Time Out! Devotions

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up.

(Psalm 30:1 – NKJV)

In God’s book man is heading somewhere. He has an amazing destiny. We are being prepared to walk down the church aisle and become the bride of Jesus. We are going to live with Him. Share the throne with Him. Reign with Him. We count. We are valuable. And what’s more, our worth is built in! Our value is inborn.

You see, if there was anything that Jesus wanted everyone to understand it was this: A person is worth something simply because he is a person.

That is why He treated people like He did. Think about it. The girl caught making undercover thunder with someone she shouldn’t — He forgave her. The untouchable leper who asked for cleansing — He touched him. And the blind welfare case that cluttered the roadside — He honored him. And the worn-out old windbag addicted to self-pity near the pool of Siloam — He healed him!

(from No Wonder They Call Him the Savior by Max Lucado)

O Lord, from the depths of despair I cry for Your help. “Hear me! Answer! Help me!”

Lord, if you keep in mind our sins then who can ever get an answer to his prayers? But You forgive! What an awesome thing this is! That is why I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for He has promised.

(Psalm 130:1-5 – The Living Bible)

In the depths of despair, the psalmist cried out to God, “Hear me! Help me!” Despair makes us feel isolated and distant from God, but this is precisely when we need God most. Despair over sin should not lead to self-pity, causing us to think more about ourselves than God. Instead, it should lead to confession, and then, to God’s mercy, forgiveness, and redemption.

When we feel overwhelmed by a problem, feeling sorry for ourselves will only increase hopeless feelings; but crying out to God turns our attention to the only One who can really help.

Holding a grudge is like building a wall between you and another person, and it is nearly impossible to talk openly while holding a grudge. God never holds a grudge; when He forgives, He forgives completely, tearing down any wall between us and Him. Therefore, we can talk to Him about anything.

When you pray, realize that God is holding nothing against you. The lines of communication are completely open.

(from The Life Application Bible – Living Bible edition)

“No, Lord! Don’t punish me in the heat of Your anger. Pity me, O Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, for my body is sick, and I am upset and disturbed. My mind is filled with apprehension and with gloom. Oh, restore me soon.” (Psalm 6:1-3 – The Living Bible)

David accepted God’s punishment, but begged God not to punish in anger. Jeremiah also asked God to correct him gently and not in anger (Jeremiah 10:23-24). David recognized that if God treated him with justice alone and not with mercy, he would be wiped out by God’s wrath. Often we want God to show mercy to us and justice to everyone else. In God’s kindness, He often forgives us instead of giving us what we deserve.

“Come, O Lord, and make me well. In Your kindness save me. For if I die I cannot give You glory by praising You before my friends. I am worn out with pain; every night my pillow is wet with tears. My eyes are growing old and dim with grief because of all my enemies.

Go, leave me now, you men of evil deeds, for the Lord has heard my weeping and my pleading. He will answer all my prayers. All my enemies shall be suddenly dishonored, terror-stricken, and disgraced. God will turn them back in shame.” (Psalm 6:4-10 – The Living Bible)

Pouring out his heart with tears, David was completely honest with God. We can be honest with God, even if we are filled with anger and despair, because He knows us thoroughly and wants the very best for us. Anger and despair often result in rash outward acts or turning inward which can lead to depression. Because we trust in our all-powerful God, we don’t have to be victims of circumstance or be weighed down by the guilt of sin. Be honest with God and He will help you turn your attention from yourself to His wonderful presence.

David’s feelings shifted from fear to confidence. To defend ourselves against the lies and propaganda of our enemies, our best preparation is to be saturated with the knowledge of God and filled with His presence. Our daily study of His Word, our prayers, our worship, and our confidence in His presence will keep us strong.

“If you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sins.” (Matthew 6:14)