Pray:
Ask God to orient or reorient you to Himself. Confess any known sin. Thank Him for His forgiveness. Be still and reflect on Jesus and His sacrifice for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to God’s Word. Pray for others in your life that they, too, would know and love God today.
Read:
Psalm 107: 17-22
“17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. 18 They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. 20 He sent forth His word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave. 21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men. 22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of His works with songs of joy.”
Understand:
In this section, the psalmist wants us to know that God restores those who are seriously afflicted. Sometimes it’s our own iniquities that cause us to become afflicted. Iniquities are willful rebellion. It’s when you enter into a sin pattern and you willfully do the same sin over and over.
The sickness that is envisioned is the kind that removes appetite and brings a person to the gates of death. Terry talked about this when he was talking about people who were starving; they get to a point where even the thought of food turns their stomach. Willful rebellion can have this same kind of effect on us.
Because of the people’s iniquity they deserved death, but that is not what they got. Instead, the Lord saved them. The Word they had rebelled against and that had condemned them now became the Word of promise, comfort, and restoration!
Once again the psalmist calls out for the people to praise the Lord.
Apply:
The opening verse of John tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus is the Word! He is the one who rescues us from the grave. The gift of God’s only Son gives us cause to offer thanksgiving and praise. He is our eternal hope!
Reflect on what this means for you personally.
“Give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men. …sacrifice thank offerings and tell of His works with songs of joy.”
Live:
(Personalize this prayer today; make it specific to the circumstances that face you.)
Ask God to lead you through His Spirit as you go through your day. Ask Him to bring to mind the truth of the gospel and its implications for what you will encounter today. Tell Him “Yes” to His will and ask Him for His power and protection to live this “yes.” Ask God to create and reveal opportunities to proclaim the good news today. KEEP PRAYING THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY.