URC Daily Devotion 24th September

Throughout these words, David portrays that wherever he is, whatever he is going through, underpinning the whole experience is the incredible truth that his life has been planned. Consequently, what he is experiencing is the plan and purpose of God which has personally been mapped out in love for him.

This can hopefully be reassuring to us as well, but how often in our modern day life do we sense perhaps things which we can’t quite equate with a God of love? How can certain things be explained? Perhaps if we look more closely we might actually realise that in fact it is the Lord Himself who is personally meant to be our portion in life, rather than any set of individual circumstances. He is the one upon whom we should be focussing, rather than those things which may be occurring around about us. God is also described as our cup, our adequate sustenance at all times, the one whom Jesus said that when we drank from Him we would never thirst again.

The number of blessings which God promises to us in this Psalm just seem to be endless, and could be the basis of a lengthy sermon in itself.  However, the last verse perhaps says it all in these days when life is so centred on experiences, pleasures and thrills. God is the one who alone can provide us with the one true, dependable path of life. His presence alone can give us the fullness of joy, which Nehemiah quotes as being our strength.

This is so different to the happiness and thrills which society tries to thrust down our throats. Happenings promote happiness, which in itself is short-lived, here today, but gone by tomorrow. Only the deep-seated joy which God gives us as we walk with Him can be our eternal experience and the only place where we can find the life which never fades or dies, but goes on for time and for eternity.

May our eyes look to you and to you alone
that our focus may be upon you, and
not just for what we might get out of knowing you.

Help us to live in the knowledge of your divine purposes,
and even when the shadows and dark moments come,
experience your eternal security in and through our lives,
for you alone are God and our trust is in you.

AMEN.