Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

A new day every morning

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Psalm 34:17-19
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all.

Peter, Paul and Mary sing ... "If religion were a thing that money could buy, well the rich would live, and the poor would die. All my trials, Lord, soon be over." Originating in the Bahamas this spiritual is for wailing and weeping as death draws near for the poor man, the slave, the un-enfranchised.

So is that what God means, that he'll deliver me from evil when I die? A perspective like that invites me into the dark alleys of self-pity and resignation. I am just a poor boy, and my story's seldom told; I have squandered my existence ... then God will rescue me as I take my last breath, and I'll spend eternity with him, finally free.

But there have been many times already that I have been delivered, even if the next day I might be crushed once again. The process of living one delivered day at a time makes me slowly more whole, more saved, less crushed in spirit.

How many days will God deliver me? Just as many days as I live my life. Not only a final deliverance when my time is over; God saves my life today, again tomorrow, over and over again. He does this, of course, on his terms and not mine. He teaches me that there is nothing I need but him. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.

"There is a tree in Paradise. The Pilgrims call it the tree of life. All my trials, Lord, soon be over."

Lord, it is your deliverance today that I seek. No other. Your promises are righteous and true.

Devotions Archive

A new day every morning

Tuesday, February 15, 2005