REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by then (2013) staff of Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan, was first posted on September 26, 2013. It has been updated.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“God’s Presence”
Psalm 90:13-17
Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. 16 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. 17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!
The desire for the presence of the Lord marks the beginning of this section of Psalm 90. The psalmist knows that God’s presence is the single greatest satisfaction we can experience in this short life. He calls out for the favor of God to be upon him, and that God would bless the work of his hands. The psalmist cries out for the manifestation of God’s presence through His work, His power, His favor, and His blessing.
This morning’s Psalm reminds us that our joy and gladness is found only in God and not apart from Him. In light of this, we should desperately long to daily encounter the manifest presence of God through our persistent prayer life. This Psalm reminds us that in Him, we can and will experience the fullness of life. So, let us look to the Giver of the blessings by seeking the presence of God.
Prayer: Thank You, Father, for being my triumphant salvation who delights in taking up my battles of sin, sickness, Satan, and death itself. Your salvation is near to me in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 18
Lunch Break Study
Read Philippians 4:8-9: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Questions to Consider
- In what ways is the apostle Paul exhorting the Philippians?
- What thoughts have been prominent in your mind lately? Are they true, honorable, just, etc.? What should we do with this list of virtues?
- How might these verses apply to things like the music we listen to, the books we read, the TV/movies we watch, and other similar activities? In what areas of life has the Lord been convicting you? Are there Bible verses you could memorize and meditate on, that would help you as you to see the fruits of your convictions?
Notes
- The age-old adage says, “You are what you eat.” This is true of the physical food that we consume as well as the spiritual food that we take in. The apostle Paul is exhorting the Philippians to have a healthy spiritual diet, for the virtuous things that they allow into their minds will have a profound effect in how they go about living out the truths, which they have learned by Paul’s teaching and example.
- The list of virtues is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather representative of the things that should occupy the minds of believers. Meditating on these things is not an end in itself, but leads to purposeful action.
- Personal response
Evening Reflection
2 Chronicles 20:17: “You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”
Dear God, faith has come, here in my heart and now on my tongue. The power of the Holy Spirit is accessible and available to me because you, Oh God of my salvation, have delivered me out of the kingdom of darkness and into the realm of your Son’s resurrection life and light. Jesus, you will always be the one that I glorify and adore. You have saved me by your grace, apart from any of my own merit, and you will complete my salvation in the same way. I have set my heart to always see your face as the champion of my salvation. Amen.