Psalm 9:15-16 (NIV) The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. The LORD is known by his justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
Psalm 10:1 (NIV) Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble.
My favorite topics are God’s love, his mercy, daily comfort and strength, and hope for the future. However, the hard truth is that we need those things precisely because we are sinful by nature and we need the solution God provides through his Son, Jesus Christ.
As unpleasant as it may be, we must face the reality of sin in the world. Putting on blinders will not erase the problem. Our nation has some major issues with truth, justice, and civility (or lack thereof) currently rampant in our nation, states, and cities. Lawlessness has devastating consequences not only for those involved directly, but also for thousands, millions, who must suffer the after affects. People rioting or taking up the chants for this cause or that may soon find they have tangled their own feet in their own nets. Bluntly speaking, this also applies to those who falsify information and vote blindly without due diligence. Sin, no matter what form it takes or to any degree, will always result in separation from God.
There is yet another bitter consequence and it falls upon those of us who have initially placed our trust in God, but become overwhelmed with despair at the decaying of society around us. We are tempted to lose hope; tempted to question why God seemingly stands far off, or why he does not seem to respond. First of all, God is never more than a prayer away—putting it into positive perspective—God is always as close as our next whispered prayer. He has, in fact, already responded even before we ever recognized our need for help. God set the plan for our salvation through Jesus Christ in motion before he created the heavens and the earth. Jesus Christ died for the sins of any who would call upon his Name.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
Today my heart is heavy for our nation. It is our own lack of truth, justice, civility, and the turning toward selfish motives—our own nets—that have tangled our feet. Worse, for some of us it is our own complacency and constant shrinking back, and cowardice—being afraid to speak truth or to take a bold stand for what is right and just. During times like these when I don’t know what to pray, and when I feel my words are inadequate to express my heart; I turn to your Word:
Psalm 62:5-8 (NLT) Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
The devotional Hidden Nets and Troubled Times appeared first on Write From My Heart at
https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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