[Friday's Devotional] - Reflect

So far this week we have looked at individual parts of Psalm 16.  Today, let’s just look at it all.  Read it to yourself.  Maybe once, maybe twice.  Perhaps in the morning, at lunch and in the evening.  Pray it to the Lord.

 

“Protect me O God; I trust in you for safety.  I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; all the good things I have come from you.

 

How excellent are the LORD’s faithful people!  My greatest pleasure is to be with them.

 

Those who rush to other gods bring many troubles on themselves.  I will not take part in their sacrifices; I will not worship their gods.

 

You, LORD are all I have, and you give me all I need; my future is in your hands.  How wonderful are your gifts to me; how good they are!

 

I praise the LORD because he guides me, and in the night my conscience warns me.  I am always aware of the LORD’s presence; he is near, and nothing can shake me

 

And so I am thankful and glad, and I feel completely secure, because you protect me from the power of death.  I have served you faithfully, and you will not abandon me to the world of the dead.  You will show me the path that leads to life; your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure for ever.”

 

Amen.

 

God bless you.

 

Phil Hemsley - (originally published in 2004)

[Thursday's Devotional] - Protected from the power of death

“And so I am thankful and glad, and I feel completely secure, because you protect me from the power of death.  I have served you faithfully, and you will not abandon me to the world of the dead.  You will show me the path that leads to life; your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure for ever.”
Psalm 16:9-11 [GNT]

 

It’s so liberating being a Christian – if we really trust God to keep his word.  Trust in God brings security, and with security comes freedom to do what is right and good.

 

I was talking with a work colleague.  He told me of his parents who now needed paid care, and how he’d never thought about pensions and the like until he saw their problems.  And it’s true.  It can make things much easier to have money saved when times are difficult – aren’t we stupid not to?  But is it right to save money in case I might need it in my retirement, or is it better to help those who are definitely in need today?  Listen to the Lord – hasn’t he promised to look after us.

 

We are ‘protected from the power of death’ which allows us to serve Jesus faithfully.  And at the end of our time on earth… “I have served you faithfully, and you will not abandon me to the world of the dead.  You will show me the path that leads to life; your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure for ever.”

 

Amen.

 

God bless you.

 

Phil Hemsley - (originally published in 2004)

[Wednesday's Devotional] - Nothing can shake me

“You, LORD are all I have, and you give me all I need; my future is in your hands.  How wonderful are your gifts to me; how good they are!

 

I praise the LORD because he guides me, and in the night my conscience warns me.  I am always aware of the LORD’s presence; he is near, and nothing can shake me”

Psalm 16: 5-8 [GNT]

 

It’s good to remind ourselves that we are safely under the Lord’s wing; to look at the gifts he’s given us and realise that they really are the important and good gifts…. Our lives, our ability to love, our ability to feel joy, sadness, hope….our very consciousness comes from Him.

 

And if we listen, we can hear the Lord guiding us.  But maybe you are like me… it’s not always easy to be aware of the Lord’s presence.  Yes, I know he’s there, but I’m not always aware of him – and I can be shaken!  But then there is the rock to step back onto.  I find if I am ‘shaken’, maybe impatient with someone at work, it’s because I’m looking at the problem through my eyes.  And on a good day I’ll realise this, and step back and try to look at things from the Lord’s point of view.  He loves that person – what right have I not to.  And on a good day that will influence my behaviour, and that will sort the problem.

 

“Lord, please make us more constantly aware of your presence.  And make us aware when we drift from your presence, so that we can stop, turn back and rely again on you.”

 

Amen.

 

God bless you.

 

Phil Hemsley - (originally published in 2004)

[Tuesday's Devotional] - Being with the Lord's people

“How excellent are the LORD’s faithful people!  My greatest pleasure is to be with them.  Those who rush to other gods bring many troubles on themselves.  I will not take part in their sacrifices; I will not worship their gods.” 
Psalm 16: 3-4 [GNT]

 

I find it’s true.  It really is a pleasure to be with the Lord’s people. 

 

A week or so back I was playing a round of golf with a good Christian friend.  At one point I suddenly thought “Isn’t this great!  Spending time with someone I love.” … of course, I didn’t say it – after all, men don’t do that.

 

And I’ve just spent a week in Switzerland at a business conference.  It was hard work – particularly the evening cruise on Lake Zurich.  As we sat round the table for dinner we enjoyed conversing with each other.  But I found the discussions I really enjoyed, and which ‘sparked my soul’ were those with the Christian couple next to me.

 

But what about those who worship other gods?  Yes I enjoy their company, but we don’t worship the same God.  It is a lower pleasure to talk about cars, mobile phones, or even power stations!

 

“Lord, thank you for the pleasure of being with your people.”

 

Amen.

 

God bless you.

 

Phil Hemsley - (originally published in 2004)

[Monday's Devotional] - Psalm 16

I used to struggle with Psalms, but then I found them in the Good News translation of the bible, and I realised that they are prayers, and I understood them.

“Protect me O God; I trust in you for safety.  I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; all the good things I have come from you”
Psalm 16: 1-2 [GNT]

This really sets our relationship doesn’t it.  He looks after me, protects me, gives me all I need.  I realise this.  I then trust Him for my future.  I then thank Him for all I have.

Simple really.  But do we do it?  Do we really trust in Him, or do we take out insurance?  Do we trust in Him, or do we rely on ourselves, on our strength and our wealth?  Do we really recognise that all good things come from Him and regularly thank Him for them?

If you answered “yes” to all those questions, well done – why not join the rest of us as we thank Him now. 

“Lord Jesus, all I have that is worth having comes from you.  Thank you.  Please show me all I have that is not good, and which does not come from you, and please help me rid myself of it.  My Lord, help me to trust in you for everything, for ever.”

Amen.

God bless you.

Phil Hemsley - (originally published in 2004)