Prayer – Lord, I want to not only survive, but thrive
spiritually. Open my eyes and my heart to more of the truths in Your word.
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
From the depths of despair, O LORD, I call for your
help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. LORD, if you kept a
record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness,
that we might learn to fear you. I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting
on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord more than sentries
long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn. O Israel, hope in
the LORD; for with the LORD there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows.
He himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin. Psalm 130:1-8
Meditate.
 |
| No sunlight...or limited sunshine can lead to: Despair - SAD - Gloom |
Are you or someone you know in the depths of despair? It is
certainly conceivable that during these gloomy days of winter that those
suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) would be feeling hopelessness
or despondent. Here the psalmist is calling out for the Lord’s help and asking if
the Lord kept a record of sins who could ever survive? Who could
survive? Actually, only those who confess their sin and are forgiven.
Oh, what joy for
those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what
joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived
in complete honesty! Psalm 32:1-2
They have put their faith, trust, and hope in the Lord…in
His word. That is because of the Lord God’s unfailing love. He loves us so much.
He proved it by sending His only Son to earth—to live as a human, among a human.
Then that beloved Son was sacrificed—just as a lamb was sacrificed in the
Temple for people’s sins.
Then he (Jesus)
said, "Look, I have come to do your will." He cancels the first
covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God's will was for us to
be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day
after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take
away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for
sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God's right
hand. Hebrews 10:9-12
Without Jesus Christ’s sacrifice we would all be lost—in the
pit of hopelessness. Utter despondancy. Without Jesus Christ…who could ever
survive?
Verse of Salvation ~ And just as each person is destined
to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all
time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again,
not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly
waiting for him. Hebrews 9:27-28
Memory Verse of the Week ~ If they listen and obey God,
they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years
will be pleasant. Job 36:11
© 2022 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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