The Daily Devotional

The Lord Is For You

Do you feel distressed and anxious? If so, Psalm 118 offers five words of comfort you should repeat to yourself: “The Lord is for me.”

A Few Thoughts to Consider

Do you feel distressed and anxious?

If so, Psalm 118 offers five words of comfort you should repeat to yourself: “The Lord is for me.” Psalm 118 is a song of thanksgiving and praise, celebrating God's enduring love and faithfulness. The psalmist recounts how he called upon the Lord in times of distress and was delivered from his enemies.

Emphasizing that it is better to trust in God than to rely on human strength, the psalm highlights God's role as a protector and savior. J.A. Motyer notes, “Its overall movement is a procession up to the temple gates (19), then through the gates to the altar (27).”^[1] “Like Psalm 116, it is a thanksgiving and testimony psalm. It involves the whole congregation, but it particularly involves the voice of an ‘I,’ someone such as the king, a leader such as Nehemiah in a period when Israel didn’t have kings, or a worship leader.”^[2] In verses 5-9, the psalmist says,

⁵I called to the Lord in distress;
the Lord answered me
and put me in a spacious place.
⁶The Lord is for me; I will not be afraid.
What can a mere mortal do to me?
⁷The Lord is my helper;
therefore, I will look in triumph on those who hate me.

⁸It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humanity.
⁹It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in nobles.

Despite his challenges, the psalmist realizes he has no reason to fear. The Lord is with him, and that is enough. His refuge is in God, his strength is in God, his salvation is in God, and his hope is in God.

Our Alpha and Omega

The most important thing you can do to prepare yourself for Christ’s return is to get to know him as much as possible.

What Does God Value?

God doesn’t need anything you have to offer him, but he does invite you to walk in loving relationship with him. So make that your aim today. Less doing to prove your worth to others and more loving as one who has been and remains deeply loved.

How Do I Gain the Right Perspective?

Job’s story teaches us that it’s easy to lose all perspective, especially when we’re in pain. It’s especially difficult when those we love seem to be siding against us. Life just keeps getting harder and harder, and God keeps getting farther and farther away.

Should Christians Be Thankful for God’s Judgment?

Because God is the grand judge, this does two things for you. First, it releases you from the need to judge others. Second, it gives you total confidence when those you love enter eternity without any evidence of accepting Christ.