Devotion for 1/20/21 - 6 Minutes

Good evening everyone watching by video this evening,,, it's time for our weekly devotion.

I'm praying that all of you are having a wonderful week so far.

As I've said the last several weeks,,, we need to continue to remember those that are dealing with this virus.

Those that are sick,,, since there are many others dealing with this sickness as it continues to grow and,,, those that have lost loved ones,,, we need to continue to remember them as well.

Remember the medical teams that are dealing with this and any others that must work and take a chance of contacting this virus.

Also,,, continue to remember those on our prayer list,,, and our country and it’s leaders.

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Our devotion this evening comes from Billy Grahams devotion book titled "Wisdom for Each Day".

Our scripture will be Psalm 138:7-8 and I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible.

Psalm 138:7–8 (HCSB)

7 If I walk into the thick of danger, You will preserve my life from the anger of my enemies. You will extend Your hand; Your right hand will save me. 8 The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. LORD, Your love is eternal; do not abandon the work of Your hands.

God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this evening.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord,,, as we begin this evening,,, with all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen.

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My Wesleyan Commentary said,,, By faith the psalmist has grabbed hold of God’s concern that He has for those in need and he has applied it to his own situation.

There's no evidence here that suffering was stirring reactions of self-pity, of wanting to flee from reality, of hostility toward man or God.

This man rose to a higher level than many in the Old Testament,,, and looked with confidence to God for preservation in the midst of trouble.

He was certain that God would come to his aid when enemies attacked him.

Tribulation was not understood by this man as an indication of God’s absence from human life.

He was sure that in the midst of painful reality God was at work to fulfill His will for his life and thus perfect, make complete, his life.

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Billy Graham asked in his devotional,,,

Do you feel as if you’ve let God down?

Maybe you think that you have done things that you are so ashamed of and you try to wait until you are making better choices before you try to talk to God,,, so that you won't look so bad.

Let me reassure you that He loves you no matter what you’ve done.

Romans 5:8 says: 8 But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!

The last thing God wants you to do is to spend your life filled with guilt and shame and remorse.

May that truth give you hope,,, because it means that God wants to help you.

He wants to put back together the pieces of your life and make you whole.

Think about the apostle Peter.

If you remember,,, Jesus had warned Peter,,, before His arrest,,, that he would deny him 3 times before the cock crowed.

After Jesus’ arrest, Peter denied three times that he was a follower of Jesus, or that he even knew Him (see Matt. 26:69–75).

And after Peter realized his mistake,,, he was devastated and just couldn't believe that he had failed after being warned.

On the day that Jesus arose,,, He made sure that He went to Peter and talked to him.

We don't know what God talked to him about at that time actually,,, but God did forgive Peter, and he went on to help build the early church.

And,,, he’s still ministering to believers today,,, through his New Testament letters.

So if you feel as if you’ve failed God,,, ask for His forgiveness—and ask Him also to help you forgive yourself for what you have done.

Then commit your future to Him.

God will be with you,,, and you can trust Him to help you.

Graham, Billy. Wisdom for Each Day . Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.