Saturday, January 20, 2024

Verse of the Day 1/20

Verse of the Day 1/20



Lamentations 3:21-23
New King James Version



21 This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.

22 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.


I've been preparing to lead a Bible study next week on the prodigal son from Luke 15.  There are several key points in that parable but the one that jumps out first is the statement "he came to himself".  As I read today's verses this morning in my devotions the words of Jeremiah in Lamentations 3 reminded me of the sons realization as he came to himself, here Jeremiah remembers, "recalls to mind" the love and mercies of God; the Father and they gave him hope.

The prodigal realized his situation and turned.  At that moment of his turning, he remembered the Father's goodness, His faithjfulness and His benefits.  We go on to see something of the person of God wjhen we read in Luke 15 that "the Father ran to him". Neither the prodigal nor Jeremiah had to run all the way back, God came to meet them.

there may come a time when we feel that we are away from God we need to recall to mind His mercies, His grace and His love.  John Piper writes, "If we don't "call to mind" what God has said about himself and about us, we languish. O how I know this from painful experience! Don't wallow in the mire of godless messages. I mean the messages in your own head. "I can't . . ." "She won't . . ." "They never . . ." "It has never worked . . ."..The point is not that these are true or false. Your mind will always find a way to make them true, unless you "call to mind" something greater. God is the God of the impossible. Reasoning your way out of an impossible situation is not as effective as reminding your way out of it."  

Turn to Him and He will come to you, for great is His faithfulness and His mercies are renewed every morning.  Perhaps you will "call to mind" the hymn that comes from today's verses.

1 Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
as Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed Thy hand hath provided:
great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

2 Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest;
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. [Refrain]

3 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow:
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! [Refrain]



Blessings,
Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

19 Remember my affliction and roaming,
The wormwood and the [g]gall.
20 My soul still remembers
And sinks within me.
21 This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.

22 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I hope in Him!"

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.




No comments: