Charles Stanley Daily Devotional 25th July 2025 (In Touch) Friday Message
TOPIC: Discerning God’s Goodness
SCRIPTURE READING: Psalms 31:19-24 (New International Version)
19 How abundant are the good things
that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,
on those who take refuge in you.
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from all human intrigues;
you keep them safe in your dwelling
from accusing tongues.
21 Praise be to the Lord,
for he showed me the wonders of his love
when I was in a city under siege.
22 In my alarm I said,
“I am cut off from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help.
23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!
The Lord preserves those who are true to him,
but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord.
Consider these expressions of God’s goodness toward us:
- Loving Discipline. Since God’s love is unfailing, He corrects us when we need it. The process is painful, but the result is “the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11).
- Wise Limitations. With His perfect insight, the Lord lovingly withholds things that would be detrimental to us spiritually.
- Useful Suffering. God knows which refining experiences we need in order to become fruitful in His kingdom. What appears to us as a valley of hardship is His place of preparation for godliness and service.
It can be tempting to interpret God’s character on the basis of our circumstances. But when evidence compels us to doubt His goodness, it’s important to remember this: His gifts may come in a variety of shapes and sizes but are always beneficial. As Psalm 34:8 says, “O taste and see that the Lord is good.”
Bible in One Year: Isaiah 11-14
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Some of God’s gifts are experiences we wouldn’t choose, but they are always beneficial.
Dr. Charles F. Stanley was the founder of In Touch Ministries and a New York Times best-selling author. Throughout his ministry, he demonstrated a keen awareness of people’s needs and provided Christ-centered biblically based principles for everyday life