#91325

God, You are good. No matter what goes on around me-You are good. You are worthy of my praise because You are God. You provide for me, strengthen me, deliver me, and heal me. Even when I don't see You at work in my life, that doesn't change the fact that You are working. There is no one like You. so regardless of what I face today, I will worship You! In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE READING: PROVERBS 16-18 2 CORINTHIAN 6 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. 2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. the Lord establishes his steps. the throne is established by righteousness. The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life. Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. 21The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness. 22Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly. 23 The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. every decision is from the Lord. A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker;Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out A joyful heart is good medicine, The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. humility comes before honor. An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great. now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

EXODUS 6:11-16 GOD PROMISES DELIVERANCE THE GENEALOGY OF MOSES AND AARON INSIGHT The desert sojourn (Exodus 16:11-16) and God’s merciful provision of manna became an example or pattern of God’s intention as a royal shepherd to provide for His people (celebrated annually in the Feast of Tabernacles). The Good Shepherd in the Gospels continues to offer divine provision to believers in Jesus in their deserts (Mark 6:32-44), but only at the end of this present age will He wipe away every form of suffering and want for His faithful followers. Revelation 7 describes this future time: “He who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes’ ” (vv. 15-17).

SEARCHING FOR MERCY Her fans knew her as Nightbirde. Singer-songwriter Jane Kristen Marczewski won a following in 2021 on a popular TV talent show. In 2017, she’d been diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. In 2018, she went into remission. She started touring, but months later the cancer returned, giving her little chance of survival. Amazingly she recovered and was declared cancer-free. But on February 19, 2022, Nightbirde died.

During her difficult journey, she blogged, “I remind myself that I’m praying to the God who let the Israelites stay lost for decades. They begged to arrive . . . but instead He let them wander, answering prayers they didn’t pray. . . . Every morning, He sent them mercy-bread from heaven . . . . I look for the mercy-bread . . . The Israelites called it manna, which means ‘what is it?’ That’s the same question I’m asking . . . . There’s mercy here somewhere—but what is it?”

The exodus story reveals much about God’s mercy. First, His mercy was promised to the Israelites. “You will be filled with bread” (Exodus 16:12). And second, His mercy may surprise us. “They did not know what it was” (v. 15). Mercy often doesn’t look like what we think. But it’s mercy nonetheless. For the Israelites, it looked like morning manna. For Nightbirde, she wrote of the gift of a blanket from a friend, and her mother’s hands.

By: John Blase

REFLECT AND PRAY How has God’s mercy surprised you? What might it mean for you to look for mercy today?

Merciful God, thank You for Your mercy. Please help me search for it. In Jesus' name, Amen.

PRAY FOR THE NATIONS BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD. In the aftermath of this pandemic, there is no doubt that people will be shaken, struck to the core, and seek security in very uncertain times. We may be disappointed by world leaders and governments for their shortcomings during these unprecedented times, but Psalm 33 brings back our gaze upon the Lord who is sovereign over all (v 1-5) and urges us to praise the Creator of the world and the Preserver thereof (v 6-8)—who holds everything in His counsel and plan (v 9-11).

Nations may strategize and place their hope in their own might (v 16-17), but “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (v 12), and God will surely take care of those whose trust is in Him (v 18-22)

REFLECT: WHY IS THAT NATION, WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD, IS BLESSED?

The reason lies in the awesome attributes of the Lord: He is all-powerful, majestic, sovereign, holy, and yet, gracious, loving, and faithful. Because of this, the nation who depends on God is secure and its people satisfied and joyful.

We pride ourselves as a “Christian Nation”, whose God is the Lord. When we think of our country, look at the people in it, and ask ourselves: are we blessed?

If we, God’s people, find a disconnect between what the Bible says and what we observe in our midst, then God is telling us that we need to exert more in doing our part to make this country a nation whose God is indeed the Lord Jesus Christ

AS YOU PRAY… Intercede on behalf of your country—including your leaders, that we may all seek the Lord over the issues that continually encroach upon the nation.

Lift up a prayer for the world—including other nations and governments, that we may all depend on the Lord to intervene in this pandemic to thwart it from spreading, to carry us through the adverse effects on the world economy, and to enable medical advancements for the health and protection of all.