Read Psalm 94:1-23 (NIV)
O Lord, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve. How long will the wicked, O Lord, how long will the wicked be jubilant? They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting. They crush your people, O Lord; they oppress your inheritance. They slay the widow and the alien; they murder the fatherless. They say, "The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed." Take heed, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches man lack knowledge? The Lord knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile. Blessed is the man you discipline, O Lord, the man you teach from your law; you grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance. Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it. Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. Can a corrupt throne be allied with you-- one that brings on misery by its decrees? They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the Lord our God will destroy them.
"Wake up! Wake up!" the voice cries. Startled, you open your eyes. Then you close them again. This can't be happening, you think to yourself. It's just a bad dream. It will go away.
The voice begins again. In earnest. "You slept through your alarm. You're going to be late! You better get up!" Half-asleep and groggy, you wipe your eyes and drop back into bed. You are disoriented. "Just five more minutes," you say to yourself.
The firm, relentless, parental voice doesn't quit. "Don't you have an exam today? You slept through the alarm. You better get up. You have to catch your bus in twenty minutes!"
You slowly wake. It's not a nightmare. It's real. You overslept the day of the big exam. You are running late. You already know that this is going to be a bad day.
Think About It
What can you do to conquer a bad day? Psalm 94 gives us some good suggestions. (1) Remember that God never deserts you (Psalm 94:14). When you're having a bad day, it's easy to think God has forgotten you. But he never does. He remembers you and still looks out for you. (2) Go to God for help (Psalm 94:17-18). God is ready to help his children. Don't try to conquer your day by yourself; tell God about each problem you face. (3) Spend additional time praying and reading the Bible (Psalm 94:19). God's words to you can be both soothing and comforting. When you have a bad day, the easiest thing to do is to forget God. But don't do it! You need him too much to try to get through your day on your own.
Pray About It
God, thanks for caring about my bad days as much as my good days. Thanks for caring about me on days when nothing seems to go as I had planned.
Daily Reading Plan—Read Psalms 93:1-95:11
God's Word for Students.
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1 comment:
When I am late, it is easiest to do what the circumstances say are important instead of what is really the most important.
No matter what has happened, I have learned that taking time for God gives me the time I need for the rest.
It is amazing how if I don't take time for a dvotinal with God how the day can just get away from me. If I take the time for God how He gives me the tim.
Often He gives me the time by showing me what is on His agenda for the day, it is often different from mine.
God has shown me that He never gives me too much to do. If I have too much to do in a day, I need to get with Him, let Him change my schedule and then watch Him at work in my life.
Do you have too much to do today? Take time to allow God show what He wants for you today. You will be glad you did!
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