April 14th
1 Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”
3 I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
or take up their names on my lips.
5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful[b] one see decay.
11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 16 NIV
This Psalm of David makes an excellent prayer to God during a quiet time. We can also use it to build our faith for living in purity and not continuing to practice sin. One of the themes in this psalm is the inheritance that God has for his followers. This inheritance includes refuge, blessings, delight, provision, security, counsel, instruction, confidence, gladness, joy, rest, companionship, salvation and eternal pleasures.
When we turn to the world for satisfaction of our needs and wants, we inevitably will not be satisfied, and our sorrows will increase (4). The world and its desires are passing away, but the person who does the will of God will live forever! (1 John 2:17). The world tells us that living in obedience to God will be stoic and restrictive. To the contrary, God’s provision includes abundant blessings that endure into eternity.
Examples of those blessings include the above list and also the fruits of the Spirit, which include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV). The world may not understand or value such blessings, but their value is priceless.
When we follow Jesus and look to Him for all our needs, we will experience true pleasures that fulfill us. Praise God who brings us true satisfaction!
Questions for further thought:
Can “good things” be found apart from God?
What does it mean to “set the Lord always before us”? (8)
How did God help David, even at night when he slept? (7-9)
Why is trying to satisfy lust futile?
Prayer:
“Father in heaven, please keep me safe today. I take refuge in you, O God. You are my Lord and all good things come from you. I commit myself to not running after the various idols in the world. Please forgive me for pursuing idols in the past (list as appropriate). I praise you God for the good plans that you have for my life. I trust in you. Please guide me in everything I do. Thank you for giving me a delightful inheritance as a child of God. I will set you, Lord, always before me. I will give top priority to meeting with you each day. Because you are with me, I will not be shaken by any trials that come my way. Thank you for never abandoning me! Thank you for showing me the path of life! Thank you for filling me with joy in your presence and giving me eternal pleasures at your right hand! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”