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Perspective Reset

Perspective Reset (Psalm 16) by Alesha Sinks

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{THIS POST IS AN EXCERPT FROM MY DEVOTIONAL EBOOK PERSPECTIVE RESET: 28 READINGS AND MEDITATIONS FROM THE PSALMS. THE DEVOTIONAL IS FREE TO ALL OF MY NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS AND I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO DOWNLOAD IT. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE AND DOWNLOAD THE EBOOK.}

In Psalm 16, David reflects on the joy that comes from obeying God.

Some days, I need this reminder. I need to remember that there are blessings that come from obeying God. I need to remind myself of the peace and faith that comes when I seek God and serve Him daily. I need to remind myself of the blessings that God promises to those who seek Him. But seeking and obeying God doesn’t happen on accident.

I’m struck by the intentionally David shows in this chapter. David is actively pursuing God, and his life is reaping the benefits. He talks about intentionally taking refuge in God (v 1), not turning to anything else to satisfy him (v 4), choosing God as His portion (v 5), and setting the Lord before him (v 8).

These things are hard and take purpose, discipline and intention.

And it forces me to pause and consider my own life.

Do I actively pursue God?

Do I design my life in such a way that I am regularly placing myself in a place of seeking and hearing from God?

Do I see the blessings and fruit in my life that David speaks of in this Psalm?

But in case we think that our goal in obeying God is simply to earn material blessings, David starts the chapter reminding us that God Himself is the reward.

"I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” (v 2)

So often, this is the heart check I need. I approach God to get good things, forgetting that the best thing I could ever have is relationship with God Himself. And in Jesus, I have access to that!

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (v 11)

The blessings that come from obeying God aren’t always prosperity or health or good relationships. God is good and often He will abundantly bless our lives in that way, but the ultimate gift He gives us when we obey is intimacy with Him.

Conversely, when we are not obeying Him, when we are not following the path He has laid out for us, that intimacy with God is broken and our lives will reflect it.

{Verse to Meditate On Today}

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Psalm 16:11

{Take some time to pray and ask God to teach you to find your ultimate delight in Him and His presence. Then take time to sit before Him and rejoice in knowing Him and being known by Him.} 


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PERSPECTIVE RESET (Psalm 139) by Alesha Sinks

{This post is an excerpt from my devotional ebook Perspective Reset: 28 readings and meditations from the Psalms. The devotional is FREE to all of my newsletter subscribers and I would love for you to download it. Click HERE to subscribe and download the ebook.}

Psalm 139:1-18

In this Psalm, David meditates on and praises God for His intimate care for every detail of our lives.

He starts by recalling God’s knowledge of every detail of our day-to-day lives, from our very first to our very last heartbeat. First David reminds himself that God knows our sleeping and walking and every breath that crosses our lips (v 1-6). Then he moves on to meditating on God’s complete presence and His ability to be with us no matter where we are (v 7-12). Next he begins to praise God’s detail and care in forming us as babies, and His knowledge of our life and purpose as he creates us (v 13- 16). And as David concludes this meditation, he once again breaks into praise…

"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you." (v 17-18)

Perhaps you’ve read this Psalm before. I know several people who would pick this Psalm out of all 150 as their very favorite, and I think that’s because it shows the very tender, intimate love and attention that God bestows upon us.

I can’t help but read this Psalm and feel like small, tenderly loved child in God’s presence. In the New Testament, Jesus affirms God’s attentive and caring love for each of His children with statements like this one.

I can’t help but read this Psalm and feel like small, tenderly loved child in God’s presence

“...Even the hairs of your head are all numbered." (Matthew 10:30)


How can we read these verses and not bow in worship of a God so great who still chooses to intimately involve Himself in the details of our lives?

The next time you are tempted to believe that He doesn’t see you or doesn’t hear you or doesn’t care about you, remember, He knows your every breath. He cares about you deeply and knows you intimately. Rest your heart and mind in that truth today.

{Verse to Meditate On Today}

"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!"
Psalm 139:17

{Take some time to meditate on the implications of serving a God who loves you so intimately and cares about you so deeply that He knows the number of the hairs on your head. Allow your heart to rest in this great love.}


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Psalm 23 {Perspective Reset}

{This post is an excerpt from my devotional ebook Perspective Reset: 28 readings and meditations from the Psalms. The devotional is FREE to all of my newsletter subscribers and I would love for you to download it. Click HERE to subscribe and download the ebook. You can also listen to a recent message on Psalm 23 taught by Pastor Daniel Williams HERE. }

 

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:1-6

If you’re like me, you’ve probably picked up this journal because you’re in desperate need of a perspective reset. You’re drowning in emotion. You’re finding your attitude places that you don’t like and that may even scare you. And if you are like me, this Psalm speaks straight to that place you desperately want to be in. You want to believe that these truths are for you. You want to be able to say these words with confidence, but so often fear overcomes your faith.

And I think that is why this famous Psalm has always held an ominous undertone for me. As I read, my faith wavers... "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (v 4)

Every time I read these words, I feel their weight pressing into my soul. And I hear the whispers of the Holy Spirit asking me, “Will you truly fear no evil? Will you allow My rod and staff to comfort you? Will believe, even in the darkest moments, that the shining joys of the rest of this Psalm are for you?”

For this Psalm to ring deeply true in our hearts we have to first humble ourselves to desire the guiding and tending hand of the Shepherd in our lives, and then we have to believe that He is enough.

And my faith wavers so easily... Will He really restore my soul? Will the pastures actually be green and the waters really be still? Will goodness and mercy truly follow me all the days of my life?

And my faith wavers... But I need to remember that these truths about God won’t change, but my perspective on them will. My heart will waver and my faith will shake, but God is unchanging. So I have to choose to preach these truths to my heart, instead of letting my feelings dictate my faith in them. Because God’s Word isn’t a book to be judged and weighed and debated based on our understanding and feelings. It is truth that is intended to penetrate and change our hearts.

So come to today’s text willing to be changed by it. Let it challenge what you feel, because what you feel might not be true. Allow yourself to be humbled and restored in the face of these Words from the Giver of life.

Verses to Meditate On Today: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want...He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” Psalm 23:1,3

{Take some time to pray and ask God to help you to intimately believe these truths for yourself. Then read this Psalm aloud. One time. Twenty times. As many times as it takes for the truths to sink deep into your soul. Preach these words to yourself. Claim them as your own. Read them aloud until you can only stop and praise God for His goodness and care and tender shepherding toward you.}


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