Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 21:1-7
Ps 21:1-7
1 O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give! 2 You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah 3 You welcomed him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. 4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him--length of days, for ever and ever. 5 Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. 6 Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. 7 For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.
1 Tim 1:12-14
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
We often pray along with others in an assembly. Usually these prayers are very general in nature, and usually universal among God’s children in scope. There is a place for these prayers and it is good for us to pray along in our hearts and minds so we can say “amen” at the conclusion of each one. Beyond these prayers, the only ones offered by many are either at bed time or at the beginning of a meal – and these are can become more rote than personal and from the heart.
One common thread in the two prayers in our passages is that they are personal to the one praying. We need to be personal with God as our father and with Jesus as our brother, friend and savior. God cares about you individually and he cares about me. Jesus is our friend who watches over us day and night; knowing every trial we face and sharing each moment of joy with us.
At the same time, we must never forget we are talking with God. He is majestic beyond our ability to grasp. He is holy in the most absolute sense. He is eternal and all powerful but at the same time, God is love and is compassionate.
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your love for me and your concern about my life and my wellbeing. Thank you for all you have given me, both physically and spiritually. It is by your grace I have been given ability to serve you and the many opportunities to do so. Thank you for the many friends who have helped me in so many ways and encouraged me when I have been down. I also thank you for those who have given me so much joy and shared other joys with me. Be with those who are sick and hurting today. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
