Thursday Devotion

By Steven Grace

Verse:  Psalm 25 (focus on verses 4-7)

“Show me your ways, Lord,     teach me your paths. ⁵ Guide me in your truth and teach me,     for you are God my Savior,     and my hope is in you all day long. ⁶ Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,     for they are from of old. ⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth     and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me,     for you, Lord, are good.”

Theme: Trust in God

Devotion:

I must admit, there are many times in my life where I have felt stuck. Stress at work, money issues, vehicle repairs, or just not enough time in the day to get everything accomplished—those are just a sampling of the things that can bog me down. I have spent many nights lying in bed for hours after turning the lights off, and my brain keeps hopping topics like a frog hopping lily pads. Then, as if a light bulb lights up the room over my head, I decide I should pray to see if that will help calm my fears. Sure enough, I almost instantly feel a calm fall over me, and shortly after the Amen, I’m out like the light bulb that wasn’t turning on for hours.

It’s easy for us to rely on our own knowledge and reasoning to make our way through each day. But when we put our trust in God, our path is so much easier. I’ve read several books lately about best practices for Christianity. The overall theme that I keep coming across is summed up in the Great Commandment: Love the Lord your God…and love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt. 37, 39). I like to simplify one step further (my math teachers would be proud!): Love God, Love your Neighbor. When we turn to God for all of our decisions, we show our love for Him. In return, He shows His love by “teach(ing) me [His] paths” (Psalm 25:4).

As I have shown, it has taken me a while to put all of this into practice, and I’m still not perfect. Verses 6-7 jumped out at me: God is full of mercy and love, and I, in my immature youthful days, had a tendency to sin and rebel. While I still succumb to sin (for only Christ is perfect) and must humbly ask for forgiveness, I have learned to trust Him to guide me. And I am thankful that He is full of mercy, so that because of Christ my rebellion as a youth is forgiven, too.

So next time you are trying to count sheep, or are faced with a tough decision at work or with the family, turn to God. Ask in prayer with faith, and you will receive it (Mt 21:22). “In you, Lord my God, I put my trust” (Ps 25:1)

Prayer:

O Heavenly Father, forgive us our youthful transgressions. Remind us to trust in you that you may lead us down your paths, relieve the troubles of our hearts and free us from anguish. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.