Focus

Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.

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Read

Psalm 27 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
they shall stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.

One thing I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.

For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.

Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!

“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, do I seek.

Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!

If my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will take me up.

Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.

Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.

I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!

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Reflect

We often hear the first line of the 27th psalm, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” How often do we actually answer this question in our living? Let’s take an eVotion moment to give it some thought, and then pray.

When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident. (Psalm 27 2-3 NRSV)

What army encamps against us this day seeking to ‘devour’ our very being? For most, I’d say it would be commercialism. Armies of advertisers are summoned daily to besiege us from every direction. These forces seek something of us— our past, current, and future earnings, and they hold little regard in protecting our being. This troop of troublemakers will lay our souls to waste, even if by the installment plan. Advertisers today will boldly confess that one of the most effective weapons in their arsenal is the mighty FOMO, which has demonstrated itself an effective tool to weaken the will of the human spirit.

Fear Of Missing Out, or FOMO, is a formidable marketing technique against the undefended spirit. We know the sounds of this weapon, act now…. this offer will expire…. quantities are limited; this weapon is so effective that some in the church have been deceived into using it. Who could be our defense if the church itself has at times been deceived? It is the Lord! Our God is our defense, the only stronghold of the Christian life, and under God’s protection we can dare to boldly say, ‘of whom shall we be afraid?’

How do you keep the Lord as your stronghold? By becoming spiritually mindful of how FOMO assaults, always trying to convince you to fear something besides a loving Lord. God will preserve your soul and strengthen your spirit. FOMO will stumble before you and fall short of success. Listen to the advertisements today, become mindful of the methods, and keep your shield up every time you hear the weapon’s sound.

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Pray

One thing I ask, O Lord: to dwell in your house all the days of my life. In your presence, I will gaze on the beauty you provided to my soul, and I shall rest in your holy temple. In my days of trouble, you kept me safe in your stronghold; you hid my wanderlust in the shelter of your sacredness and set my fear to be in you alone, my high rock. In faith, I can know one day my head will be exalted above the enemies who surrounded me. In your sacred place I will offer up my shouts of joy; and I will sing and make music to you all the day of my life. Amen.

Go with God!