“I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 13:5-6

Imagine you have been lost at sea. Half frozen, clinging to a floating door. Soon your fingers give out, and you drift, just about treading water. Your head bobs back and forth, under, above, under, above, under, under. You see a light. Then a hand reaches down and grasps yours. You have no strength left, but this man puts every newton of his power into pulling you up. You can barely breathe. As he drys, and covers, and warms you, some semblance of normality begins to return and…

What do you use your first breath to do?

We have been saved.

Just stop and think about that for a second.

We were lost. Completely lost. Jesus came down and saved us.

Last week we talked about singing God’s praises, but today, let’s remember to trust the one who thrust his hand down below the waves, and pulled us out of certain death.

As you breathe in God’s grace this evening, stop and hold it in your chest. As you breathe out, let that grace transform into praise.

Let’s pray.

Praying through the Bible

Lord,

Forgive me for those moments when I have not trusted in your steadfast love,

I trust you,I trust in you,I trust in your steadfast love;

My heart rejoices in your salvation,and shall continue to rejoice all my days

I will sing to the Lord,I will pour out my thanks to you,God, how bountifully have you dealt with me.

Thank You Lord,

Amen

Today’s Readings

John 2, Psalm 13, Psalm 14

These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

The sons of Judah: Er, Onan and Shelah; these three Bath-shua the Canaanite bore to him. Now Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death. His daughter-in-law Tamar also bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.

1 Chronicles 2:1-5

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“Jesus is coming back to put a final end to evil, suffering, and sorrow. But he never promised that end would be today. Instead, he promises that his mercies are new every morning (Lam. 2:22-23), and his grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9). Weakness is the fertile ground in which God’s power grows.”

— Matt Boga

https://mattboga.substack.com/p/what-if-the-new-year-has-old-pain

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