Focus

Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you.

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Read

Psalm 121 (NRSV)

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.

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Reflect

You may be familiar with the Jimmy Buffett song “He Went to Paris,” which talks about life: “Some of it’s magic, some of it’s tragic, but I had a good life all the way.”

David, the writer of Psalm 121, knew all about life being magic and tragic. He believed that we need to maximize the magic and minimize the tragic—or at least learn to deal with the tragic. David never forgot where the source of strength originated.

On my last day of seminary classes, someone asked the professor, “In your many years, what is the most important thing you have learned?” The professor’s voice choked up and tears welled in his eyes.

We felt bad because it seemed that the question had taken him by surprise. However, I will never forget his response: “Class, what I have learned is that God’s grace is sufficient.” He said it again, “That is what I have learned: God’s grace is sufficient.” You could have heard a pin drop, because all of us knew that he was right.

All of us have been in difficult places. The hymn is correct, God’s grace is amazing. It is our help and strength for life.

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Pray

Lord, I thank you for this day and the opportunities that this day holds. May I make the most of your gift of grace by living confident in your love and sharing your grace with all people. Amen.

Go with God.