Devotion for Sunday, October 7, 2018

“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad. Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.” (Psalm 97:1-2)

 

It may seem for a time that things are not as they really are, but this creation belongs to the Lord. He is the One who reigns and in Him all hopes are made real that are in accord with His will. He is Sovereign and although this age continues in rebellion, it shall come to pass that all things have always been in the hands of the Lord. Come into His presence and know righteousness.

Lord, there are so many questions that many ask. Their questions are based upon their own understanding and not upon the truth You have revealed. Guide me, O Lord, to look to You, for You are the Creator of all things. Lead me in the goodness of Your mercy that I would humbly walk in Your presence knowing that You alone have the words of eternal life; for there is no other way.

Lord Jesus, You have come to shine light on the truth. You are the way and truth and only in You is there life. Help me now and always to seek the way You have established that I may walk humbly in the way of salvation. May I now and always be guided by the eternal principles You have given and be lifted up by Your grace. Lead me to be faithful in all that You have given me to do. Amen.




Devotion for Saturday, October 6, 2018

“Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord, for He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.” (Psalm 96:12b-13)

 

The day is coming when the Lord will set the final course for creation. He will righteously judge all people. Each will continue the course they began in this world, some to be with Him and some forever separated from Him. There is no other option than these two. Those who are faithful will be lifted up and those who go their own way will continue further away.

Lord, the rebellion begun in the beginning with our first parents continues to this day. But there are really only two kinds of people: those who move toward You and those who continue to move away from You. Help me to live into the righteousness You have given me that I may grow in the likeness of Christ and become what You have planned for me to become.

Lord Jesus, You have come making grace possible for those who will follow after You into eternity. Guide me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go knowing that only in You am I able to find the life that You give. Guide me according to Your mercy to humbly walk in the way of righteousness that I may now and always be in Your presence, living the true life. Amen.




Devotion for Friday, October 5, 2018

“Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns; indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.” Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and all it contains; let the field exult, and all that is in it.” (Psalm 96:10-12a)

 

The Lord is just, and sees all that happens. A bird does not fall from the sky that He does not know about. The earth knows His voice and listens when He commands. Creation exalts the Lord, for He is the One who made it. Join with the rest of creation and praise the name of the Lord with your life and your being. Be one who acknowledges the Lord in all things.

O Lord, how often I do not praise You or think upon the goodness that You have given me. Guide my heart to see more clearly the truth of all that You have done. Lift my countenance to give You praise at all times and in all circumstances. Guide me, O Lord, in Your goodness to see the beauty of Your work and the promise of Your mercy and grace that I may be forever Yours.

Lord Jesus, You have paved the way that I may walk now and forever in Your presence. Lift me up this day to walk humbly in the Father’s presence knowing that I am always before You. Teach me the way You would have me go. Lead me into the righteousness You give that I may humbly become the child of God that is promised through the grace You have purchased. Amen.




Devotion for Thursday, October 4, 2018

“Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name; bring an offering and come into His courts. Worship the Lord in holy attire; tremble before Him, all the earth.” (Psalm 96:7-9)

 

Do you look to the Lord in your everyday life? Do you marvel at the creation He has made? Do you see the wonder of how things fit together? The Lord is the Sovereign of the universe. It is He who has made all things. Come into His presence and walk with Him with praise on your lips and thanksgiving in your heart. Know that the Lord is the greatest good, above all things, for He is your Maker.

Lord, I often live my daily life moment by moment lost in my own thoughts. I do not look to You, nor marvel at the work of Your hands. Guide me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go that I may walk humbly in Your sight and live as one who is thankful for all of Your goodness. Open my eyes to see the beauty of all that You have made and to live in Your goodness.

Holy Spirit, lead me to see this day all that is around me. Lift me up that I may walk knowing that You are present with me, and there to lead me. Help me now and always to be thankful for the gift of life, the liberty I have in Christ and the awareness that You are with me. Guide me in the way I need to grow that I may become more like Christ this day and serve the Father in a way that is pleasing to Him. Amen.




Devotion for Wednesday, October 3, 2018

“For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.” (Psalm 96:5-6)

 

Idols are those made-up things that get in the way of the truth that You alone are above all things. Lead me, O Lord, in the goodness of Your presence that I would now and always live according to Your Word and Your way. All splendor and majesty are Yours, O Lord, for everything You created reflects the truth of Your presence, purpose and will. Help me now and always to walk according to Your ways that I would live in the truth.

True God who is above all things, You have made Yourself known to the ages through Your Word and the Word made flesh. Lift me above the cacophony of noise that is in this age that I may see more clearly the truth that You alone are God. Keep me from the idols of this age to worship and praise You alone and above all things. You are God and greatly to be praised.

Lord Jesus, You have taught us to worship the LORD with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. Lead me in the way I should go in this age that I would live in the truth of creation with all of my being. Help me now and always to see in You the truth of reality and the eternal way of things. Guide me, O Lord, by Your grace to live this day and everyday in the truth of Your salvation. Amen.




Devotion for Tuesday, October 2, 2018

“Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.” (Psalm 96:3-4)

 

How does one come to realize that in comparison to the Lord everything else pales? Why does the world carry on as if the Maker of all things is just a side note? Come into the truth of reality and praise the One who made all things. It is He alone who holds all power and authority. He is the One who is the center of all things. Come to Him and praise Him for His might and glory.

Lord, You are the greatest in all creation, for creation is Yours and You made it. Guide me, O Lord, in the way I should go that I would now and always walk according to Your never-failing love and purpose. Lead me in the right way to live that I would fear, love and trust You above all things. You are God. Teach me to praise You in all circumstances and for all things.

Holy Spirit, lift my heart to see the truth of the reality of creation and Your center in it. Lead me away from the distraction of this age which focuses upon things rather than the Creator of all things. Teach me to be a person who is filled with praise and thanksgiving for all of the goodness that comes in knowing the truth. Lead me through the difficulties of this life knowing that You are with me always. Amen.




Devotion for Monday, October 1, 2018

“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.” (Psalm 96:1-2)

 

The new song for the Lord is what you do with your life. You are a unique creation and there is no one like you. Please the Lord by living in His presence and walking with Him all of your days. Know that His grace and mercy will be with you if you walk humbly before Him. He is the One who has paved the way before you and will walk alongside you now and forever.

Lord, grant that I become bold in the salvation You have given me. Guide me according to Your goodness to walk in the way You have established. Lead me in Your salvation that I may now and always be in Your presence. May my life become a gift back to You for all that You are and all that You have done. You are the rock of my salvation and I seek to please You in all I do.

Holy Spirit, guide my heart to walk humbly this day in the presence of the Father. Lead me, Lord, that I would go where You direct. Keep the attitude of my heart firmly fixed upon Christ in all things that I may now and always live according to Your direction. May I walk boldly today and every day in the salvation I have in Christ and do what is pleasing in the Father’s sight. Amen.




Devotion for Sunday, September 30, 2018

“For forty years I loathed that generation, and said they are a people who err in their heart, and they do not know My ways.  “Therefore I swore in My anger, truly they shall not enter into My rest.”  (Psalm 95:10-11)

 

The Lord is serious about bringing us to the state of being like Jesus.  He has told us of His will and way.  There are those who will begin the journey of walking in the way of the Lord and those who will not.  The Lord sees into the heart and knows those who are His.  Come into the way of the Lord and walk humbly in His presence.  Know the Lord and learn of His goodness.

Lord, I understand that I need to take You seriously and walk the way You would have me walk.  Help me to understand what this means.  Some around me become like lawyers with Your law and others are too proud to obey You.  Help me to walk the path You have for me and grant me confidence in the salvation You have laid out before me.  May I humbly learn from You the way You would have me go.

Lord Jesus, You are the example of walking humbly in the Father’s presence.  Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I would walk always in the way and truth You have revealed.  Guide me in the goodness of mercy and grace that I may now and always live according to the Father’s will.  Help me to become the person You have always intended me to be by Your grace.  Amen.




Devotion for Saturday, September 29, 2018

“For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.  Today, if you would hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,  As in the day of Massah in the wilderness, “When your fathers tested Me, they tried Me, though they had seen My work.”  (Psalm 95:7-9)

You are the One Lord through whom all things have their being.  Guide me according to Your never-changing mercy to live into the life to which You call the faithful.  You know our ways and the testing that happens amongst those who rebel.  Lead Your faithful to not be in rebellion, but to willingly come into Your presence and walk humbly before You, the Maker of all things.

Our hearts have been hardened, as they had been amongst the people of old.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of righteousness that I would not live with a hardened heart, but with one that is filled with Your peace and kindness.  Guide me in the way You would have me go that I may walk upright in Your sight and live according to Your will.  Keep me from those who would lead me astray.

Lord Jesus, You are the example of the godly life.  You have come and set us free from the recompense of sin and the death that it brings.  Lift me up to walk with You by my side that I may now and always live according to Your Word.  Help me this day to see more clearly the way You would have me go and then empower me to walk as You would have me walk in this world.  Amen.




Devotion for Friday, September 28, 2018

“The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land.  Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”  (Psalm 95:5-6)

 

The Lord is the Maker of all things.  In His hands are the caverns of the deep and the dry land is His.  All that is has come forth from His hands.  To whom else are we to compare anything when all things came into being through Him?  Come then, bow down and worship the Lord, for He is Your maker and the One through whom you have your being.  He is worthy of all honor and praise and in Him is life.

 Lord, Help me to understand more clearly that all things of this world are only things which You have made.  Everything is in You and apart from You is nothing.  Guide me, O Lord, according to Your goodness to walk in Your counsel.  Lead me in the way of righteousness that You have established.  Guide me to walk humbly with You, my Maker, that I may live according to Your will.

Holy Spirit, come and minister to my heart that I may walk in the peace that You give amidst the hostility of this world.  Lead me in the right way of living that I may now and always walk in the way You have established from the beginning.  Help me this day to see in You the hope that only You can give and live upright amidst a world filled with tribulation.  Guide me now and always.  Amen.