Daily Devotional

It was a frustrating morning. I got up at 4:30am and pulled the nightlight out of the socket. I grabbed the one from the other bathroom, plugged it in and tried it. Still no good! I laid back down in bed, and silently called out to the Lord. Such a small thing! But what an irritation! Solomon said it well: Dead flies make the perfumer’s oil stink! (Eccl. 10:1).

I had shopped for a nightlight, and other bulbs for another room. What confusion there is on California shelves concerning light bulbs! It feels like trying to find something while blindfolded! There are now even light bulbs which can be controlled individually by a smart phone! God help us with all this technology!

Everywhere, all the time in this world, there are always flies, both dead and living. It seems not right that they have so much power to create such stink, to produce continuous trouble and distraction. Everything else has been planned and set up so well, but then appears that fly! Maddening!

Is there no escape? Not really. This world will not be changed before Christ returns. But we are not left alone. Later in my morning I got up and sought the Lord. I did not need any spiritual “conventions”, I just needed Him, and said so. I set my reading plan aside. Before long, by the Spirit, I was led to Psalm 64. One verse.

The righteous man will be glad in the LORD,
And will take refuge in Him;
And all the upright in heart will glory. 
Psalm 64:10 (NASB)

We are not granted God’s physical presence. We are granted God’s presence, accessed by faith. As I reached for the depth in the meaning of these few words, I saw that there was a kind of simple (my need always) two-step process.

First, the righteous man (or woman), from spiritual understanding, will see that he can at any time be glad in the Lord. It really is his only hope at any juncture for true gladness. Second, realizing his need and the provision of the presence of the Lord, he runs to Christ’s arms, and there is received in joy and love. There he finds a place of safety and the washing of the balm of gladness. There he is made whole again, ready to face the day. Flies, dead or alive, notwithstanding!

This is our way, our lifestyle. Our only hope, day in and day out. And what a blessing it is! But something much broader happens. The last part of our verse says, “And all the upright in heart will glory.” The meaning I understood when I read it today was clear – as I run to my refuge I am being observed. All the upright in heart see me, and they glory over what Christ will do for a man who runs to Him for help! They are instructed. They are encouraged. And the light of the truth shines farther into the darkness of this world.

The righteous man will be glad in the Lord. I am SO GLAD that I get to choose! Any day. Any moment!

Read: Psalm 64, Psalm 46:1-5
Sing: Near to the Heart of God, C. B. McAfee

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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