May 12: Psalms 31 14-16

Key Verse: Psalms 31 15
My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.

Devotion:
Hands up anyone who thinks they have got this virus sussed out and knows how to control it! None of us know for certainty what this virus is going to do to the world over the next six months and this verse today reminds us how our lives are in God’s hands. The more we try to take control of things and work things out to our own ability, the more things go wrong. We don’t know how to control our mouths properly, never mind our bodies or communities!

Can you imagine what it would be like to try and control the flow of a river give a bucket and spade as the only tools you have to control it with? I used to rush out into the rain back in Africa so I could build temporary dams with mud and stones and even sticks just to have fun; it gave us a sense of power over nature… but along comes a single car, a bit more rain or any small external force and the dam collapses and the water course returns back to its normal flow.

To a large extent this is probably what our leaders feel like as they try and manage the country – some of them seem to know what they are doing, whilst others make a lot of noise and say they know what they are doing. The truth will come out, unfortunately, in a week or so rather than right now. That is what it may seem like in our spiritual world as well; we have some leaders who are giving out good advice and others who shout a lot and say they are right! God will expose those who are shouting out things from their own minds because He knows what the rest of us need in our lives.

As long as we are willing to stop and listen and try to compare what people are saying with what God’s Word has told us all along, then we will also be able to ascertain the truth and follow those leaders who are giving us the truth. It is heartening to know it is because of God’s love for us that we are being looked after and not because we are following the latest rules or figuring things out for ourselves. Be patient and listen to God, wait on His word and obey His commandments; but above all maintain your right and proper relationship with Christ!

Points to Ponder:
Do you trust your leaders more than you trust God?

Do you know God allowed them to be in power?