Day 11 - Monday

The Journey - Lent 2024

By Aaron Austin | February 26, 2024
Bible Readings: 1 Corinthians 1:20-25; Psalm 74:12-17

12But God is my King from long ago;
     he brings salvation on the earth.

13 It was you who split open the sea by your power;
     you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.
 
14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan
     and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.
 
15 It was you who opened up springs and streams;
     you dried up the ever-flowing rivers.
 
16 The day is yours, and yours also the night;
     you established the sun and moon.
 
17 It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;
     you made both summer and winter.

   (Psalm 74:12-17)

 
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians 1:25)

 

Psalm 74 is a cry out from God’s people to make things right again.  The temple, their center of worship, has been destroyed and it seems that God is silent.  In today’s reading, the psalmist is appealing to God’s wisdom and power.  God who…

…brought his people salvation from slavery. (vs 12)

…delivered his people through the sea. (vs 13)

…provided food, water, and a way in the wilderness. (vs. 14-15)

…brought order to chaos in creation. (vs 16-17)

It is always good to come to God in prayer especially when he seems quiet or far away.  It is not so much about us having to remind God how he has worked in our lives in the past, but perhaps an opportunity for us to remind ourselves – “Remember” (74:2).  It is good to remember the greatness of God.

Spend some time remembering all of the things that God has done for you personally starting with the salvation He has granted you in Christ.  When we turn our focus from our circumstances to Christ, hope begins to burn in our hearts once again.  Praise God that He never forgets His children. Though He may seem to be far away, in reality He is right there beside you faithfully keeping watch over you.  You may find yourself going through some difficult times, but like the Psalmist, let us use those times to draw us back to God.

Pray today that God would fill you with the hope and joy of His presence right there where you are today. 

Heavenly Father, even though I may not always feel your nearness, may you strengthen my faith in those times so that I will still draw near to you.  Lead me through each day and teach me to always trust you.  Amen.