August 19 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Lamentations 3:22-40:

²²It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
²³They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
²⁴The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
²⁵The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
²⁶It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
²⁷It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.
²⁸He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.
²⁹He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.
³⁰He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.
³¹For the LORD will not cast off for ever:
³²But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
³³For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
³⁴To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth.
³⁵To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,
³⁶To subvert a man in his cause, the LORD approveth not.
³⁷Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
³⁸Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
³⁹Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
⁴⁰Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.

Devotional

The Lord is good, and because He is good and merciful we need not despair. His mercies are new every morning; great is his faithfulness. "They shall not be ashamed, that wait for thee."

Have we trials and temptations?
   Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged, —
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden,
   Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our Refuge, —
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Does it at times seem that the Lord is far off? Do your prayers seem in vain? You have need of patience. You have heard of the patience of Job. "Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord." "For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will tarry not." "Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me." "Blessed are all they that wait for him." "Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about." "I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning." "Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities."

Prayer

O Lord God, we thank Thee that we know that with Thee there is mercy, and plenteous redemption; that where sin abounded, there grace did much more abound. May many sinners be moved by Thy Spirit to seek the Lord while He may be found, and to call upon him, while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thought, and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. We thank Thee, that sinners find pardon for all their sins. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Lam. 3:23; Isa. 49:53; Heb. 10:36; James 3:11, 7; Heb. 10:37, Micah 7:7; Isa. 30:18; Ps. 32:10; Ps. 130:5-8.

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