Daily Devotions

Father, such wisdom seems obvious to us but we do experience both grief and joy as parents. Help us, today, with those circumstances wherein children are alienated from us as parents. We are so tempted to blame the child when they misbehave but it is the heart of the child that has lost focus.

We beg of You, teach us Your statutes. Help us, today, to know that the initiative to learn is ours. The truths, Your statutes, lie before us. Give us understanding, peel back the uncertainty and reveal Yourself afresh, we pray in Jesus name, amen.

Father, these brief words remind us that most of us have a multitude of anxieties which distract us from the comfort of Your presence. When, in the midst of anxiety, we are able to step back and remember the transitional nature of most circumstances, we can find comfort in our eternal relationship with You.

Our souls truly wait upon You during the trials we face each day and when we awake to a new day, You are there. We learn from Your word, over and over, that "early in the morning" Your prophets and Your people have sought You. Why "early" each day? Perhaps it is because we can be alone with You before our hectic schedules begin.

Father, this first verse says "revive me in Your righteousness." How Father, can we be revived, except to have been alive at one time. Father, we know the answer; we are all made alive in Jesus and Your word is written on the heart of every person. We sometimes withdraw from You, even for prolonged periods, but here we learn that revival awaits. [...]

Father, we know that trials will come on the Day of Judgment; but here You promise us we shall kept, by You, from that hour of trial. You have taught us Father that in the interim we will be tested and that each test is intended to strengthen us, to get us in spiritual shape to handle what is coming.

Father, You require that we come to you in humility, not proud of ourselves. Help us Father to be joyful as we seek to serve without having our joy turn to self-serving pride.

Father, as we seek to be like Jesus, we find we must know more and more of His words, His instruction and His desire for us. We seek His righteousness that our spirit might be revived by His Spirit. You have taught us that hearts need to be changed for renewal to be real. Lead us away from our instinctive, self serving desires, into a concern for s [...]

We know Father that temptation is delivered to us by Satan and that You permit the test. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit in us that we can over come that which Satan delivers, primarily targeting those who love You. We would estimate that Your joy comes from our victories and Your grief from our failures.