We probably should have done 15 and 16 together as there are only 28 days in this month and we are reading 31 Psalms - oh well.....I loved reading this Psalm!
There is one verse I have underlined from when I read it last year and it really meant a lot to me. It's verses 7 and 8 "I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me."
The picture these verses paint give me so much comfort! I tend to get that alone feeling even when I am in the middle of a crowd - when I least expect it - and verses like these give me something to hang on to and know that I am really NEVER ALONE!!! And when I feel like I just don't know what to do I can go to bed and lay my head on the pillow knowing that "my heart will instruct me" even as I sleep. This can also mean that even in the darkest time I know the Lord will let me know what to do. And best of all - I will not be shaken because He is right there beside me!!!
I used to be so afraid to stay alone or do anything alone, but all I do is remind myself of verses like these and all fear just goes away!!!
3 comments:
That is good. That is a comforting psalm. I like how David says "O my soul, you have said to the Lord 'You are my Lord and my goodness is nothing apart from you.'" I was thinking about the fact that David is a king, but whether good or bad circumstance was going on in his life, what he felt like in his soul, he made his soul exalt God. He did this so many times in the Psalms. Sometimes we just need to lay our emotions aside and whatever is afflicting our soul and literally begin to exalt the Lord....if it doesn't change the circumstance it will certainly change us.
I was also blessed by v. 5--"Lord you are the portion of my inheritance and my cup. You maintain my lot." He had everything in the world at his finger tips, but he made his portion and inheritance the Lord alone. One thing that I just love about david is that he wasn't scared to be in the presence of God. He had an intimate relationship with the Lord unlike other kings and he was a man after God's own heart. His heart overflowed with passion for his God and the Lord was the King of his life in everyway.
More than anything, I love how this psalm starts "preserve me, O God, for in you I put my trust." That is really powerful, and probably a good prayer in this economy and season of life no matter what we are going through. He's in charge and if we put our trust in Him, we don't need to worry about whether or not God will provide for us or if He will meet every need in our life, or even the desires of our heart. If we really trust in Him, we are not moved by circumstance. David is such a great example and sometimes these psalms are good to pray out loud b/c something powerful happens when we begin to declare these kinds of words over our circumstance.
What you said, Pastor Susan, was very encouraging! That really spoke to me.
When i came to vs. 7 in the Message --- "The wise counsel God gives when I'm awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart" -- my heart joyfully agreed. That spoke to me of receiving confirmation from God ... That seems to be one of the primary ways that God confirms things to me personally is that my heart is at rest, calm, able to sleep at night and not be up worrying about the decision i made or the action i took. I've learned to recognize and to find rest in what can seem to be such a simple way for God to speak.
I so agree with Heather. I was glad to know that I am not the only one who feels alone in a crowd and again, when we least expect it. Thanks for sharing that but mostly, how that "feeling" can bring us closer to understanding that we truly are never alone, God is with us. We may know this but I seem to keep needing to be reminded it seems. My sleep lately has been hard to come by and the message I keep getting is that God is preparing me...I am looking forward to what it is, the daily readings help me so much.
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