Friday Devotional:

Psalm 16



Have you ever lost sleep making a decision?

"Flip a coin," advises a counselor. "Assign one choice heads and the other, tails. When you see how the coin lands, are you glad or disappointed?"

"Look for another option," suggests a friend. "Solutions are rarely either/or."

I can imagine our psalmist's recommendation: Trust God with your whole self.

In Bible times the heart was understood as the home of thinking and decision-making, while the gut was the seat of emotions. We see this overlap in verses 7 and 9: sometimes the Hebrew word translated "heart" can also mean "kidneys" or conscience." With the whole of their being-mind, body, soul, feelings-the psalmist declares, "I bless the Lord who gives me counsel."

Applying our whole selves-body, thoughts, feelings-help us discern God's leading in our decision-making. Then, with the psalmist we can say, "My heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure" (v.9).

O God our refuge, path, and joy, all good comes from you. In Jesus' name, we give thanks. Amen.

An excerpt from Christ in Our Home

If you would like a copy of Christ in Our Home

 please contact the church office: at 805-983-0612