Pastor Johnnie's Devotional Archives
April 2006
April 6, 2006
Psalm 106:2 says: "Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or
fully declare his praise?"
With lots of time spent in bed over the past few weeks, feeling weak and
'gastado' (totally spent), though I often didn't feel like doing so, I
determined to review the goodness of the Lord as often as I could. Mind
you, during radical coughing spells which frequently led to near gagging,
and during certain pains which frighteningly mimicked heart or kidney
problems (and a few other better unmentioned issues!), I would find myself
'distracted' and unable to clearly and protractedly focus. Nonetheless,
(yes, it's really true!) I sought to discipline myself to review the mighty
acts of the Lord and to declare His praise in my heart. For example, during
my weakest or sourest moments, I have found myself saying, "Thank
you, Father, for good health!"
There are two questions before us: (1) Who can proclaim the mighty acts
of the Lord? (2) Who can fully declare His praise? To the first, I respond,
"I can, Lord! There should never be a time, sick or well, rich or
poor, happy or unhappy, that I cannot remember and review at least one
of Your glorious acts of mercy or grace on my behalf!" Regarding
the second, I fall far short! I can declare His praise, for sure. But
to do so 'fully'? Who has been so faithful as to listen (give ear) to
Him and to fully hear and learn? Who has been so carefully aware of and
therefore able to fully catalogue His mighty acts on our behalf? Who has
paid such attention to Him as to fully discern His purposes and lessons
through each of the experiences of life? Not I. So, I seek to continually
praise Him, but with the deeply motivating desire within my heart to be
so consumed with Him that I am able to 'fully' declare His praise!
Father, I do praise You for Your mighty acts. Train me to faithfully
and fully declare Your praise. Amen.
Good Friday, April 14, 2006
Psalm 144:3 "O Lord, what is man that you care for him.....?"
J. Wilbur Chapman wrote the following words to the great hymn "Our
Great Savior":
Jesus! What a Friend for sinners! Jesus! Lover of my soul; friends may
fail me, foes assail me. He, my Friend, makes me whole.
Jesus! What a Strength in weakness! Let me hide myself in Him; tempted,
tried, and sometimes failing. He, my Strength, my vict'ry wins.
Jesus! What a Help in sorrow! While the billows o'er me roll; even when
my heart is breaking, He, my Comfort, helps my soul.
Jesus! What a Guide and Keeper! While the tempest still is high, storms
about me, night o'ertakes me; He, my Pilot, hears my cry.
Jesus! I do now receive Him. More than all in Him I find. He hath granted
me forgiveness. I am His, and He is mine.
Hallelujah! What a Savior! Hallelujah! What a Friend! Saving, helping,
keeping, loving. He is with me to the end!
Merciful Father, for the gift of eternal life through Your Son, Who
was pierced for our transgressions, Who was crushed for our iniquities,
the One upon whom was placed the punishment which brought us peace, we
give you thanks! May we love Him fully. May we serve Him with grateful
hearts. May we anticipate His glorious return and joyfully look forward
to the inexpressible and glorious joys of heaven! Amen.
April 24, 2006
Psalm 124:6-8 "Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn
by their (the enemy's) teeth. We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler's
snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in
the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth."
One author, in a book which I read years ago, made the statement: the
enemy rarely gives us the privilege of fighting a battle on only front
at a time. I remember neither the author nor the title of the book. But,
I sure have been reminded of the truth of that statement through the many
years of my ministry! The enemy's teeth have constantly - and ruthlessly!
- been used for gossip, slander, attacking, and deceiving. At the same
time, his 'hands' have been active as they have set all sorts of traps
in which to ensnare and enslave even the Lord's people in unhealthy habits
and in activities which do not bring glory to God. We could go on and
on, couldn't we? We dare not underestimate the resolve of the enemy! His
intention is not just to ensnare people, but to inundate them with such
attacks as to ultimately bury them in a sea of despair and hopelessness!
But, as David says in this Psalm, the snare has been broken and we have
escaped through the powerful intervention of, and in the mighty name of,
the triune God! In other words, "even in darkness light dawns for
the upright" (Psalm 112:4), because our help is always in and through
the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth! Hallelujah for the
cross!
All-powerful, all-knowing God, increasingly open our eyes and our
hearts to know the extent of Your provision of deliverance on our behalf.
Then help us to open our mouths in praise to You before a critical, watching,
and listening world. For Jesus' sake we pray. Amen.
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