Wednesday, January 3, 2018 Devotion

“You visit the earth and cause it to overflow; You greatly enrich it; the stream of God is full of water; You prepare their grain, for thus You prepare the earth.  You water its furrows abundantly, You settle its ridges, You soften it with showers, You bless its growth.”  (Psalm 65:9-10)

All things move and have their being in the Lord.  Apart from Him is nothing, and in and with Him is everything.  Come then into the presence of the Lord and see life, its meaning and understand the One who causes all things to be.  It is the One and only LORD who blesses all things and brings about the times and the seasons.  Know the Lord and know life.  He will water you and flow both into and out of you.

Lord, Your presence is all around and often I go about my day as if it were nothing.  Guide me in the truth of reality which is You.  Lead me to see from my depths that You alone give meaning, purpose and being.  In You is everything and apart from You is nothing.  Guide me, O Lord, according to Your purposes now and always that I would see and know that You alone are God.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, You have come that all who come by Your grace and the Father’s mercy would know life abundantly.  Guide me through the Holy Spirit to see in You the hope and glory that You have come to share through what You have accomplished on the cross that I may live wholly in the truth You have revealed.  Lead me now and always, my Savior, into the salvation You have prepared for those who come to You.  Amen.

Tuesday, January 2, 2018 Devotion

“Who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the tumult of the peoples. They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.”  (Psalm 65:7-8)

“Who is this that even the seas obey Him,” the disciples asked?  Who indeed? The One through whom all things have their being was standing in the boat. How Can God do this? With God all things are possible. He who knows all things intimately knows each one of us and calls for us to come to Him and know Him. Come then into the Lord’s presence, and be still and know your Creator.

Lord, can it be that simple? Yes, it is. Guide me into the simplicity of life knowing that the complexities all around me are still there. Help keep my focus upon You that I may abide in Your presence now and forever. Lead me, O Lord, that I may walk humbly with You always and learn from You how to live and have my true being. Guide me by Your Spirit, O Lord, that I may abide in You and You in me.

Like You, Lord Jesus, is what Your Word says I shall be. Journey with me all the days of my life and teach me as I take Your yoke upon myself and willingly learn from You. Help me step over every obstacle and walk always with You, learning along the way what You will teach me. Grant me a heart that is willing and able to go where You would have me go knowing that in You I will find life. Amen.

Monday, January 1, 2018 Devotion

“How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You to dwell in Your courts.  We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple. By awesome deeds You answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation, You who are the trust of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea; Who establishes the mountains by His strength, being girded with might;” (Psalm 65:3-6)

The Lord brings whom He brings and they are blessed.  In our world of ‘it’s not fair’, who are we to argue with the One who created all things; yet many do.  Come into the presence of the One who calls to all, but selects those who hear and follow.  Be blessed and know that only in the Lord of all creation is there hope and an eternal future.  Be guided by His grace and mercy all the day long.

Lord You have called and I have heard, but often I am perplexed and fall into the sinful snare of my own thinking.  It is You who IS the salvation and in You alone is hope to be found.  Guide me in Your grace to follow You all the day long and throughout this life.  Lead me according to Your goodness that I may walk humbly with You my God and Savior and do what is pleasing to You.

Lord Jesus, You stand at the door and knock, and any who will come into Your presence can know the inexpressible joy of mercy and grace.  Lead me, O Lord, to walk with You now and always in order to know the blessing You give by the grace You purchased from the cross.  May I be found in You at all times, walking in the way You have established and humbly learning from You.  Amen.

Sunday, December 31, 2017 Devotion

There will be silence before You, and praise in Zion, O God, And to You the vow will be performed.  O You who hear prayer, To You all men come. Iniquities prevail against me; as for our transgressions, You forgive them.”  (Psalm 65:1-2)

The Lord knows everything you think.  The Lord knows everything you pray.  Why then do you and I turn to things that do not hear and do not know?  Turn to the One who knows all the days of your life and the plans He has for you.  Be guided by the will of the One who desires that you be with Him now and forever.  Be led by the Spirit of the One who loves you more than you can imagine.

Lord you forgive, and we all need forgiveness.  Lead me past my iniquities that I would see them as You do and flee from them.  Help my heart and mind to be guided by the goodness of Your presence and purpose that I would forever hold fast to the truth You have revealed once for all through Your Word.  Help me through the obstacles that get in the way that I would serve You with a clean and pure heart now and always.  Lead me in Your ways, O Lord.

Lord Jesus, Word of God, speak to me that I may hear the truth of Your Word in my heart and live according to Your never-changing principles.  Let not my iniquities prevail, but live into the righteousness You give through faith.  Guide my heart to be honest before You and others that I may praise You at all times, in all places and through all things that come upon me.  Amen.

Saturday, December 30, 2017 Devotion

“The righteous man will be glad in the Lord and will take refuge in Him; and all the upright in heart will glory.” (Psalm 64:10)

Do you look to the Lord for all things?  Do you praise and thank  the Lord in all circumstances?  Do you see that the Lord is always good and His ways righteous?  These things are true, but often the attitude of our heart gets in the way and we do not praise the Lord at all times and in all circumstances.  Take refuge in the Lord and let Him lead your heart always and you will be blessed as one of the righteous.

Lord, I do have attitude problems and often get carried away by my own thoughts.  Help me shift my thinking to You, that You, who IS the center of all things may be the center of my life.  Guide me in Your eternal way that I would walk humbly with You, my God, now and always.  Keep my heart upright in Your sight that I may live according to Your precepts which You have spoken from the beginning.

Lord Jesus You alone are able to lead the way for this heart of mine which often seeks after its own thoughts.  Lead me to live in such a way that I seek to do what I do to please the Father.  Yes, the flesh is weak and I need grace, but teach me to live through the need for grace to the place where I willingly and with praise obey all that is commanded.  Help me Jesus to become like You.  Amen.

Friday, December 29, 2017 Devotion

“So they will make him stumble; their own tongue is against them; all who see them will shake the head.  Then all men will fear, and they will declare the work of God, and will consider what He has done.” (Psalm 64:8-9)

Lord Your power is almighty and all the attempts to thwart You throughout the ages come to nothing.  Guide my eyes to see and my mind to understand this simple but profound truth.  Lead me in the way You have established and let my deeds be openly known and not hidden.  Guide me, O Lord, according to Your Word and let me be among those who praise You all the day long in every circumstance.

Lord, You know what is needed and You know those who devise their plots and schemes.  Help me to always look to You that I may know that Your hand is upon all that I do.  Lead me, O Lord, that I may be led by You alone.   Guide me to consider all that You have made, Your handiwork, and ponder anew each day on the marvels You have created.

Lord Jesus, King of kings, lead me in the mighty way of Your grace this day to see all the wonders created and praise You.  Help me look through immediate circumstances to see Your hand upon all things and know that in You alone is hope and glory.  May my life be one that praises You at all times knowing that You alone are the hope of this age and the one who has already conquered sin.  Amen.

Thursday, December 28, 2017 Devotion

“They hold fast to themselves an evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly; they say, “Who can see them?”  They devise injustices, saying, “We are ready with a well-conceived plot”; for the inward thought and the heart of a man are deep.  But God will shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly they will be wounded.” (Psalm 64:5-7)

The plans of the wicked are all the same.  They think what they do is secret, but the Lord who sees all things knows what the wicked do in secret.  It comes to naught.  Look to the Lord and know that He who sees all things knows what is needed and provides before you make the request.  Yes, it seems for a time the wicked prosper, but what they do amounts to nothing.

Lord, help me to have a larger view of things that I may see through time how the plots of those who devise things in secret are thwarted.  Guide me to know truly that You who sees all things cannot be shaken.  Help me trust in Your provision at all time knowing that You are working all things together for good for those who love You.  Lead me, O Lord, that I may be led by You alone.

Lord Jesus, You went to the cross through the efforts of  those who plotted in secret places, yet it fit perfectly the Father’s will.  From this simple place, let me see that no matter what happens, Your hand of grace is upon me and all who turn to You.  Guide me according to Your perfect will to see in You the hope of glory that You have won at the cross through those who desired otherwise.  Amen.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017 Devotion

“Who have sharpened their tongue like a sword.  They aimed bitter speech as their arrow, to shoot from concealment at the blameless; suddenly they shoot at him, and do not fear.” (Psalm 64:3-4)

The wicked of this world shoot arrows of contempt and lies at those who seek the Lord.  Calling others what is in their heart, they prey on the guilt of sin that is there, while they themselves could care less about truth or what is right.  It has always been this way.  The insensitive prey on the sensitive and blame them to shame them.  Be not one who blames, but one who turns to the Lord in every season.                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Lord, I have been affected by the wickedness of this world.  I have desired what is right, but listen to the voice of the wicked. Guide me according to Your purposes that I may forever hold fast to the truth You have revealed.  Let me not be distracted by those who would seek to destroy me, but to be led by Your Spirit all the days of my life.

Lord Jesus, You are the hope of every person.  You have come to save us from ourselves and the world.  Guide me in the salvation You have given that I may forever hold fast to the truth of Your presence and purpose through grace.  May I now and always look to You first for all things, knowing that You alone are the author and finisher of my faith.  Lead me this day, my Savior.  Amen.

Tuesday, December 26, 2017 Devotion

“Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.  Hide me from the secret counsel of evildoers, from the tumult of those who do iniquity,” (Psalm 64:1-2)

In our hearts, even if on the outside others call us peaceful, we lament and complain to the Lord about how things are.  Our hearts are troubled.  But the Lord who hears all these things knows what is needed and has provided salvation to all those who believe in Him.  Come to the Lord and know the peace He gives.  He will shield you under His wings and guide you through the tumult of this world.

Lord, I do need what You offer, yet while saying this, I often avoid the very thing I need.  Guide me by Your Spirit to learn to listen as You guide me through the tumult of this world.  Help me in every time of need to turn to You knowing that You alone, who knows all things, knows what is needed.  Guide me into and through humility to stay away from the counsel of evil doers.

Lord Jesus, You know what it is to walk in this troubled world.  Help me now and always to look to You, the author and finisher of my faith, to see the way I should go.  Help me live according to Your purposes that I may forever hold fast to the salvation You have prepared for me through grace.  Lead me, O Lord, that I may follow and teach me humility that I may walk humbly with You.  Amen.

Monday, December 25, 2017 Devotion

“They will be delivered over to the power of the sword; they will be a prey for foxes.  But the king will rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him will glory, for the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.”  (Psalm 63:10-11)

Though the world rage and do its damage, yet the Lord will prevail.  Nothing can thwart the plans of the Lord, for He alone is Sovereign.  Come into the Lord’s presence and know the goodness of His surpassing mercy for those who love.  To them He gives life and the promise is that all who lie, cheat, steal and kill shall pass away.  Come to the Lord and know the true power of eternity.

Lord, all day long there are those who come against me with their wickedness.  I too have succumbed and do not love my neighbor as myself.  Guide me, O Lord, to live into the life to which You have called me that I would hold fast to the promises You give.  Help me see more clearly that You are always there and that Your goodness shall always prevail.  Let me seek You in every time of danger.

Lord Jesus, You know how the wicked of this age put You to death, yet it is what You came for.  There is nothing they can do that You do not already know.  Let me come into Your rest that I would walk humbly with You in the salvation You provide, knowing that only in You is there hope and a future.  Guide me this day to celebrate Your goodness and Your coming for all who believe.  Amen.