Sunday 18 Aug 2013

Sunday Reading: Psalm 6:8-10

Key Verse: Psalm 6:8
8  Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.

Devotion:
When I first read this passage this morning I thought about the myriad of things that get us down in our lives. All those things that are not of God that come in and slowly eat at our souls (or so it seems); and those things that come in and virtually level us in one moment. These are the things we know are not from God because He is not going to tempt us or drive us away from Him unless we have first of all chosen to turn our backs on Him!

This Psalm is in two parts, the first being a cry out for help and this part being the response when David knew that God was listening and answering his prayers! When we begin to realise just how much God does do for us in answering our prayers we are lifted up and encouraged more than anything. When we realise just what it is that brings us down we then want to be able to have a way of escaping from that trouble. God will always make a route of escape for us; one where we will be able to go forward and help others as well.

Far too often we are focused on the things around us and we do not look at the bigger picture that God is trying to show us. We may not see all the people in need around us because we are focused on the few that we think we should be focusing on. Those may well be the people that are separating us from God because our focus is on them instead of being on God. Sometimes we do have to let go of our surroundings and allow God to guide us once again.

When we do give God control and when we do listen to His will, we find that we are able to continue on in His will. Yes we face trials and we face temptations and we have to fight them; but whilst we follow His will we find it easy to avoid them and continue with God. It is when we focus on others instead of God that we lose sight of God’s will and turn to our own ideas – that is when life become dangerous because we are then trying to walk on the water by ourselves instead of waiting for God to call us out onto the water.

Points to Ponder:
Are you focused on people?

Or are you focused on God?