Read: Psalm 73
Focus Verse: "For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." - Ps. 73:3
Have you ever felt that life is unfair? For those of us who are committed to following the will and ways of Jesus, it's easy to get frustrated when people who don't care about Him seem to do well in life. A businessman cheats yet wins a large contract, and the guy who parties all the time is robust and healthy - while you or your loved ones struggle with finances or medical issues. It makes us feel cheated, like maybe we've been good for nothing.
If you've ever felt that way, you're in good company. The writer of Psalm 73 goes through a whole list of how the wicked prosper, and then he says, " Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency." (verse 13). But the tide of his thoughts turns when he recalls his time in God's presence: "...then understood I their end." (verse 17).
When we spend time with God and see things from his point of view, it changes our perspective completely. We may be jealous of the nonbelievers now, but we won't be at judgment time. As the saying goes, what difference does it make if you win the battle but lose the war?
Like the psalmist, let's praise God for His presence in this life and His promise of the life to come (verses 25-28). He is all you need, even when life seems unfair. -Joe Stowell
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Every morning except Sunday, Mom, Trissy, and I usually do the daily devotional from Our Daily Bread (Dad's usually at work by that time). The above was today's devotional, and it seemed directed specifically to me and how I envy the wicked who have many children but do not appreciate them, while people like Bro. Dennis and Mrs. Carrie have none, but would love them and raise them for the Lord.
Below is the one from another day, that we did not do on that day, but that I saw when flipping through the book.
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"Patience To Be Patient"
Read: Psalm 130:1-8
Focus Verse: "I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope." - Ps. 130:5
Children want things now: "But I want dessert now!" "Are we there yet?" "Now can we open our presents?" In contrast, as we get older we learn to wait. Medical students wait through training. Parents wait in hopes that the prodigal will return. We wait for what is worth waiting for, and in the process we learn patience.
God, who is timeless, requires of us a mature faith that may involve delays that seem like trials. Patience is one sign of that maturity, a quality that can develop only through the passing of time.
Many prayers in the Bible come out of the act of waiting. Jacob waited 7 years for a wife and then worked 7 more after being tricked by her father (Gen. 29:15-20). The Israelites waited 4 centuries for deliverance; Moses waited 4 decades for the call to lead them then 4 more decades for a Promised Land he would not enter.
"My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch fro the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning." wrote the Psalmist (Ps. 130:6). The picture comes to mind of a watchman counting the minutes for this shift to be over.
I pray for the patience to endure times of trial, to keep anticipating, keep hoping, keep believing. I pray for patience to be patient. -Philip Yancey
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