Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 136:23-26
Ps 136:1-3, 23-26
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever…. 23 to the one who remembered us in our low estate His love endures forever. 24 and freed us from our enemies, His love endures forever. 25 and who gives food to every creature. His love endures forever. 26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.
There are some people who seem to be “up” and happy all the time. Whenever you see them, they are smiling and cheerful. Some of these are just putting on a front to try to cover their true feelings but some actually do have a genuine cheerful and happy attitude. Do they not ever have problems? Do they not ever have pain? How do they live like this?
Paul wrote to the Philippians and told them to rejoice in the Lord always. He said he knew they had problems but repeated his admonition for them to rejoice in the Lord all the time. He later explained that he had learned to be content in his own life, no matter what his circumstance because he could do all things through Christ Jesus who gave him strength. In this same letter he wrote about himself that he knew it would be better for him to go and be with the Lord than to remain alive. Paul knew that this life is just a prelude to real life in eternity.
On another occasion he wrote that the worst suffering we face on earth is not worthy to be compared to the glory of heaven and being with our Lord in eternity. Paul had been given the opportunity to get a glimpse of heaven as it really is and he knew what was in the future for him. Since he was not allowed to tell us what he saw, we can only imagine (with the information we are given) the glory, the beauty and the wonder of that eternal home.
It seems to me that the greatest and most glorious part of heaven will be that we can actually be in the presence of God the Father and Jesus our Lord and know firsthand the Spirit of God. We will then be surrounded by the myriads of angels and heavenly hosts and accompanied by the saved from all the ages.
Heavenly Father, I thank you that your love endures forever. I thank you that you always take care of your own. I give praise to your name because I can rejoice in this life, no matter what I face. Give me the faith to trust you so I can find joy and peace, knowing you are in control of all things. Help me keep my eyes focused on heaven, on Jesus and the things above so I never lose hope or get discouraged and want to quit serving you. Help me show others your way and encourage them to be faithful. I pray for your healing, your peace and your comfort to those who are sick, taking treatments and getting over surgeries. In Jesus name I pray.
Robert
