March 25, 2016
Today’s Devotional Theme
I Will Remember
Daily Scripture
Psalm 77:10-12 (HCSB)
"So I say, 'I am grieved that the hand of the Most High has changed.' I will remember the Lord's works; yes, I will remember Your ancient wonders. I will reflect on all You have done and meditate on Your actions."
Encouragement
Asaph felt as though God had changed in His dealings with His chosen people. He had felt that God had left them and forgotten the covenant He had made with them that they would be His people, and He would be their God. As can be seen clearly in this psalm, Asaph was torn. He had remembered the old days of worshiping the Lord with the songs he had written and seeing the Lord show up in power! But now it seemed as if he was all alone. In verse 10, he said how he felt. In verses 11 and 12, he said what he was going to do about it, and that was to focus on God's character and His word, rather than his feelings for the moment. He remembered the great wonders that God has done and probably remembered the Scriptures about how God does not change (see 1 Samuel 15:29). In doing so, he encouraged himself in God's faithfulness. He remembered the past markers of Israel's history and how God had come through for them, even when He had to discipline them, as He was doing now with the Assyrian army. This caused Asaph to focus on how God has not changed at all, but was still there. All Asaph had to do was redirect his focus, through meditation upon God's faithfulness, to see how the Lord was working in this particular situation. Then his sorrow turned to joy.
Apply God’s Word
It seems easier said than done, when it comes to redirecting our focus from the fiery trials of life and the sometimes deceptiveness of our feelings, to seeing how God is at work among us... and it is! That's where these "markers" come into play. Think of a time where God showed up powerfully in your life, or stories you've heard and read about, whether found in the Bible or told from some of God's people. Think about your own salvation experience and miracles you've experienced in the past. Most importantly, remember to interpret your situations in life through the lens of Scripture (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17), not the other way around. Whenever God did something great for the Israelites, they piled up rocks to mark occasions so they could look back and be reminded. Your pile of rocks could be a journal kept, or a favorite verse God has placed in your heart. Whatever the case, let us learn from Asaph's example and focus on God and His faithfulness. He is bigger than any of our problems.
Come into His Presence
Thank You, Father, for Your word that is always true and will never pass away. Thank You also for Your unchangeableness. That, even when we feel like You have left us to our own devices, Your word, the testimony of others, and our own testimony tell a different story. You've been here all along. Thank You for Your patience with us and for lifting us up when we fall. Help us to remember the different markers, points in our lives, where You've come through for us and others. In Jesus' name, amen.
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