The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and He gave ear unto me. In the day of my trouble, I sought the Lord” (Psalm 77:1-2).

The Psalmist seems to be writing from his personal experiences. We appreciate the writing even more when we know that it is coming from someone who has experienced firsthand the situation about which he writes. It would be like someone who has never parented writing a book about parenting; or someone who has never flown a plane writing a book about piloting. You get the picture. The Psalmist is writing from personal experience. He calls his crying “my voice.” He calls the situation “my trouble.” He reports his personal help by saying that God “gave ear unto me.” Likewise when we go through trouble, the Lord is ready to enter a very special fellowship with us as He listens and answers according to His will.

For today: Trouble will not last forever. But when it comes, we can be assured that God listens and understands. Where could we go but to the Lord?

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

It’s called perspective. We believers must never live in denial. When something is wrong, it is not spiritual to pretend that it doesn’t exist and reply, “Oh I’m just fine.” Perspective is not denial. It is looking at my present situation in light of my coming glorious situation. For the believer, the best really is yet to come. We are bound for glory. Does that assurance really help us when we go through difficult times here below? From my personal experience, I would answer, “YES YES YES!” Did you catch that I am answering rather emphatically? Seriously, my dear friends, if you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, you can view everything today in light of what is ahead!

For today: I like what Asaph said, “Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory” (Psalm 73:24). How about you?

“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 29:2).

How do you view God? I know you can’t see Him. That’s not what I mean. When you think of the Lord, how do you picture Him, how do you view Him? Of course the only way we can see what the Lord is like is through the Word of God. Certainly He is God alone. He is worthy of our worship and the lifting up of our praises. His Name represents everything He is and everything He does. He truly is the true and living One. Somehow the word “awesome” seems to rightly fit about here in our conversation. We probably use the word “awesome” a little too frequently. The Lord is the only One who is awesome.

For today: How often will you find yourself worshipping the Lord today? Will it be a glorious praise meeting throughout the day?

“I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel” (Psalm 16:7).

This marvelous statement came from the lips of David, king of Israel. What a wonderful statement of direction, wisdom, and strength for his duties. When David genuinely sought the Lord, God answered him and revealed His will. Going from a shepherd boy to a king must have been quite an adjustment and change in his life. What changes have come into your life in the last few years? Very seldom does life stay the same. Most times there are changes and adjustments we must make. Talk with the Lord. Read His Word. God’s counsel is blessed indeed.

For today: Help us, Lord, to accept the fact that changes come in our lives. You are the only constant who does not change. We are thankful that we can trust You.

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is” (Jeremiah 17:7).

I hope you ladies realize that this term “man” is a generic term for men and women. I especially like the meaning of the word “blessed.” The Hebrew word is barak, and it pictures both a person kneeling as well as being the recipient of wonderful things. Imagine, even though Jeremiah was going through a horrible time in the history of Judah, he still knew that for those who would bend the knee before the Lord, wonderful things would follow. Think of how God has blessed you. Sometime when you have more than just a few moments, take a sheet of paper and start writing down the many things with which God has blessed you.

For today: We bow before the Lord, not for the things He will give us, but because of Who He is!