Pastor Johnnie's Devotional Archives
January 2007

January 7, 2007

Psalm 103:5 “(Praise the Lord)… who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

We had a powerful service of prayer at church this morning. It’s an annual tradition for us to close the previous year with testimonies of God’s grace, provision, and intervention. Then, we begin the New Year with a service of prayer which is our way of saying, “Lord, our dependence is totally and absolutely upon you this coming year!”

I was impressed with several sweet, sincere prayers this morning that had to do with thanksgiving for the hard and difficult times in life. What a peace that gives to a shepherd in this age of self-focus and cries for comfort.

To be honest, spiritually speaking, when we come through difficult times with a sense of victory or spiritual success, we're experiencing exactly what the Psalmist was trying to say: God satisfies our desires, not necessarily with the things we want but with good things which reflect His tender watch-care over us and for the perfect and timely provision of our every need.

Thank you, Father, for satisfying our desires and for constantly renewing our strength and our youthfulness so that we might soar as though we were eagles. We love you! Amen.

January 15, 2007

Psalm 56:13 “For you have delivered my soul from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.”

Years ago, in Central America, our entire family was riding in the car singing praises to the Lord. We approached and crossed a RR crossing that had no warning lights or any other device to advise ‘intruders’ of any danger. At least, I have absolutely no recollection at all of seeing any! All I recall is that no sooner were the back tires of the car past the tracks, my rear view mirror was filled with RR cars speeding by! So engrossed in praise were we that we had not the slightest idea of any danger. Only the Sovereign God knew!

We are filled with incessant thankfulness to the Lord because of His continual deliverance of us in the course of our daily lives. How often do we give thought to those possible times when we are being ‘rescued’ without any knowledge of the danger we are in?

And, perhaps more importantly, why does God deliver us over and over again? So that we might walk before Him in the light of life.

Father of mercy and deliverance, the person who walks in the dark does not know where he/she is going. Help us to put our trust in the light we have, so that we might become sons of light (John 12:35, 36) and walk in the light as you are in the light! Amen.

January 29, 2007

Psalm 57:1 “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”

The 2006 summer was filled with many crises related to both church and family. Interestingly, it came about during the first sabbatical I had had in almost 50 years of ministry!

I freely confess the proneness of my sinful nature to become frustrated, frightened, and faithless. And for that I sought to remain open and honest before the Lord that He might pour out His mercy upon me in copious portions!

But the resultant peace which flooded my soul did not come because of my honesty with Him; rather, it was because of who He is. It was because of His love and faithfulness. Fleeing to Him and taking refuge in the shadow of His wings is my privilege as His son.

So, how can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will humbly lift up the cup of salvation and faithfully call on the name of the Lord. I will obediently fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. (Psalm 116:13,14)

Have mercy on me, Father! May I not seek any other shelter than the refreshing sanctuary of Your wings… until the disaster has passed! Amen.

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