LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
Monday 2nd August 2021
(Day 38 of 40 Days of Power)
GIVE THANKS FOR HIS GOODNESS
Scripture Reading: Psalm 107:1-9
Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness. (Psalm 107:8-9)
God is good. We say it often – sometimes as a cliché. God’s goodness is the essence of His being. The Lord’s goodness is active. It is goodness that is not just good for goodness’ sake, but goodness that acts and does things. God’s goodness comes out of His love. Because He loves us, He is good to us.
Our passage focuses on three things that God does as a result of His goodness.
- He does wonderful works. In the context of the Psalm, the wonderful works refer to all the things that God did for Israel from the time He delivered them from Egypt. For us, God’s wonderful works are all the things He has done for us since He saved us from sin. He has filled us with His Spirit to enable us live a victorious life on earth. We are privileged to be members of the Kingdom of His dear Son.
It is out of God’s goodness that we experience His manifold, wonderful works. Each of us can testify of our own experiences that affirm His good and kind nature. Give Him praise as you recount the things He has done for you.
- He satisfies the longing soul. The longing soul refers to a person who has a deep passion for God. When our hearts yearn for the Lord, He gives us satisfaction. God sees beyond our outward actions to the intents and longings of our hearts. A sincere desire to encounter God at a deeper level will be richly rewarded with His presence.
This is what happens when we wait on the Lord in fasting and prayer. He is willing and ready to have a deeper fellowship with us, if we will draw closer to Him. It is a good thing to want to know the Lord more intimately.
- He fills the hungry with good things. Those who are hungry are those who have a physical need. God meets our needs with His goodness. He is almighty. There is no need we will ever have, that is out of His reach to abundantly supply.
The miracles and divine interventions we earnestly seek from the Lord will be given to us because He is good. He hears us when we ask and will be generous to us out of His goodness.
For all these and many more that the Lord does, we offer our thanks.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you have been so good to me. Your presence satisfies my soul. Thank you for meeting all my needs. In Jesus’ name, Amen.