Today’s Reading: Hebrews 6:13-20; Psalm 28 & 62

Sometimes there are disappointments in life. At times the burden we are carrying for other people is heavy enough to interrupt our thoughts throughout the day. Living out our faith does not mean that life is always easy or that everything works out perfectly all the time, but living in relationship with God gives us a place to take our fears and anxiety. No matter how difficult things look right now, we can be confident that God never breaks His promises.

God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through? — Numbers 23:19

I believe at times our disappointment is not that God made a promise and did not keep it, but rather that God did not do what we wanted Him to do. When things do not go our way or our prayers are not answered in the way we had hoped, we begin to doubt whether or not God truly is faithful. But in the midst of our struggles, we must remember that it is not God who is wavering.

GOD IS STEADFAST AND CONSISTENT — A ROCK TO HOLD ONTO WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS TO BE SPINNING.

For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:

“I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.”

Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. — Hebrews 6:13-20

GOD’S PROMISE AND HIS OATH ARE UNCHANGEABLE BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE.

My prayer for us this morning is that we can enter into His sanctuary, pour out our hearts to Him, and hold tight to the hope that lies before us. Thank you, God, for giving us this confidence this morning — that You never break your promises, and You never will! Amen.

Praise the Lord!
For he has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. – Psalm 28:6-7

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him,
for God is our refuge. – Psalm 62:5-8

Today’s Reading: Matthew 18:21-35; Psalm 103

There are times in our lives when it is easy to forgive someone who has wronged us, and then there are times when it is the hardest thing we have ever had to do.

The world defines forgiveness more from an inward perspective of letting go of resentment for the sake of peace of mind. If I make a conscious decision to let go of my need for vengeance or my desire to carry a grudge against someone, it frees me from the anger that can build up inside of me and rob me of joy. Forgiveness does not mean I excuse the behavior or give someone permission to continue to hurt me. I choose to forgive for my own sake, not necessarily for the sake of the one who has hurt me. [See this definition of forgiveness at https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/forgiveness/definition.]

Biblical forgiveness starts with my need to ask God to forgive me of my sin. I recognize that I have gone against His will or disobeyed Him, so the need to be reconciled with my Creator causes me to ask for forgiveness. This is not about merely going through the motions of saying, “I have sinned, please forgive me.” It needs to come from a heart that is sincerely repentant. There is an element of regret or remorse that brings me to a place of apology.

IF I MUST SHOW REGRET TO RECEIVE FORGIVENESS, SHOULDN’T THE PERSON WHO HAS WRONGED ME NEED TO SHOW REGRET BEFORE I FORGIVE THEM?

I think we often take this definition of forgiveness into our relationships with others. We think there is no need to forgive someone who has sinned against us unless they sincerely apologize, showing some kind of regret or disappointment in themselves. We wait for this recognition of wrong and hold onto our hard feelings until we see it. But let’s see how Jesus defined our need to forgive others.

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” — Matthew 6:14-15

“But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” — Mark 11:25

Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” — Matthew 18:21-22

GOD CALLS US TO DISPLAY MERCY AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE SINNED AGAINST US.

Then Jesus shared a story about a servant who owed the king a lot of money but was unable to pay. The king forgave him his debt, but then he turned around and demanded the money another servant owed him. When the man could not pay, he had him arrested and thrown into prison. When the king heard that he did not extend the same mercy to someone else that he had been extended, he called the servant in and had him thrown into prison.

“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.” — Matthew 18:35

God calls us to be merciful to one another. He knows that we need to forgive other people just as much as they need to be forgiven. He does not tell us to demand an apology from someone else, nor does he say to wait until they make amends. He tells us to forgive just as He forgave us. And He knows that forgiving others is what will help us move forward. Forgiveness has a way of acknowledging my pain while refusing to let it define my future.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. — Colossians 3:12-14

It is not easy to forgive someone who has hurt us or sinned against us, but we serve a God who does not ask us to do hard things on our own. He steps in and gives us the strength to do what He is asking us to do. And then He fills the space that has been filled with bitterness with a peace that helps us move forward in freedom. Thank you, God, for your amazing provision! Help us to let go and forgive others, just as you have forgiven us.

MAY THOSE OF US WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED FORGIVENESS BE WILLING TO EXTEND FORGIVENESS TO OTHERS.

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. – Psalm 103:1-4

The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.
He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. – Psalm 103:8-12

Today’s Reading: Psalm 138 & 139

I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will sing your praises before the gods.
I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.
I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;
For your promises are back by all the honor of your name. – Psalm 138:1-2

GOD’S PROMISES ARE BACKED BY ALL THE HONOR OF HIS NAME.

Can we just sit in that truth for a moment? God is faithful and true, and He always keeps His promises. What He says, He will do. And we can have confidence in this truth because the Lord’s promises are backed by the honor of His holy name. Stop. Listen. All that God has promised you is backed by the honor of His perfect and holy name.

As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength. – Psalm 138:3

GOD RESPONDS TO YOUR PRAYERS IMMEDIATELY.

When I pray, God listens and He responds to the cries of my heart. I may not hear an audible answer, and I may not immediately get what I am asking for, but I can have confidence that God is responding. Perhaps His response is to strengthen us, as it was with King David, or perhaps it is to comfort us. Let’s wait patiently on the Lord, knowing that His response is immediate even if we have to wait for the answer we are hoping for. When I stand confident in the knowledge that God is listening and responding as I pray, I can rest in the truth that He cares.

Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.
Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.
You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me. – Psalm 138:6-7

GOD SAVES YOU WITH HIS RIGHT HAND, SHOWING BOTH HIS STRENGTH AND HIS ABILITY.

God is bigger than our earthly troubles. He is stronger than the forces of evil, wiser than our worst enemies, and faithful to provide for us even in the hardest seasons of our lives. This world we live in is a mess and we are going to feel the pain of living in a sinful society, but God is not complacent. He is actively working in our lives.

The Lord will work out his plans for my life — for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
Don’t abandon me, for you made me. – Psalm 138:8

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! – Psalm 139:1-6

GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU AND IS WORKING OUT HIS PLANS FOR YOUR LIFE.

You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up, you are still with me! – Psalm 139:16-18

May this be your prayer today as you trust in the God whose promises are backed by the honor of His name, who responds to your prayers as soon as you pray, and who is strong enough and capable enough to save you by His right hand. You are known by God, and He is actively working out His plans for your life. So open your heart to the One who formed you in your mother’s womb and knows every anxious thought that is distracting you from the message He wants you to hear today. Allow Him to reveal Himself to you as He leads you down the path He has prepared for you.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. – Psalm 139:23-24

Today’s Reading: Psalm 119

How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. — Psalm 119:103

I fell in love with the Bible at a young age. I have my first Bible, and I can still remember the excitement of searching to find the text for the sermon or the verse for the Sunday School lesson. Later, I got involved in Bible quizzing and my love for the scriptures intensified as I spent hours memorizing the scriptures and perfecting my recall. God’s word is still a big part of my life today. It’s my favorite way to spend my morning and I find myself hungry for a word from the Lord.

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. — Psalm 119:105

The Bible is unlike any other book we can read because it is alive. When we spend time soaking in the scriptures, it changes us. It is God-breathed and powerful. The Spirit accompanies God’s word and speaks to us through the ancient writings. We gain an understanding of who God is and what His plan is for our life, and the Spirit reveals the areas in our life where we are falling short of fully letting God have control. The moment we read the word, it becomes active in our life.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. — Hebrews 4:12

It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it. — Isaiah 55:11

When we long to hear from God, the first place we should go is to the Bible. God uses His written word to speak into our lives, to answer our questions, and to guide us through even the most difficult of situations. When we need Him most, He is there for us. If you seek Him in the Scriptures, you will find Him.

Do not snatch your word of truth from me,
for your regulations are my only hope.
I will keep on obeying your instructions
forever and ever.
I will walk in freedom,
for I have devoted myself to your commandments.
I will speak to kings about your laws,
and I will not be ashamed.
How I delight in your commands!
How I love them!
I honor and love your commands.
I meditate on your decrees. – Psalm 119:43-48

May God bless your time in His Word this morning! May you hear from Him in a special way as you open up your heart to all He wants to teach you today.

Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide…
I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your word.
I haven’t turned away from your regulations, for you have taught me well.
How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.
Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. — Psalm 119:97-98, 101-104

Today’s Reading: Psalm 29, 46 & 95

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. — 1 Kings 19:11-13

HAVE YOU EVER LONGED TO HEAR THE VOICE OF THE LORD?

When Kari Jobe came out with her song “Speak to Me”, it resonated with my heart. There have been so many moments in my life when I longed to hear from God; there have been times when I prayed for a word from the Lord to get me through a situation or to lift my spirits. God is faithful and He speaks to us in so many ways — sometimes audibly and sometimes in a gentle whisper.

The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea.
The God of glory thunders.
The Lord thunders over the mighty sea.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is majestic.
The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars;
the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf;
he makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord strikes
with bolts of lightning.
The voice of the Lord makes the barren wilderness quake;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks
and strips the forests bare.
In his Temple everyone shouts, “Glory!” — Psalm 29:3-9

Years ago, I heard the voice of God loudly say, “Stop!” I was driving home from church and all three of my girls were buckled into their car seats behind me. We were approaching one of the busiest intersections in town, and I stopped at the red light. When the light turned green, I took my foot off the brake and applied pressure to the gas pedal. As I started to roll forward, I heard an audible voice tell me to stop. As I slammed on the brakes, a semi-truck came barreling through the intersection just inches from the nose of the van. I did not see it until it was right in front of me. I have no doubt that God spoke to me that day in order to save all four of our lives — it was not a gentle whisper, but a loud voice.

“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.”

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. — John 12:27-30

Most of the time, God speaks to us through other people or through His written word — the Bible. But there are times in our lives when God allows us to hear His voice in order to teach us or to strengthen our faith. There are times when He clearly instructs us, like He did for Moses on Mount Sinai:

“Forty years later, in the desert near Mount Sinai, an angel appeared to Moses in the flame of a burning bush. When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight. As he went to take a closer look, the voice of the Lord called out to him, ‘I am the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses shook with terror and did not dare to look.

“Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groans and have come down to rescue them. Now go, for I am sending you back to Egypt.’” — Acts 7:30-34

I encourage you to spend time this week listening for the voice of God. Spend time in His word; find a quiet place to sit and wait on the Lord. Seek Him and He will be found — sometimes in a gentle whisper and at times in a loud voice; sometimes through a verse of scripture and at times through a preacher or friend who has been given a word for you. Give God your attention and listen for the voice of the Lord.

The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts! – Psalm 46:6

Come, let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
for he is our God.
We are the people he watches over,
the flock under his care.
If only you would listen to his voice today! – Psalm 95:6-7

Today’s Reading: Psalm 25 & 26

O Lord, I give my life to you.
I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.
Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you. — Psalm 25:1-5

I am so thankful this morning that I serve a God who sets a path before me, even when I am not sure where the road will take me. When we put our trust in the One who created us, allowing Him to use us for the purpose for which He created us, we can know that He will be with us every step of the way. And when we stray from the path He has planned for us, He is there to guide us back. He does not leave the journey unfinished and He does not leave us where He found us. If we will humble ourselves before the Lord in repentance, He will lead us back into a right relationship with Him.

Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O Lord.
The Lord is good and does what is right;
he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
He leads the humble in doing right,
teaching them his way.
The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.
For the honor of your name, O Lord,
forgive my many, many sins. — Psalm 25:6-11

This Psalm, written by King David, shows the repentant heart of a man who had strayed far from the path God had laid out before him. He had seen the generous provisions of God, yet reached beyond what was His to take what was someone else’s. This reaching caused him to get completely off balance with God and he quickly lost his way. One sin covered up another sin, which covered up another sin, until the multitude of bad decisions overwhelmed him. He found himself off course and cried out for God to rescue him from the mess he had made. “Lord, I give my life to you…point out the road for me to follow…forgive my many, many sins.”

The same grace displayed towards David is available for us today. Have you gotten off course? Perhaps today is the day to pray Psalm 25 and allow your Creator to get you back where you need to be — back on the path He planned for you long ago. God is ready to give you a fresh start so that you can live with integrity, standing on the solid ground of a right relationship with the Lord. When those around you try to point out the sins of your past, your God can declare you innocent. Put your trust in the Lord and do not waver from the path He has set out for you.

Who are those who fear the Lord?
He will show them the path they should choose.
They will live in prosperity,
and their children will inherit the land.
The Lord is a friend to those who fear him.
He teaches them his covenant.
My eyes are always on the Lord,
for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.
Turn to me and have mercy,
for I am alone and in deep distress.
My problems go from bad to worse.
Oh, save me from them all!
Feel my pain and see my trouble.
Forgive all my sins.
See how many enemies I have
and how viciously they hate me!
Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.
May integrity and honesty protect me,
for I put my hope in you.
O God, ransom Israel from all its troubles. — Psalm 25:12-22

Today’s Reading: Psalm 24 & 104

Let all that I am praise the Lord.
O Lord my God, how great you are!
You are robed with honor and majesty.
You are dressed in a robe of light.
You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;
you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds.
You make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind.
The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants. – Psalm 104:1-4

Those who know me well know that autumn is my favorite time of year. I love the cooler temperatures, the smell of backyard fires, and the fall decorations. I love going to Friday night football games and Saturday fall festivals. I love the anticipation of Thanksgiving and Christmas that we often feel in the fall, but most of all I love the beauty of the changing leaves on the trees.

Fall is also fundraising season for the nonprofit I work for, so I have the privilege of doing a little extra traveling as I try to make it to as many banquets as I can. A few years ago, I was driving to Jacksonville, Illinois, for their Annual Fundraising Banquet, and I chose to cut through Spoon River territory in order to enjoy the beauty of the fall leaves. Typically I map out the route that will take me the least time, but that year I decided to take the scenic route, and I was not disappointed.

The weather that day was gorgeous. The temperature was comfortable and the sun was shining down on the trees. You could see all the gorgeous colors of the changing leaves. Red, yellow, orange and purple mixed in with so many shades of green. The beauty was breathtaking! Every time I came up over a hill, I would anticipate what the next mile was going to look like and I was rarely disappointed.

To make it even better, there was just a slight breeze that caused the leaves to slowly drift down across the road. It was raining down the colorful leaves around me and I was caught in the beauty of the season. I found myself praising God for the beauty of the leaves and the grand effect the sun had on the leaves as it shone brightly down.

The next day I drove to Shelbyville, Illinois, for another banquet, but the weather that day was much different than it had been the day before. It was cold and rainy, and clouds covered the sky. I have to admit there was very little beauty to be in awe of that day. The clouds were blocking the effect of the sun and the result was that the scenery was much less breathtaking.

Now, consider this. Were the trees any less beautiful on Friday than they were on Thursday? Did they have less color or less variety of colors? No, the trees themselves were the same. The difference was in the lack of sunshine. It is amazing the difference it makes to have the sun shining down on or shining through the trees. The beauty is still there, God’s creation is still quite gorgeous, but its beauty is hidden or veiled by the clouds and the rain on the windshield.

God spoke to me on that second day of traveling. He showed me that there is beauty in every circumstance of life and in every person I come in contact with. But He also showed me that, just as the beauty of the fall colors is dimmed by the lack of the SUN, the beauty of people is often dimmed by the lack of His SON — the lack of Jesus in their life. Their potential remains the same; their beauty is there but waiting for the enhancement of God’s son, Jesus Christ, to shine down and make a difference in the appearance of their life.

When we think of autumn, we often think of it as being a season of change. The temperatures are changing, the leaves are changing, and the foods are changing. This is probably what I love so much about this time of year. And more than ever, this has been a season of change for Scott and I. We are once again living in a new community and looking forward to being available for God to use during this next season of our lives.

What change is the Lord leading you through in this season of life? Is the SON shining down on your circumstances and showing you the beauty all around you, or do you find your blessings hiding under the clouds that today has brought? Perhaps this morning would be a good time to look for the beauty of the season and intentionally list out all the good that God is surrounding you with. Look at your day through a different lens — a lens of acceptance and submission, a lens of optimism that sees the beauty surrounding you. Ask God to make His presence known to you as you give Him praise for the season you find yourself in today.

May the glory of the Lord continue forever!
The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made!
The earth trembles at his glance;
the mountains smoke at his touch.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.
I will praise my God to my last breath!
May all my thoughts be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the Lord…
Let all that I am praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord! — Psalm 104:31-35

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
The world and all its people belong to him.
For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas
and built it on the ocean depths.
Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols and never tell lies.
They will receive the Lord’s blessing
and have a right relationship with God their savior.
Such people may seek you
and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob. — Psalm 24:1-6

Today’s Reading: Psalm 37

Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act. — Psalm 37:7a

This morning I am overwhelmingly grateful for a God whose presence is available for us to experience every day. On the good days, He is present; on the hard days, He is faithful. What has God done for you this week? In what ways has God provided for you over this last year? With intentionality, let’s consider what the Lord has brought us through and give Him the glory. Perhaps it was comfort that you received from God, or perhaps peace when it did not make sense to be calm. If God has answered your prayers, take a moment to thank Him again and give Him glory by sharing your story of God’s faithfulness with someone today.

Now, from a place of recognition that God has been faithful in your past, let your requests be known to the Lord. What do you need Him to do today? Take all that is heavy on your heart and place it in the hands of the Father who loves to give good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11). When sorrow is pressing in, find your way back to gratitude and then be still in His presence, waiting patiently for the Lord to act.

Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. – Psalm 37:3-4

Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. – Psalm 37:5-6

At times, we are faced with situations that cause us to question God’s presence. Perhaps you are even now praying for healing for yourself or a loved one, or perhaps you are suffering an injustice or your motives have been misunderstood. Let’s sit in a place of trust this morning, knowing that God is in control and He is aware of all the details of our lives. He will never leave us; never will He forsake us. He will never fail us or abandon us (Deuteronomy 31:6).

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.
Once I was young, and now I am old.
Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
or their children begging for bread. — Psalm 37:23-25

This morning let’s soak in these promises found in scripture and know that God is present in our lives — during the good and the bad times. Know that God will never abandon us. We can trust the Lord, we should trust the Lord, and we must trust the Lord. Walking in faith requires it, even when it is easier said than done.

Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent,
and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.
They will not be disgraced in hard times;
even in famine they will have more than enough. – Psalm 37:18-19

Put your hope in the Lord.
Travel steadily along his path.
He will honor you by giving you the land.
You will see the wicked destroyed. – Psalm 37:34

The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.
The Lord helps them. Reducing them from the wicked.
He saves them, and they find shelter in him. – Psalm 37:39-40

I encourage you this morning to soak in the lyrics of the Elevation Worship song by Steven Furtick and Chris Brown titled “Won’t Stop Now” [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjoA6n5GfXs ]. The lyrics to the song go so well with the promises found in Psalm 37. I pray the Lord encourages you today. I pray you are able to trust Him with everything going on in your life and with your loved ones for whom your heart is heavy. May you be reminded this morning of His faithfulness as you wait patiently for the Lord to move on your behalf. Rest in the truth that God has not abandoned you and He never will.

Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act. — Psalm 37:7a

Today’s Reading: Psalm 56

Have you ever felt alone? Have loneliness and fear ever pressed in, trying to convince you that you are all by yourself — that nobody is paying attention to you because nobody cares? My friend, that is exactly what the Father of Lies wants you to believe. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44b).

But Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). As he was ascending into heaven, Jesus said, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). He also told his disciples that the Father was sending another Advocate to them, one that would never leave them. “He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth” (John 14:16-17).

So take time this morning to allow the Holy Spirit to remind you that God is with you, that God is for you, and that God will never leave you. No matter what is ahead, God loves you enough to stay with you.

YOU ARE WITH ME

In time of famine, when everything he built kept getting taken away from him, God told Isaac, “I am the God of your father, Abraham,” he said. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you” (Genesis 26:24).

When life as he knew it was changing, and Jacob was on the run from the decisions he had made, God spoke up: “What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you” (Genesis 28:15).

When Moses was overwhelmed with what God was asking him to do, he heard God say, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” (Exodus 3:12)

YOU ARE FOR ME

Even in his grief, David knew that God was for him:
You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help.
This I know: God is on my side! – Psalm 56:8-9

In misery, Micah cried out, “As for me, I look to the Lord for help.
I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.
Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again.
Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
I will be patient as the Lord punishes me, for I have sinned against him.
But after that, he will take up my case and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies.
The Lord will bring me into the light, and I will see his righteousness.
Then my enemies will see that the Lord is on my side” (Micah 7:7-10a).

YOU’LL NEVER LEAVE ME

No matter what you are facing, know that God is with you, that God is for you, and that God will never leave you alone. No matter what is ahead, know that God loves you enough to stay.

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” – Hebrews 13:5b-6a

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” – John 14:15-17

Let’s make Psalm 56 our prayer this morning, trusting that God is faithful and that He is present. God is aware of what we are going through and He loves us enough to stay by our side.

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
I praise God for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me? – Psalm 56:3-4

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 6:24 – 7:20

Some time later, however, King Ben-hadad of Aram mustered his entire army and besieged Samaria. As a result, there was a great famine in the city. The siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a cup of dove’s dung sold for five pieces of silver. – 2 Kings 6:24-25

Same city, same enemy, different king. The memory of Israel’s kindness to the Aramean army was long forgotten, and the new king of Aram now had the Israelites trapped within the walls of Samaria. The people had run out of food and were starving. Women were even killing their babies in order to have something to eat.

What a difficult time to be a leader! The king of Israel was powerless to help his people. An authority stronger than his was now in control and the king was grieving what his people were going through. He tore his clothes in despair and wore burlap under his robe in mourning. And as often happens to us, his grief turned to anger and he lashed out at the man of God for not rescuing the city of Samaria.

“May God strike me and even kill me if I don’t separate Elisha’s head from his shoulders this very day,” the king vowed. – 2 Kings 6:31

It seems unfair, doesn’t it? It was not Elisha’s fault that famine had hit the city of Samaria, and yet he was getting the blame for it. He, too, was being impacted by the actions of King Ben-hadad, yet there was this expectation on him that he was somehow supposed to provide a way out from under the circumstances of battle.

Elisha replied, “Listen to this message from the Lord! This is what the Lord says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, six quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver.” The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, “That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!” But Elisha replied, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!” – 2 Kings 7:1-3

HIS LACK OF FAITH KEPT HIM FROM ENJOYING GOD’S PROVISION.

Four lepers were tired of starving and decided to give themselves up to the Aramean army. As they walked towards the enemy camp, the Lord caused their footsteps to sound like chariots and galloping horses to the ears of their enemy. In their panic to run from what they thought was an attacking enemy, they left behind all of their livestock, food, gold & silver. The lepers went from tent to tent enjoying the wine and food left behind. They went back to Samaria and announced the news that their enemy was no longer there.

The king did not recognize God’s provision at first, and feared it was an ambush. But when some of his soldiers came back confirming the good news, he announced it to the city and all the people rushed out to fill their arms with the plunder. So Elisha’s prophecy came true. The king’s servant was skeptical and chose to be pessimistic about the possibilities of the future. For his lack of faith, he missed the opportunity to enjoy God’s provision when he was trampled by the hungry crowd running out of the city. With his own eyes, he saw God’s generosity but he did not get the opportunity to experience it himself.

OPEN YOUR EYES AND BELIEVE THAT THE LORD WILL PROVIDE; EXPERIENCE HIS FAITHFULNESS.

Father God, I do not want to miss a moment of the miracles you have in store for your people. Give me eyes to see you glorified in situations where people are hungry; give me ears to hear your people praising you in the midst of their pain. Forgive me for my complaints and my cynicism, and fill my heart with the kind of faith that believes you can turn our famine into feasting.

My prayer for you this morning is that you will feel the presence of God, and that you will see Him working on your behalf WITH YOUR OWN EYES. He loves you, and He sees what you need. May He give you faith today to believe that He will provide tomorrow.