Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
May 18, 2023
Psalm 34:11-19
11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. 14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; 16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth. 17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19 The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;
Good Morning; The Lord is near!
David shares his thoughts following a time when he feared for his life. He realizes that his troubles were of his own making, and he confesses his sinfulness to God, and God saves him (once again). These opening words, “Come, my children, listen to me,” were a common way to begin a teaching session. I appreciate the gentle tone of that address. David humbly presents himself to God and those who have come to listen. He is not boastful in his account but simply thankful to God for delivering him from his enemies.
I appreciate having humans, albeit those we consider great leaders, who struggle in the same way we do. We, like David, make mistakes, sometimes big mistakes. When we realize the folly of our ways, we turn from evil and call out to God for mercy. Those who believe will be saved. In our most desperate times, when we are brokenhearted and crushed in spirit, God is near, so we might lean on him for strength. God is ready to fix our brokenness and make us whole.
God blesses those who call upon his Holy name. I can’t imagine how I would even lift my foot to take my next step without God by my side. God is listening, but we must make the call. So many verses remind us and comfort us when we are in need.
In Joshua 1:9. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. In Isaiah 40:29, He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless, 2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one, and 1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his face continually.
We must take action. Being a Christian is not a passive choice. Seek, and you shall find: love, support, mercy, joy, peace, hope, strength . . .
Blessed God, We thank you for Your blessings. You are always with us, but sometimes we forget to call out. Thank You! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Whatever is broken in our lives, God’s love can mend.
Call to God! Pastor Liz
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