Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

July 9– Morning

 by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“Don’t forget all of his benefits.” 

—Psalm 103:2

It is right and good to consider how God has benefited the lives of ancient saints– to observe his goodness in delivering them, his mercy in pardoning them, and his faithfulness in keeping his covenant with them. But wouldn’t it be even more interesting and profitable for us to reflect on God’s hand in our own lives? Shouldn’t we look upon our own history as being at least as full of God’s goodness, truth, and faithfulness as the lives of any of the saints who have gone before us? We do our Lord an injustice when we suppose that he performed all of his mighty acts in the past but doesn’t roll up his sleeves and go to work for his saints who are now living on the earth.

Let’s take a moment today to review our own lives. Surely you can think of times when you have received benefit from the Lord. Haven’t you known his deliverance? Haven’t you passed through rivers while he supported you with his divine presence? Haven’t you seen his hand at work for you? Hasn’t the God who gave Solomon the desire of his heart listened to you and answered your requests? Hasn’t he who satisfied David with good things satisfied you with plenty? Hasn’t he led you into green pastures and beside still waters?

Surely the goodness of God has been the same to us as to the saints of old; so, let’s sing songs of mercy and make him a crown of thanks and praise. Let our souls give forth music as sweet and as exhilarating as came from David’s harp, while we praise the Lord whose mercy endures forever. [M&E]