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Today’s quote from “365 Days through the Psalms.”
Lord God, I thank you for your blessing on my life.
Today help me to bless others.
Amen.
Blessings and Privilege
20 Tuesday Oct 2020
Daily Archives: October 20, 2020
Discover Your Hidden Self
20 Tuesday Oct 2020
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John Murray’s most recent book is entitled “Discover Your Hidden Self: Opening the Door to Who You Really Are!” It fits perfectly into the Christian self-improvement category. Each chapter examines a different aspect of self-change, including topics such as attitude, forgiveness, and how we view ourselves and others. Throughout the book, John draws on his years of experience, and the real life examples of people who have overcome great difficulties.
I found the brief summary at the end of each chapter very helpful.
Here is a quote that I believe exemplifies the advice found between these covers:
“Things that matter don’t happen by chance but by choice. Life does not get better by chance but by making the decision to change.”
If you are needing to make a change in your life this 130-page book can act as a great catalyst.
5 stars.
Reflect the LORD’s Character
20 Tuesday Oct 2020
Reading: Psalm 72
(Verses 12-20)
For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in his sight. Long may he live!
May gold from Sheba be given him.
May people ever pray for him
and bless him all day long.
May grain abound throughout the land;
on the tops of the hills may it sway.
May the crops flourish like Lebanon
and thrive like the grass of the field.
May his name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun.
Then all nations will be blessed through him,
and they will call him blessed.
Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds.
Praise be to his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.
This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse (NIV).*
More gold than Solomon — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This is the concluding portion of Solomon’s prayer. Many scholars view this as David’s prayer for Solomon, rather than a prayer written by Solomon. In either case, it is a prayer calling for God’s blessing on the king and the nation. This brings us to a question. What is the purpose of God’s blessing? Is it only for personal benefit?
The answer can be found in the first few lines above. The righteous king is blessed and given wealth and authority so that he can be a blessing to others. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.
The great danger for any of us is that when blessings come, we accumulate these blessings for ourselves alone. Along with God’s blessings comes a responsibility to share and identify with those in need within our borders and beyond. We serve a God with a big heart. His love extends far beyond our narrow interests. God blesses His people abundantly, so that we can in turn bless others.
What a privilege we have to reflect the LORD’s character in a hurting world!
Response: LORD God, help me to see my many blessings as a gift from you. Show me today how I can be a blessing to others. You are my source. Lord, give me a generous spirit like you have. Amen.
Your Turn: Are you tempted to keep all of God’s blessings for yourself? How generous is your spirit?
* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica
Some good news: The first volume of 365 Days through the Psalms by award-winning author David Kitz will be published in November, 2020, by Elk Lake Publishing. Two additional volumes will follow in 2021 to complete the three volume set of devotions from the Psalms.
I love the Psalms 