Podcast (daily-devotion): Download (3.5MB)

Psalm 114
When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of foreign tongue, Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion. The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back; the mountains leaped like rams, the hills like lambs. Why was it, sea, that you fled? Why, Jordan, did you turn back? Why, mountains, did you leap like rams, you hills, like lambs? Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.

This psalm is a hymn celebrating Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It was probably sung during Passover and other special times of worship. The psalmist asked the sea why it fled, the Jordan why it separated, and the mountains why they trembled. The answer: The Presence of God.

Today the presence of the same God of deliverance lives within our hearts. Just think about that! The all-powerful God lives within us in the form of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit that empowers us to live a life pleasing to God. By the Spirit we can say “No!” to sin and “Yes!” to obedience.

Are you experiencing that power? Are you experiencing the almighty God living in you and working through you? Are you surrendering to His empowerment or still trying to get it all done on your own? Maybe it’s time we tremble at His presence and allow Him to turn our hard hearts into springs of refreshing water.

Father, allow me to grasp the fact that the power which caused the mountains to tremble is the same power I have through Your Spirit. Help me give my life over to the Spirit’s control in order to know You intimately, love You passionately, and follow You wholeheartedly. In Jesus’ name. Amen.