Daily Devotional – November 13-19
November 13 – Meditating on God’s Word
This devotional series offers less content but more opportunity for you to reflect, contemplate, and pray through the short Scriptures we offer. It is an opportunity to help us slow down and enjoy time in the presence of God. It is an exercise in listening with the intent of hearing from God through His Word and by His Spirit. Here is the passage for the week:
Lamentations 3:19-26, I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. 20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. 21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” 25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Prayer: “Father, when I focus on my problems, I become discouraged. My soul is darkened. It’s hard to find the light. However, when I choose to change my thoughts and think about You, hope returns. Because of Your love and never-failing compassions, I’m not overtaken by all the challenges I face. You have a new supply of compassion every morning ready to go. You are faithful over and over again. I tell myself that You are enough. I will wait upon You because You are good to those who seek and hope in You. So, I choose to wait quietly in faith for Your answers to come. Praise be to Your name. Amen.”
November 14 – Meditating on God’s Word
Lamentations 3:19-20, I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. 20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
Write out the Scripture. (As it is or in your own words.)
“I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I remember them well, and my soul is downcast within me.”
Observe what it is saying. (Answer the who, what, when, where, why, and how questions)
In this book of Laments, the author speaks honestly of what happens when we choose to remember and focus on our problems. When we think about them, they easily stand out bringing all manner of emotion with them. In a matter of seconds, my heart is saddened and my soul becomes darkened. The future looks dismal. My hope is gone.
Relate it to your life. (Connect how this Scripture speaks into your life today.)
What I choose to think about influences the condition of my soul.
Do something. (Pray it. Live it. Act on it.)
“Father, You have given me the ability to remember and think so I have a choice with what I do with my thoughts. I ask for your Spirit’s empowerment to focus on the highest thoughts so that I can live the best possible life on earth. Amen.”
November 15 – Meditating on God’s Word
Lamentations 3:21, Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Write out the Scripture.
“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:”
Observe what it is saying.
Previously, the author remembered all of his afflictions and troubles and how painful they were. They caused him to be discouraged. However, in today’s verse, we discover that he chose to change his mind’s channel. He will tell us next what he chose to think about in place of his problems. Because he changed the content of his thinking, he declares that he has a change of soul. Instead of being down, he now has hope. The mind is a powerful force.
Relate it to your life.
To have the highest quality of life, I need to put my mind to work in the best possible places.
Do something.
“Father, keep my mind stayed on You and Your many gifts so that I can be hope-filled. Amen.”
November 16 – Meditating on God’s Word
Lamentations 3:22-23, Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Write out the Scripture.
“Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Observe what it is saying.
The author has changed the channel from thoughts of affliction which led to discouragement to the channel of amazing grace which gave him renewed hope. God’s love is at work at all times so that we can make it through each challenge. In each affliction, we can be assured that His compassions are ever-present and will never let us down. In fact, they’re so abundant that we’re given a new supply each day. If we think it’s possible that we used all of God’s supply yesterday, then don’t worry, because He has another supply waiting today. He is faithful!
Relate it to your life.
Each morning I can wake up to a fresh supply of God’s amazing grace.
Do something.
“Father, I trust that You have so much more compassion than I can exhaust today. Amen.”
November 17 – Meditating on God’s Word
Lamentations 3:24, I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
Write out the Scripture.
“I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’”
Observe what it is saying.
The author talks to himself. He knows that good self-talk is healthy for one’s mental and emotional state. He declares the Lord is his portion. This word also means allotment, plot of ground, or inheritance share. The priests and Levites weren’t given land but the Lord as their share in Israel. In the same light, the Lord is all he needs. Because of his confidence in the Lord, he will wait, or place his hope in Him as he looks to God for his deliverance.
Relate it to your life.
When I realize the Lord is all I need, then I can put all of my hope and trust in Him.
Do something.
“Father, You are all I need. I put my trust in You to answer all my problems. Amen.”
November 18 – Meditating on God’s Word
Lamentations 3:25-26, The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Write out the Scripture.
“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it’s good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
Observe what it is saying.
In the midst of life’s many challenges, pain, and problems, we’re given the promise the Lord is good to those who sincerely seek after and put their hope and trust in Him. This goodness includes that the Lord hears our prayers. He knows the deepest cries of our hearts when words aren’t present. As Paul said, the Lord also works for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Knowing this to be true, it’s a good thing to wait in trust for the Lord’s answer to come.
Relate it to your life.
I can bank on the Lord’s promise of goodness when I’m looking to Him with all my heart.
Do something.
“Father, I’m seeking You and putting all my trust in You for Your answer to __________. Amen.”