OUR DAILY BREAD : FOUR WAYS TO LOOK

[cimi]

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20

READ:
PSALM 77:12
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I will consider all
your works and
meditate on all
your mighty deeds.
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Joan was struggling with some difficult issues with her children when she sat down for a worship service. Exhausted, she wanted to "resign" fron motherhood. Then the speaker began to share encouragement for those who feel like quitting. These four thoughts that Joan heard that morning helped her to keep going :

LOOK UP AND PRAY. Asaph prayed all night long and heexpressed feelings that God had forgotten and rejected him (PS. 77:9-10). We can tell God everything and be honest about our feelings. We can ask Him anything. His answer may not come right away or in the form we want or expect, but He won’t criticize us for asking.

LOOK BACK AND REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN THE PAST FOR
YOU AND OTHERS. Asaph didn't talk to God only about the pain; he also recalled god's power and mighty works for him and God's people. He wrote, 'I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago" (v.11).

LOOK FORWARD. Think about the good that might come out of the situation. What might you learn? What might God want to do? What do you know He will do because His ways are perfect? (v.13).

LOOK AGAIN. This time look at your circumstances with eyes of faith. Remind yourself that He is that God of great wonders and can be trusted (v.14).

May these ideas help us gain perspective and keep moving in our faith journey with Jesus. __Anne Cetas

Lord, I can' help but see my problems. Help me not to be discouraged
and weary, but to see You in the midst of them.
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Our problems are opportunities to discover solutions.

******************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 77:1-15*******************
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.

1 I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to
hear me. 2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not
be comforted.

3 I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and
my spirit grew faint. 4 You kept my eyes from closing ; I was too
troubled to speak. 5 I thought about the former days, the years
of long ago; 6 I remembered my songs in the night. My heart
meditated and my spirit asked:

7 " Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor
again? 8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his
promise failed for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger witheld his compassion?"

10 Then I thought, "To this I will appeal: the years when the
Most High stretched out his right hand. 11 I will rmember the
deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long
ago. 12 I will consider all your works and meditate on all your
mighty deeds."

13 Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our
God? 14 You are the God who performs miracles; you display
your power among the peoples. 15 With your mighty arm you
redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Asaph, Jeduthun (for Ethan), and Heman were
musicians who led temple worship (1 CHRON. 5:12). The
superscription to Psalm 77 says Asaph wrote this psalm for Jeduthun.
Asaph writes of his sense of abandonment, distress, and anguish
when God did not respond to his cries for deliverance from his trials
and suffering (vv.1-10). But when he remembered and recounted the
mighty works God had done for His people in the past (vv.12) and
when he reflected and meditated on God’s holiness (v.13), he was
assured of God’s greatness, goodness, and guidance (vv.14-20).
Where God leads, He proteccts and provides (20).
__Sim Kay Tee