Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 4:1-4
Ps 4:1-4
1 Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. 2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Selah 3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him. 4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah
1 Thess 5:16-24
16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil. 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
When I read these passages it reminds me of what Paul said in Romans 8:1: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. As we put all this together we see that God knows that we are not yet perfect as we live in our frail bodies. He demands that we are sinless but provides this through the blood of Jesus. However, his forgiveness is not without cost on our part nor is it a license for us to continue in sin without making every effort to strive toward his perfection. With this in mind we seek to be like our Lord.
As we study his word and allow him to work in us and mold our hearts, our minds and our actions we find that the more we allow him to control us, the happier, the more content and the more peaceful we become. It is when we have sin in our lives and refuse to admit it or turn from it that we are filled with inner turmoil and anger. The guilt of sin destroys our peace of mind and if allowed to continue, will put out the Spirit’s fire so that our desire to serve him is stifled. James tells us to draw near to God and he will draw near to us and if we resist the devil and he will flee from us. We can know the Lord will hear us when we call.
My Father who is in heaven, holy is your name. As the sun is above our earth, so is your name holy above all others. Thank you for your love that allows me to be forgiven and be your child. Thank you for your word that reveals your will to me. Give me wisdom to better understand it and strength to live it. Thank you for this country in which I live and please guide us as we elect those that will lead us. Give us leaders that will respect you and your word; who will look to you for wisdom in making decisions. Use me in your will today. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
