Thursday Devo

Psalm 46
For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.

1 God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
    Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
    the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
    From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,
    and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
    and the earth melts!
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel is our fortress.

8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
    See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
    He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
    I will be honored by every nation.
    I will be honored throughout the world.”
11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel is our fortress.

46:8–11 God Will Be Exalted Among All Nations. God’s goal for his choosing of Zion is that out of it the word might go forth to the peoples of the whole world, bringing them all to live in godly peace with one another (Isa. 2:1–5). This will be the means by which he makes wars cease (Ps. 46:9). Since the address in v. 10, be still, and know, is plural, readers should imagine God speaking these words to the nations, among whom he will eventually be exalted. This is the meaning of the LORD of hosts being with his people (v. 11; cf. Matt. 28:20): he will indeed see to it that the mission of Gen. 12:1–3 is accomplished.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 994.

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to remember what's going wrong and how hard it is to remember what God has already done? When a new challenge comes, our minds naturally focus on what's in front of us. We forget the prayers God has answered, the doors He has opened, and the ways He's faithfully carried us through difficult seasons before.

That's why God repeatedly told His people to remember. After He led Israel across the Jordan River, He instructed them to stack twelve stones as a memorial. One day, when their children asked, "Why are these stones here?" they would have an opportunity to tell the story of God's faithfulness. Psalm 46 gives a similar invitation: "Come and see the works of the Lord." Before we focus on what's making us anxious, we're invited to look back and remember what God has already done. Remembering doesn't erase today's problems, but it does strengthen today's faith. The same God who was faithful then is faithful now.

• When you face a new challenge, do you spend more time thinking about your current problem or remembering God's past faithfulness? Why do you think it's so easy to forget what He's already done?
• Throughout Scripture, God often told His people to remember His works. Why do you think remembering is such an important part of growing in faith?
• Take a few minutes today to write down three specific ways God has been faithful in your life. The next time you're tempted to worry, come back to that list and let it remind you of His unchanging character.

5. Why do I follow Jesus? 
I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.

(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)