“Confuse, O Lord, divide their tongues, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.  Day and night they go around her upon her walls, and iniquity and mischief are in her midst.”  (Psalm 55:9-10)

The Lord knows all that needs to happen in this age.  He has set history upon its course and knows the outcome of where it will lead.  In Him is the hope of the ages.  In Him is the truth of eternity.  Yes, the Lord will confound the wise and confuse the wicked.  But let not this truth set Your course.  Turn to the Lord and walk in His ways, for He is kind and gentle, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Lord, I want what I want and I want the kind of justice and control I imagine.  But You are working out an eternal plan that will end in glory.  Teach me to trust You through all circumstances that I would forever hold fast to the truth of Your Word and walk in Your ways.  Lead me to ignore the things I can do nothing about and live for the goodness of Your will.

Lord Jesus, You have come that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Let me not so much seek justice as to walk in the truth that Your justice has already triumphed.  Let me not seek vengeance, but learn to love as You love.  Mischief is all around, but greater are the things You have done and are doing than all the wickedness that surrounds us.  Set me heart upon You and the goodness You give by grace.  Amen.

“Behold, I would wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness.  “I would hasten to my place of refuge from the stormy wind and tempest.”  (Psalm 55:7-8)

Lord, the times and seasons are in Your hands.  You have set all things in their course.  You allow what You allow and You hinder things of which we do not know.  You have given the promise that all things will work for glory for those who love You.  Lead Your people through every tempest that we all would learn to trust in Your goodness above all things and walk in Your ways.

If it were up to me, I would flee to the hills, hide and never return.  It would do nothing and accomplish stagnation.  Keep me close to You Lord that whatever may come and no matter the circumstances, I may forever hold fast to the truth of Your Word.  Lead me O Lord that I may walk in Your ways all the days of my life knowing that You alone are Sovereign in all the earth.

Lord Jesus, You have come that we may have life and have it abundantly.  It is not a life free from the troubles of this world, but a life led by You through all the troubles of this world.  Help me now and always to hold fast to the truth You have revealed and to face every storm You lead me to face.  Guide me now and always to walk in Your ways and by Your example.  Amen.

“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.

“Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your power.  Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth.”  (Psalm 54:1-2)

Your name O Lord, what is it?  Have you not sent Yeshua, which means, literally, Your Salvation?  You are the Savior.  There is no other.  You have come as one of us to lead the way for all who will listen.  You are the One who, from the beginning, has called to as many as would hear, to hear the call of Your voice, heed Your voice and listen to the call You give.  Let my mouth be full of Your praise.

Lord, You know us better than any of us know ourselves.  You created us.  You know who we are.  Lead me away from what I think up to the place where I see where You have revealed reality.  Guide me in Your ways O Lord that I would be vindicated by Your power and majesty.  Let my mouth be filled with words of Your goodness and praise You all the day long.

Lord Jesus, You have come to show the way.  Through You, who is the way, truth and life, You have pointed to the Father who offers to all who believe and eternal relationship.  Guide me in the eternal way, established from the beginning, that I would walk with You, as You lead, to where You are taking me.  Help me now and always to hold fast to the prayer of my heart, which is to walk in the way of truth.  Amen.

“The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,”  They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; there is no one who does good.  God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there is anyone who understands, who seeks after God.”  (Psalm 53:1-2)

The fool looks into himself and does not ask from whence all that is came.  Looking only to the self, is absorbed in self and cannot think of the other.  God who created all things knows His own being and offers Himself to all, but the fools, if they think of God at all, only think in terms of what they can gain apart from God’s order of things.  Seek first the Lord, then all that is needed will be added.

Lord, I am often persuaded by the fools of this world to see things from their perspective.  Guide me in the way of truth that I would not seek what I want to be true, but You who is truth itself.  Lead me away from foolish thinking to realize that You, the Creator of all things, know the hearts of every man and hold all things in Your hand.  Guide me according to Your wisdom to come into truth.

Truth Incarnate, Jesus who has come that all who turn to You might know the way of life, guide me to live truthfully in this world, fleeing from the fools of the world who will not acknowledge You.  Help me through the obstacles that will come knowing that there is purpose in all things and by grace what is purposed will grow in me Your likeness.  Lead me this day through all that will come to be with You and in You always.  Amen.

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.  Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.”  (Psalm 51:5-6)

Where we begin is the same for all of us.  Yes, we may try to pretend that it is not so, but we all were born in a world steeped in sin.  What the Lord desires is for us to come into the truth, to know the truth and be set free from the bondage of this world.  You go, you do not go, that you can determine, but the invitation has been given.  He will bring you to know wisdom.

Lord, lead me on the path away from sin, death and the devil and to the path of seeking wisdom.  Keep me from wandering in meaningless circles that I may forever hold fast to the eternal truth You have revealed for the ages.  Guide me by Your Spirit to seek the better portion and leave behind the way of the world into which I was born.  Keep me from denial and help me live truth.

Lord Jesus, Word Incarnate and the One who has introduced wisdom into the world, guide me by Your grace to live the life to which I have been called.  Help me see more clearly the ways of this world and the alternatives You grant by grace for those who follow You.  Lead me in the way I go and remove the obstacles before me that would hinder me from learning wisdom from You.  Amen.

“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.  Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.”  (Psalm 51:3-4)

Against the Lord have we sinned.  Yes, but what about sins against another?  All sin is ultimately against the Lord, which is why Jesus was able to forgive sins.  He forgave not only what was against others, but because all sin is ultimately against Him, He was able to forgive us.  This is why there was puzzlement that He forgave sins.  Yes, God forgives and His forgiveness is complete.

Lord, I have sinned against You even when I have sinned against my neighbor.  Help me I pray to live life in repentance that I would see that there are no small sins, but only sins against You.  Lead me to see my heart changed to be so intimate with You that I never forget this simple principle.  Lead me to live life righteously and teach me to look to You always and for all things.

Lord Jesus, the magnitude of what You have done is greater than I can begin to imagine.  Help me, I pray, to see in You the hope of glory and the truth of the grace I need.  Lead me in truth so that I may forever hold fast to what You have done from the cross.  Lead me today and always to know that against You only have I sinned, but the by repentance You will restore me to wholeness.  Amen.

“For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.  “I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is Mine.”  (Psalm 50:9-10)

God created everything.  It is all His.  “Who’s likeness is on the coin?,” Jesus asked, but He did not ask who made the material the coin was made from.  The order of this world has been set up for awhile, but never forget who it is that made all of this.  God knows all that is His and He shares it with us willingly.  Come to the One who holds all things in His hands and know His goodness.

Lord, You are the Maker of all things.  Help me to never forget this.  Guide me according to Your goodness that I would forever hold fast to the truth and thank You for entrusting to me what You have placed at my disposal.  Guide me O Lord always to be a good steward of what is Yours knowing that You know all things and graciously share them as there is need.

Lord Jesus, You did not participate in the mad scramble of this world to provide this that and the other thing for Your disciples.  Instead, You have given the better portion by speaking truth.  Guide me O Lord now and always to seek after the kingdom knowing that all else that is needed will be provided.  You are the One who leads the way; lead me O Lord in the way I should go.  Amen.

“I do not reprove you for your sacrifices, and your burnt offerings are continually before Me.  “I shall take no young bull out of your house nor male goats out of your folds.”  (Psalm 50:7-8)

What can we sacrifice for the Lord?  What can we give Him that is not already His?  He desires our love.  God who is love desires that we would have hearts for Him alone.  This cannot be commanded, nor demanded, but must be given freely and without compunction.  Come to the Lord, learn His goodness and see in Him the truth of the ages.  In Him is life, love, fullness and goodness.

Lord You call to me that I would come and obey all that You have commanded.  Guide me O Lord in Your goodness that I would learn from You.  In the gentleness of You grace., guide me ever upward to You that I might know the truth You have revealed and live that truth today and forever.  Help me O Lord by placing in me a new and clean heart that desires Your ways.

Lord Jesus, You have come and modeled the godly life.  Help me now and always to see through the clouds of this age the truth You have revealed.  In Your goodness, change my heart to look to You, the author and finisher of my faith to see all that I can and should do in preparation for all that is to come.  In You and by Your grace may I live now and always knowing that You are the way, truth and life.  Amen.

Monday, October 2, 2017 Devotion

‘Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased; For when he dies he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him.”  (Psalm 49:16-17)

How many in our day look to wealth as the answer to their problems.  It is not, for look to the rich and you will see that they are no better off than the poor.  More comfortable perhaps, but their families have just as many problems.  Everything belongs to the Lord, so what He gives in stewardship is only temporarily ours.  Let your wealth be the relationship you have with the Lord.

Lord, I do see this principle, but this world is so steeped in greed and avarice that I do not see when it grabs hold of me.  Guide me O Lord to look to You knowing that only in You is there hope and an eternal future.  Lead me according to Your never-failing Word to walk with You all the days of this life in preparation for all that is to come.  Guide me by Your Word to walk with You now and always.

Lord Jesus, You have come that we may have life and have it eternally.  Through You and by Your grace, You enable all who walk with You to live into the life to come.  You are the way, truth and life and only in You is there hope.  Lead me Lord Jesus in Your way that I would walk with You every moment of every day as You do what needs to be done in and through me.  Amen.