I’M IN A GOOD PLACE
Opening Prayer
Lord, I remain very grateful for all of Your blessings upon my life.
Read PSALM 16
A miktam of David.
1 Keep me safe, my God,
for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing.”
3 I say of the holy people who are in the land,
“They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
or take up their names on my lips.
5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
Name three aspects of your life that give you pleasure right now. Thank God for each of them.
Think Further
Depression is an illness that hangs over society, including many in church. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a strategy that helps to manage depression partly by focusing on the good things in life. Psalm 16 is a CBT psalm. It’s full of pleasure, security, joy, and hope for the future. “The boundary lines [of life] have fallen for me in pleasant places” (6a). The psalm assures us that there’s a time and a place to be contented rather than worried. We have no need to feel guilty about it, nor should we hide it. We simply should give God his due and enjoy his blessing.
How can we arrive in such a place of contentment? The psalm says it comes totally from reliance on God (2). Other potential sources (money, sex and power come to mind for a start) are not worth the effort (4). Even the company we keep can contribute to our pleasure, if it is also God-driven. And it’s not just for now. Since our future is secure (9,10), we can rest, relax and enjoy life.
Today is God’s day, traditionally set aside by Christians for worship, family, and relaxation. Psalm 16 paints a picture of how it can feel. If it doesn’t, then maybe we need to look at how we’re spending our time. Do we sometimes need to set our boundary lines a little more clearly? Can work, worries and the expectations of others not remain beyond the boundary for today? It’s not always an easy task, as most of society sees Sunday as little different from any other day. However, with God in control there’s enough time for worldly things tomorrow, when our physical, spiritual and emotional batteries are fully recharged and we’re in a positive frame of mind.
Apply
Think of every issue that invades your peace and contentment. Imagine driving them, like a flock of sheep or a herd of cows, into a fenced-off field, for tomorrow.
Closing prayer
Lord, Your people are smart enough to know that, as James says, every good and perfect gift comes down from You (Jas. 1:17).
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