“The biggest reason for why God asks us to pray – a reason we can’t avoid – is this: Scripture insists that God has hard-wired the universe in such a way that He works primarily through prayer. God has set up creation so that the way He does His work is through the prayers of His children. At the moment we pray, we become subject to the most powerful force in the universe.”

david jeremiah, the prayer matrix, p. 44

Please read the first blog post entitled “Why Fast?” This explains what fasting is and why we follow Jesus in this spiritual discipline as together we seek the heart of God.

Each day during our 21 Days, we will focus on one part of the ACTS prayer acronym – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication. We will spend between 3-5 days on each part of the ACTS prayer acronym. Each devotion will take less than ten minutes of your time.

We want to encourage you to grab a journal or a notebook – something to write on as you walk through each devotional. Yes, it will add a few minutes to the time it takes to do the devotion, and it will also deepen your experience and shape your walk with God for years to come. This journal or notebook will be a keepsake to remind you of God’s faithfulness during this challenging season for all of us.

Thanksgiving

Engage the Word

Read Psalm 34:1-8

[Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.]

1 I will bless the Lord at all times; 

his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; 

let the humble hear and be glad. 

3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, 

and let us exalt his name together! 

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me 

and delivered me from all my fears. 

5 Those who look to him are radiant, 

and their faces shall never be ashamed. 

6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him 

and saved him out of all his troubles. 

7 The angel of the Lord encamps 

around those who fear him, and delivers them. 

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! 

Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! 

This radiant psalm has all the indicators of gladness and gratitude for a miraculous escape. The title reminds us that the circumstances are those of 1 Samuel 21:10 and following (fleeing from Saul, of course), which had threatened to cost the psalmist David his life. Even in this dire situation, the psalmist declares “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth!” Further proof that David lived what he believed when he was in trouble, as he wrote about in Psalm 31:15 – “My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!” And as we’ve already seen in our meditations in this season of prayer and fasting, the New Testament is even more explicit: “Give thanks whatever happens!” (1 Thess. 5:18).

The angel of the Lord (v. 7) is regularly a term for God himself come down to earth. One commentator suggests that ‘perhaps, since he is “the captain of Jehovah’s host” (Jos. 5:14), he is to be thought of as surrounding them with the angelic legions at his command’. What comfort for us when we are also surrounded by our “enemies” – whether earthly or spiritual – and certainly cause enough for thanksgiving and gratitude.

In verse 8, the psalmist uses a culinary metaphor to urge his listeners into a relationship with God (Taste and see that the Lord is good!). Like a cook who encourages a reluctant eater just to give it a taste, so the psalmist encourages them to sample God and his protection, confident that they will undoubtedly recognize his benefits.

Reflect on the Truth

1. Read through these opening verses to Psalm 34 a couple of times. Take a moment to pause and meditate on a verse that is especially meaningful to you.
2. In what ways has the Lord delivered you from your fears? Take a moment to name some of the fears you might even currently be experiencing, and give them to God expectantly. You can know that He is able to deliver you from them.
3. What does it mean to you to “taste and see that the Lord is good!”? How does this culinary metaphor provide a different perspective on your gratitude?

Depend on the Spirit

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see the deeper longings, desires or motives in your heart that those thoughts are pointing to. (For example: you may write down, “I want to be able to say that I’ve tasted and seen your goodness, O God. Please open my eyes to taste and see this in greater measure.”) The Lord can help us discern the path forward – through His word, His Spirit, His people.

For Prayer

Today, pray that those who call Ascent Church home will savor the goodness of God and live richly in a spirit of gladness and gratitude each and every day.

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Content from these devotionals has been adapted from various resources, including The Bible Speaks Today commentary series by John Stott, Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary by Derek Kidner, Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary by Tremper Longman and others.