Day 14: November 27, 2021
Read: When my spirit faints within me, you know my way! In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” – Psalm 142:3-5
Respond: I praise You that nothing surprises You because You know all things. You even know the difficulties that are coming my way before they come, and You plan and prepare me for those days of hardship. Thank You for teaching me in the difficult places, for You make me depend more fully on You. I am often independent spirited, but Your desire is complete dependence because You want to run the show. When I’m in those difficult places, You help me say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
Read: In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. – 1 Peter 1:6-7
Respond: Father, I thank You for the people in my life who seem to bring more pain than joy, for I believe You have let our paths cross for important reasons. Thank You for the good things You want to do in my life through the things that bother me. The irritating habits of others cultivate patience. Moodiness creates compassion; unloving ways show me how to love the way You love. Thank You for doing whatever it takes to mold me into the likeness of Christ. I praise His glorious name today.
Read: Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. – Ephesians 4:31
Respond: I praise You that I need not fret about what people say or do, that I don’t have to be bitter or rude to others when I am offended by their words or actions. I don’t have to mull over angry thoughts to prove I’m right. Thank You that just as you show grace and give forgiveness to me when I’m wrong, I can show grace and forgiveness to others because of Your power at work in my life. Thank you that you take me just as I am, warts and wrinkles, hang-ups and all. Praise You that I can choose not to judge others, but rather forgive them and cancel any debts I feel they owe me—any apologies, or obligations. Because of Your grace within me, I can choose to wipe clean any slate of grievances I have within me. I praise You that I can be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving. That, Lord, is You at work in my life, maturing me and making me a better servant of God Most High.
Praise God for what He’s working on in you to mature and grow you—even the difficult things.
Further Scripture Reading Today: Psalm 37:1-7, Matthew 6:5-15, Matthew 7:1-6, Philippians 1:3-11
Prayer Focus: Father, help us to daily put on the armor of God that we may stand against the evil one.
Devotions inspired by Ruth Myers, 31 Days of Praise; Meyers, Ruth. 31 Days of Praise. Sister, OR: Multnomah Publishers, Inc. 1997
© Warren Baptist Church, 2020. Dr. David H. McKinley, Pastor-teacher. warrenbaptist.org. Jacqueline C. Heider, Writer. Used with permission.