Oct 22 2024

In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

In this verse from Psalm 138, David writes that the Lord answered and strengthened him when he called out to the Lord. Today, we can experience the same strength that David did. Let's think about how that's possible….

David's experience began with his decision to cry out to the Lord. He was distressed, and instead of turning to sin, he turned to the Lord. He knew that nothing in the world would provide relief; only God could answer David's cries for help in the way that he needed. In much the same way, when we need something from the Lord, we should not sit passively and wait for it to happen. Rather, we should take it to Him in earnest prayer.

The Lord answered David's cries, and responded by strengthening his soul. Sometimes, we don't need a direct solution to a problem as much as we need our own souls to be strengthened. David was weary in his spirit, and the Lord met him exactly where he was. We should be open to God not only fixing our outward problems, but also working with us in our inner selves… in our hearts and minds.

Today, we can strengthen our souls by making a habit of meditating on God's Word and by praying without ceasing. When we remember who the Lord is and the many ways that He has shown His love for us, our souls will be replenished. When we remember the God who we serve—a God who is almighty, perfect, holy, and perfectly loving—we cannot help but be filled with supernatural strength to face our challenges. In the midst of these challenges, like David, we can call out to the Lord, trusting that He will answer us in His perfect timing.

Dear Lord, thank you for answering me and for strengthening me. Thank you for being near to me in all circumstances and for all of my days. Help me to serve you and remember that you are my source of strength always. In Jesus' name, amen.

Oct 21 2024

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.:

In this morning's verse from Romans, Paul says that the Lord can fill us up with joy, peace, and hope. If you think about your relationship with the Lord today, would you say that it's a source of these things above all else? Today, we'll dig into the verse and see how we can experience joy, peace, and hope in our relationship with the Lord.

The verse indicates that God is the source of our joy. While we likely have successes or other reasons to enjoy our lives, our most important source of joy is knowing God. Knowing the Lord brings us joy because He is good to us in so many ways. He tenderly guides us through life, He sees us through every hurt, and He loves us more than we could ever possibly comprehend. If we feel discouraged, we can reflect on the character of God and be strengthened.

The Lord also gives us peace. We can have this peace because He has promised us many good things. We know, for instance, that we will spend eternity with God. Nothing and no one can take away our salvation; and while our present lives are short, eternity lasts forever. We know that nothing can happen in our lives that will go against either God's sovereignty or His goodness—and we can have peace because He is always faithful.

Knowing this about the Lord gives us hope. Indeed, Paul calls God "the God of hope," which means we do not serve an indifferent God—He cares deeply about our future. Because He is good and loves us so deeply, we do not have to be afraid about what will happen when we die. Nothing that happens will diminish the myriad of reasons that we have for hope in the Lord today and forever.

Dear Lord, thank you for the joy and peace that you offer me. Thank you for your sweet goodness and mercy. Help me abound in hope in every circumstance, knowing that in Jesus I am saved. In Jesus' name, amen.