“He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die. Their land swarmed with frogs even in the chambers of their kings.” (Psalm 105:29-30)

The world scoffs at the Lord and mocks Him. The Lord God who created all things holds everything in His hands. For a time He allows those who mock Him to live, but what is a few years compared to eternity? Yes, even the events of weather are in His hands. The just and unjust are affected. Rather than ponder these things from the outside, come in and ponder them with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, this world promotes my being skeptical and doubtful – even while telling me that to ponder things from Your perspective is the opposite of what it is. Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I would forever hold fast to Your Word of truth. Lead me, O Lord, in Your way that I may now and forever abide in You as You abide in me. Guide me according to Your everlasting goodness.

Come, Holy Spirit, and lead me through the pablum of this age. Help me now and always to see in You the hope of glory that I may now and always abide in You as You abide in me. Help me sift through all of the garbage of this world to realize that Your Word has always been and always will be true. Guide me into Your wisdom that I may understand from You how to live in this age, preparing for what is to come. Amen.

“They performed His wondrous acts among them, and miracles in the land of Ham. He sent darkness and made it dark; and they did not rebel against His words.” (Psalm 105:27-28)

When the Lord raises up His servants, they seem to defy what we might expect. That is because it is the Lord who is making a correction for His plans to prevail. The wicked one wants death and destruction. The Lord brings life. Come into the presence of the Lord and trust in His goodness and mercy knowing that He will prevail. His will shall be done on earth as in heaven.

Lord, in times of trouble, guide my mind to see clearly that all things are possible with You. That does not mean You will do what I anticipate, but it does mean that You hold all history in Your hand. Lead me to trust in You and not in the circumstances in which I find myself. Help me through every time of trouble to be a person of faith knowing that Your will is eternal.

Lord Jesus, You had Your share of difficulty in this world. Keep me from thinking that I will be exempt from difficulty. Lead my heart to trust in You above all things knowing that in You is the hope and future for all who believe. Lead me this day to tackle those things You give me to do and to be kind to those around me that I may demonstrate by my attitude of gratitude my trust in You. Amen.

“He turned their heart to hate His people, to deal craftily with His servants. He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron, whom He had chosen.” (Psalm 105:25-26)

Throughout history, leaders turn away from what is good and begin persecuting others for their own gain. It happened before and it will happen again until the end. The Lord raises up those who stand in opposition to the crafty. He chose Moses and Aaron. Know that the Lord knows the unfolding of history and all things are in His hands. He knows where you are and all that will happen.

Lord, there is so much speculation about things and how they will unfold. Guide me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go that I would not chase after speculations, but live in the truth You have revealed once for all. Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth knowing that all things are in Your hands. Through Your Word, lift up my heat to trust in Your goodness and mercy.

Holy Spirit, minister to my heart, especially when circumstances confuse me. Help me now and always to see the truth that all history is in Your hands. No matter what happens, You have always been God and the unfolding of events are according to Your will. Lead me this day to humbly trust in Your provision knowing that I am in Your arms of grace and mercy forever. Amen.

“Israel also came into Egypt; thus Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. And He caused His people to be very fruitful, and made them stronger than their adversaries.” (Psalm 105:23-24)

The Lord blesses those upon whom He puts His hand. It is not a matter of privilege or anything we do to gain what the Lord gives, but His presence and purpose, which grant for His sake and will alone, what He does for His creatures. Come then as you are into His presence, knowing that He who holds all things together, has invited you into His eternal presence and to live in His truth.

Lord, You know where I am and where I need to be. You know the path before me. Lead me always to walk in Your ways that I may be among those whom You are leading into life eternal. Guide me, O Lord, according to Your purposes that I may now and always abide in You and You in me. Keep me from wandering astray that I may walk the narrow path all the days of my life.

Lord Jesus, You have given all the instruction I need. In You alone is there hope and an eternal future. Lead me according to Your will that I would now and always walk in the way of salvation. May I this day be led by the Spirit to meditate upon Your Word and be guided according to the Father’s will. All things are in Your hands. Lift me up to be with You forever. Amen.

LIFE IS HARD, BUT GOD IS GOOD

If Mary were with us today, what are the lessons that she would share as the mother of our Lord? I believe that the first thing she would say to us is this – LIFE IS HARD.

Mary should have known from the beginning that her life was going to be hard. Spending the last few days of her pregnancy on the back of a donkey and having no better a place for the birth of her child than a cave with the odors of cattle and sheep, Mary should have known that her life was going to be hard. And the journey to Bethlehem was not her last journey that was going to be hard. Mary and Joseph and the new-born Jesus are forced to flee to Egypt to escape from Herod’s wrath. Mary and Joseph are on the run, fleeing to protect the life of their son.

Martin Luther said this about the flight to Egypt. “The artists give her a donkey; the Gospels do not.” She might have had to trudge over hills and desert sand on foot, nursing her precious child and leaning on her beloved Joseph for support. It was not until Herod’s death that the young family was finally able to return to their home in Nazareth. In a world filled with refugees, it is important for us to remember that our Lord Jesus Himself at one time was a refugee.

The next dozen or so years in Mary’s life were undoubtedly good ones. Except when Jesus gave them the scare of their life when He remained behind in the Temple at the age of twelve. Mary and Joseph were never prosperous. But Joseph was a hard worker and an able provider. And their oldest son, Jesus,was turning into a fine young man as He was growing in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and other people.

But then something must have happened to Joseph. After Jesus turned twelve, Joseph is never mentioned again in the Gospels. Mary might have found herself left as a young widow, as her oldest son, Jesus, would have taken Joseph’s place in the carpenter’s shop.

But the loss of her husband Joseph was not going to be the last major source of sorrow for Mary. She experienced a parent’s worst nightmare. She watched her beloved, oldest boy die as a common criminal on a cross. Can you feel her agony as she watched the cruelty of death by crucifixion? I am certain that Mary would have gladly taken her son’s place on the cross, just as Jesus took our place on the cross.

Yes, LIFE IS HARD. That is the first thing that I believe Mary would say to us today. But then I believe she would also say, BUT GOD IS GOOD.

Mary must have been overwhelmed that the God of all creation would have chosen her for the high honor of being the mother of His Son. No wonder she sang –

And holy is His Name.”

In Mary’s mind only a good and gracious God would bypass the wealthy and powerful and choose a young peasant girl to bear His Son.

And lifted up the lowly.”

You and I will never play as significant a role in God’s plan of salvation as Mary did. And yet each one of us can know what it is like to be humbled by God’s great concern for us. We do not deserve His care. We do not deserve to be able to play even a minor role in His plan for the future. After all, who are we that the God of wonders beyond our galaxy would be aware of us and our needs and would have any need and use for us? And yet, with a sense of deep gratitude, we teach our children to bow their heads and pray, “God is great and God is good.”

LIFE IS HARD, BUT GOD IS GOOD. Not only did He choose the lowly maiden of Nazareth. Not only was He aware of her needs. And not only does He choose us and is He aware of our needs. He also keeps all His promises. No wonder Mary also declared –

“He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy.

According to the promise He made to our ancestors,

To Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Mary understood that the coming of the Messiah was the fulfillment of God’s great,long-awaited promise. Yes, LIFE IS HARD, BUT GOD IS GOOD.

Mary’s story is a story that has been duplicated millions of times throughout human history. It is the story of a mother’s deep, deep love for her child. Even when He was a grown man, with a ministry she could barely understand, still for Mary He was her son. But even Mary’s love for Jesus is but a pale reflection of God’s great love for you.

I do not know what kind of a holiday season this one has been so far for you and will continue to be for you. I hope and pray it has been and will be the best one ever. But I also know that for some it is shaping up to be a very difficult one. Either way, may we all learn these lessons from Mary – LIFE IS HARD, BUT GOD IS GOOD. 

Pastor Dennis D. Nelson

Executive Director of Lutheran CORE

“The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples, and set him free. He made him lord of his house and ruler over all his possessions, to imprison his princes at will, that he might teach his elders wisdom.” (Psalm 105:20-22)

The Lord grants wisdom to those who pursue it in His name. Come then into His presence and gain understanding of His will. Know that the Lord has made Himself approachable and knows all there is to know. Journey with Him and do not be confused by this age of unreason. Know that in the Lord is purpose and meaning, and all things come together through the One who made all things.

Lord, this world is conflicted and confusing. Guide me according to Your purposes that I may walk in Your ways now and forever. Lead me ever deeper into wisdom and understanding that I may grow in the way You have determined. May I always be pliable in Your hands knowing both that You are the potter and I am the clay, and that You alone know all that needs to be done as You prepare eternity for those who love You.

Lord Jesus, You have come that we may have life and have it more abundantly. Lead me away from the ways of this world and into the life that comes through the salvation You have offered. Guide me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go that I may now and always live into the life given me by grace and Your gift of faith. Help me to always follow Your example knowing that You alone grant life eternal. Amen.

“They afflicted his feet with fetters, He himself was laid in irons; until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.” (Psalm 105:18-19)

The Lord has promised that everything works to glory for those who love Him. The truth is that all of creation is for His glory. Do not be dismayed by circumstances, but look to the One who knows you by name and has plans for you. Be guided by His goodness and know that it is He who will guide You all the days of Your life. Live in the presence of the Almighty God and lean not on your own understanding.

Lord, guide my heart in Your presence that no matter what befalls me I would know that You are my God. Lead me through the valley of the shadow of death of this life that I may learn from You in humbleness. Lift up my heart so that it is based upon You and Your presence and not upon circumstances. Lead me, O Lord, and help me to follow You all the days of my life.

Holy Spirit, minister to my heart in those times of doubt, of anger, of desperation that I would not let circumstances define who I am, but Your Word alone. May I look to You in and through all things knowing that You will lead me into the will of the Father. Guide me now and always to walk humbly with You and to learn to listen as You speak. May I now and always be faithful. Amen.

“And He called for a famine upon the land; He broke the whole staff of bread. He sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.” (Psalm 105:16-17)

The Lord allows what He allows to befall the people. There are those who think Him unjust. His ways are not our ways. You, who are a sinner, knowing that all who sin are under the death penalty, is it “fair” that you live? Such silly questions are meant to distract. The Lord is merciful that you might have the opportunity to be in His presence now and forever. He has a purpose in everything.

Lord, I live in an egotistical age that demands to know things, when they do not know the elemental things. Help me, I pray, to see the truth that You are God and that no matter what happens, I am in Your arms of mercy and grace. Guide me according to Your never-failing principles to see in You the hope of glory and the way of everlasting life, that I may live in You.

Lord Jesus, You have come to rescue us from the condemnation which is ours. We may think in terms of fairness, but have nothing apart from You upon which to base our judgement. Bring my heart to look to You in all circumstances knowing that You are my Savior. Keep my eyes upon You and not the noise of this world. Lead me according to Your goodness that I may now and always abide in You. Amen.

“And they wandered about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people. He permitted no man to oppress them, and He reproved kings for their sakes: “Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.” (Psalm 105:13-15)

The unfolding of time is in God’s plan and purpose. Though the people be disciplined, it is through the true voice of God in prophecy that the Lord reminds those who will be faithful to hold fast to His never-changing promises. The Word of the Lord is forever and He will prevail. Come into the Lord’s promise no matter the circumstances and know that He who is forever is with You.

Lord, Your faithful prophets have spoken time and again the simple message that You are Lord and that Your will shall be done. Guide me into the promises You have spoken that I may now and always live according to Your will. Help me in every time of trouble to come to You knowing that only in You is there hope and a future. You are God and there is no other.

Come, Holy Spirit, and minister to my heart. In You is the hope of the ages as You lead me in truth. Cause my heart to flee from unrighteousness and to cling to that which is right and good. Give me eyes to see the difference, in and through all things. You are with me. Help me to be with You. Lead me this day in grace and mercy that I may cling to the eternal Word of truth. Amen.

“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.