Devotional Thoughts

Psalm 40:1-2    "I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  (2)  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings." David wrote this 40th Psalm with the thought of patiently waiting. This waiting took place after two other things occurred. First, David cried unto the Lord . Something was troubling David and he took it to the Lord and was waiting for the answer to come to him. While he was waiting, he had sunk down into "an horrible pit". We can assume that pit to be an emotional time of trouble - whether it was fear, anxiety, doubt, or whatever the cause, we know David was extremely troubled about something. He followed the instruction of the Lord for all of us... In the day of trouble, we should call upon the Lord. The second event that took place, before David assumed the posture of waiting, was the Lord "inclined unto me".  That is to say, God l

Galatians 6:18    "Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen." Although this letter had been written in order to refute a false teaching that had been introduced and received by the Galatians, Paul concluded the letter with the word, "Brethren."  He understood the meaning and impact of using this word when dealing with these people who he loved dearly. He had heard that word at a time in his life when he needed comforting. After Jesus appeared to Saul (Paul) on the road to Damascus, He sent Ananias to talk to him.  In Acts 9:17, we read that Ananias "... entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul..." These two actions, that we might read right over without a thought, meant something wonderful to Saul. Someone who a short time before had been an enemy to him was now placing his hand on his shoulder and  calling him, "Brother".  So, as Paul is concluding this letter, he does not use the word

Galatians 6:17    "From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus."  Paul was stating a fact that imprinted a precious truth in his heart and mind. This was a statement on the same line as the man who was born blind. His one testimony that would stand the test of time was that he once was blind, but now he could see. Paul knew that his life once was in direct contrast to what the Lord had done for him. "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." He could state that over and over with a conviction of the Lord's grace in his life.   There was a sense in which Paul literally bore the marks of the Lord Jesus. Let's refresh our minds on that. in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a