Day 2 – Daily Devotional – January 6, 2025 – Fight The Right Fight

READ

Psa 46:8-11  Come, see the works of the Lord, who brings devastation on the earth.  He makes wars cease throughout the earth. He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces; He sets wagons ablaze.  “Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”  The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.  

EXAMINE 

Hello, Bethel  The opening phrase of Psa 46:10 translates to, “stop your fighting,” “be still,” or “cease striving.” God wants His people and His foes to recognize His power and give up struggling against His purposes. He stops wars, shatters weapons, and conquers kingdoms without breaking a sweat. Our call and privilege is to know Him, to see Him high and exalted, and humble ourselves to His great, unshakable plan.  Simply put:  LET GOD BE GOD!

APPLY 

So much of our time and energy gets wrapped up in building our own little kingdoms. Ouch!  That hurts, doesn’t it?  We work hard to get the promotion, establish our home, gain the reputation, or any number of other achievements. We even let our faith get reduced to “scheming a plan” we can control. Again, OUCH!  We sadly believe church attendance, moral choices, and raising good kids earn God’s pleasure. Nope!  Pop goes the balloon!  In Psa 46 God declares, “cease striving!”  Just be still and know me. Understand how much bigger and higher and greater I am than your puny little plans. Don’t reduce me to a set of rules, make room for ME!” 

PRAY 

Ask God to search our heart and reveal where we’re fighting our own battle WITHOUT HIM.  Are we striving to build our own little kingdom at work or home? Are we trying to control our own faith by following rules instead of experiencing true communion with God? Pray that God would quiet our heart and show us how truly awesome and powerful He really is. Pray that God would give us grace to humble ourselves and know Him better today.