Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Something Beautiful" for Monday, 29 September 2014 - Read Psalm 32:1-11

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Something Beautiful" for Monday, 29 September 2014 - Read Psalm 32: A David Psalm
1 Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be—
    you get a fresh start,
    your slate’s wiped clean.
2 Count yourself lucky—
    God holds nothing against you
    and you’re holding nothing back from him.
3 When I kept it all inside,
    my bones turned to powder,
    my words became daylong groans.
4 The pressure never let up;
    all the juices of my life dried up.
5 Then I let it all out;
    I said, “I’ll make a clean breast of my failures to God.”
Suddenly the pressure was gone—
    my guilt dissolved,
    my sin disappeared.
6 These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray;
    when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts
    we’ll be on high ground, untouched.
7 God’s my island hideaway,
    keeps danger far from the shore,
    throws garlands of hosannas around my neck.
8 Let me give you some good advice;
    I’m looking you in the eye
    and giving it to you straight:
9 “Don’t be ornery like a horse or mule
    that needs bit and bridle
    to stay on track.”
10 God-defiers are always in trouble;
    God-affirmers find themselves loved
    every time they turn around.
11 Celebrate God.
    Sing together—everyone!
    All you honest hearts, raise the roof!
The psalmist wrote, “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”(Psalm 32:8 (NRSV))
Our family had been packing with excitement for our move into the new house. Then, unexpectedly, my job was eliminated two days after closing on the home loan. Uncertainty loomed all around us. We had two children in college and a new house payment. I did not know where to turn for help, so we all sat down and prayed. That time together brought us closer to one another. After that, our love for the Lord and for each other became stronger day by day. After I had been unemployed for over two months, God opened new opportunities that I had never imagined before.
Now I am working at a place where I am able to witness for the Lord more than before. We would not trade our experience during this difficult time for anything else. When we do not understand how God is working in our lives, we can pray and trust that God can work bad things for good. God can make something beautiful out of a difficult situation.
The Author: Mathew Philip (Georgia)
Thought for the Day: Challenging times can strengthen our trust in God.
Prayer: Faithful God, help us to understand that you are working for good even when we face challenges. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those who are unemployed
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