Psalm 16:1-2 Keep me safe, my God, for in You I take refuge. I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.”
This morning I find myself on edge. My nerves are frayed. It’s not really one thing causing the issue. It’s many, many little bitty things that seem to be piling up. Kept in perspective, it would not be a problem. But sometimes it’s dangerously easy for me to let my circumstances get out of perspective.
Psalm 16:5 LORD, You alone are my portion and cup; You make my lot secure.
My usual prayer time was spent breathing deeply, mindfully, and repeating to my Savior: “You’ve got me. You are holding me. You are in control” over and over and over again. On the surface, it probably seems rather ridiculous, but I found that as I breathed deeply and kept repeating those words, an insular bubble seemed to form, at least mentally. Jesus and I are in the bubble. He’s got me in the palm of His hand. All the world’s chaos is outside of it, harmlessly bumping the elastic surface and skittering away. I found the entire exercise to be deeply calming. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 16:8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that while the world will always be full of chaos, demands, and obligations, I am in this world but not if it. Thank You for the reminder that You are holding me, surrounding me with Your peace, which surpasses all understanding. Thank You for helping me tap into that peace at a time when I am feeling overwhelmed with chaos. Help me always to choose Your peace, Your joy, Your love, instead of the chaos of the world. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 16:11 …You will fill me with joy in Your presence….
Have a blessed day.
Hope in God…. (devo reflection)
Psalm 42:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God….
To date, my hubs and our oldest have walked over 900 miles. Walked. On foot. Step by step. I’ve prayed them through every single mile and then some. But their spirits are starting to flag. My oldest is homesick and suffering from “the grass is greener” syndrome, imagining, I’m sure, all the fun he’s missing out on at home. The hubs is flagging from the continual wear of “pushing the rope,” trying to keep our son encouraged and moving forward when most days he just wants to quit. Jesus, Help us.
Psalm 42:8 By day the LORD commands His steadfast love, and at night His song is with me….
As a parent, I want my son, both my sons, to understand that Jesus brings us to the end of ourselves so He can show us how far He can take us when we allow Him to take control. I want him, both of them, to realize in life that we often are called to do difficult, sometimes seemingly impossible things, and if God’s calling us to do it, HE will help us through it, step by step, moment by moment, but we have to trust Him and allow Him to work in us and through us. Jesus, Help us.
Psalm 42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this awkward and uncomfortable space You have brought us all to. I don’t like it here, but I recognize that You are teaching ALL of us about trusting in You, about coming to the end of ourselves and letting go of control so that You can work through us and in us. I love this precious family so very deeply, Lord. I know You love us more than we are capable of understanding. Help us all to trust You, to lean into You, to allow You to lead us. Draw us closer. Amen.
Psalm 43:3 O send out Your light and Your truth; let them lead me….
Have a blessed day.
Valuing people over possessions…. (devo reflection)
Rev 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
Our culture values stuff. The premise of almost any commercial is “If you buy this product, your life will be enriched.” Therefore, it is not surprising to me that every semester when I talk to students about future careers, there is always at least one who doesn’t care what he does as long as he “makes bank.” Most everything in our culture indicates that money means happiness, or at the very least, having money means you can buy happiness.
1 Cor 13:3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
I wonder what would happen if, as a culture, we shifted our focus away from making money and acquiring things and toward loving others? What if, instead of chasing after the almighty dollar, we chased after others, showering them with love and compassion? I almost can’t imagine such a world, but wouldn’t it be astounding to witness?
Psalm 22:19 But you, LORD, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this scripture. Thank You for these thoughts that I will continue to ponder in my heart. Help me as an individual and help our culture to value people over possessions, to value helping others over “making bank.” Draw us closer to You. Remake us in Your imagine. Amen.
Luke 1:46-47 … “My soul glorifies the LORD and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior….”
Have a blessed day.