Psalm 16:7-13

On Thursday morning, I found out that I had to lead a devotional for the entire Agape staff. What the heck was I supposed to say? I was not in the mood to give a devotional nor did I feel like I had any place to say anything that morning but I asked God to be the speaker. I knew Psalms were a pretty reliable place to base a devotional applicable to everybody but... there are a lot of Psalms. I had no idea why at the time but I was lead to this:

Psalm 16:7-13

"I will praise praise the Lord, who counsels me;

even at night my heart instructs me.

I have set the Lord always before me.

Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

my body also will rest secure,

because you will not abandon me to the grave,

nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

You have made known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

After I read that out loud to the staff, I just felt so spirit-filled. It was this strange kind of outer-body experience. It was like listening to somebody else but I was able to hear what God had to say through me and I was just taking it all in. See, things have not been so peachy lately as to where "my heart is glad" or "my body will rest secure." But I was shown that God still reigns in all His sovereignty. He has already gone before me. He knows every circumstance in my life, inside and out. He "will not abandon me."

Worrying does nothing for our lives. I know I probably talk a lot about worry but it's obviously something I have struggled with and I'm tired of it. It encompasses everything that God would never intend for us to feel: stress, anxiety, emotional baggage... All of those things exclude the joy of the Lord and it forces us to turn our eyes upon things other than him. Worry is a god in itself. My God is so much better than that. Because my God is so faithful, so loving, so caring in "making known to me the path of life", I truly can rejoice. My body and my soul can take rest in Him. I'm so tired of getting rocked by these waves of life that come crashing over me time and time again.

This whole "total trust" concept is working so well. It's always hard for me to find peace like this until I give in, until I give it all up to Christ. Once that happens, He shows me that He is all that I need. He is all that I will ever, ever need. Everything else to come that is good is a complete blessing from Him; friendships, serving, and relationships.

Give up and give in, it's a beautiful surrender in the end.

I love you God. Even though I don't always like what I have to go through or understand it at the time, I know that you always work out everything for my good. Only you know what is best for me. Nothing is too big or great or impossible for you Jesus. You've already conquered the impossible. You did not see decay. So I'm trusting you Jesus with all that I have. If I don't, I'm a lost wretch. Thank you for guidance, grace, peace, and love in my life. I love you Jesus.