Teach me to walk in the salvation You have prepared that I may learn to take all things in stride and be thankful for Your goodness and mercy. Lead me, Lord Jesus, to be like You this day, walking humbly in Your sight and being thankful. Amen.




Devotion for Friday, July 27, 2018

“Your burning anger has passed over me; Your terrors have destroyed me. They have surrounded me like water all day long; they have encompassed me altogether. You have removed lover and friend far from me; my acquaintances are in darkness.” (Psalm 88:16-18)

 

There are seasons when it seems all is against you. Are you equal in your thoughts when all seems to be going for you? This world is filled with wickedness, and the Lord provides for all people. Do not lament at the Lord, but with the Lord, over those who do evil and rebel against Him. Come to Him and receive the comfort that only He can give. Know the Lord and know peace.

Lord, You have given Your Word and salvation to those who come to You and believe that You are the One who will grant peace. This world is a mess and so many take what is not theirs. Lead me, O Lord, at all times to come to You and know the goodness that You alone provide. You are the friend that will never leave me nor forsake me. Help me to put my trust in You.

Lord Jesus, You know what it is to have friends and family flee from You. Guide me always to simply follow wherever You lead. Help me see in You the hope of glory and know that in You alone am I able to fully trust. Guide me this day to walk in Your goodness and know the mercy You show through grace. Regardless of my situation, help me to praise You for Your goodness. Amen.




Devotion for Thursday, July 26, 2018

“O Lord, why do You reject my soul? Why do You hide Your face from me? I was afflicted and about to die from my youth on; I suffer Your terrors; I am overcome.” (Psalm 88:14-15)

You have not rejected those who come by faith, yet there are times when You seem so far off. Lead those who believe, O Lord, far away from the place of doubt and fear to walk knowing that all things are in Your hands. Guide us into the goodness You have declared that those who are in You may unite in the goodness of Your presence. You are God and there is no other.

Lord, though there are times when You seem far off, lead those who are in You to walk humbly through this world that is filled with wickedness. Guide me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go. Empower me in those things I do for others to see Your hand at work. Lead me by the grace You have given that I may overcome all the moments of doubt to live boldly for You.

Lord Jesus, You expressed the anguish we feel when You were praying in the garden the night You were betrayed. You asked from the cross about the betrayal. Through Your example, You have shown the void that wickedness has brought upon the world. Lead me to see in You that there is always hope amidst the emptiness of this world and that all who come to You can share hope in the promised future. Amen.




Devotion for Wednesday, July 25, 2018

“Will Your wonders be made known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But I, O Lord, have cried out to You for help, and in the morning my prayer comes before You.” (Psalm 88:12-13)

 

Will the nations know the Lord? The Lord has those of His fold from every tribe, tongue and nation. From among those whom He knows, He will lift up those whose hearts are turned toward Him. Yes, reach out to others. No, do not worry about whom; for the Lord knows those who are His. The Lord hears the cries of all who lift their hearts toward Him and knows their need before they ask.

Lord, when I ponder all of the people who have ever existed or ever will exist, I wonder. I ponder how You hear all those who cry out for justice. Your Word says that You hear and that You care and that all will work to glory for those who love You. Help me live in faith where I trust You above all things and know that in You alone is the hope of glory for all who believe.

Lord Jesus, You said that You have come for as many as believe. Move me beyond the doubts and fears to come to the place where I live as one who believes. You do hear my prayers and answer them. Guide me, O Lord, to walk humbly in Your grace now and always that I may live into the eternity You have promised to all who come through faith by grace to the Father. Amen.




Devotion for Tuesday, July 24, 2018

“Will You perform wonders for the dead? Will the departed spirits rise and praise You? Will Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon?” (Psalm 88:10-11)

We worry about what is next and what comes after this life. The Lord is the God of the living and not the God of the dead. Leave all things where they belong, which is in His hands. Know that He who formed the universe is master even over death. He shall bring all things under His feet, for all things are subject to Him, even the evil that is currently in rebellion against Him.

Lord, amidst the ups and downs of this age, bring me to see that You are always my Master. Lead me to trust in all that You do, knowing that Your goodness has already prevailed and that what we are witnessing is for Your purpose. Guide me, O Lord, to walk humbly with You all of my life knowing that even in death, You will be with me as Lord and Master.

Jesus, when we are united with You in a death like Yours, it means that we will be united with You in a resurrection like Yours. You have conquered death and there awaits for all who are in You the hope of eternal glory. Even though I go down to the pit, yet shall I be raised to join eternally with You. Guide me , O Lord, in the way You would have me go knowing that in You there is a sure hope. Amen.




Devotion for Monday, July 23, 2018

“Your wrath has rested upon me, and You have afflicted me with all Your waves. You have removed my acquaintances far from me; You have made me an object of loathing to them; I am shut up and cannot go out. My eye has wasted away because of affliction; I have called upon You every day, O Lord; I have spread out my hands to You.” (Psalm 88:7-9)

 

David cried out to the Lord amidst the estrangement he felt around Him. We all have periods of loneliness when it seems those we thought close draw away. Is not the Lord always there? Has He not walked with you all the days of your life? He is the One who has watched out for you all along. Should He not be the One who is closest to you? He is. Come and see His goodness.

Lord, no matter the circumstances of my life or what is happening, help me to know that You are always there. Guide me in Your goodness that I would walk with You always knowing that You are always with me. Help me live the way You would have me live knowing that You are with me always. Lift me up to be drawn ever closer to You that in all my ways I may walk knowing You are above me, beside me and within me.

Lord You are my salvation. In all things, You are there to guide and lead me. Help me now and always to abide in Your presence with the knowledge that You are always with me. Help me in every time of trouble to see that You are there. No matter where life takes me, help me remember that You are God, above all others, and You have reached out to me with Your salvation. Amen.




Devotion for Sunday, July 22, 2018

“Forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, and they are cut off from Your hand. You have put me in the lowest pit, in dark places, in the depths.” (Psalm 88:5-6)

The wicked shall go to the dust and their deeds be remembered no more. Why then pursue the way of the wicked? Who wants to remember evil? Do we not applaud the deeds of those who do good? Even history proclaims the truth of the deeds of those who do good. Be remembered by the Lord and stand in His presence, having done what is pleasing in His sight. Know the Lord and learn the good.

Lord, You call to all who will listen in every generation. There are those who hear Your voice and respond to Your call. Count me among those who hear You and teach me to walk in Your ways. Guide me according to Your goodness that I would now and forever live according to Your Word of truth which has been spoken from the beginning. Lead me, O Lord, in the way I should go.

Holy Spirit, I need Your ministry in my life. I need what You alone can do. Guide me this day according to the will of the Father to walk in the way You would have me go. Lead me according to Your goodness to see those things which are right to do and then guide my feet to do them. Help me now and always to live according to the promises You have spoken that I may be amongst those You remember. Amen.




Devotion for Saturday, July 21, 2018

“For my soul has had enough troubles, and my life has drawn near to Sheol. I am reckoned among those who go down to the pit; I have become like a man without strength,” (Psalm 88:3-4)

The way of the wicked unleashed upon the earth weighs heavily on the soul. It seems for a time that the wicked prevail. Yet if we step back, we see that they always fail in the end. The Lord will give you eyes to see that only His will shall prevail and that those who are in Him will win the prize of salvation. We are without such strength; for only the Lord is able to save.

Lord, help me to see clearly that salvation is in You alone and that we cannot, by our own effort or strength, accomplish what needs to be done. Lead me in the way of truth that I may now and always abide in the way of salvation that You have declared throughout Your Word. Lead me, O Lord, that I may follow You all the days of my life in the way You have established for all.

Father in heaven, I want to do something for my salvation but I have no strength. You have come in the flesh to be my strength. Take away from me the ideas of doing these things by my power that I may rely upon Your perfect will being accomplished in me now and always. You have already accomplished salvation for those who believe. Help, Lord, my unbelief that I may trust You above all things. Amen.




Devotion for Friday, July 20, 2018

O Lord, the God of my salvation, I have cried out by day and in the night before You. Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry!” (Psalm 88:1-2)

The Lord is our light and our salvation. Ponder what this means. It is not what you do, but what He has done. He invites those who hear His voice to come into His presence and walk in the way of salvation. Come unto the Lord and be fed by the word of truth that You may know that He hears your cries amidst a world filled with wickedness. The Lord hears our cries and has answered with salvation.

Lord, help my heart to be calm and my mind ready to receive the salvation You have prepared. Still the voice in my head that places conditions on salvation to receive freely what You have given. Guide me in the way of life that I may walk humbly in the salvation You give for all. Lead me to the place where I truly trust You above all things knowing that only in You is there hope and a future.

Lord Jesus. Salvation come to earth, guide me this day to walk in the way, truth and life You have accomplished from the cross. By the power of the Holy Spirit, lead me in the way of that truth. Keep me from making conditional what is unconditional, the way You have prepared for those who believe. Lead me to trust You and walk humbly in the way You have established for all. Amen.




Devotion for Thursday, July 19, 2018

“The Lord will count when He registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” Then those who sing as well as those who play the flutes shall say, “All my springs of joy are in you.” (Psalm 87:6-7)

 

Ultimately, the Lord knows those who are His. In the final count, those who dwell in Zion will count it as joy. Do not worry about whom the Lord knows, but be thankful that He has called you. He who knows all things will guide those whom He has called into the goodness of His grace and mercy. Abide in Him, with Him in You, and know the truth of the ages which He has revealed.

Lord, I do worry, but is that not my desire to control? Help me to learn how to trust that I would now and forever turn to You in all things. Guide me according to Your goodness that I may live life in a way that is pleasing to You. Help me now and always to be guided by Your will which You have established and do those things which are pleasing in Your sight.

Savior of all, You have come to bring life and light to all who know Your voice. Guide me, O Lord, in the way You have established which leads to everlasting life. Help me through the struggles I will encounter this day to simply abide in the love You have shown, sharing with others as you have shared with me. Help me abide in You today, doing what is pleasing in the Father’s sight. Amen.