“My heart is in anguish within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.  Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me.  I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!  I would fly away and be at rest.”  (Psalm 55:4-6)

The troubles of this world are often overwhelming.  We wonder where the Lord is and why these things are happening.  It has happened before and it will happen again.  Woe to those who bring wickedness, but also, be encouraged and turn to the Lord while He may be found.  Trust in the One who holds all things in His hands and has promised there is a purpose to all things that will bring Him glory.

In times of difficulty O Lord, turn me to You that I would know the comfort Your Spirit provides to those who love You.  Trouble does come and there are difficulties int his world, but greater are You who is in me that the wicked one who stirs trouble in this world.  Guide me into Your goodness that I would forever hold fast to the truth of Your Word and the comfort You give.

Lord Jesus, You knew trouble, for it was constant throughout Your ministry.  Help me see in You the only hope there is not only for this world, but forever.  Lead me through the troubled waters of this world to seek the Father’s will in all things.  Lead me to know the hope of everyday life that comes by walking in faith under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

“There they were in great fear where no fear had been; for God scattered the bones of him who encamped against you; you put them to shame, because God had rejected them. Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!  When God restores His captive people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.” (Psalm 53:5-6)

Salvation does come from the One who is the salvation of God.  He Himself has come that all who hope in the promise of the Lord would know His love and mercy.  Come then, you who wonder, come all who ponder and know the goodness of the Lord.  In the midst of adversity He comes offering mercy and grace to those who turn to Him.  Fear is displaced by the assurance He gives to those who come to Him.

Lord, You say the wisdom begins with fear.  Yet it does not remain there.  This is the beginning place.  Lead me O Lord by Your wisdom to come to the place where I see that You are the One who has been calling me to You from the beginning.  Lead me into seeing the light shining in the darkness.  You have restore us, even though we are not yet restored.  You have saved us even though it is not yet.

Lord Jesus, You have come to give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and to release the captives from their bondage.  Guide me in the wisdom You offer that I would come into the eternal presence of the Father and know the goodness that has always been present.  Help me through all the difficulties that arise, that I may live in the grace You have given me from the cross.  Amen.

“The righteous will see and fear, and will laugh at him, saying, “Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and was strong in his evil desire.”  (Psalm 52:6-7)

The day will come when the difference between those who trusted in themselves and those who trusted in the Lord will be apparent.  The self apart from the Lord will be separated as they are now from the +source of life.  Riches and worldly wealth are fleeting and do not really belong to the one who says, “This is mine.”  The one who abides in the Lord abides forever, because the Lord is forever.

I do not see clearly and Your ways often seem hard to fathom, yet I know You are there and this is Your creation.  Clear my sight O Lord to walk with You on cloudy as well as clear days.  Help me see in You the hope that is forever and to not walk in the ways of fools who trust in things they did not make and will not last to be their satisfaction.  Guide me O Lord in Your ways.

Lord Jesus, You came into the world humble and living in simple circumstances.  Help me shed dependency on the things of this world to see that only You and the Kingdom You have established are forever.  Lead me today and every day in the way I should go and then help me get there by looking to You, the author and finisher of my faith, to lead the way.  Amen.

“ For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”  (Psalm 51:16-17)

Look carefully and see that God is not interested in being appeased, but desires a humble and contrite heart that comes to Him in relationship.  Yes, fear of the Lord is the beginning, but in wisdom see that the Lord desires those who will learn to love as He loves.  The Lord loves whom He has created and offers salvation for those caught up in the wickedness of this age.

Lord, I do not want to give up what I think is my own, yet it really is not my own.  You have created me and everything else.  All belongs to You.  Guide me away from my corrupt heart that I would be willing to sacrifice it to You to have Your heart implanted in me.  Guide me O Lord according to Your goodness to come into the life You offer through Your salvation that I would enter that life and truly live.

Lord Jesus, You are the sacrifice that opens the way to eternal life.  In giving up myself as You gave up Yourself, I find the truth that You have come to establish an eternal relationship.  In Your grace, lead me O Lord that I would walk after You into the goodness You offer for those who are willing to come by grace into the new and eternal life.  Lead me Lord Jesus in the way I should go.  Amen.

“Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?” (Genesis 50:19)

Joseph’s brothers had cruelly rejected him and sold him into slavery.  Now, in the days following their reconciliation, and even though he has shown them great kindness, they fear that he might turn on them.  Here you and I see ourselves when guilty consciences drive us.  No matter how kindly someone treats the sinner, the sinner always watches his back.

So the brothers come to Joseph, asking for him to affirm his forgiveness again.   He responds, “Am I in the place of God?”  It’s an interesting response.  Both condemnation and forgiveness presume a certain authority over the person being condemned or forgiven.  Joseph seems to demur in the face of either option, refusing be either Judge or Savior.  He simply resumes his love for them as their brother.  Thus he affirms (in a brilliant way!) that their sin is so long forgotten, it doesn’t even merit forgiveness!      

It’s a crucifixion, of sorts.  Joseph dies to all his rights, and thus bestows great privileges and blessings upon his family—he even frees them to enjoy those gifts with neither guilt nor resentment.  Our Lord did the same when He carried His forgiveness to the cross and grave and then back to us again.  He let Himself be crucified, turned powerless and inferior, to affirm that He’d rather die than raise even a pinky finger against a sinner.  His forgiveness comes freely, to set you free.

LET US PRAY: O God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: You willingly bore the shame and lowliness of our sin so that we might bear the glory of Your kindness and love.  Grant that this glory would crown and adorn us all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Pastor Steven K. Gjerde

Zion, Wausau