The Word of God for wisdom:
Proverbs 25:25 (HCSB)
Good news from a distant land is like cold water to a parched throat.
The Word of God for inspiration:
Psalm 130:1 (HCSB)
Out of the depths I call to You, Yahweh!
The Word of God for encouragement:
James 1:2-4 (HCSB)
2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
My observation:
Today we will begin a focus on Psalm 130. This is one of the Psalms that Martin Luther described as the Pauline Psalm. He saw in this Psalm the lavish mercy of God on full display.
Titus 3:5 (HCSB)
He saved us— not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
When your faith brings you into the presence of God, and causes the face of God to smile upon you there is something that takes place in the depths of your life. It is transformational, and you are not the same person you used to be.
Galatians 2:19-20 (HCSB)
19 For through the law I have died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ 20 and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
What kind of attitude toward God do you have in the depths of your heart? Do you have a heart that deeply and fully trust in God like David? Do you have the attitude James writes about in his letter?
Ponder these truths about the Sovereign God. When you find yourself facing trials and troubles, reach down deep into your heart and remember that God is a God of tender mercies. He is a God who wants to save you; it is Satan who wants to destroy you.
Knowing these truths should bring forth from the depths of our heart a profound sense of thanksgiving to God, and a jumping for joy. I am talking about a loud whooping and not a faint whispering display of joy, praise, and thanksgiving to God for all of his mercies to us. Every day is a good day because God made it, and God don't make any junk.
Psalm 118:24 (HCSB)
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
My prayer:
Father God, Sovereign Lord, Abba, Father, out of the depths of my heart I am besides myself with an overwhelming sense of the mercy of God that has been so freely given to me by a God who chose to love me first. The only response that I can give to a love like this is to receive it with a grateful heart, and to give thanks to the one who gave me this amazing gift.
Father, I don't understand everything and I can't explain everything that happens in my life and the life of others. However, this one thing I know, that you are working in everything for my ultimate good, and for your glory. So Father, I believe in you with my whole heart.
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http://www.herbcotton.org
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Matthew 24:35 (HCSB)
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
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