A Life Worthy

Tag: Psalm 73

  • One-a-Day Friday 5/30/14

    number 1But as for me, it is good to be near God (Psalm 73:28).

    Certain verses seem to sum up vast amounts of Scripture.

    This would be one of those verses.

    All of my hopes and plans and dreams and desires, boiled down to one thought:

    It is good to be near God.

    When I am near him, I am safe.

    When I am near him, I have peace.

    When I am near him, my heart is full

    and still

    and quiet.

    I don’t need to understand all the things that are too big for me

    when I am near him.

    I don’t need to see justice done and evil men face the consequences

    when I am near him.

    I don’t need to justify my actions

    or my thoughts

    or myself

    when I am near him.

    Oh, it is good to be near God.

    He’s calling you close today; he wants you near enough to hold.

    Because you are his Beloved.

  • One-a-Day Thursday 5/29/14

    Whom have I in heaven but you?  And earth has nothing I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:25-26).

    I’ve written, deleted, and rewritten today’s devotion multiple times, and you know what?  There’s not a thing I can add to this beautiful piece of Scripture.  I hope you don’t mind, but I’m just going to leave you with these verses today.  Drink them in, Beloved.  Draw strength and confidence and peace from the knowledge that you are his, and he is yours.

    Forever and always.

  • One-a-Day Wednesday 5/28/14

    number 1When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny (Psalm 73:16-17).

    How often do you avoid God?

    Seriously.

    When I’m in the kind of spiritual place we’ve been talking about this week—envious of the world, wounded by God’s callous disregard for my obvious piety—the last place I want to be is on my knees in prayer.

    Can I just say, right now, that not wanting to be with the Father—worshipping, reading his Word, listening for his Holy Spirit—is an immediate sign that things are wrong?

    Sure I can.

    Of course, this is the time when I most need to be on my knees.  Because—and you know this as well as I do, Beloved—when I come to the Father, humbly and worshipfully, he changes me.

    One of the few advantages to being kind of a spiritual yutz is that I am constantly going back to God to get my head straight.  Three, four, five times a day—or an hour—I am asking him to help me see myself, the people around me, and this insane world through his eyes.

    Have you spent time with him today, Beloved?  Have you given him the chance to remind you that the people of this world are not to be envied, but to be pitied, not to be imitated, but to be prayed for?  Have you given him the chance to remind you that you have earned nothing, but have gained everything, that you deserve emptiness, but have been filled?

    You haven’t?

    Then what are you listening to me ramble on for?  Go to your father.  Now.

    Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

  • One-a-Day Tuesday 5/27/14

    number 1Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence (Psalm 73:13).

    Did I mention that I really identify with the Psalmist on this one?

    When I’m in the kind of mood we talked about yesterday, I inevitably fall into what can only be described as a pity party.  My thoughts run to, “Oh, God, I work so hard for you; I do so much.  Why don’t you honor my amazingosity?”

    I could count all the things wrong with that question, but I only have so many fingers and toes, and I’m trying to type.  Suffice to say that, like Isaiah said, all my righteous acts are like filthy rags.

    God knows it.

    I know it.

    No one’s fooling anyone here.

    So, Beloved, since you’re humoring me this week and going through exercises you obviously don’t need, follow me on this one.  Check your heart.  Do you find yourself feeling/thinking/acting like you have earned anything from God?  Do you feel a little put out that the Almighty has not deigned to recognize your excellent work on his behalf?

    Probably not.

    But just on the off chance that you do, may I suggest that you, how do I say this, knock it off?  Because, frankly, your righteousness is only slightly less filthy than mine.

    God bless your Tuesday, Beloved.  Keep your head straight.

  • One-a-Day Monday 5/26/14

    number 1Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.  But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.  For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked (Psalm 73:1-3).

    Sometimes sinners seem to have all the fun.

    I totally identify with the Psalmist on this one.  Although I know better, there are days when I feel like the worldly people around me just seem to have a better life.  Better cars, better jobs, better bank accounts—just…better.  It’s a dangerous place to find myself, as the Psalmist points out.  When I get in that mode, I focus way ever so much too much on what the world values, and I forget what my Lord considers important.  Frankly, I get kinda pathetic.

    Look, I know you’re far too spiritually mature to fall into such moods.

    But…

    Just to humor me, take a moment this morning to step back and evaluate how you look at the world around you.  Do you, by chance, find yourself envying those who do not follow God?  Do you find yourself thinking, even for a moment, that they have a better life than you do?  That they have a freedom you do not?

    Father, I pray for clear vision to start the week.  Help us to see this world, and its people, as you do.  Help us to focus on you, and on the abundant, amazing life you offer us.  

    Amen?

    Amen.

    Monday’s waiting, Beloved. Go get it.