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DAILY DEVOTIONAL – Thursday, January 5, 2017
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May you find comfort, encouragement, guidance, hope, inspiration, love, and peace – https://helpfulinspirationalblog.wordpress.com/. May you also find answers to your question(s) through the Scriptures that address every situation you face, and help with your problems. Deb ♥
Today’s scripture reading:
God promises great blessings to his people, but many of these blessings require our active participation. He will set us free from our fears, guard and rescue us, show us goodness, supply our needs, listen when we call to him, and redeem us, but we must do our part. We can appropriate his blessings when we seek him; cry out to him; trust him; fear him; reverence him; refrain from lying; turn from evil, do good and seek peace; are brokenhearted; and serve him. (NLT)
Psalm 34:1-22 – I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are discouraged take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.
I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. I cried out to the Lord in my suffering, and he heard me. He set me free from all my fears. For the angel of the Lord guards all who fear him, and he rescues them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in him! Let the Lord’s people show him reverence, for those who honor him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will never lack any good thing.
Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. Do any of you want to live a life that is long and good? Then watch your tongue! Keep your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with others.
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.
The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.
The righteous face many troubles, but the Lord rescues them from each and every one. For the Lord protects them from harm—not one of their bones will be broken!
Calamity will surely overtake the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished. But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. Everyone who trusts in him will be freely pardoned.
I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. –Psalm 34:1 (NRSV)
Elizabeth Syson (Arizona) titled her story “DANCING FOR JOY;” here is a portion of Elizabeth’s story:
“One gray London evening, I listened to a musician play in a public square. All around, toes tapped and fingers snapped in rhythm. Onlookers swayed, appearing tempted to dance; but nobody did, perhaps not wanting to look foolish in front of so many strangers. Then one man bent over, grabbed his little girl’s hands, and began to dance with her. The little girl swayed and stepped, not intimidated by the crowd. Eyes fixed on her father, she danced freely, and their joy in each other brightened the chilly dusk.
“Often, like the onlookers in the crowd, I hold back from expressing my joy. I’m too afraid of people’s opinions. Worshiping wholeheartedly is easy when everyone else is doing the same. . . .
“Like the little girl dancing with her father, we can focus on God instead of the people around us and be free to worship God at any time. Today, let us praise God wholeheartedly.”
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY – I will praise the Lord no matter who is watching me.
Prayer: Dear God, we want to worship you wholly, freely, and joyfully. Please help us to keep our eyes on you and praise you as we pray, “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation: (Luke 11:2-4, NIV). Amen.
To read the rest of the story in The Upper Room, click on the following link: http://devotional.upperroom.org/
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