Daily Devotion in Psalm 31

Daily Nugget:
Living the way God commands us to live is not always easy. So many people are under the false impression that problems will never occur once they submit to the Lord’s will. They think they will be exempt from heartaches, hardships, hazards, and life’s hiccups. That certainly is not true.

The godly may have God’s protection and guidance, but we are in a sinful world and face the consequences of our and others' sins. We experience it today, and David confronted it as he wrote in Psalm 31. The King dealt with:

• Traps sent for him to make him fail (Psalm 31:4). A foiled believer also makes the ungodly triumph as they see that Christians “are not so holy and perfect ….” Somehow, a defeated Christ-follower eases their guilt in not living a godly life.
• Lies all around him (Psalm 31:6, 18).
• Troubles and plenty of them (Psalm 31:9). However, those troubles and trials are not always a “bad” thing. Often, the undesirable occurrences can draw us closer to the Lord as we seek His help. They can also help us get stronger in our faith as we see God will protect and help us during the tribulations.
• Grief. Because of sin, there will be death and many let-downs. Hearts may be broken, but we have a God who can fix and comfort those disillusioned, discouraged, and downcast (Psalm 31:10).
• Those that forgot him and his needs (Psalm 31:12). We are not the first to have put a lot of time and trust into a person and later be cast aside. David experienced the hurt feelings of being abandoned more than once.

Although we do not have a get-out-of-pain-and-suffering card just because one is a child of God, we have something that the godless do not have when they go through hardships. We have the Lord. He is our God (Psalm 31:14), and we will have his watch-care, guidance, and protection. 

We will experience what God allows in our life for ours or someone else’s benefit. We may not always like the trials we face, but God has a purpose for us to learn and get spiritually stronger through our tests and turbulences.
“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” Psalm 31:24

Today’s Thought: 
Courage: “Being scared to death and saddling up anyway.” — Wayne

Words to Understand:
Adversities: trouble
Consumed: to shrink
Contemptuously: disrespecting, hating
Reproach: disgrace, shameful
Supplications: sincere, heartfelt prayer

Today’s Reading:
Psalm 31
1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;
8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.
9 ¶ Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.
10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.
15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.
17 Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.
18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
19 ¶ Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.
22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
23 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.