Psalm 1-6

O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him."

But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.

Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, I my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.

From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.

This was David's prayer to God when he fled from his son, Absalom. But this psalm reminded me of the spiritual warfare that we face on a daily basis.

"God will not deliver him." I face this lie from the devil all the time, and so many times I fall prey to it. I often feel so hopeless in my ability to ever grow in the Lord. Repeating many of the same mistakes over and over in life, making promises to God and breaking them, etc.

But God has delivered us in Christ Jesus. It is easier said then done, but all we need to do whenever we feel discouraged by the devil's lies is to cry out to the Lord. This is something I do not often do. When I feel discouraged, I tend to dwell in that mood. I'll first try to figure out why on my own. Then I usually do other things to take my mind off it.

Let's be reminded that the spiritual warfare is real. When we feel discouraged, we NEED to realize that we are under attack. And the first thing we need to do is to cry out to the Lord. And when we do that, God will answer us.

Praise God that he has delivered us!

Ezekiel 21-23

"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD."

We are called to be intercessors who would pray for people God has put in our life. God's been impressing upon my heart to encourage and intercede for people, but to be honest, I have not been been faithful. I think it's so easy to be caught up with our own life that we do not care about what others are going through. That is not a heart of God. He is looking for someone who would genuinely cry and repent for the sins of others. This is a way to be a blessing to others.

It is God's desire to use us to restore the brokenness of others as well as us. Let's pray that we would be obedient and faithful to this calling.

Job 32-34

"But you have said in my hearing–I heard the very words–'I am pure and without sin; I am clean and free from guilt. Yet God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy. He fastens my feet in shackles; he keeps close watch on all my paths.'

"But I tell you, in this you are not right, for God is greater than man. Why do you complain to him that he answers none of man's words? For God does speak–now one way, now another–though man may not perceive it."

These are the words of Elihu to Job.

So God does answer and speak to us. But we know from experience that it's hard for us to hear God's word when we refuse to repent of our sins. I believe that's probably what happened with Job. He was so wrapped up in self-pity and his circumstance (although understandably so) that he didn't have the right heart toward God.

But I am encouraged this day that God does speak. And to those that believe in him, everything happens for a reason. And it is between us and God to find out what that is, not for others to figure out or to judge.

Let's be reminded this day that God is working in our lives. God does not just put us in trials for no reason. Sometimes we may think he is not speaking to us, but the word of God tells us that he is. Let us humble ourselves, repent of our sins, and turn toward God. He loves us and he is the provider of all our needs.

Ezekiel 16-18

"Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!"

The book of Ezekiel is surely a hard one to swallow. It displays our wicked and sinful ways and God's judgment very clearly. As I was reading, I thought about my heart's condition. Has it become hardened toward the word of God? Is it unwilling to conform to God's ways?

I realize, like the passage says, the only way for us to live is to repent. The moment we think that we are righteous and don't need to ask God for forgiveness, God will judge us. Some people think that God takes pleasure in judging humans. That is not the God of the bible. He clearly says he does not take any pleasure in judging his people. We are judged when we refuse to repent. We know that he loves us because again and again he tells us to turn to him. He is ever so patient and merciful.

Let us ask God to search our hearts if there is anything we need to confess. Indeed, we need "a new heart and a new spirit" everyday. Praise God for he loves and forgives sinners like you and me!

Job 22-27

"But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases. He carries out his decree against me, and many such plans he still has in store. That is why I am terrified before him; when I think of all this, I fear him. God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me."

I am reminded this day that no mortal man can ever truly know the ways of our God. The brightest minds of this world cannot figure out the creation of life. How is it that so many of us are bold enough to think we know how God works?

That is the thought that God put in my heart as I read the rebuking of Job's friends. They talk as though they understand God. Evil deeds = suffering. Good deeds = blessing. So Job surely must be an unrepentant secret sinner.

But Job is telling them that God is God, and he has the power and authority to do whatever he wants. The reality of the world is very complex. We live in the world where people living in sin can have great wealth and power. And people walking with God can be poor. What does all this mean?

I'd like to think that those wealthy people living a life of sin have no real happiness in their lives, because material possession cannot bring you lasting joy. Is that really the case? I don't know that for sure. It may be mostly true, but I think this is a theory I thought up just to make myself feel better.

The truth is no one can ever truly know the ways of God. His ways are higher than our ways. He does work in mysterious ways. And so many of us can testify to the unexpectedly wonderful way God works in our lives.

Here is what we know and can say for sure. God loves us. We know because he has sent Jesus Christ to die for us. And we know because, for those of us that have accepted him, he has changed our hearts. That is something only God can do.

So let's be reminded this day that everything we have comes from God. We are nothing aside from the life we have in Christ Jesus. And that's a really good thing:)

Lamentations 1-3

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.

The author, probably Jeremiah, talks about the pain and suffering his people, the Israelites, are going through as a result of their sin. He recognized that it is a well-deserved punishment. However, he still has hope in God - in his great love, compassion, and faithfulness. He truly believes that God will restore his people, and surely he did restore us through his son, Jesus Christ.

He wrote that God's compassion is new every morning. How lovely that sounds! While we may run out of our compassion and mercy, thank God he does not do that. His compassion, grace, forgiveness, and love is available for anyone who believes in him.

I know you may feel a little anxious today about your job situation. Let us put our hope in God trusting in his faithfulness. He knows what we need and will provide for us. He is a compassionate God.