The LORD reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice. The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Psalm 9:7-9
Faithfulness of God
One day, back in college, when I went into a local gas station to pay for a tank of gasoline, two guys came up behind me and they were angry—I don't know why—and started taking their frustrations out on me. It looked bad for a moment, but thankfully, I had two friends waiting in the car. They noticed what was happening and rushed inside to lend a hand. When the trouble-makers met my friends (both of them very large individuals), they settled down and it ended well. That was the first of numerous times those two friends helped me out and before long, I knew that I could trust them.
It's nice to know you can trust your friends, but here's something infinitely better: You can trust God.
He's proven completely reliable. Look at all the promises he's made, then notice that he's kept them all. There are many promises God made and fulfilled; here are a few of the very important ones:
• He promised to send a Savior, and Jesus was born.
• He promised to forgive our sins, and because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, he has.
• He promised that those who look to him in faith will live forever with him in heaven, and Jesus' resurrection from the dead is proof that they will (or already are).
Now consider your personal history. When has the Lord ever failed you? Probably, there are times when you feel like he's let you down, but that's only because sometimes what God does has a meaning that's different from what you think. For those times in life when it's difficult to understand God's will, remember another promise: We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him… (Romans 8:28).
Think back through the difficulties, frustrations, and crises of your past. Notice how the Lord has led you through them all. Those are wonderful little reminders of the faithfulness of God and further evidence that he is absolutely trustworthy.
To all that, be sure to add the thoughts of today's verse from Psalm chapter 9. The Lord your God is a righteous Judge over all the earth. That means he's on the side of the vulnerable and the oppressed and he protects them in their distress. Those who look to the Lord for protection will find him to be their refuge and stronghold. The Lord has a perfect track record in that regard and he will never fail those who come to him for help.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, increase my trust in you. Remind me that all the promises you've made and kept prove that you are absolutely trustworthy. Amen.
The devotions on Thursdays and Fridays in December will lead us in Songs from the Psalms.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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