Psalm 107:4-6
Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could settle.
They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Devotion
Two of the prevalent themes in Psalm 107 are God’s deliverance and God’s unfailing love. Many books have been written on these two themes. In the above verses, David reminds Israel of its history. He reminds them that they were scattered because of their sins. They brought hardship and despair upon themselves because of their rebellious hearts. He also reminds them that in their despair they would “cry out” to God and He would be faithful to deliver or rescue them from their situation.
In his message last weekend, Joe talked about three components to realizing God’s unfailing love. The first component was request. When the Israelites found themselves in trouble they would “cry out” or request for God to deliver them. When they cried out with repentant hearts, God would rescue them. This seems to be a repeated pattern throughout the Old Testament. The people would rebel against God. They would remove themselves from God’s protective covering and blessings. They would suffer greatly as a result of their rebellious hearts. They would “cry out” to God with repentant hearts, and God would rescue or deliver them from their sinful ways. When they repented and confessed their sins, God would restore their fellowship with Him. No matter how many times they wandered away from God, He was always there to forgive and restore them. So if you want to realize God’s unfailing love, you must first “cry out” to Him.
Questions to Ponder:
In what ways have you experienced God’s unfailing love? Are there times when God’s unfailing love seems out of reach? Are you able to “cry out” to God in the good times as well as during difficult times? Do you ever take God’s unfailing love for granted?
Prayer Points
- Thank the LORD for all the ways we experience His unfailing love!
- Praise God that even when we do not feel His love, it’s still there!
- Praise God for being 100% committed to each one of us. Declare your trust that even when we cannot see the end result, He is faithful!
Suggested Prayer
Father, You are Sovereign, good, loving and kind. I bless your name! Great is Your faithfulness, from the rising sun to the setting. I will praise Your name. Lord, forgive me and your church for the times we take Your unfailing love for granted. There is no one like You, oh God. Your faithfulness is so great, and Your love is unfailing. You never fail, morning by morning new mercies I see. Oh God, I pray for myself, your church and those who will come to know you. God I ask that Your love guides our paths, and strengthens us in the Name of Jesus. Amen.