Daily Devotion, September 7, 2020

 

Devotion:

Read Philippians 4:11-13.

Paul is in an interesting situation as he writes this. The church at Philippi has sent gifts to him in prison in Rome. He wants to express his appreciation to them for their generosity, and he does so in verse 18. But, more importantly, he wants to teach a powerful lesson to them and to us about strength in Christ. He is balancing his heartfelt gratitude toward one of his favorite congregations with his hard-learned lessons of being content in tough situations in which he does not have enough food and lives in want. He tries really hard to not say, “I really don’t need your gifts,” and he succeeds. 

We should not miss the secret that Paul has learned in situations in which he lived without proper food and shelter, in beatings and imprisonments, in shipwrecks and ridicule. And the secret is not just how to endure, but rather the secret is how to be content in all situations! Paul’s secret is the deep realization that he can do all this (these things) through the one who gives him strength. Verse 13 is a memory verse, and I recommend that you memorize it if you have not done so already. We all have our difficult situations, and we can be content in the strength Christ gives us. Personal Worship Option:

Give thanks today for the strength that Christ gives you. Mentally name a few things you are able to do now or have done in the past only because of that strength. Pray for continued growth so that life is less about just making it through and more about being content, knowing that Christ is with you always.

Daily Devotion, September 6, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Lamentations 3:17-24.

  This book, along with many of the Psalms, teaches us the value of lamenting when we are down. It is obvious that for the people of Israel, expressing frustration, anger, sorrow and despair to God was an important part of their relationship with God. Whether they were hurting or scared or lonely or experiencing any other emotions related to struggle, they believed it was important to share that with God. The writer of this passage expresses some feelings of despair: no peace, no prosperity, afflicted and without a home.

  However, in the midst of expressing these feelings and memories, there comes an expression of hope. He knows that God loves him and therefore he has hope. He will make it through this time of struggle. God has been faithful in the past and God will continue to be faithful.

  This is a common practice in the expressions of lament in the Bible: during the time of struggle, take some time to reflect on the past when times were different or when God brought them through an earlier struggle. It is a good lesson for all of us to remember, because we all go through times of struggle and difficulty. Remember what God has done before and let that be a source of hope for what God will do again. Personal Worship Option:

Let the hymn by Thomas Chisholm be your prayer today (with some minor language updates to reflect how we would say it):

Great is your faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with you;

you do not change, your compassions they fail not; as you have been, you forever will be.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endures, your own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is your faithfulness! Great is your faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed your hand has provided; great is your faithfulness, O Lord to me!

Daily Devotion, September 5, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Exodus 3:6-10.

  There are those times in life when we are going through a struggle and it continues for a long time. We pray for God to take the struggle away but it continues. In this next sermon series, we are going to be using the imagery of being in a tunnel. We are in a place of darkness. We know there is a way out. We know there is an end to this, but we are not yet seeing it. We wonder how long it will last. We can easily become frustrated when God’s timing does not fit with what and when we think God should act in our situation. We want God to shatter the tunnel, or at least shorten it.

  This passage from the Exodus story reminds us of this God who hears us and knows of our struggles when we are in the midst of them. The language God uses here is consistent with a theme that runs throughout the Bible: our God comes to be with us in our times of struggle. We are not alone. This God is with us in the tunnel. Until we find the light at the end of that tunnel, it is so good to know that God is traveling alongside us. Personal Worship Option: Look back and give thanks for the times God was with you in the midst of struggles.

Daily Devotion, September 4, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Matthew 27:45-50; Psalm 22:1-5.

In the midst of our struggles, especially if they last a long time, we can feel forsaken by God. Jesus knew that feeling and expressed it to God as he quoted from this Psalm. However, included in those verses are words of hope. Jesus’ question of “Why?” was very real, He felt alone, desolate, and abandoned. That is what sin will do in our lives as well. We are separated from God and it is a dark experience. But there is hope. The following verses of Psalm 22 reflect the events of the crucifixion but look at verse 19-21. They tell of the strength of the LORD and how all the world will know of the glory of God. God is always present, even if we can’t feel him or see his work in our lives.  When was the last time you felt lonely? Just know that God remains at your side. Personal Worship Option: Reflect on the goodness of God. Thank him for his presence in this day. Ask for open eyes and heart to see him today.

Daily Devotion, September 3, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Psalm 77:1-15.

This Psalm seems to express what we are living with each day right now. We have the pandemic, the economic crisis, the violent protests, and the heated politics. How and when will it end? Have you ever been so sick or so distressed that you don’t even have the will to pray? But isn’t praying exactly what we should be doing if we are distressed, depressed, angry, or frustrated?

This psalmist first prayed and moaned and longed for God’s help, but help never seemed to come. In fact, it seemed like God had forgotten about him. Sometimes it is easy to get in that same mindset. What do you do when you can’t even pray? Try to think and remember other times in your life! Call to mind the wonderful things God has done in your life. The psalmist says in verses 5-6 “I think of the good old days, long since ended, when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and ponder the difference now”.

If those memories don’t help us find resolution, then we need to step outside of our own problems and get the big picture about the God we have. And when we finally remember that God loves us and is bigger than our problems, we can regain focus and God will enable us to reset and adjust our own will to be in accordance with Him and be excited about His purpose for us. Personal Worship Option: This Psalm is a lament Psalm that agonizes over the tough times he is going through. He does pray his way through his agony. Say a prayer of thanksgiving today for all of the blessings that God has given you.

Daily Devotion, September 2, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Psalm 80:1-4.

Psalm 80 is a “Psalm of Lament.”  “Lament” is not a word in our everyday vocabulary, but it has deep and rich traditions in our faith journey. A brief definition of lament as a noun is a “passionate expression of grief or sorrow” and as a verb it means “to mourn”. There are more psalms of “lament” than any other types of psalms. These psalms remind us that we, too, can be completely honest and pour out our hearts to God.

Psalm 80 is a “Psalm of Lament of the Community” (instead of an individual). Some of the commentaries for this psalm say it was composed in Judah (the Southern Kingdom) after the fall of Israel (the Northern Kingdom). Dr. James L Mays writes, “Whatever the original historical setting, the psalm in its continued use belongs to the repertoire of the afflicted people of God on their way through the troubles of history.”

This psalm is an honest prayer of the community. It relays the paradoxical messages that they believe God is not listening or responding and yet, it also relays the deep trust that God can and will save them.

I like the New Living Bible’s language for verse 3. “Turn us again to yourself, O God. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.” Beautiful poetry and imagery are in these three sentences which are repeated three times in this brief psalm! 

The opposite of these sentences could be, “we have turned away from you, O God, and we are going the wrong way. And walking in the darkness, we have lost our way.”  Imagine God gently turning you around to receive the light of God’s face. Now see the beautiful imagery of God’s gentle turning around of an entire community as prayed in the Psalmist’s words, “Turn us again to yourself, O God.”  Personal Worship Option: In this season of a global pandemic and woes of economic disparity, we are a global people of lament. The Psalmist’s words help us to find our words too. We can pray honest prayers of lament which include affirmation and trust in God. God is faithful working even during times of great trouble and deep sorrow. Let us also be open to praying for God to turn us around, for God’s light to shine upon all, for only then shall we be saved. Amen.

Daily Devotion, September 1, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Psalm 143:5-8.

David’s enemies are chasing him and he is losing hope, paralyzed with fear. David is desperate for God to rescue him, and this psalm is a prayer request, a cry for help. He is at the end of his strength and falling into the pit of despair. Then David remembers. He remembers the past when God had rescued him. As he refocuses his thinking on God’s faithfulness, David finds the courage to stretch out his hands to God. He asks God to hear his cry for help. David expresses his trust in God and his desire to learn more of God’s steadfast love. He asks God for guidance. These days are you finding yourself discouraged, disappointed, or even in the pit of despair? At times when we are having trouble pulling ourselves out, we can go to the Lord and express our true feelings. God offers his help in many ways, including through his Word, his Holy Spirit, and other people who are trained to offer godly wisdom and counsel. God wants to guide us through our storms. Personal Worship Option: Lift your hands in prayer today and ask God to guide you through whatever discouragement, disappointment, or despair you are experiencing. Pray as David did, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.”