A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton
God Speaks:
Psalm 120:1-2 New Living Translation (NLT)
Psalm 120
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
1
I took my troubles to the Lord;
I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.
2
Rescue me, O Lord, from liars
and from all deceitful people.
Listen to God Speak & Obey:
I love reading and meditating on the Psalms because they speak to my heart about problems and opportunities every generation face.
I have discovered over the course of my life that you can expect to have problems living in this world. How we react to problems is often worse than the problem. Today’s Psalm is the first of the Psalms of Accent. The best things in life come when we take the upward look.
Notice how the people of God took their troubles to the Lord in prayer. Some people say we need to do more than pray. However, consider the results received from the provisions of the Lord when they ask for God’s help through prayer.
Notice how God did not change the circumstances of His people. However, He gave them the endurance to overcome their situations.
Psalm 120:3-7 New Living Translation (NLT)
3
O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you?
How will he increase your punishment?
4
You will be pierced with sharp arrows
and burned with glowing coals.
5
How I suffer in far-off Meshech.
It pains me to live in distant Kedar.
6
I am tired of living
among people who hate peace.
7
I search for peace;
but when I speak of peace, they want war!
Before pointing the finger at others, it would be well to do some self-examination. God wants to give you endurance that will deliver you from your present and future troubles in the world.
Jeremiah 9:3 New Living Translation (NLT)
Judgment for Disobedience
3
“My people bend their tongues like bows
to shoot out lies.
They refuse to stand up for the truth.
They only go from bad to worse.
They do not know me,”
says the Lord.
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, O how we need to take the upward look and fix our eyes upon Jesus. Father, we need You, and we are so grateful that You are just a prayer away. Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit, draw us closer to You.
Jeremiah 33:3 King James Version (KJV)
3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
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