1 00:00:38,001 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,501 --> 00:00:45,181 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,241 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,161 --> 00:00:54,011 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,191 --> 00:00:57,311 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,651 --> 00:01:00,091 Speaker 1: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 7 00:01:00,491 --> 00:01:03,271 Speaker 1: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 8 00:01:03,491 --> 00:01:05,671 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. 9 00:01:05,991 --> 00:01:08,571 Speaker 1: You told us what you wanted and we listened. So 10 00:01:08,611 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 11 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:14,161 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,481 --> 00:01:15,441 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. 13 00:01:18,441 --> 00:01:28,331 Speaker 2: Life Audio Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture, 14 00:01:28,351 --> 00:01:33,831 Speaker 2: a calming, scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end 15 00:01:33,950 --> 00:01:37,021 Speaker 2: each day with God's word in your mind and on 16 00:01:37,041 --> 00:01:42,601 Speaker 2: your heart. Right after this short word from our sponsors, 17 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:58,111 Speaker 2: we'll reflect on tonight's scripture, Psalm 107. Tonight's scripture reflection 18 00:01:58,651 --> 00:02:02,171 Speaker 2: is written by Alicia Hedley and read by Leah Gerard. 19 00:02:03,371 --> 00:02:11,581 Speaker 2: Psalm 107 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. 20 00:02:12,201 --> 00:02:17,121 Speaker 2: His love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord 21 00:02:17,620 --> 00:02:21,501 Speaker 2: tell their story, those he redeemed from the hand of 22 00:02:21,541 --> 00:02:25,391 Speaker 2: the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east 23 00:02:25,671 --> 00:02:31,650 Speaker 2: and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, 24 00:02:32,111 --> 00:02:34,821 Speaker 2: finding no way to a city where they could settle. 25 00:02:36,141 --> 00:02:39,481 Speaker 2: They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. 26 00:02:41,101 --> 00:02:43,041 Speaker 2: Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, 27 00:02:43,081 --> 00:02:47,261 Speaker 2: and He delivered them from their distress. He led them 28 00:02:47,300 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 2: by a straight way to a city where they could settle. 29 00:02:51,621 --> 00:02:54,220 Speaker 2: Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing 30 00:02:54,300 --> 00:02:59,791 Speaker 2: love and His wonderful deeds for mankind, for He satisfies 31 00:02:59,851 --> 00:03:05,951 Speaker 2: the thirsty. and fills the hungry with good things. Some 32 00:03:06,011 --> 00:03:11,331 Speaker 2: sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, 33 00:03:12,171 --> 00:03:17,331 Speaker 2: because they rebelled against God's commands and despised the plans 34 00:03:17,371 --> 00:03:21,751 Speaker 2: of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor. 35 00:03:22,231 --> 00:03:25,550 Speaker 2: They stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then 36 00:03:25,591 --> 00:03:28,470 Speaker 2: they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he 37 00:03:28,631 --> 00:03:33,621 Speaker 2: saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, 38 00:03:33,681 --> 00:03:39,231 Speaker 2: the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them 39 00:03:39,291 --> 00:03:42,431 Speaker 2: give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and 40 00:03:42,471 --> 00:03:47,111 Speaker 2: his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates 41 00:03:47,191 --> 00:03:52,741 Speaker 2: of bronze and cuts through bars of iron. Some became 42 00:03:52,841 --> 00:03:57,101 Speaker 2: fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of 43 00:03:57,141 --> 00:04:01,661 Speaker 2: their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the 44 00:04:01,701 --> 00:04:05,501 Speaker 2: gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in 45 00:04:05,541 --> 00:04:09,341 Speaker 2: their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He 46 00:04:09,421 --> 00:04:13,220 Speaker 2: sent out his word and healed them. He rescued them 47 00:04:13,301 --> 00:04:17,321 Speaker 2: from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord 48 00:04:17,380 --> 00:04:21,161 Speaker 2: for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. 49 00:04:21,781 --> 00:04:25,140 Speaker 2: Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works 50 00:04:25,221 --> 00:04:58,401 Speaker 2: with songs of joy. Verse 2. Verse 3. and he 51 00:04:58,461 --> 00:05:02,871 Speaker 2: brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm 52 00:05:02,951 --> 00:05:07,311 Speaker 2: to a whisper. The waves of the sea were hushed. 53 00:05:08,891 --> 00:05:11,521 Speaker 2: They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided 54 00:05:11,581 --> 00:05:16,161 Speaker 2: them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to 55 00:05:16,201 --> 00:05:19,720 Speaker 2: the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds 56 00:05:19,781 --> 00:05:23,791 Speaker 2: for mankind. Let them exalt him in the assembly of 57 00:05:23,831 --> 00:05:27,231 Speaker 2: the people and praise him in the council of the elders. 58 00:05:28,461 --> 00:05:32,861 Speaker 2: He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, 59 00:05:33,401 --> 00:05:36,770 Speaker 2: and fruitful land into a salt waste because of the 60 00:05:36,981 --> 00:05:41,471 Speaker 2: wickedness of those who lived there. He turned the desert 61 00:05:42,051 --> 00:05:45,891 Speaker 2: into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs. 62 00:05:46,471 --> 00:05:49,431 Speaker 2: There he brought the hungry to live, and they founded 63 00:05:49,471 --> 00:05:53,241 Speaker 2: a city where they could settle. They sowed fields and 64 00:05:53,681 --> 00:05:57,461 Speaker 2: planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest. He blessed them. 65 00:05:57,931 --> 00:06:01,111 Speaker 2: and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let 66 00:06:01,151 --> 00:06:06,401 Speaker 2: their herds diminish. Then their numbers decreased, and they were 67 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:12,181 Speaker 2: humbled by oppression, calamity, and sorrow. He who pours contempt 68 00:06:12,241 --> 00:06:16,981 Speaker 2: on nobles made them wander in a trackless waste. But 69 00:06:17,421 --> 00:06:20,311 Speaker 2: he lifted the needy out of their affliction, and increased 70 00:06:20,751 --> 00:06:25,451 Speaker 2: their families like flocks. The upright see and rejoice, but 71 00:06:26,461 --> 00:06:32,471 Speaker 2: Let the one who is wise heed these things and 72 00:06:32,571 --> 00:06:40,791 Speaker 2: ponder the loving deeds of the Lord. As the day 73 00:06:40,831 --> 00:06:44,491 Speaker 2: comes to an end, there's something powerful about looking backward 74 00:06:44,551 --> 00:06:50,121 Speaker 2: before looking ahead. Psalm 107 is one long reminder that 75 00:06:50,181 --> 00:06:54,260 Speaker 2: God has always been faithful to his people. Throughout the chapter, 76 00:06:54,771 --> 00:06:58,871 Speaker 2: we meet people in very different situations. Some wandered in 77 00:06:58,901 --> 00:07:03,621 Speaker 2: the wilderness, unsure where to go. Some sat in darkness, 78 00:07:04,301 --> 00:07:09,081 Speaker 2: weighed down by the consequences of their choices. Others found 79 00:07:09,121 --> 00:07:13,621 Speaker 2: themselves overwhelmed by sickness or caught in storms so fierce 80 00:07:14,081 --> 00:07:18,921 Speaker 2: they thought they would surely perish. Yet every story follows 81 00:07:18,981 --> 00:07:23,561 Speaker 2: the same beautiful pattern. They cried out to the Lord 82 00:07:23,591 --> 00:07:28,831 Speaker 2: in their troubles And he delivered them. Again and again. 83 00:07:30,011 --> 00:07:35,921 Speaker 2: The circumstances changed, but God's character never did. As I 84 00:07:36,001 --> 00:07:38,221 Speaker 2: read this chapter, I can't help but think about my 85 00:07:38,281 --> 00:07:42,081 Speaker 2: own life. There have been seasons where I felt like 86 00:07:42,141 --> 00:07:46,901 Speaker 2: I was wandering, wondering if God still saw me. There 87 00:07:46,921 --> 00:07:52,801 Speaker 2: have been prayers I repeated for years. Days when disappointment 88 00:07:52,861 --> 00:07:56,661 Speaker 2: felt heavier than hope. And moments when I wasn't sure 89 00:07:56,881 --> 00:08:00,841 Speaker 2: how God could possibly bring beauty from what I was experiencing. 90 00:08:02,591 --> 00:08:06,991 Speaker 2: Maybe you've had seasons like that too. The beautiful thing 91 00:08:07,071 --> 00:08:11,071 Speaker 2: about Psalm 107 is that it doesn't pretend life is easy. 92 00:08:12,551 --> 00:08:21,121 Speaker 2: It acknowledges that God's people experience wilderness seasons, storms, waiting, fear, loss, 93 00:08:21,781 --> 00:08:27,291 Speaker 2: and uncertainty. Looking back, I can see so many moments 94 00:08:27,331 --> 00:08:32,190 Speaker 2: when God answered prayers I thought he'd forgotten. I can 95 00:08:32,271 --> 00:08:37,571 Speaker 2: also see prayers he answered differently than I expected, only 96 00:08:37,631 --> 00:08:42,471 Speaker 2: to discover later that his way was infinitely better than mine. 97 00:08:44,131 --> 00:08:50,200 Speaker 2: There were doors he lovingly kept closed, detours that protected me, 98 00:08:51,701 --> 00:08:55,950 Speaker 2: and seasons of waiting that shaped my heart more than 99 00:08:55,991 --> 00:09:01,041 Speaker 2: immediate answers ever could have. Perhaps that's why the psalm 100 00:09:01,550 --> 00:09:06,561 Speaker 2: repeatedly urges God's people to give thanks. Not because life 101 00:09:06,601 --> 00:09:12,681 Speaker 2: has been perfect, but because God has been faithful. And 102 00:09:12,701 --> 00:09:16,631 Speaker 2: giving thanks keeps our hearts in a posture of remembering 103 00:09:16,731 --> 00:09:19,891 Speaker 2: God as good, rather than being tempted to go into 104 00:09:19,951 --> 00:09:26,361 Speaker 2: a state of discontentment or complaining. Gratitude doesn't require us 105 00:09:26,421 --> 00:09:31,221 Speaker 2: to ignore the difficult chapters of our story. Instead, it 106 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:35,541 Speaker 2: invites us to recognize that God's goodness has been woven 107 00:09:35,561 --> 00:09:42,091 Speaker 2: through every chapter, even the painful ones. As you prepare 108 00:09:42,131 --> 00:09:45,451 Speaker 2: for sleep tonight, take a moment to remember your own story. 109 00:09:46,631 --> 00:09:49,791 Speaker 2: Think about the prayers God has answered, the strength He 110 00:09:49,831 --> 00:09:54,430 Speaker 2: provided when you thought you had none left. the relationships 111 00:09:54,471 --> 00:09:58,691 Speaker 2: He restored, the doors He opened, and even the hardships 112 00:09:58,771 --> 00:10:04,341 Speaker 2: through which He faithfully carried you. The same God who 113 00:10:04,381 --> 00:10:09,300 Speaker 2: delivered His people throughout Psalm 107 is the same God 114 00:10:09,441 --> 00:10:14,661 Speaker 2: who walks with you today. And He is just as 115 00:10:14,801 --> 00:10:23,641 Speaker 2: faithful tonight as He's always been. Dear Father, Before I 116 00:10:23,701 --> 00:10:26,141 Speaker 2: close my eyes tonight, I simply want to thank you. 117 00:10:27,461 --> 00:10:30,050 Speaker 2: Thank you for every time you've met me in my 118 00:10:30,111 --> 00:10:34,271 Speaker 2: own wilderness. Thank you for carrying me through storms I 119 00:10:34,451 --> 00:10:37,761 Speaker 2: never thought I would survive, and for remaining close to me. 120 00:10:38,101 --> 00:10:42,521 Speaker 2: when life felt uncertain. Forgive me for the times I've 121 00:10:42,551 --> 00:10:46,251 Speaker 2: become so focused on what I'm still waiting for that 122 00:10:46,291 --> 00:10:50,570 Speaker 2: I forget to remember all you've already done. Open my 123 00:10:50,811 --> 00:10:54,411 Speaker 2: eyes to the countless ways you've been faithful throughout my life. 124 00:10:56,451 --> 00:11:00,111 Speaker 2: As I rest tonight Fill my heart with gratitude instead 125 00:11:00,151 --> 00:11:06,111 Speaker 2: of discontentment and with trust instead of fear. Help me 126 00:11:06,151 --> 00:11:09,891 Speaker 2: wake up tomorrow with a deeper confidence that the God 127 00:11:09,931 --> 00:11:14,261 Speaker 2: who has carried me through every chapter before will continue 128 00:11:14,321 --> 00:11:20,781 Speaker 2: to lead me in every chapter still to come. In Jesus' name, amen. 129 00:11:23,441 --> 00:11:26,831 Speaker 2: How did tonight's scripture speak to you? Share your thoughts today. 130 00:11:27,231 --> 00:11:38,971 Speaker 2: in the Your Nightly Scripture Forum discussion. Thank you for 131 00:11:39,030 --> 00:11:45,420 Speaker 2: listening to Your Nightly Scripture. Tonight's scripture was read from 132 00:11:45,461 --> 00:11:51,961 Speaker 2: the New International Version by Biblica All Rights Reserved. If 133 00:11:52,021 --> 00:11:56,141 Speaker 2: tonight's episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show 134 00:11:56,731 --> 00:12:01,931 Speaker 2: on Apple Podcasts so your next nightly scripture is ready 135 00:12:02,051 --> 00:12:07,401 Speaker 2: when you are. Your nightly scripture is a production of 136 00:12:07,501 --> 00:12:13,141 Speaker 2: Life Audio and Salem Media. Thank you and we'll see 137 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:14,691 Speaker 2: you tomorrow night. 138 00:12:27,181 --> 00:12:28,570 Speaker 1: Thank you.