From Everlasting to Everlasting!

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 90 (NRSV)
Prayer for life from God

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You turn us back to dust,
and say, "Turn back, you mortals."
For a thousand years in your sight
are like yesterday when it is past,
or like a watch in the night.

You sweep them away; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning;
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.

For we are consumed by your anger;
by your wrath we are overwhelmed.
You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your countenance.

For all our days pass away under your wrath;
our years come to an end like a sigh.
The days of our life are seventy years,
or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;
even then their span is only toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.

Who considers the power of your anger?
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
So teach us to count our days
that we may gain a wise heart.

Turn, O Lord! How long?
Have compassion on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us,
and as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be manifest to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and prosper for us the work of our hands--
O prosper the work of our hands!



DEVOTION

Many of us probably grew up hearing portions of this psalm recited in our church. I know I grew up hearing the beginning and the end. I guess someone didn’t like the stuff in the middle (giggles)!

I love when the psalmist states, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”

It inspires me from the crown of my head to the tip of my toes when I remind myself that I serve the God who is from everlasting to everlasting!

Today, as my family was reading our advent devotional we were reminded that it was God who created the heavens and the earth, made humankind in God’s image, and set the stars in the sky!

Isn’t that amazing? When the earth was without form or void and darkness hovered over the face of the waters, God was there!

Whenever I think on this, I take comfort in the fact that nothing is a surprise to God! God knows my good before I do it and God knows my evil before I can even conceive it in my mind.

In Psalm 90 the psalmist cries out to God for mercy. He confesses his sin to God requesting forgiveness and grace. He says, “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days...Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands-- O prosper the work of our hands!”

We know, this side of the cross, that God did answer this prayer! God provided all of the love, mercy, grace, compassion, and forgiveness that we could ever need in the gift of JESUS.

During this Advent Season, our hearts live into mystery that God sent Jesus into the world one Christmas morning to ultimately die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life!

Because of this great GIFT, we have a blessed assurance that God loves us more than we can ever hope, dream, or imagine. We can also rest in the peaceful knowledge that we can’t out sin, out fox, or out run the love of God that has been revealed to us through Christ Jesus!

This CHRISTmas season, let’s be intentional about remembering that JESUS is the reason for the season! After all, Advent is about celebrating the first coming of Jesus and anticipating his second coming in glory!

Come, Lord Jesus, Come!


Won’t you pray with me?

Holy God, thank you that you sent Jesus into the world to die on the cross to save me from my sin and gift me with eternal life. I am so glad that Jesus did not stay dead, but was resurrected on the third day, just as he promised. Today, I am putting all of my hope in Jesus. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I can share the good news that “Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ shall come again!” I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.



SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! Let me encourage you to tell a Christian friend that you just put all of your hope in Jesus. Ask him or her to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand and to find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your Christian journey!

I would be honored if you would let me know about your decision today by clicking "YES" in the poll located in the upper-right hand corner of the good news blog in answer to the question, "Did God save you today?"

Congratulations and Happy Re-birthday! Your salvation is our GOOD NEWS, please go and share the GOOD NEWS with others!