Scripture Reading(s)
Psalm 16
16:1 Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
16:2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
16:3 As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.
16:4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.
16:5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
16:6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.
16:7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
16:8 I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.
16:10 For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.
16:11 You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Reflections
It is not enough to simply say that you trust God. Our hearts must fully be submitted to the truth of God’s loving protection that is always surrounding us.
I am one who has always struggled with fear and anxiety. The second something unfamiliar comes my way, I tend to fear what I do not know and my defences go up. I forget very quickly how faithful God has been in the past in getting me through some very hard times.
Here the Psalmist is not only targeting his fear and putting his faith in God, he is also showing how God is above his fears and shows His protection in very specific ways. I also love how the Psalmist acknowledges in verse 4 that turning to other “gods” or things that they think will grant them protection and safety, will only lead to a path filled with hopelessness.
When one puts their full faith in God, it leads to true joy and satisfaction. Trusting God with the good and the bad fills our hearts with a peace unlike any other. Our peace then reflects a heart filled with happiness in knowing that our God is in charge of all that goes on.
“I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.”
How easy it is to rely on our own means rather than seeking the Lord’s guidance. At some point we all get to that place, where we are stressed and pressed and rather than turning to God we turn to our own “wisdom.” My experience has shown this personally to be bad decision making.
Let us always remember to seek the Lord in all things so that He can continuously lead us and guide us in His understanding and His ways. Walking in His path will always lead to a much better place than our own!
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