Devotional of the Week December 14-20

Psalm 107: 1-15

1. O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
3. And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
4. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
5. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6. Then they cried out unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
7. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
8. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9. For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
10. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
11. Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the coundsel of the most High:
12. Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; and they fell down and there was none to help.
13. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
14. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
15. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

'Tis the season to be jolly, trah lah lah lah lah. Let us spend our time praising God and giving thanks to Him for ALL He has done for us throughout the year. I know it is tempting for us to give into sadness and despair because of the many trials of life, but we should never let such negative thoughts rob us of our joy. Worrying never solved anything, and it might also make the problem feel much worse than it really is! The power to think positive is just as much within our reach as the power to think negatively. All we have to do is choose. Do we choose sadness and despair, or do we choose thankfulness, gratefulness and praise? Do we choose feeling down and out or do we choose an attitude of a cheerful spirit? I would rather be broke and happy than broke and sad! Rejoicing in God will give us the strength to overcome ANY problem. When He sees a cheerful and thankful heart rejoicing in Him, He empowers us with what we need to overcome the storms of life.