An unshakeable faith

I praise the Lord, because he guides me,
and in the night my conscience warns me.
I am always aware of the Lord’s presence;
he is near, and nothing can shake me.             (verses 7,8)

Read Psalm 16

What a wonderful statement of faith! Here is a person who knows that without God he has nothing, is nothing. But he knows that because he is always in God’s presence he has everything he needs, and nothing can harm him.

God even uses his conscience to warn him when he is in danger of straying. How many of us haven’t had the odd sleepless night, when something we worry about, or perhaps even feel guilty about, has us tossing and turning. The writer of Psalm 32 can identify with this:

When I did not confess my sins,
I was worn out from crying all day long . . .
Then I confessed my sins to you . . .
and you forgave me all my sins. (Psalm 32:3,5a,5c)

This is where true peace comes from: the knowledge that all sin is forgiven, being in a right relationship with God, the ability to see the love of God as it really is, the certainty that the God who is with us truly loves us and has given us his grace.

It is my prayer that you will always know and live in this peace.

I thank you, Father, that you love me enough to confront me with my sin, and that in your grace you forgive me and give me your peace. Amen.

by Robert Turnbull in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)

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