Morning Devotion
April 17, 2022
Today's Bible Verse
Exodus 15:2
The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.
Today's Bible Study
After the Lord delivers the Israelites from the Egyptians, Moses and the Hebrews sing to the Lord a song of praise, part of which is this morning's verse. Their song (and this verse) focuses on the character of God and bringing glory to Him.
In this verse in Exodus, the Israelites say the Lord is their strength and their song. They know their strength comes from the Lord. He has sustained them throughout their exile in Egypt and supernaturally intervened to set them free. He was the source of their salvation from the Egyptians, and they express their joy in song.
This is a good reminder for us to praise the Lord when He delivers us. It can be easy to breathe a sigh of relief and then keep going instead of stopping and taking time to reflect on His faithfulness. When we make a habit of thanking the Lord often for intervening for us, we will remember that He is the one who sustains us.
In this verse in Exodus, the Israelites say the Lord is their strength and their song. They know their strength comes from the Lord. He has sustained them throughout their exile in Egypt and supernaturally intervened to set them free. He was the source of their salvation from the Egyptians, and they express their joy in song.
This is a good reminder for us to praise the Lord when He delivers us. It can be easy to breathe a sigh of relief and then keep going instead of stopping and taking time to reflect on His faithfulness. When we make a habit of thanking the Lord often for intervening for us, we will remember that He is the one who sustains us.
Moreover, God not only sustains us but is also our salvation itself. His saving the Israelites is no less miraculous than our own salvation. When we came to know Jesus, the Lord supernaturally intervened in our hearts.
As a result, we, like the Israelites, should exalt Him. If we become discouraged, we should think about the miracle that our salvation represents. We are saved because Jesus saw us and called us His own—in the same way that God called the Israelites out of Egypt. We can trust the Lord because He has been the strength of His people for thousands of years, and will continue to be for all eternity.
As a result, we, like the Israelites, should exalt Him. If we become discouraged, we should think about the miracle that our salvation represents. We are saved because Jesus saw us and called us His own—in the same way that God called the Israelites out of Egypt. We can trust the Lord because He has been the strength of His people for thousands of years, and will continue to be for all eternity.
Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, I am so grateful that you are my strength and my song. I thank you, Lord, that you sustain me every day. Thank you for delivering me from my sins and for your daily mercies. In Jesus' name, amen.
If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.
-C.S. Lewis
God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas but for scars.
-Elbert Hubbard
The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.
-C.S. Lewis
If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.
-Dorothy Parker
Yesterday's Devotional
April 16, 2022
Yesterday's Bible Verse
Psalms 62:1-2
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
Yesterday's Bible Study
In this verse, David declares his complete dependence on the Lord. He knows that the Lord is the source of his life, his salvation, and his defense. David's dependence on the Lord gave him courage and sustained him through difficulties.
David begins the Psalm by saying that his soul waits on the Lord, which shows his complete dependence on Him. David does not know how to act or where to go until God shows him the way. He is depending on Him for direction at all times. He trusts that the Lord will guide him because the Lord has given him salvation. And because David has experienced the depths of God's love for him, he knows that God is trustworthy.
David begins the Psalm by saying that his soul waits on the Lord, which shows his complete dependence on Him. David does not know how to act or where to go until God shows him the way. He is depending on Him for direction at all times. He trusts that the Lord will guide him because the Lord has given him salvation. And because David has experienced the depths of God's love for him, he knows that God is trustworthy.
David refers to God as his rock, but what exactly does this mean? For one, it means that God does not change. He is the firm foundation on which we can base our hope. He is reliable and will honor all the promises that He has made to us. Even if everything around us seems to be falling apart, we have a steady and loving savior—a rock—who is near and loves us always.
When we are grounded in the Lord, we do not have to be frightened (or moved, as David writes) by things of this world. We don't have to be emotionally overwhelmed in any circumstance. We know the most important relationship we have is with Jesus, and that will never go away. We can rest in confidence of His unfailing mercy and love. We know in our hearts that He is always on our side and that He will see us through everything that happens in our lives. And one day, when we pass away, He will welcome us into eternity.
When we are grounded in the Lord, we do not have to be frightened (or moved, as David writes) by things of this world. We don't have to be emotionally overwhelmed in any circumstance. We know the most important relationship we have is with Jesus, and that will never go away. We can rest in confidence of His unfailing mercy and love. We know in our hearts that He is always on our side and that He will see us through everything that happens in our lives. And one day, when we pass away, He will welcome us into eternity.
Yesterday's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for being my rock and my salvation. Thank you for assuring me that, like David, I can depend on you and trust you completely. I love you, Lord, and I would be nothing without your mercy and grace. Thank you for being my defense. In Jesus' name, amen.