All day

17 

"Morning, noon, and night
I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice.
He ransoms me and keeps me safe
from the battle waged against me,
though many still oppose me." - Psalm 55:17-18

When David is having a rough time with being betrayed by people close to him, he calls out to the Lord in his distress. This verse reminds us that he prayed 'all day' (morning, noon and night), believing that God would hear his prayers and answered them.

I understand that God is not deaf, and that God doesn't need us to repeat our cries, but there is something profound in turning to God 'all day and night' - it reminds me that I have nowhere else to turn, except to the God of my salvation.

What do you think?

Thought: 'Do our repeated prayers show a lack of faith on our part, or do they reveal a full reliance on God to answer our cries?'

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The gift of a Star!

 

When were you ever given a Star?
I am not speaking about a gold or silver star in pre-school - I am talking about an actual Star!? A star like Andromeda, Orion, Sirius, Polaris?
I guess all of us have answered my weird question with a resounding, "Well, NEVER, of course! We have never been given an actual Star!"

In Revelation, the word of God goes out to the church to encourage her to persevere and to hang on until Jesus returns. John's words then suggest that God will actually give us a Star - not just any Star, but the Morning Star.

^"I will also give that one the morning star." - Revelation 2:28

The symbolism is important for us in this message, because the 'Morning Star' refers to the Messiah. This comes through clearly towards the end of Revelation, where John writes:

Revelation 22:16 - “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

So the next time you are awake early in the morning look out for the morning star. It is a daily reminder that God has given us the greatest star of them all - His Son - the Morning Star.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Another reminder

 

One of the gifts of running is that you get to enjoy the beautiful outdoors and if you run early enough, then you have a lot of the scenery to yourself. Jogging along the False Bay coastline this morning was one of those special treats and looking at the majestic sunrise I was reminded of these words from Psalm 19.Sunri

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
² Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
³ They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
⁴ Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
⁵     It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
    like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
⁶ It rises at one end of the heavens
    and makes its circuit to the other;
    nothing is deprived of its warmth." - Psalm 19 (NIV)

As you look to the heavens at night or marvel at the exquisite sunsets around you, may these unique gifts remind us of the Glory of God.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

First thing in the morning

What do you do first thing in the morning?
Make some coffee?
Check your phone?
Exercise?
Make breakfast?
Do your devotions?

When Isaiah was expressing his heart to God, he asked God to treat the people kindly and to 'be there for them' FIRST THING in the morning. It gives me a wonderful sense of comfort and peace to know that God is there for us and that God is our Hope. How do these words make you feel?

"God, treat us kindly. You’re our only hope.
    First thing in the morning, be there for us!
    When things go bad, help us out!
You spoke in thunder and everyone ran.    You showed up and nations scattered." - Isaiah 33:2-4

Living in Grace
D3LM3