Drifting
“Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.”
Psalm 106:1 (NLT)
Cultural currents have caused our nation to drift. It’s almost imperceptible at first. But when you pause and look up, you see how far from God we have wandered. That can happen in a marriage and family as well. We are all prone to drifting. Pressures, distractions, and the tides of our times can cause us to drift.
Psalm 106 was written to a nation that had drifted from God. The nation was in trouble. It’s as relevant for us today as it was when it was written for Israel. By now, most of us, regardless of our political persuasion, would admit that God, not government, is the only hope for our nation. As we approach our Presidential election, I want to challenge you to join me in a practical journey through Psalm 106, prayerfully reading it each day as we turn our hearts back to God and reclaim the promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) where God says, “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Psalm 106 lays out twenty specific ways that we have drifted from God. The first one is found in our verse today, “Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 106:1 (NLT) This verse links Psalm 106 to the previous Psalm. Psalm 105 is a summary of God’s faithfulness and miraculous works, while Psalm 106 is a summary of our sinfulness. When we consider the faithfulness and goodness of God, we recall the miracles He has done in our lives. Yet, how often have we found ourselves forgetting those miracles and growing complacent and apathetic in our relationship with God? Before we know it, we are adrift spiritually. It’s time to look up and see how far we have drifted and pray, “Lord, I have drifted far from You, but I am turning back. Please bring to my mind the ways that I have given no thought to the miracles You have done in my life.”
Spend a few moments today in prayer, reflecting on the miracles that God has done in your life. Your very life is a miracle from God. It is a manifestation of God’s life. The Bible says, “In Him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28 (NIV). As you give thought to the miracles God has done in your life, join the Psalmist in praise, giving thanks for His goodness! Even though we may drift away, here’s the good news - He never does. His faithful love endures forever!
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.