Devotions From The Psalms Week Three

Psalm 91 ~ Week Three

 

Now, let us consider this important chapter in God’s Word:

 

The first 8 verses are the context for the next 2 devotions; so let us look at the first 2 verses for a closer picture of what the Psalmist is saying.

 

The first two verses read:

‘ Aleph

1 [a] Blessed are they whose ways are blameless,who walk according to the law of the LORD.2 Blessed are they who keep his statutesand seek him with all their heart.

 

Many, if not most, Evangelical Bible translators translate the word ‘blessed’ as happy in these verses.

 

So, really what the Psalmist is saying here is, “If your ways are blameless, then you will be happy. And, if you want to be blameless, then you must walk along God’s path, and keep his Commandments, and seek Him with all your heart! And, if you do, you will be happy!”

 

Jesus said much the same thing in the Beatitudes, when He said:

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matt. 5:6)

 

Now, the question today that both you and I must face is, “Are we happy?”

 

And, if the answer is, No; then there must be a reason.

 

Is it because there is sin in our lives? That is not always the case; but it is usually the first place that I go to find out why I am unhappy.

 

In Ephesians 4:30, Paul says:

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

 

In light of this scripture, could it be that we are unhappy many times simply because of disobedience and that we sense that the Holy Spirit is also grieved?

 

I think so.

 

The fact is, we were made in the image of God. That’s what the Bible teaches in Genesis chapter 1, verse 26; and Romans 8:29 inform us that the purpose of Redemption is to restore us to that image.

 

However, many of us have remade ourselves into something that God never intended for us to be—that is, a sinner! And, when we conduct our self contrary to God’s created intentions for us, then, we will be unhappy. Why? The reasonable answer is that we are unhappy because we are not in harmony with God’s original intention. So, when that happens, we do not function properly, mentally, or spiritually.

 

It is just as simple as that!

 

Prayer

Lord give me the insight to sense when I have offended you, and correct my ways to reflect your will for me in my life. May I not grieve the Holy Spirit that you have given me, and as your servant David prayed long ago, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” (Ps. 51:10) I want to be healthy mentally and spiritually. Amen.

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