Psalm 16

A Miktam of David.
1  Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2  I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
  I have no good apart from you.”
3  As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble,
  in whom is all my delight.
4  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.
5  The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
  you hold my lot.
6  The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
  I have a goodly heritage.
7  I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
  in the night also my heart instructs me.
8  I keep the LORD always before me;
  because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9  Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
  my body also rests secure.
10  For you do not give me up to Sheol,
  or let your faithful one see the Pit.
11  You show me the path of life.
  In your presence there is fullness of joy;
  in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Daily Prayer (based on Psalm 16:11)

"In your presence there is fullness of joy." O Lord, I believe this is true. And, at times, I have known the richness of the joy that comes from being with You. For those glorious times, Lord, I thank You.

But I wonder why I don't seek You more often? Why do I fill my life with "joys" that won't satisfy, let alone fill my heart? Given what I know of You and what I've experienced in the past, why isn't there a greater yearning in my heart for Your presence? Why do I find it so hard sometimes to spend even a few moments with you each morning and evening?

Postscript

Most Christians believe that it is important to spend time with God each day. We call this time by different names: devotions, quiet time, the daily office, etc. Surely daily time with God is crucial for the Christian life. But it's important to avoid legalism in this regard. Nowhere are we commanded in Scripture to have a quiet time each morning when we rise. Yet sometimes this particular form of spirituality is taught as if it were the eleventh commandment. Then, folks who just aren't morning people, are left to feel as if they are lousy Christians. In Christ we have the freedom to discover the best way for us to grow in our relationship with Him. For some, this means an early morning quiet time. For others, the pattern of regular prayer may be different, and that's okay. But there's no doubt that we all need regular, indeed, daily time with God. 

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Except for the Scripture text, all material of The Daily Psalm Copyright © 2006 by Mark D. Roberts

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The Scripture text used in The Daily Psalm is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved