Paths of Joy
Happy are those who are strong in the Lord, who set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. . . . For the Lord God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will the Lord withhold from those who do what is right. Psalm 84:5, 11
Advertisement
Psalm 84 reflects a longing for the presence of God. But the psalmist knows that he doesn’t have to wait until heaven to find happiness. Those who have set their minds on Christ can walk each day in paths of joy.
But what if we’re in the “Valley of Weeping” (v. 6)? What if the diagnosis is cancer? What if our children make horrible choices? What if we lose our job? What will sustain us in our darkest days?
Our hope is not in a distant city with streets of gold. Our hope is in the omnipresent Lord God, who travels with us each step of our journey. He is the One who sheds light on our dark path and protects us from evil. His grace and glory make our wilderness a place of refreshing springs with pools of blessings. Because he will not withhold from us any good thing, we can have peace in his faithfulness to supply all we need.
In our prayers for our daily needs, let us not lose sight of the One who sojourns with us. Let us set our minds on the goal: to live every day strengthened in the glorious light of his presence.
Prayers:
LORD, forgive me for my nearsightedness that keeps me focused on worldly cares. Please give me an eternal perspective on all that happens to me today. Set my mind and my heart on you so that I can embrace your presence moment by moment. You, O Lord, are my strength and my hope.
Quotes:
OH, WHAT A LIFE OF WONDERFUL JOY, ADVENTURE, AND EVER-DEEPENING LOVE THE GOOD SHEPHERD LEADS US ALL TO! AS WE FOLLOW HIM ALONG THE PATH OF LIFE, LET US LEAVE HIM TO CHOOSE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, AS WE LIVE IN HIS RADIANT PRESENCE AND ARE EVER LED TO STILL HIGHER PLACES.
Hannah Hurnard (1905–1990)
The One Year Bible Readings for today are: Jeremiah 23:21–25:38; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17; Psalm 84:1-12 and Proverbs 25:15.
