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Psalm 51 (KJV)
Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight-- That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. In this text, David is repenting for his acts of adultery, plotting, and murder. When you have the time, read 2 Samuel 11 and 12 chapters. This is the story of David sleeping with Bathsheba (Uriah’s wife) and impregnated her. Then to cover up his act of adultery he had Uriah killed. David had not acknowledged what he had done until the prophet Nathan had confronted David face to face. David’s acts of sin disappointed God, but David had not responded to the conviction of the Holy Spirit nor his conscious. Therefore, God sent Nathan talk to David. As Nathan began to talk to David, tears fell from his eyes as he confessed what he had done. As a result he wrote Psalm 51. “Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions” (KJV). David was asking God to forgive him because he had disobeyed his commandments. Then in verse 10 he says “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me”. David was asking God to forgive him because he needed a change. So I ask the question, “What is your response, when you fail God?” Fill in the blanks; “When I fail God, I will __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Most Precious Father, I come before you thanking you for your son Jesus Christ who went to Calvary to save a wretch like me. It is Jesus’s blood that can wash away my sins. God forgive me of my wrong doings and shortcomings. Create in me a new heart and renew in me a right spirit. In Jesus name I pray, Amen! Copyrighted 2014 by Edwina D. Perrin. All rights reserved. Be Alert at All Times
Hebrews 13: 2 “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (KJV). On last Sunday, my son and I visited my parents in my hometown. As we left my parents’ house, my son informed me that he needed a new backpack. We discussed the backpack and the fact we were not going to spend an astronomical amount on the backpack. After our two hour commute back home, we stopped in a major department store. As we walked into the store, I felt the presence of God. We headed to the back of the department store and found where the backpacks were located. The first backpack he picked up was more than what our budget could afford. He continued to look as well as I did. Then, I felt a nudge to walk in a different direction and I did. There were a number of backpacks on the display hook. As I picked up a backpack, I felt another nudge to put the backpack I had in my hand down and pick up another one. God said, I told you I am always with you. I informed my son I had found one on clearance. He said, “Mom, I like this one”! As we proceeded to the counter the cashier said, “Hi, how are you doing”? My son and I responded, “We are doing well”! She began to talk to us and hold a conversation. She then told a story about the name brand of the backpack. The story did not make sense at all, however we listened intensely. Then out of nowhere she says, “Take care of your body”. “You are going to be an excellent golfer”. My son and I turned to each other and almost passed out. I literally fellow over the counter and dropped my purse. My son looked as if he had seen a ghost. He was not dressed in golf paraphernalia and we had not mentioned anything to her about golf. Absolutely Nothing! After gathering our composure, I asked the lady how she knows these things. She replied, “I know everything”. As I walked away, another sales associate came and said, “Receive what she says” and they both left the register and faded away. As I type this devotion, I reflect over the text Matthew 25:40 (take time to read Matthew 25). We must be ALERT at all times because you never know when you are entertaining an angel. Showing friendliness and generosity reflects the character of the Almighty One. We must be careful how we treat people and how we respond to people. Remember, God is omnipotent and omniscient! He sees and knows everything! Dear God, Please help me to be cordial to people at all times. Even the people, who have mistreated me, abused me, hurt me, or lied on me. God continue to help me love my enemies because my character is a reflection of You. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen! © 2014 by Edwina D. Perrin. All rights reserved. Isaiah 43:18-19
“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert” (NKJV). Have you ever felt as if you only existed in life and not living life? When one just exists, life tends to pass by you without you realizing it. We often let passed hurt hinder us in life. However, we cannot let pass wounds hinder us from enjoying life! As we look at the scripture, Isaiah is telling us to not remember the former things, but to know that God is with us and he can heal all wounds. We must move forward in order to see what God has for us (Jeremiah 29:11-13). In this scripture (Isaiah 43:18-19), I know all too well that God will make a road in the wilderness and a river during your time in the desert. At an early age, many “counted me out” because I was born out of wedlock and my mom did not come from a wealthy family. Many said that I would not graduate from college or have a successful career. Upon graduating from college, my hometown would not even hire me in the local school district as an educator. However, as I type this devotion, I must share that I am 95% of the way of completing my doctorate. I am a successful educator in the Upstate and have earned numerous accolades during my seventeen years as an Upstate educator. For years, I would not speak to those people who had hurt me. I would see these people in the local store and not hold a conversation with them. I would not visit my home church because there were people in my home church who worked for the local school district and were not advocates for me to be hired. HURT, PAIN, and DISAPPOINMENT these people caused me! There was so much pain and agony because these were church members and family members that did not help me. Hurt from church members can be the most devastating hurt one can endure. As I stated in a previous devotion, God has delivered me from the not speaking part. Daily I am unleashing the hurt from those people because God was a river during the desert and is constantly a river during any desert I may encounter. God is Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Nissi, Jehovah Shalom, and the list continues. He is my All in All! Unleash the past hurt and move forward! As I end this devotion, I reflect on the text in Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (NKJV). Dear God, Unleash my past hurt and my past pain so that I can move forward. God let not my heart be troubled. I know that you are my shepherd and you are my rock and fortress. Remove this pain so I can move forward and see Your glory! In Jesus Name, Amen Copyrighted 2014 by Edwina D. Perrin. All rights reserved. |
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