Time Out! Devotions

Psalm 1 (NCV)

¹ Happy are those who don’t listen to the wicked, who don’t go where sinners go, who don’t do what evil people do.
² They love the Lord’s teachings, and they think about those teachings day and night.
³ They are strong, like a tree planted by a river. The tree produces fruit in season, and its leaves don’t die. Everything they do will succeed.
⁴ But wicked people are not like that. They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
⁵ So the wicked will not escape God’s punishment. Sinners will not worship with God’s people.
⁶ This is because the Lord takes care of his people, but the wicked will be destroyed.

The writer began his psalm extolling the joys of being a godly person – one who obeys God and refuses to listen to those who discredit or ridicule Him. Our friends and associates can have profound influence on us, often in very subtle ways. If we insist on friendships with those who scoff at what God considers important, we may be drawn into sin and become indifferent to God’s will. This attitude is the same as scoffing. Do your friends build up your faith or do they tear it down? The influence of true friends should draw you closer to God.

The psalmist focused on the age-old question of joy & happiness. He tells us what to avoid (verse 1) – the company of scoffing sinners. In the next verse he tells us what not to avoid – the company of the God of all joy and His Word. The shadowy influence of scoffing sinners separates us from the radiance of God’s joyful presence, as a dark cloud separates us from the morning sun.

You can learn how to follow God by meditating on His laws. “Meditating” means spending time reading and thinking about God’s Word and how you should change so you are living as God wants. Knowing and meditating on God’s Word are the first steps towards applying it to your everyday life. If you want to follow God more closely, you must know what He says.

These “laws” on which we are to meditate include all of Scripture: the first five books of Moses, the prophets, and the other writings (the entire Bible). The more we know of the whole scope of God’s Word, the more resources we will have for our daily decisions.

When Scripture promises, “everything you do will succeed,” it does not mean immunity from failure or difficulties. Nor is it a guarantee of health, wealth, and happiness. What Scripture means by success is this: when God’s wisdom is applied to our lives, the fruit it bears in us will be good and receive God’s approval. As a tree soaks up water and bears fruit, we also are to soak up God’s Word, producing actions and attitudes that honor God. True prosperity is found by knowing the true value of God’s Word.

Although evil people may get the upper hand at times, God assures us that a day is coming when their sins will be punished (Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 6:16-17; Revelation 20:11-15).

Psalm 40:2 (NIV)

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

Gina held onto the branch for dear life. The floodwaters swirled around her, pulling at her, threatening to carry her off in the raging torrent. The pouring rain blinded her, and large clumps of mud kept bumping into her. Her arms ached and throbbed. The last of her strength gave out, but as she let the branch slip through her fingers, a strong hand gripped her wrist. Gina felt herself slide up onto the bank of the swollen river, and she spread herself out to feel the firm ground beneath her.

There are days that feel like a struggle for life. How wonderful it would be to have someone come along and lift us up out of the struggle. God can do that. His Spirit renews and strengthens us. Through the loving power of God, we are pulled out of the darkest pit and set upon solid ground.

Prayer: “Lord, hear me as I call out to You. Whether my problems are huge or tiny, I find I need Your help to get me through. Pull me up into Your loving arms, and surround me in Your love. Amen.”

(devotional from Christianity.com)

“Then he said to them, ‘Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’”
Nehemiah 8:10

“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.”
Psalms 30:5

“The righteous cry, and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.”
Psalms 34:17

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Psalms 147:3

“Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”
Isaiah 40:31

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.”
Isaiah 43:2

“So the ransomed of the LORD will return and come with joyful shouting to Zion, and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
Isaiah 51:11

“To grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:3

“Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart.”
Luke 18:1

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”
Philippians 4:8

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”
1 Peter 4:12-13

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7

Psalm 25:15 (NCV)

My eyes are always looking to the Lord for help. He will keep me from any traps.

John 1:12 (NCV)

But to all who did accept him and believe in him he gave the right to become children of God.

John 7:38 (NCV)

If anyone believes in me, rivers of living water will flow out from that person’s heart, as the Scripture says.”

Acts 15:9 (NCV)

To God, those people are not different from us. When they believed, he made their hearts pure.

Romans 4:1-5 (NCV)

So what can we say that Abraham, the father of our people, learned about faith?² If Abraham was made right by the things he did, he had a reason to brag. But this is not God’s view,³ because the Scripture says, “Abraham believed God, and God accepted Abraham’s faith, and that faith made him right with God.”⁴ When people work, their pay is not given as a gift, but as something earned.⁵ But people cannot do any work that will make them right with God. So they must trust in him, who makes even evil people right in his sight. Then God accepts their faith, and that makes them right with him.

Romans 4:18 (NCV)

There was no hope that Abraham would have children. But Abraham believed God and continued hoping, and so he became the father of many nations. As God told him, “Your descendants also will be too many to count.”

Romans 10:4 (NCV)

Christ ended the law so that everyone who believes in him may be right with God.

Romans 11:20 (NCV)

Those branches were broken off because they did not believe, and you continue to be part of the tree only because you believe. Do not be proud, but be afraid.

1 Corinthians 2:5 (NCV)

This was so that your faith would be in God’s power and not in human wisdom.

1 Peter 2:6 (NCV)

The Scripture says: “I will put a stone in the ground in Jerusalem. Everything will be built on this important and precious rock. Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed.” (Isaiah 28:16)

2 Corinthians 1:24 (NCV)

We are not trying to control your faith. You are strong in faith. But we are workers with you for your own joy.

Ephesians 6:16 (NCV)

And also use the shield of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows of the Evil One.

Hebrews 10:22 (NCV)

Let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, because we have been made free from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

Hebrews 10:38-39 (NCV)

Those who are right with me will live by faith. But if they turn back with fear, I will not be pleased with them.” (Habakkuk 2:3–4) ³⁹ But we are not those who turn back and are lost. We are people who have faith and are saved.

Matthew 9:28 (NCV)

After Jesus went inside, the blind men went with him. He asked the men, “Do you believe that I can make you see again?” They answered, “Yes, Lord.”

Mark 9:24 (NCV)

Immediately the father cried out, “I do believe! Help me to believe more!”

What Is Faith?

Hebrews 11:1-2 (NCV)

¹ Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it. ² Faith is the reason we remember great people who lived in the past.

Romans 10:17 (NCV)

¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing the Good News, and people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ.

Galatians 5:6 (NCV)

⁶ The important thing is faith—the kind of faith that works through love.

1 John 5:4 (NCV)

⁴ Everyone who is a child of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world—our faith.

John 6:28-29 (NCV)

²⁸ The people asked Jesus, “What are the things God wants us to do?” ²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work God wants you to do is this: Believe the One he sent.”

Psalm 118:8 (NCV)

⁸ It is better to trust the Lord than to trust people.

Hebrews 11:6 (NCV)

⁶ Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him.

Luke 17:5 (NCV)

⁵ The apostles said to the Lord, “Give us more faith!”

Hebrews 6:12 (NCV)

¹² We do not want you to become lazy. Be like those who through faith and patience will receive what God has promised.

James 1:5-6 (NCV)

⁵ But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom without criticizing you. ⁶ But when you ask God, you must believe and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like a wave in the sea, blown up and down by the wind.

Psalm 37:3, 5, 7 (NCV)

³ Trust the Lord and do good. Live in the land and feed on truth. ⁵ Depend on the Lord; trust him, and he will take care of you. ⁷ Wait and trust the Lord. Don’t be upset when others get rich or when someone else’s plans succeed.

Psalm 55:22 (NCV)

²² Give your worries to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will never let good people down.

Psalm 62:8 (NCV)

⁸ People, trust God all the time. Tell him all your problems, because God is our protection.

Isaiah 43:1-2 (NCV)

¹ Now this is what the Lord says. He created you, people of Jacob; he formed you, people of Israel. He says, “Don’t be afraid, because I have saved you. I have called you by name, and you are mine. ² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flames hurt you.

Isaiah 41:13 (NCV)

¹³ I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, and I tell you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I will help you.’

Proverbs 3:5 (NCV)

⁵ Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding.

Isaiah 50:10 (NCV)

¹⁰ Who among you fears the Lord and obeys his servant? That person may walk in the dark and have no light. Then let him trust in the Lord and yet depend on his God.