We must always remember: God is God. He perceives and hears all our sorrows and difficulties. Amid our sufferings, let us not forget that the Lord forever reigns. His authority and influence are unquestionable, even in the most challenging circumstances.

The sovereignty of the Lord is even acknowledged in the realm of evil spirits. When they are allowed to roam, it is only with limitations; they are always under His control. The instruments of death are under the Lord's lock, and the gates of the grave are guarded by divine power. The Lord's tremendous vengeance causes demons to tremble in fear.

In the heavenly realms, no one doubts the sovereignty of the King Eternal. All fall on their faces to pay Him homage. Angels serve as His courtiers, the redeemed are His favored ones, and all delight to serve Him day and night.

May we too strive to reach the city of the great King! May we remember in our long nights of sadness that the Lord will bring us peace and joy. Regardless of our trials, let us remember that God forever reigns!

May we always remember Your reign,
In times of joy and in days of sorrow,
May we trust in Your power and might,
And in Your love find perfect peace.

Questions for Reflection

1. How does acknowledging the reigning power of the Lord affect your daily decision-making?
2. In what ways can you see the Lord's reigning power in modern world events?
3. How can you apply the concept of God's reign in handling interpersonal conflicts?
4. How do you reconcile the existence of evil with the Lord's reign as depicted in Psalm 97:1?
5. How can recognizing the Lord's reign influence your reaction to personal or societal injustices?
6. How does the idea that "the Lord reigns" help you cope with personal loss, such as the death of a loved one?
7. How does the Lord's reign assure you in times of global turmoil such as pandemics or wars?
8. What does the phrase "let the distant shores be glad" teach us about the universal scope of God's reign?
9. How does the acknowledgment of God's reign in heaven influence your understanding of the afterlife?
10. What actions can you take in your daily life that reflect your belief in the Lord's reign?
11. How does the truth of God's reigning power shape your personal hopes and dreams?
12. In what ways can the affirmation that "God forever reigns" guide your response to personal fears and uncertainties?

Supporting Scriptures

Psalm 47:8: God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.
Psalm 96:10: Declare among the nations: “The LORD reigns!” The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.
Psalm 98:4: Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth—let your cry ring out, and sing praises!
Isaiah 52:7: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Jeremiah 31:7: For this is what the LORD says: “Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations! Make your praises heard, and say, ‘O LORD, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!’
Revelation 19:6: And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
Revelation 20:4: Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image, and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Dawn and Dusk: Scriptures, Devotions, and Prayers. Inspired by Charles Haddon Spurgeon's Morning and Evening: Daily Readings. You are free to copy as needed for noncommercial personal and ministry use.