Devotionals for November 5, 2024
We have Theology Tuesday today at noon! This is will be the last one of the year!
READ
PSALM 18:1-6
1 I love you, Lord; you are my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. 3 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies. 4 The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me. 5 The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. 6 But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.
1 I love you, Lord; you are my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. 3 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies. 4 The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me. 5 The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. 6 But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.
REFLECT
David wrote this psalm in the middle of his distress in the story we read yesterday from 1 Samuel 30. He reminded himself of truth in that moment - specifically that the Lord is his rock, his fortress, his savior. When we remind ourselves of those things, we also remind ourselves that nothing else is our rock or fortress or savior. Not drugs, not alcohol, not food, not social media, not video games, not binge-watching TV shows… nothing can replace God as the rock and fortress of our lives.
APPLY
Q: What happened in David’s life after he turned to God in desperation?
Q: What does it look like in your life to declare that God is your rock and fortress?
Q: How can you encourage someone in your life today with this truth?
Q: What does it look like in your life to declare that God is your rock and fortress?
Q: How can you encourage someone in your life today with this truth?
SING
PRAY
"May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."
Lord, you are glorified when we declare two key truths - that we are not strong enough to save ourselves, and that you are the only strength, rock, fortress, and savior that we need. We don’t come to declare this truth easily or even naturally - your spirit reveals it to us. Make this more true in my own heart today, and move in the hearts of those near me to let them come to believe and declare it as well. Amen.
Lord, you are glorified when we declare two key truths - that we are not strong enough to save ourselves, and that you are the only strength, rock, fortress, and savior that we need. We don’t come to declare this truth easily or even naturally - your spirit reveals it to us. Make this more true in my own heart today, and move in the hearts of those near me to let them come to believe and declare it as well. Amen.