THANKFUL

Friday, March 25, 2022

Lord, we picture the psalmist as Your perfect follower, spending his days reclining under a tree in picturesque green pastures, playing a harp and eating grapes while writing prose that honors You. That’s far from an accurate picture. In truth, Scripture indicates he is more like me, and likely, all Your followers. His faith had its ups and downs, his periods of faithfulness to You and his near and far wanderings. He remembered his promise to follow You, and he was sincere. But then life’s stuff got him sidetracked, and he found himself trying to figure life out on his own. Nothing made sense. Predictably, without the joy of Your presence, he was miserable. And as You faithfully promised for Your true followers, Your Holy Spirit revealed how out-of-step the psalmist walked with You and Your Spirit had to holy-slap him back to his senses. He owned up to his wandering and made a new vow. “I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again,” he wrote with a contrite heart. “I will obey your righteous regulations.”  He lamented about the state of his life. “I have suffered much, O Lord. Restore my life again as you promised” (Psalm 119:106, 107).

Believers and non-believers alike suffer in this fallen world. However, as the psalmist found, how much better is it to face life’s challenges with You, Lord God, surrounded by Your presence, than to go through life on your own.

Lord, I give Your Holy Spirit permission to holy-slap me when I need it to get me back on track. Amen.