Psalm 73-77

"Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"

Then I thought, "To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High." I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.

Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

I know that both of us had a tough week. We felt discouraged due to our circumstances. As this psalm says, we felt as though God has withheld his compassion.

I shared with you last night that this seems to be the pattern in so many of the psalms. The writers wrote why God seemed to be hiding his face from them. But they always seem to follow by reminding themselves of who God is. His love, his power, his mercy, his grace, etc.

The book of Psalm reminds me that it is okay to cry out to God. Life is not always rosy. We don't have to force ourselves to see the positive in all situations. Sometimes we just can't and that's just the reality of who we are, just like the writes of Psalm. BUT...

We can't just stop there. Otherwise we'll just end up being whiners that end up wallowing in self-pity. We've all met Christians that seem to be carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. Yes, we will feel down and hopeless many times, but we must ask God, each time, to remind us of the splendor of who he is.

God's love for us is far greater than what we can ever imagine. With that love, he has redeemed us through Christ Jesus. We are so privileged to be called his own by his grace.

Let's be reminded this day that we have nothing to worry about. Our sovereign God is in full control. Let us submit and obey him by faith. Praise God:)

Amos 1-3

Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.

Psalm 69-72

Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

I noticed that most of the psalms by David are so dramatic. At some point, I even felt a bit tired of them, thinking, "Oh, there he goes again. Being all dramatic and stuff."

God put David through so much in his life. David experienced everything from running for his life to winning many impossible battles. And we know that he had a heart that truly sought after God. I believe that was the reason he was tested so much. God wanted to reveal more of himself to David, because of his ardent devotion to him. And one way God reveals himself to his children is by tests and trials.

Is there urgency in our hearts this day to seek after Jesus? And to be very aware of the enemy around us? Let's choose this day for God to work in our lives, so we will not miss out on all the great and perfect things he has for us.

Hosea 12-14

"You are destroyed, O Israel, because you are against me, against your helper. Where is your king, that he may save you? Where are your rulers in all your towns, of whom you said, 'Give me a king and princes'? So in my anger I gave you a king, and in my wrath I took him away."

Seeing pagan nations having a king, Israel asked God for a human king. God's intention was to be their only God and king, yet they wanted a king. So God granted their wish. It says God did that in his anger. I think about my life how sometimes I wish for foolish and sinful things, not things of God but of my own selfishness. And I think that is a sign of not trusting in God. Because I doubt that God's ways are not perfect and righteous, I feel the need to ask God what to give me.

I pray that God will restore the joy and thankfulness in our hearts today. Like we prayed yesterday, let us not focus our eyes on things that are seen and worldly but unseen and godly. Let us remember that God's plan and time is perfect for us. He sees us and knows our needs. Praise God.

Psalm 64-68

Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious! Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name."

Let us allow God to search our hearts this day and ask him to get rid of all things that keep us from sincerely praising him with joy. Let's ask him to overflow us with the Holy Spirit.

Let's be reminded that our God is so great that the enemies cringe before him. Whenever we lose our joy in God, whenever we feel frustrated and down because of our circumstances, or maybe just simply complaining about something or other, it is nothing other then the works of the enemy. Let us realize that and turn our eyes back to God.

Let's take hold of the fact that God loves us this day. Let us remember that he is our heavenly father, our master, and our friend. We are blessed to be called his own. Praise God!

Daniel 4-6

Daniel answered, "O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king." ... Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: "May you prosper greatly! I issue a decree that every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel."

God saved Daniel from the lion's den. That is a miracle! God did not have to do that for Daniel because he already knew who God is. It was for the king and his people. Because their hearts were so hardened that they needed to see God's miracle in order to believe in God.

Time to time, I find myself asking God for miracles. I want him to do all these crazy things. But God is telling me today not to seek his miracles but him. We already know who God is. How powerful, sovereign, and loving he is to us. He does not want to be treated as a genie in a bottle. God wants to have an intimate relationship with us.

Let us draw closer to him today and everyday.