Remembering God in the Middle of the Night (Psalm 77)

Trusting God’s Spirit to Do What I Cannot

Trusting God’s Spirit to Do What I Cannot Evening Scripture Zechariah 4 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/zechariah/4.html] Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” He answered, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I replied. So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’” Then the word of the Lord came to me: “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?” Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?” He replied, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I said. So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.” Evening Reflection Life presents us with so many impossible tasks. On our own, we lack the power to do good; our sin nature makes it impossible for us to please God. By God’s amazing grace, the impossible is made possible. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and through the death of Jesus, we can overcome our sin nature and, through the confession of faith, become a child of God. Death no longer has the last word, and our lives can be filled with beauty, grace, and meaning.  God’s Spirit also shows us how to live. It reveals to us parts of the mystery of who God is. Zachariah encounters an angel who gives him a prophetic vision. He doesn’t understand what he is seeing. The angel responds to Zachariah's confusion by saying that the things being revealed to him will not come to pass by man’s might but through the power of God’s Spirit. For things that feel confusing, impossible, or countercultural by human standards, we have to trust God’s Spirit to do what we cannot.  God is an everlasting God. He sees our beginning and our end. He alone holds all Creation together. It is God alone who has the power to change, guide, and save us. He anoints us to do His work. We must trust God’s Spirit to empower us.   Evening Prayer Father, I thank you that it is not by my might but by your Spirit that I can overcome my sin and have access to salvation. Through your Spirit, reveal to me how to live. Anoint me to do your good work. Show me how to navigate life’s challenges. Remind me that the best is yet to come. Grant me your wisdom so I can understand the signs of the times and point others to you. Help me to be a person who lives with peace and confidence, knowing you can do abundantly above and beyond all I could think, ask, or imagine. Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Restored by Mercy I Didn't Earn

Restored by Mercy I Didn’t Earn                                                                                                                                      Evening Scripture Psalm 85 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/85.html] You, Lord, showed favor to your land;      you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people      and covered all their sins. You set aside all your wrath      and turned from your fierce anger. Restore us again, God our Savior,      and put away your displeasure toward us. Will you be angry with us forever?      Will you prolong your anger through all generations? Will you not revive us again,      that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, Lord,      and grant us your salvation. I will listen to what God the Lord says;      he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—      but let them not turn to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,      that his glory may dwell in our land. Love and faithfulness meet together;      righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,      and righteousness looks down from heaven. The Lord will indeed give what is good,      and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before him      and prepares the way for his steps. Evening Reflection Psalm 85 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/85.html] reminds us of God’s forgiveness and favor. Where he could have destroyed us with a breath of his “hot anger” because of our sin, he gave us life; he revived us. But as we wait for the Lord to return, and life continues to be difficult, it can seem as though God is still angry. “Will you be angry forever?” We feel spent, tired of fighting our sin and the sins of others, even to the point of death. We have no right to experience the mercy of his life-saving breath - and yet the Holy Spirit revives us. The Psalmist describes God as righteous, steadfast, and loving. It pleases him to offer peace instead of chaos to the aching hearts of sinners. We might find it difficult to replicate in our day-to-day response to people who hurt us, but we are called to follow the Lord’s example. His righteousness is the path we pursue. Since we are worthy of God’s wrath but have received salvation instead, we can bring Christ’s peace to those who have hurt us. Transformed, revived hearts actively work towards forgiveness in the humility of knowing that we received the Lord’s mercy when we should have been wiped out by his wrath. There are people drowning in shame over the wrongs they have committed: God’s peace offers a way out. We can bring them the restorative love of the Savior. Whether his love is accepted or not, God IS glorified when we follow his direction and copy his mercy. Rest in that truth. Evening Prayer Lord, With your reviving mercy comes responsibility to move towards others in love and to forgive as we have been forgiven. You restored us - this means we were dead! Let us never forget that being far from you is no trifling inconvenience but death. And you, glorious and loving God, have given us life instead. You are wondrous, and your mercy is so grand a thing that we cannot fathom it, but help us to reflect it as ambassadors to a world that is dying. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Drawing Near to God and Being Changed

Evening Scripture James 4 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/james/4.html] What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud      but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. Evening Reflection As we settle in for the evening and review our day, it is easy to recognize how busy our schedule was – but not so easy to identify where our focus was. In this crazy world of busyness, we often get wrapped up in our earthly desires rather than our heavenly calling. We work toward what we covet – a promotion, a raise, more pay, recognition. Our desires include additional possessions and pleasures - a bigger home, a newer car, or more.  Then, we let our prayers reflect those desires – only to be disappointed when things don’t go the way we asked. We make plans for our future, asking God to bless them – and yet, we don’t know what our future will bring. Our lives can change in a heartbeat, changing what lies ahead. If that were to occur, wouldn’t you want to already be close to God so he can see you through those life-changing moments? We are taught that when we give our lives to Jesus, we become a new creation, and it is the absolute truth. The Holy Spirit comes and dwells within us – but sometimes we are so busy chasing our “dreams” we can’t feel his presence or even know he’s there.  James tells us to submit ourselves to God and to humble ourselves before the Lord, and he will lift us up! A promise made – and God never breaks his promises. But, submitting ourselves and humbling ourselves before the Lord isn’t something that we can snap our fingers and make happen. It is a commitment that requires daily attention and sacrifice. We must open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit and give in to his leading – through daily prayer, God’s Word, and a community of believers. Let the Lord’s spirit work in us and through us – giving in to the change within us. We may not feel change immediately - it may take a bit of time - but one morning you will wake up and feel it. You are drawing near to God – feeling like a new creation in him. Evening Prayer Father, With my whole heart, I desire to come to know you. I want to draw closer and closer. I desire all of you, and I surrender to your will in everything I desire or do. You are my God, and earnestly I seek you. My soul thirsts for you, my flesh longs for you in this dry and weary land where there is no water. Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Finding Strength and Stability In God

Finding Strength and Stability in God Evening Scripture Isaiah 33 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/isaiah/33.html] Woe to you, destroyer,     you who have not been destroyed! Woe to you, betrayer,     you who have not been betrayed! When you stop destroying,     you will be destroyed; when you stop betraying,     you will be betrayed. Lord, be gracious to us;     we long for you. Be our strength every morning,     our salvation in time of distress. At the uproar of your army, the peoples flee;     when you rise up, the nations scatter. Your plunder, O nations, is harvested as by young locusts;     like a swarm of locusts people pounce on it. The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high;     he will fill Zion with his justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times,     a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;     the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. Look, their brave men cry aloud in the streets;     the envoys of peace weep bitterly. The highways are deserted,     no travelers are on the roads. The treaty is broken,     its witnesses are despised,     no one is respected. The land dries up and wastes away,     Lebanon is ashamed and withers; Sharon is like the Arabah,     and Bashan and Carmel drop their leaves. “Now will I arise,” says the Lord.     “Now will I be exalted;     now will I be lifted up. You conceive chaff,     you give birth to straw;     your breath is a fire that consumes you. The peoples will be burned to ashes;     like cut thornbushes they will be set ablaze.” You who are far away, hear what I have done;     you who are near, acknowledge my power! The sinners in Zion are terrified;     trembling grips the godless: “Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire?     Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?” Those who walk righteously     and speak what is right, who reject gain from extortion     and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who stop their ears against plots of murder     and shut their eyes against contemplating evil— they are the ones who will dwell on the heights,     whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. Their bread will be supplied,     and water will not fail them. Your eyes will see the king in his beauty     and view a land that stretches afar. In your thoughts you will ponder the former terror:     “Where is that chief officer? Where is the one who took the revenue?     Where is the officer in charge of the towers?” You will see those arrogant people no more,     people whose speech is obscure,     whose language is strange and incomprehensible. Look on Zion, the city of our festivals;     your eyes will see Jerusalem,     a peaceful abode, a tent that will not be moved; its stakes will never be pulled up,     nor any of its ropes broken. There the Lord will be our Mighty One.     It will be like a place of broad rivers and streams. No galley with oars will ride them,     no mighty ship will sail them. For the Lord is our judge,     the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king;     it is he who will save us. Your rigging hangs loose:     The mast is not held secure,     the sail is not spread. Then an abundance of spoils will be divided     and even the lame will carry off plunder. No one living in Zion will say, “I am ill”;     and the sins of those who dwell there will be forgiven. Evening Reflection Sometimes, along with our physical legs feeling shaky and off-balance, so can our faith legs feel wobbly and unsteady, leaving us needing someone to hold onto, or even help prop us up. Yet in life, there may be times when no one is around, or no one is willing or strong enough to help us. So what do we do when we need strength and stability beyond what we can muster or find in our own strength? When feeling like our faith is about to collapse or crumble over all life is dealing us, we can call out to God, asking Him to be our strength and stability, assured and confident, that at times when we need it the most, God is gracious to hear us and respond, to hold us up, and to be our salvation in our lowest and darkest of times, especially when it seems like the world and everyone is too busy or unavailable to help us. He is our sure foundation, the place where we find strength and stability in our most vulnerable moments. God is where our faith can be renewed, where we find peace and even joy, resting safely and securely in His steady and stable arms. Evening Prayer God, I come to you tonight, feeling shaky, unstable in my faith, ready to collapse under the weight of everyday life. Yet, you promise to be my strong foundation. So I look to You to hold me up, to renew my faith, and to be my daily strength and stability each day of my life, when I feel unbalanced and even when I feel like I’m strong enough in myself. I know You, O Lord, are my Mighty One, the one I turn to when life tries to shake my faith and my legs feel unsure and ready to give out underneath me. Thank you, God, for being my strength every morning and my salvation in distress, and for being a rich source of wisdom and knowledge. Help me to walk daily in the fear of the Lord, which is the key to Your treasure. Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Building My Life on What Will Hold

Evening Scripture Matthew, Chapter 7 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. Evening Reflection  Each day, we’re inundated with new ways to do tasks and new theories to consider. Culture is shifting at a speed the human heart was never meant to keep up with. We’re asked to process, prepare, and produce regardless of how off-axis we feel. It leaves one tired and weary. It leaves us wondering when will enough be enough, and when will the constant shifts and jolts of this world end? Matthew 7 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/matthew/7.html] calls us to consider something outside the fast-paced world. It calls us to consider the one thing that has never changed in all of creation: Who God is and what He said. Jesus lists many things in Matthew 7 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/matthew/7.html], but what stands out most and stands up against the pulls of this world is found in verses 24-27. What is your house built upon, meaning: What or who is the foundation of your life? If it is God, then we have the blueprint we need. We don’t need to latch on to new theories every time culture presents them, and we don't need to carry the weight of trying every new thing under the sun. What we need to do is build a firm foundation on the things of God, not on the things of this earth. We see time and time again that the things of earth rust and give way. They fall apart as the fabric of society shifts. The world is not stable, but we know God is. We need to set our eyes and hearts upon what Jesus valued and modeled. Rest tonight in the presence of your Savior, take every “new” thing being presented to you, and hold it up to the living Word of God and trust the Holy Spirit to lead you as you follow after His heart - not the world. Evening Prayer  Father, In a world that is always changing, I’m thankful you never will. When I feel anxious or overwhelmed by our fast-paced culture, remind me that you do not ask me to go at that speed. You call me to a richer way of living. One where stillness and peace are to be a respite found in you. Help me build my life on your solid foundation. Remove anything that would compromise its stability. Please help me live a life that reflects your design. Holy Spirit, help me to live set apart in this world, and help me to be a light where you have me. Give my body rest and cover me with your peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].