Daily Meditations
I have often thought of the sacrifice God made by leaving heaven. The poem “Choices” is about that.
Choices
It is hard to believe
that God
existing in heaven
would be willing
to come
to earth to live
entering time for us
to suffer
and die for us
I doubt that
given the choice
I would be willing
to give up heaven
©Suzanne Boyd 1995
On of my favorite songs during this season is Mary did you know?
Listen carefully to the words.
Psalm 32:3-5
3 While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up[a] as by the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
We cannot hide from God. When we do the burden of our sins can overcome us. We have to confess the sins that God already knows. Then the weight of them can be lifted away. Our sins can be forgiven. Thank God!
Compassionate God, we are so blessed that your son died for our sins. We can be forgiven. AMEN
Psalm 27: 13-14
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
We can see God. We see him in the faces of friends and family. We see him in the little happenings of each day. We see him in the world around us. We can even see him in suffering and pain. If we pay attention we can see him. Open you eyes to see!
Psalm 27: 1
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold[a] of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
We are afraid of so many things. We fear not being liked. We fear losing the things we have accumulated. We fear not having enough. We fear being alone. I could go on and on. Yet there is no reason for this. We must turn to our God and push away fear. God is with us…what more do we need?
Understanding God, you know our fears and our weaknesses and yet we are loved. Help us to turn to you and away from fear. AMEN
Psalm 16: 1-2
1 Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”[a]
I don’t understand people who have no relationship with God. Where do they turn when life is challenging? It is not the things that we accumulate that give us “the good.” It is our God who provides us with the things that bring us life. Life with God is good.
Amazing God, thank you for providing the good in our lives. AMEN
Psalm 9:9-10
9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
God is always with us. We don’t always notice that because all is well. When things go wrong then we are quick to call his name and seek help. How good it would be if we acknowledged his presence all the time.
Loving God, thank you for your presence in our lives. Help us to see you there always. AMEN
Psalm 8: 1-2
1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
We read these words but do we follow them? How often do we tell about the thing the Lord has done for us? I have mentioned before that a friend calls God’s intervention in our lives “the arangels at work.” I try to remember to share how that happens in my life but usually only with those who understand it. I need to share more with others. They may scoff and tell me it’s “coincidence” but that’s fine. Maybe they will see my belief as “something more.”
Tell about God’s marvelous works. He continues to work today. Sing his praises!
Amazing God, thank you for your work in our lives. Remind us to share it with others. AMEN
I may have shared this before but I absolutely love this from Romans. It gives me hope that no matter what God will be there for me and you.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen and Amen
I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairing, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.—-Agatha Christie
I doubt that many of us have escaped the pains that can come in this life. Yet through it all just to get up each morning is a gift. Thank God each day for your life.
Giving God, you have granted us life. Help us to thank you for it. AMEN
Hear God in Other Voices 