Devotions by Meredith

God Is on My Side

Psalm 56:8, 9 TPT

You’ve kept track of all my wandering and my weeping. You’ve stored my many tears in your bottle—not one will be lost. For they are all recorded in your book of remembrance. 9 The very moment I call to you for a father’s help the tide of battle turns and my enemies flee. This one thing I know: God is on my side!

There have been many times over the years that I have felt like I was wandering through life, not really assured of my direction and purpose on my journey. Yet in our verse for today, we are assured that our heavenly Father tracks all of our wanderings, and to go along with that, He tracks our weeping besides. How many times have I cried silently into my pillow so my husband couldn’t hear me in my destress as I wept out my heart before the Lord? How many times have I gone on long walks where I could privately pour out my heart with tears to the Lord where no one could see or hear me? Not only has our Father tracked them but He also has bottled our tears, so carefully, that not even one tear is ever lost.

What tender, beautiful care He has for you! What a gentle Dad who loves His child so deeply. One of our sons, Ben, is such a good dad. I remember when his little ones were even just babies, he would start a scrapbook for each of them. He would load them on his back in a baby carrier and take them for long walks where they would find their first feather, or colorful leaf or rock. There was such a tenderness and careful caring and recording of each find, something for them to have to remember. Our heavenly Father is no less careful over you. His tenderness goes way beyond our limited imagination. Oh what great love!

Verse 9 tells us that the very moment when you call to Him, as your Father, His help is immediately activated, and the tide of the battle turns, and your enemies are put on the run. I envision us hiding behind this powerful warrior who comes to our rescue from every and any danger. No one is going to get through to us! Our Protector is present, and the enemy cannot get past Him. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He is always present, and nothing is impossible with our Father. What are your cares and fears today? Are you feeling alone in life’s challenges? He knows you so well, even to the point of knowing our wanderings and weeping. Cry out to Him and watch Him turn the battle in your favor. This one thing I know: God is on your side!

What about you? Did you know how intimately He cares for you, even as a tender father with his own child? What do you need to talk through with Him? What do you need to release into His care? Let Him love you today and remember your heavenly Father is always on your side.   

Do Not Forget the Lord

Deuteronomy 8:1NIV

Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors.

This particular verse is talking about the great miraculous provision God made supernaturally for the children of Israel over and over repeatedly as they were coming out of Egypt and then going through and finally coming out of the desert. God wanted them to be fully ready and mature enough in the supernatural by experiencing God’s unusual provision so that they would mature and grow in their trust in Him. He never failed them. He never made them beg for bread. He provided water out of the rock and flew in their meals via special delivery every day except their day of rest, but provided double for them the day before and then kept it from spoiling as well. In turn, Father then could trust them with the abundant supply He intended to give them in their new Promised Land. 

What are your specific tests and trials you are living with right now? What is He trying to teach you? Can you see that He is only trying to mature you so that you will be able to receive and work with all that He has stored up for you? If we were to give our car keys to a five-year-old and then announce to them we are giving them a brand-new car and they could drive it any time they wanted, we would all gasp at the efforts they may try to make in taking responsibility of that car and then driving it. Many times, we think we are ready for big things in God, but in reality, He knows we are not ready for any of that. We have trouble learning the lessons He has for us day by day right now. It’s a matter of coming to a place of developed thought and heartfelt trust that God knows exactly what He is doing in our lives right now. He knows what we need to learn in our relationship with Him and with others. But, unfortunately, many times we, as the Apostle Paul would say, kick against the pricks. Why is it such a challenge for us to simply trust the Lord at all times, to let go of our own reasonings and intellectualism? He has said we will live and increase and will enter into the new levels He has for us and that we will possess the land, the places of fruitfulness and blessing He has promised us. His blessing is upon you! Give over every care and detail of your life. Stop fretting! It only leads to anxiety and unrest when Father God has promised us the very opposite. Simply, I would encourage you to get out of the way! Let God be God in your life, every area, with every person and in every situation. Proclaim Him as Lord, Lord of all!

Enter into all He has for you this day and be circumspect of all that He is doing all around you so that you will be ready for the place of entering into your greater Promised Land with all of its many blessings to come your way even into overflowing. Let Him mature you in your trusting Him today and every day.

What about you? is your trust fully in the Lord or is it only sometimes? Most of the time are you trusting Him with a thankful, peaceful heart of confidence? Take the challenge today. Enter into His peace, great love and blessing for you even right now.