KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Thursday, April 26, 2018
Chapters: Psalms 73, 77-78
Message: When The Heart Fails, Find Christ
Hello My Friend,
I was driving home the other night when I turned the corner and all of a sudden it began pouring rain, it was so bad that you could not even see the lines in the street or what was in front of you. I was in the far side of the three lane highway so I could not just pull over, I had to drive through it, only trusting that God would keep me safe. Well, the downpour continued until I got to the street that lead to my street and just as quickly as it started it stopped. Did you ever notice that whenever you ask God for strength, patience, or help to get through circumstances that He throws you right into the midst of them? Do you think He does it because He wants you to fend for yourself? No, He does not. He does this because He want to see where our heart is, and if we are trusting Him. There are times God will allow the storms of life to hit us, and we have no choice, but to drive through them, but if we trust God with our heart, we will find that strength, patience, and help through Him. “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” – Jeremiah 17:7,9-10.
“I the LORD search the heart,” Do not think that it is some coincidence that the very thing you try to avoid comes right at you. I am having some issues with a manager at one of the stores I do work in, I go in the evening to avoid her, well, I tried real hard to get to the store yesterday afternoon, but could not and it is the fist place I have to go today. Of course, I just know she will be there because this is how God works, He is searching my heart, trying my reins. It is really difficult sometimes being a Christian working in the world because they try to intimidate you because they know your faith. Asaph, was a Levite, one of the leaders of David’s choir, he was also a prophet and musical composer. Asaph recorded quite a few Psalms while David was king, he has issues dealing with people who reject God and wonders what most Christians do, “Why am I struggling in life while those who have no interest in God prosper? He contemplates walking away from God.
“A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.” – Psalm 73:1-4,16-19,24-28.
“My flesh and my heart faileth:” We often do fail because our flesh is weak, and I am not talking about succumbing to sin, I am taking about handling the difficult circumstances we are faced with. Our bodies physically wear out and tire as we work so hard to change or fix what is going on. That is when we start wondering where God is and why we struggle so much when the wicked do, in fact, get whatever they want. Then God reminds us that they have their reward, but in the end they will be the ones suffering, and far more than whatever we are dealing with now. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” – Hebrews 10:35-36.
We can get angry as we watch those who live wicked lives prosper, at those who pretend God does not exist get everything they want, and at those who reject Him being given the highest of honors. It may seem easier to walk away from God than struggle one more day, but think about where they will be when they die. Salvation has never been about following a bunch of commands from God, He knew they could never follow every rule, it is about trusting Him with all their heart. Asaph gained a true understanding of life’s problems when he realized that God was always with him. When all his other resources failed, God alone, did some amazing things.
“I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.” – Psalm 77:5-14.
“This is my infirmity:” When we are struggling in our circumstances and feel like God is no where to be found, that is when all these questions go through our heads, the most common for me is, “Am I really saved?”. Of course, I know I am saved because I trusted Christ as my Saviour years ago and even got baptized to prove that, but the devil loves to throw questions like that to make question my faith, and he does the same thing to everyone. It is important that we never forget the day we got saved or decided to make Christ LORD of our lives, it was September 16, 2006 that I professed my faith in Christ and made it known publicly that I am only trusting in Him for my salvation. Has it always been easy? No. There was a time when I watched everyone I knew being blessed as I seemed to have been cursed, I lost everything I owned, except for the clothes I wore. Then I remembered what Christ did for me, and how much He has done for me since giving my life to Him, and no matter how much I struggle, I never again want to be where I was before I jumped in that water. Psalm 78 reminds us not to forget the works of God.
“I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.” – Psalm 78:2-7,35-37.
“even the children which should be born;” This is how a generation goes from loving Christ to not knowing who He is. This does not happen overnight, it happens gradually as each generation leaves a little bit out about Jesus and look at where we are today. God knows our heart, He knows the ones who appear to have faith and those who actually do, and our true actions come from our true heart. If we have the love of Christ in us we are open to speaking about Him, including giving the Gospel, if He is not then we do not even talk about Him at all. As faithful Christians, we need to understand that any work we do for God after we are saved is not for our salvation, it is to give glory to God, to let our children see Christ in us. Millions of people receive Christ only to continue living the same corrupt lives they always lived. Why then does God allow them to remain saved? His promise. “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” – Romans 3:19-20,23-24.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.” – Psalm 78:41.
Today’s Prayer: God, You are very clear to us that salvation only comes from our believing in and receiving Your Son with all of our heart, and that nothing we do can renounce it. You are also very clear that You want Your children living in a way that reflects Your Son so that others can come to know Him too. You are also very clear that when we trust You that we can and will endure all the circumstances we face. You are our strength, our patience, our hope of getting through these dark storms. Lord, lead us and guide us, give us Your power, wisdom, strength, and grace to be faithful Christians, walking daily with You. Help us be bold and declare Your Son in a dark world overshadowed by Satan. Put Your hedge of protection around us and keep us safe from those who will try to stop us, and let us not become weak in our flesh in well doing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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