Monday, October 16, 2017 Devotion

“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.




Saturday, October 15, 2017 Devotion

“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.




Saturday, October 14, 2017 Devotion

“Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”  (Psalm 51:1-2)

 

I want to think that my sins are not so bad.  Yet in Your sight, anything less that the perfection You created is pure iniquity.  You declare the Way for those who would turn to You that You would blot out transgression and wash thoroughly all who come through grace into salvation.  The invitation is made by grace and You have declared Your intent for all to hear.

 

God, You are gracious and Your ways are so far above our ways that who can understand them.  Yet, it is not for destruction that we have been created, but in love and mercy, You pave the way for those who will follow Your provision.  Guide my heart to learn and listen to the way You have established and then help me to follow.  You have given the words of eternal life for any who would hear.

 

Lord Jesus, in You is the hope of the ages.  In spite of all the sin in the world, for which the world is already judged, You have come to offer grace and salvation.  Lead me in the way You have established that I may go the way of Your leading.  Help me look to You for all that is needed that I may walk with You.  Guide me by Your Spirit to learn and live according to the Father’s will.  Amen.




Friday, October 13, 2017 Devotion

“These things you have done and I kept silence; You thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes.  “Now consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver.   “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; and to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.””  (Psalm 50:21-23)

 

For a time, people seem to get away with mocking the Lord.  But they will never get away with mocking the One who made all things.  For a time, so it seems, but time runs out and then all will face their Maker.  Do not be as the fools of the earth who make such mockery, but learn from the Lord, for He is kind, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  The Lord offers full life to those who come to Him.

 

Lord, help me learn to be thankful in all circumstances.  I too have been caught up in the ways of the world and do not react thankfully to situations.  Lord help me learn to sacrifice without expecting a reward.  Help me to be content without expecting more.  Let me walk in Your ways that I may see Your ways and know the truth of life, liberty and salvation.  Teach me to be like You.

 

Lord Jesus, You have come that all who turn to You would be taught the way of eternal life.  Guide me O Lord in the way I should go and then by Your grace, enable me to go there.  Help me now and always to listen to Your Word and then help me to put it into action in my life.  Through all things, keep my eyes upon You by the power of the Spirit that I would learn to be faithful.  Amen.




Thursday, October 12, 2017 Devotion

“You let your mouth loose in evil and your tongue frames deceit.   “You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother’s son.”  (Psalm 50:19-20)

 

It is not what goes in the mouth, but what comes out that defiles and destroys.  What is in your heart is revealed in what comes out of your mouth.  Take care to see the wickedness that is a part of this generation that has polluted your thinking.  Turn to the Lord and He will clean you from the inside out.  See that the Lord who saves will bring you to where you need to be.

 

Lord, I may pretend to the world which sees me, but You know my heart.  You know the things that go on inside of me and the ways in which I think and speak that are not pleasing in Your sight.  Guide me by grace to repent and come before You willing to be cleaned that I may speak what is right and fitting.  Lead me in Your ways O Lord and through Your Spirit help me to follow.

 

Lord Jesus, You know what it is to walk in this world in the midst of all its strife.  By Your example and through Your grace, lead me to live as You lived in this world holding fast to what is true and being faithful to the Father’s will.  May I learn from You to do the Father’s will in and through all things knowing that I shall become like You just as the Word promises.  Amen.




Wednesday, October 11, 2017 Devotion

“For you hate discipline, and you cast My words behind you.   “When you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you associate with adulterers.”  (Psalm 50:17-18)

 

Such is the way of the world.  Leave behind the commands of the Lord and justify behavior by hanging out with those who sin boldly.  It has been happening since the beginning, but the call to you is to turn to the Lord and learn from Him the way life is supposed to be lived.  Come to the Lord and see that His ways are right and good.  Know the Word of the Lord and know wisdom.

 

All around me Lord is the reinforcement of living a life that serves the self.  I see what we call entertainment supporting this and tearing down the barriers that Your commandments have made.  Guide me O Lord that I would walk in Your ways and learn from You the way life was created to be lived.  Help me O Lord to come to You and turn away from the temptations of this world.

 

Lord Jesus, You walked in the middle of the mess of this world in order to lift up with You all who would come to You.  Guide me now and always to walk in Your ways that I would learn from You righteousness.  Lead me today and by Your grace help me to follow.  Help me learn to love the way You have established and to look to You for all things to live through all things.  Amen.




Tuesday, October 10, 2017 Devotion

“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High; call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.”  But to the wicked God says, “What right have you to tell of My statutes and to take My covenant in your mouth?”  (Psalm 50:14-16)

 

What is it you can give the Lord?  What is it He needs?  The Lord desires to be in a love relationship with you.  What you can give Him is yourself.  Make the sacrifice and give your life to Him.  See what He will do with what you give Him.  Is He not more than able to do all things through Christ who strengthens you?  Can He not do as He wills with what is His own?

 

Lord, this simple principle is hard to understand, yet this is the very thing that You ask.  You ask me to give myself to You that I would become like Christ.  Help me to do this very thing through Your Holy Spirit.  Lead me in the way I should go that I may go there and be one who walks in Your will.  It is truly no sacrifice to be whom You have created me to be.  Help me get out of the way.

 

Author and finisher of my faith, lead me in the steps You have me walk this day to accomplish the Father’s will on earth as it shall be done in heaven.  Lead me away from the never-changing circles of this world to seek first Your kingdom knowing that everything else that is needed shall be added after this.  Lead me today in the way I should go and help me to follow Your steps.  Amen.




Monday, October 9, 2017 Devotion

“If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all it contains.  “Shall I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of male goats?”  (Psalm 50:11-12)

 

The Lord does not need our counsel, for He already knows all that is, past, present and future.  He is not in need of things, for He is the creator of all things.  All that the world contains is in His hands.  What need does the Lord have of us?  Yet, although He has made us a little less than the angels, He has invited us to be in Him and with Him forever.  Come into the Lord and taste and see that He is good.

 

Lord, I am easily distracted by all of the unending hurried pace of this world.  It goes fast, but accomplishes nothing.  Help me simply turn to You knowing that You hold all things in Your hands and that everything is in Your power.  Guide me to walk with You now and always knowing that in You is hope and an eternal future.  You are God, there is no other.

 

Lord Jesus, Guide me in Your will and way to walk according to the principles You have laid down from eternity.  Lead me O Lord according to the will of the Father to do what is right in Your sight.  Help me to not be led astray, but to learn from You how to be faithful and true.  Guide me this day O Lord in the way I should go that I may walk in the way You have established.  Amen.




Sunday, October 8, 2017 Devotion

“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.




Saturday, October 7, 2017 Devotion

“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.