Lord of the present
Opening Prayer
Father, help me to live with a pure heart before You, and in that, to have confidence of my place in You.
Read PSALM 26:1–12
[1]Of David. Vindicate me, LORD, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the LORD and have not faltered. [2] Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; [3] for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness. [4] I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites. [5] I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked. [6] I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, LORD, [7] proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds. [8] LORD, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells. [9] Do not take away my soul along with sinners, my life with those who are bloodthirsty, [10] in whose hands are wicked schemes, whose right hands are full of bribes. [11] I lead a blameless life; deliver me and be merciful to me. [12] My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the LORD. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What is the basis of David’s confidence?I used to really enjoy exams. I loved getting my knowledge down on the page, focusing completely on the matter in hand. But I was never very good at judging how I had done. If I thought I’d answered well, then the likelihood was I had not. And vice versa. When God examines us it is not a written test. He’s looking for signs that we are taking on his teaching and using it practically in our lives. David has no doubt how he will do if God examines him! He sounds pretty sure of himself, saying that he has led a blameless life (1,11). We actually know that is pretty far from the truth (cf. Psa. 51). But David is doing what we all need to do. He is living in the moment, accepting that God can wipe out all past sins, put them in the “delete” bin. Like David we need to offer our heart and mind—our whole person—to be examined (2). The present moment is a great place to be. We often waste too much time dwelling on the past or looking into the future. But God wants us to give ourselves to him wholeheartedly in the here and now.
Apply
Sit quietly and comfortably, eyes closed, hands palms upwards. Ask God to be with you in this present moment.
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