Tag: Psalm 55:22
Day 5–Grace not Worry!
Scripture reading for May 1: 1 Peter 5:5-7 “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility towards one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” Psalm 55:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Living by faith is the key to a content and peaceful soul. Many in our world, even among responders, are filled with anxiety. We all face the pressures of life in this world and troubles that come upon the just and the unjust. “Time and chance happen to all” says Solomon. (Ecclesiastes 9:11) It’s how we respond to these troubles that is a key to our soul health. Jesus, our Example, was totally obedient to His Father and sought Him for every word to speak and every action to do. Everything was done to bring glory to God and fulfil His purpose of saving lost sinners and bringing them into a loving relationship.
Peter instructed believers to clothe themselves with humility towards one another. Jesus was completely humble and gentle, calling all to come and learn His way. (Matthew 11:28-30) Peter reminds us that God gives grace to the humble but He opposes the proud. Having God opposing you is not a place to choose for a healthy soul. We note that God invites us to cast all cares and burdens on Him and He will sustain us. He guarantees that He will exalt us at the proper time and help us stand firm. He truly cares for us!
This is good news for first responders who deal with other’s problems but still have our own personal concerns. When we cast our cares on God, we can let go of them completely. It’s like a shotput athlete throwing a 16 pound shot. If we cast it and hold onto it it will put our body and soul at risk. We must choose to let go and trust God to sustain us in peace and expectancy.
Prayer: Father God, I sometimes hold onto my cares and allow them to weigh me down as with a heavy load. Forgive me and teach me to cast those cares on You and live by faith in these amazing promises of Your unending care and unbreakable promises. Amen.
Faith pleases God!
Scripture reading for March 17th: Hebrews 11, Psalm 55, Proverbs 24
Hebrews 11:4-6 “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”
The most basic element of faith is to believe that God is real and exists. The second element, is to believe that God is good and desires our attention. In today’s culture, God is marginalized or blocked out as irrelevant. Humanism teaches that man is the center of all things and that he can rise to new heights with his own efforts and thinking. God’s Word declares that it is faith that endures and speaks throughout man’s history. God is pleased when man humbly acknowledges His eternal existence and creative power. He is pleased when man seeks Him out, looking to Him for answers to prayers and for eternal reward. To live a life of joy, we must live by faith, humbly listening to God’s Word and seeking His pleasure.
Psalm 55:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord, ad He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Prayer: Father God, my prayer today is motivated by faith that You are real, You are good, and You receive pleasure from my humble trust. I am sustained today by casting all my cares and burdens on You. I have joy today because You have said that my faith pleases You and Your pleasure brings me great joy and peace. I draw near to You, and declare that You are my eternal reward, riches, joy, and delight.
Proverbs 24:3-4 “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.