Time Out! Devotions

KNOWING THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL ALLOWS US TO WAIT PATIENTLY FOR HIM TO RESCUE US. TRUE RELIEF DOES NOT COME WHEN THE PROBLEM IS RESOLVED BECAUSE MORE PROBLEMS ARE ON THE WAY! TRUE RELIEF COMES FROM AN ENDURING HOPE IN GOD’S ULTIMATE SALVATION. ONLY THEN WILL ALL TRIALS BE RESOLVED.

Psalm 62 (NIV)

¹ My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.

² He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

³ How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down— this leaning wall, this tottering fence?

⁴ They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place; they take delight in lies.With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse. Selah

⁵ Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

⁶ He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

⁷ My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

⁸ Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah

⁹ Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath.

¹⁰ Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

¹¹ One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong,

¹² and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.

Prayer can release our tensions in times of emotional stress. Trusting God to be our Rock, rescuer, defense, and fortress changes our entire outlook on life. No longer are we held captive by hurtful treatment from friends or relatives, but are released to follow an unchanging God, our Rock and fortress.

When we weigh people on the scales of importance, certain things such as wealth, honor, power, or prestige add immeasurably to a person’s importance in our eyes. But God cancels out all of these things so that all people are weighed equally in His eyes.

What, then, can tilt the scales when God weighs us? The work we do for Him. Wealth, honor, power, or prestige add nothing to our “weight” in God’s eyes, but the faithful work we do for him has eternal value.

(from the Life Application Bible – Living Bible edition)