Daily Devotion – November 10, 2021 – Micah Pearson

Psalm 16 (NRSV)

Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.

Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.

I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.

For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.

You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Devotion

At its core, the Bible is really simple. Faith means trusting in God. Faith means trusting that you—yes you—are forgiven. Faith means trusting that you—the person you see in the mirror every morning—are loved. Faith means trusting that you—your name here—will someday be with God in paradise.

On paper, such faith seems so simple, but in practice it’s next to impossible to achieve. We routinely choose to trust in other things than God. We trust in our own ability, knowledge, money, morals, and politics to save us. Instead of turning to God, we turn to idols of entertainment, sex, money, work, and food to help us through tough times.

In psalm 16 the psalmist sounds a variation on God’s first commandment in Exodus 20: “I am the Lord your God … you shall have no other Gods besides me.” Today, place your trust in God. Trust that no matter what you face in life, the Lord holds you body and soul and the Lord will give you refuge and strength.

Prayer

God, help me to trust in you. Help me to turn away from the many idols I worship and to turn toward you. Amen.