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 24, 2017 Devotion

“My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.  But those who seek my life to destroy it, will go into the depths of the earth.”  (Psalm 63:8-9)

Your soul is attached, but to whom?  Often we get carried away in the busy-ness of life and do not think about the attachments in our life.  To whom do you turn?  Who is your hope?  Many a young couple will hope in each other, but life moves on and the hope diminishes.  Cling to the One who is forever and seek first the Lord and then all else will be added.  He alone will travel the distance with you.

Lord, I hear these words and they are true.  The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.  Lead me, O Lord, to walk in Your ways and learn from You the truth of the ages.  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.

“Rejoice always.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

“Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!”  We sang that hymn next to a grave yesterday, a bitterly cold wind beating on our backs.  Our sister in the faith had died suddenly, grieving us all, but still we called out the truth: Jesus is on His way, and so, even in grief, we rejoice in Him.  

That’s what St. Paul intends by this command.  He’s not calling for Pollyanna thinking, a way to shield ourselves from feeling the pains of our losses.  No, but having just set forth the promise of Christ’s return, he’s telling the believers in Thessaly to confess that gospel in every situation, happy or sad.  Feel the pain, and then meet it with the promise.

So what do you face today?  What sharp winds of challenge, blessing, disappointment, or fear will pound on your heart?  Approach every situation in this conviction: you are one for whom Christ Jesus came to Bethlehem; with you He still abides; and He is on His way to give you a full share in His victory.  What happens today passes away tomorrow, but rejoice!  Emmanuel, God-with-us, God-with-you, is forever.

LET US PRAY: O Lord, as I, with Your Church, prepare to celebrate the birth of Your Son, grant me Your Holy Spirit, that I may see in His first advent the brilliance of His final appearing in glory; and by the promise of that glory, strengthen me to rest and live in hope each day; through Christ my Lord.  Amen

Pastor Steven K. Gjerde

Zion, Wausau  

© 2017

Tuesday, December 19, 2017 Devotion

“Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than breath.  Do not trust in oppression and do not vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.”  (Psalm 62:9-10)

In the grand scheme of things, we are people made in the image of God.  We have created an illusion that there are greater and lesser, but there really is only the Lord God and all that He has made.  Who are we that we would be mindful of ourselves?  Set your heart upon the Lord and His ways, knowing the goodness that He has revealed, and walk humbly in His ways at all times.

Lord, my mind is filled will all of the pollution of this age, knowing that we are taught from the youngest age that there are greater and lesser.  Yes, we should be respectful, but teach me to respect without revering those in positions of authority whom You have placed above me.  Lead me into humility that I would learn the true position of all things and know that You alone are God.

Lord Jesus, You have condescended to come to a place that You alone can hold.  You are God and man.  You have come to lift us up by bringing us down.  In the mystery of faith, help me see in You the hope that You alone bring and the salvation that You alone make possible.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way I should go and help me see in You my life, my hope and all that I need.  Amen.

Monday, December 18, 2017 Devotion

“On God my salvation and my glory rest; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.  Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”  (Psalm 62:7-8)

Are you in the Lord?  Is He the rock of your salvation?  Are you looking for the Lord to conform to your ideas or are you conforming to who He is?  Pour out your heart before the Lord and see that He will walk with you and cleanse your mind and give you a new heart, made right and filled with His righteousness.  Be guided by the One who made you and take refuge in Him alone.

Lord, I hear the words and know the testimonies I have received, yet I walk in the ways of this world.  Help me, I pray, to live into the life to which You have called me knowing that only in You is there hope and a future.  Guide me now and always according to Your life-giving Word that I would walk as one who believes and know the truth You have revealed once for all and live under the shadow of Your wings.

Lord Jesus, I need you today and every day, for I am easily distracted and led in so many directions, all of which are away from You.  Help me in my time of need to see the better portion and to walk according to the way You have established.  Lead me now and always according to Your Word that I may walk in the way of salvation.  You are the rock of my strength; lead me to rest in You.  Amen.

Sunday, December 17, 2017 Devotion

“My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him.  He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken.”  (Psalm 62:5-6)

There are so many things that tug at our allegiance in this world.  We are distracted by the many things that get in the way.  What is at the core?  What is the center of your being?  Our souls long for the one and only place where our being is found and that is with the Lord.  Come to Him and know that He is the rock of your salvation and the Center of all things, including your being.

Lord, clear the field for me that I may see the simplicity of knowing You, the One true God who is the creator of all things.  Guide me according to Your purpose that I would walk in the way You have established and know that You alone are the rock of my being, my life and my salvation.  Lead me, O Lord, that I may be walk in the way You would have me go now and forever.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You have come to pave the way of salvation for all who turn to You.  Clear my mind and soul this day to live into the life to which You have called me through the salvation You have prepared for those who believe.  Help me now and always to look to You for all things knowing that You alone are able to lead me out of the noise of this world into salvation.  Amen.

Friday, December 15, 2017 Devotion

“My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation.  He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.”  (Psalm 62:1-2)

Only in the One who made you is there hope, for it is He who set all things in their course.  The world seeks other ways to live, but apart from God there is nothing good.  He alone must be the foundation in our life, for He is the foundation of all things.  No matter what comes, those who are in the Lord are assured of the truth of His provision and promise.  He knows all that is needed.

The world tells me all kinds of things Lord and I do not know how to go forward.  Help me, I pray to see through the nonsense of this world to simply understand the truth You are and the reality that it is You who has put all things upon their course.  Guide me in the way of salvation that I would walk according to Your Word and live the way You would have me live.

Lord Jesus, You have come to model the godly life, and that through You and the death You suffered on the cross, Your people might find the way home.  Lead me closer home each day that upon You, the rock of my salvation, I would grow in the way that is pleasing to the Father.  Help me now and always to live into the life into which I have been called that I may abide in You and You in me forever.  Amen.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017 Devotion

“For You have heard my vows, O God; You have given me the inheritance of those who fear Your name.  You will prolong the king’s life; His years will be as many generations.”  (Psalm 61:5-6)

We look to our God in our desires and want from Him those things we think we need.  God provides for everyone and everything.  Will you trust in the Lord’s provision and see that all things are now and always have been in His hands.  He who made you knows what You need even before you ask.  He will lead you if you will follow.  He will guide you in all of your ways.

Lord, I often do not even know what to ask for, but You are always providing.  Turn my heart to You to see all the good things You give knowing that only in You is there hope and a future.  Lead me according to Your goodness to walk humbly in Your ways, knowing that in You alone is there hope for all.  Guide me to go deeper into Your presence and Your ways now and always, knowing that You are the giver of life, faith and hope.

Lord Jesus, I need what You alone have done.  I need Your salvation and in You alone is the hope for eternity.  Guide me through the Holy Spirit to walk humbly with You wherever You lead, doing what You give me to do.  Lead me, O Lord, that I would act according to the Father’s will.  Amen.

Monday, December 11, 2017 Devotion

“Hear my cry, O God; give heed to my prayer.  From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”  (Psalm 61:1-2)

This life is filled with difficulty, trials and travail.  We each reach the end of ourselves and in those moments of lament cry out.  The Lord knows what we shall say and do.  The Lord knows what we think.  In Him is the only refuge there is.  In Him alone is the hope of all ages.  Come into the presence of the Lord and know the comfort of the One who made all things.

Lord in You alone can we hope.  Come and meddle in my life.  No, take my life that I may be wholly thine and as You made me to be.  Guide me in the eternal wisdom of the ages You have revealed that in You I may find all I need to persevere in this age of rebellion.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way I should go that in You my hope and my life would unfold.  Lead me to the rock of my salvation.

Rock of salvation, Jesus, the Ebenezer of us all, grant that in every time of trouble I would stand on You, the rock of my salvation.  Keep me from the wiles of the wicked one and help me see more clearly that You have come to lead us through the fog of this age to become like You, the willing, obedient child of the Heavenly Father.  In every place and time, may I be found in You Jesus.  Amen.

“They return at evening, they howl like a dog, and go around the city.  They wander about for food and growl if they are not satisfied.”  (Psalm 59:14-15)

Many live for the physical pleasures this life can give: wandering in the night and satisfying the lusts of the body like unthinking animals.  But you have been awakened to the truth of the Lord who lives forever.  Will you continue wandering like an animal or come into the presence of the One who created you?  This is the offer of salvation, that you would know the Lord who knows you.

Lord, I do spend my days wandering trying to figure things out while simply seeking to satisfy the longings of the physical realm.  Take my mind and awaken it to the reality of eternity that I would pursue what is good and right.  Lead me in the way I should go and then help me move in that direction.  Lift me up out of the pit and set my feet upon the path of righteousness.

Lord Jesus You have come to save as many as would be saved through Your grace.  Bring my mind, body and soul into the salvation You offer and help me walk in the ways You have established.  Keep me close to You now and always that I may walk in the salvation of the righteous.  Keep me from living like a mere animal and seeking the better portion.  Amen.