Reflecting God Devotions for Holy Living – Tuesday, 24 December 2013 “Hold On” Scripture Psalm 94

Reflecting God Devotions for Holy Living – Tuesday, 24 December 2013 “Hold On” Scripture Psalm 94: 14 For the Lord will not forsake his people;

    he will not abandon his heritage;

15 for justice will return to the righteous,

    and all the upright in heart will follow it.

16 Who rises up for me against the wicked?

    Who stands up for me against evildoers?

17 If the Lord had not been my help,

    my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.

18 When I thought, “My foot is slipping,”

    your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.

19 When the cares of my heart are many,

    your consolations cheer my soul.

20 Can wicked rulers be allied with you,

    those who contrive mischief by statute?

21 They band together against the life of the righteous,

    and condemn the innocent to death.

22 But the Lord has become my stronghold,

    and my God the rock of my refuge.

23 He will repay them for their iniquity

    and wipe them out for their wickedness;

    the Lord our God will wipe them out.

“Hold On” by Greg Mason

My wife and I are blessed with three grown children. After years of nurturing them, correcting them, loving them, and training them, they are now on their own. They are successful, capable and Christian. But the old saying reminds us that “you are never out of the parenting business.” When they are troubled we try to help. When they suffer so do we. When they make mistakes, we attempt to guide.

We have a heavenly Father who seeks to guide us toward spiritual maturity. He nurtures us toward Christlikeness. The people of God are plagued by the offenses of others. And in their rebellion they seem to prosper, often at the expense of the righteous. It isn’t fair. Sometimes, in response, we tend to become judgmental, angry, and defensive. This can hinder us in our spiritual maturation. It can become a slippery slope. Thankfully, God is a strong support. His love is a sustaining love. He moves quickly to our aid. He gets us back on track. He responds to our disillusionment and disappointment. Just like a faithful parent.

Hymn for Today:

“Joy to the World” by Isaac Watts

1. Joy to the world! the Lord is come;

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And heav'n and nature sing,

And heav'n and nature sing,

And heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing.

2. Joy to the world! the Savior reigns;

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rock, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3. No more let sins, and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground,

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found,

Far as the curse is found,

Far as, far as the curse is found.

4. He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glory of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders, and wonders of His love.

Thought for Today:

“An attitude of thanksgiving will remind us that we are recipients of the good gifts of our Father in heaven”(Rhonda Carrim).

Prayer Needs:

Many people in Greece will come to know Jesus the Christ [Yeshua the Messiah] and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

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