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- Oct 26, 2007
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Turn us again to yourself, O God. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved. Psalm 80:3 NLT
When your car's in a ditch, you don’t dial a plumber. If your cell phone gets cracked, you don’t rush to the hospital. Should your tax return be selected for audit, you don’t call a devotional writer. (Definitely not a devotional writer!) Particular crises require particular helpers, those with the specific skills and abilities to get you out of trouble.
Often, our problems aren’t physical but spiritual. We have sinned. We know we’re lost. We need forgiveness, guidance, and hope. If we seek help from anyone or anything but God, we’ll be disappointed—eternally so.
The psalm writer Asaph recognized this truth, begging God to “show (Israel) your mighty power. Come to rescue us!” (Psalm 80:2). God’s people were being harassed by other nations (v.6), but the larger issue was spiritual: the people had strayed from their Shepherd, who was angry even with their prayers (v4). Asaph implored God to turn the Israelites’ hearts back to Him. “Only then will we be saved,” he wrote—three times (vv. 3,7, and 19).
When you find yourself in spiritual need, go straight to God. He may use a friend or pastor or Christian book to help you through—but He is the ultimate source of salvation.
Prayer: Lord, You are my Hope and Salvation. May I never look to anyone else.
When your car's in a ditch, you don’t dial a plumber. If your cell phone gets cracked, you don’t rush to the hospital. Should your tax return be selected for audit, you don’t call a devotional writer. (Definitely not a devotional writer!) Particular crises require particular helpers, those with the specific skills and abilities to get you out of trouble.
Often, our problems aren’t physical but spiritual. We have sinned. We know we’re lost. We need forgiveness, guidance, and hope. If we seek help from anyone or anything but God, we’ll be disappointed—eternally so.
The psalm writer Asaph recognized this truth, begging God to “show (Israel) your mighty power. Come to rescue us!” (Psalm 80:2). God’s people were being harassed by other nations (v.6), but the larger issue was spiritual: the people had strayed from their Shepherd, who was angry even with their prayers (v4). Asaph implored God to turn the Israelites’ hearts back to Him. “Only then will we be saved,” he wrote—three times (vv. 3,7, and 19).
When you find yourself in spiritual need, go straight to God. He may use a friend or pastor or Christian book to help you through—but He is the ultimate source of salvation.
Prayer: Lord, You are my Hope and Salvation. May I never look to anyone else.
