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March 12 Daily Devotional

Keeping the Lord in Mind at All Times

Peter G. Feenstra

I have set the LORD always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. (Ps. 16:8)

Bible Reading

Psalm 16

Devotional

Do you have times when you feel you are lacking something in your spiritual journey? As you look at the lives of other Christians, you listen to what they have to say, and your life doesn’t match what they experience or talk about. Maybe you feel that way when you open the Bible and read passages that seem unrealistic. Psalm 16 seems to be a prime example. David exclaims, “You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You.” A little later on he says “I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.” To top it off, David speaks glowing words about his relationship with others. They are the ones in whom he delights.

Aren’t those words out of touch with reality? Who can, in all sincerity, claim “I keep the Lord always before me”? Doesn’t that sound arrogant? Think about the times we get upset and frustrated or when we get absorbed in our own problems and start feeling sorry for ourselves. What about those times when we get all wrapped up in our work or leisure? Isn’t David uttering pious platitudes?

Our reservations seem to be confirmed when we take a look at David’s life. He was afraid. He feared for his life when he took refuge in the land of the Philistines. The Lord was not on his mind when he committed adultery with Bathsheba.

Nevertheless, Psalm 16 is not unrealistic. It teaches us to refocus. When we are feeling low we need to relearn the language of faith. David sinned and was off base many times, but his situation could not stay that way. The Lord is the strength of his life and David knows he can and he must find everything in Him. God is the anchor that keeps him, and all of us, from drifting away and getting shipwrecked on the seas of sin or from being overwhelmed and drowned by the waves of temptation.

When your life is out of focus you know what you need to do, don’t you? The Lord is your Lighthouse. In your darkest hour and at your lowest point the Lord will not leave you or forsake you. The Lord has given you direction. Don’t lose sense of where you are going. Even as the waves of doubt, frustration and temptation try to lure you away, keep your eyes on the Lord. Don’t lose sight of the Lighthouse!

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