7th. September. 2021. Daily Devotion.
Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 he will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun. Psalm 37:3-5
“Stop struggling,” the lifeguard yelled at the drowning victim. “I can’t help you if you try to save yourself. Relax!” The young boy finally relaxed, and in a minute the lifeguard had him ashore and to safety. There are some situations where struggling and trying to fix things ourselves only gets us in deeper trouble. God knows that, so he says, “Give me your troubles and your struggles.” That means that when we tell Jesus about our problems, we can relax and let him carry them. We don’t have to worry about them anymore. Most struggles we have in life will pass after a while, so there’s no point worrying about them. We might just as well give them to Jesus.
It might take a while to see God doing anything about what we’ve given to him. He takes time to answer our prayers in just the right way. And even when we can’t see God doing anything, he is. So if you feel like you are drowning in trouble, questions, and sadness, call for the lifeguard—Jesus—to see how he comes to your rescue.
Dear Lord, Sometimes I feel like I’m drowning in problems and sorrows. Come rescue me, and I will let you carry me and my troubles to a safe place. Amen.
Prayer for the Day
Father God, I thank You for this day — that it even exists, and especially, that I can live in it, that I can know it through the senses you gave me and breathe the air you have made. Your bounty and goodness to me is beyond understanding. I worship and praise you above all things because you are above all things. Your hand has made them, and your love has forgiven me and blessed me.
Keep me and those I love from danger, sickness, and accident t0day, I pray. Help me to turn my back on evil in all of its many forms, to turn aside from the temptations that attack me from within myself and from my reaction to the world outside. Broaden my mind and give me the gift of hearing truth even when I do not want to hear it, when a false thought is embedded in my mind and the truth disagrees with my preconceptions.
Fill me with gratitude. Give me the courage to change the things that are contrary to your Word, even when they are ingrained, and it is painful for me to give them up. Let me realize my sin and give me the grace to repent it and seek your forgiveness. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour, Amen.
Choices in good times and in difficult times
God our Father, in good times may I live in such a way that I will be strengthened for the difficult times that all of us face in our lives. Lead me now to make positive choices to value friendship and loyalty, and develop attitudes and values, treasuring all that is lasting and important. Throughout difficult times may I build on the positive choices of my past, looking outward in the service of others and avoiding self-pity. May I grow in the faith that, whatever my circumstances, I need have no regrets but may entrust my past to your mercy, my present to your love, and my future to your Providence, Amen.
Prayer for the world
Father, we seek Your wisdom daily. Be with people making decisions that affect the lives and futures of our families, communities, countries, and the wider world. We pray that they communicate clearly, truthfully, and calmly — with each other and with the public — and that their messages are received and heeded. May truth and empathy be the touchstones of people setting policies for our protection. Amen.