Word for the Day Ministries, Inc.
Quote for the Day
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Today's Devotion
Deliverance
Scripture
“«To the Chief Musician. Set to "The Silent Dove in Distant Lands." A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath.» Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; Fighting all day he oppresses me. My enemies would hound me all day, For there are many who fight against me, O Most High. Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? All day they twist my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather together, They hide, they mark my steps, When they lie in wait for my life. Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God! You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book? When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me. In God (I will praise His word), In the LORD (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God; I will render praises to You, For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living?” (Ps 56:1-13 NKJV)
Commentary
In the Psalm above, we find a model one might pattern his prayers after when calling for deliverance from his enemies. David had many physical enemies, hopefully you have none, but we all have one common enemy and that is sin. Let us learn from David’s cry a way to approach the Lord.
At the very first we must understand, as David did, that deliverance was to be found in God. How often we run to others who have no ability to help. Do not allow yourself to seek comfort by complaining to others. This will likely lead you to gossip, a balm that only perfumes the underlying rot of bitterness. Instead, seek the Almighty Lord who rules in all things, and who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.
Then, when you cry out to God, make sure you acknowledge your fears (verses 3&4). Pride has no place at the altar except to be slain. Have we not all been bloodied by sin? Surely each day we must confess our wayward ways.
Now, that you have humbled your heart spell out the specifics of your circumstance. The Lord knows before you ask, but the details rehearsed in your mind will give the Holy Spirit ground to plow. He will take the details and expose them to the light of Scripture. This is why it is critical that you hide God’s Word in your heart. If the soil is shallow and rocky, how shall the root sustain in the heat of the day?
This brings us to the most important or the overshadowing principle, trust in the Lord (vs. 8-11). It does no good to mouth prayers that are not embalmed with faith. Jesus said of the scribes and Pharisees, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.” (Mt 15:8 NKJV) The safeguard against this sin is in the question posed by David, “What can man do to me?”
While David hoped for physical deliverance from his oppressors, he knew his ultimate deliverance was secure. Men may destroy our bodies, but no man can destroy our soul. If we always come to God with this understanding, then we will always find the peace we need. This attitude reflects an eternal perspective, and will result in a thankful heart, one that can endure the harshest trials and still praise God.
Spurgeon's Devotion
February 8-Evening
He shall save his people from their sins. {#Mt 1:21}
Many persons, if they are asked what they understand by salvation, will reply, ‘Being saved from hell and taken to heaven.’ This is one result of salvation, but it is not one tithe of what is contained in that boon. It is true our Lord Jesus Christ does redeem all his people from the wrath to come; he saves them from the fearful condemnation which their sins had brought upon them; but his triumph is far more complete than this. He saves his people ‘from their sins.’ Oh! sweet deliverance from our worst foes. Where Christ works a saving work, he casts Satan from his throne, and will not let him be master any longer. No man is a true Christian if sin reigns in his mortal body. Sin will be in us—it will never be utterly expelled till the spirit enters glory; but it will never have dominion. There will be a striving for dominion—a lusting against the new law and the new spirit which God has implanted—but sin will never get the upper hand so as to be absolute monarch of our nature. Christ will be master of the heart, and sin must be mortified. The lion of the tribe of Judah shall prevail, and the dragon shall be cast out. Professor! is sin subdued in you? If your life is unholy your heart is unchanged, and if your heart is unchanged you are an unsaved person. If the Saviour has not sanctified you, renewed you, given you a hatred of sin and a love of holiness, he has done nothing in you of a saving character. The grace which does not make a man better than others is a worthless counterfeit. Christ saves his people, not in their sins, but from them. ‘Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.’ ‘Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’ If not saved from sin, how shall we hope to be counted among his people. Lord, save me now from all evil, and enable me to honour my Saviour.
Reading
Something from Heaven an Article about Revival
A
Blow at Self-Righteousness by C. H. Spurgeon
The Rich Young Ruler
by Kevin Caldwell
Preaching that Hinders Revival by Richard Owen Roberts
What You Should Know About Salvation
Salvation is a term used to refer to the change of state. Prior to
salvation men are lost and dead in trespasses and sin. After salvation men
are made alive in Christ . . . .(read
more)
Spiritual Warfare
Warfare Is a Common Theme in Scripture. Many people are told that the
Christian life is all grand and glorious and well it is, but those glorious
moments do not come without many trials and difficulties along the way. . . . (read more)