Thanking God For A Joy-Filled Way Of Life

We began yesterday looking at some wonderful verses from Psalm 16 and just taking a moment to pray them into our lives.  We’ll continue with some other verses from that same Psalm today.

The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance! Psalm 16:6

Lord, when we look at nature around us and the blessings of freedom we have in the country where we live how could we not give thanks.  We've been blessed. But we also give thanks for the pleasant land You've brought to our hearts and minds by helping us know peace and recognize beauty and wonder in who we are and in all You have made us.  All that we have comes from You and it is wonderful.  

I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. Psalm 16:7

You guide us every step of the way every day.  We are grateful that you are constantly making wisdom available to us in practical ways for now and for the longer term.  We'd never have enough peace to sleep if we didn't know that You were watching over us – our conscious, subconscious, and unconscious.  There's so much of our life that is beyond our knowing and our controlling and the night seems to remind us of that vulnerability.  Thank You that we don't have to be little kids to pray as so many of us did as kid, "Now I lay me down to sleep.  I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take."  Our lives are in Your care.

I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. Psalm 16:8

Even though there are emotional swings with all the things that are taking place in our world each day you are always with us and we can stand straight and strong.  We don't have to be the strong one but we can lean on you and find strength and support from you.  You're not someone we have to reach for but you are right beside us.  You are our rock - our steady one.

No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. Psalm 16:9

And so we wonder why we get fearful and uncertain when all of these things are true about you and what you are doing for us.  We thank you for rest - peace of mind and heart - and we enter into that rest.  We don't just take a deep breath physically but do so also spiritually knowing that life and freshness and peace is being breathed into us by You, our God.

For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. Psalm 16:10

As I see these words, Lord, I'm reminded of other words in the Bible that are a model prayer for us:  "I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. (Phil 1:20 NLT)  That is our prayer Lord.

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. Psalm 16:11

We thank you that in every moment of every day we can look to you for a way of life.  You are ready to show us ways to walk that will bring joy and satisfaction.  I pray that we will see the pleasures and the joy that are right in front of us today and to make a collection, every day, of the many blessings that are overflowing in our hearts and in our circumstances.  We give you thanks that this is something we can expect and live in every day as we live with you forever - in this life and the next.  Amen