January 20 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Psalm 4:

¹Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
²O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
³But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
⁴Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
⁵Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.
⁶There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
⁷Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
⁸I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Devotional

How dependent we are upon God for our safety! When we are unconscious in sleep, who alone can protect us? We are exposed to all kinds of dangers. Not even when awake, can we protect ourselves. What can we do against fires and floods and the mighty winds? Not only are we helpless against the elements of nature, but there are also outward and spiritual enemies that seek our destruction. Our arch enemy, Satan, goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Under such conditions, how can we lie down in peace, and sleep? We cannot, unless we are children of God, in his care and under his protection. Being justified by faith we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no peace, saith the Lord, to the wicked. But God giveth his beloved sleep. He makes him dwell in safety. His beloved can say, "I awaked; for the Lord sustained me."

The Lord watched over him, while he slept, and when he awoke, the Lord was still at his bedside. He can say, When I awake, I am still with Thee. So what is there to be afraid of? "When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet." "Thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid." In Jesus' care we are perfectly safe and secure, body and soul, in life and in death.

Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast,
There, by His love o'er shaded
Sweetly my soul shall rest.

Prayer

Our heavenly Father, in the turmoils of life be Thou our Refuge. May we find our rest in Thee. Grant us the assurance that we are reconciled unto Thee through the blood of the Lamb; that with body and soul, in life and in death, we belong unto Thee, and that Thou art a Sun and a Shield; that Thou givest grace and glory, and wilt withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Rom. 5:1; Isa. 48:22; Ps. 127:2; 4:8; 3:5; 139:18; Prov. 3:24; Job 11:19; Deut 33:27.

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