Thursday, August 6, 2026

Opening Scripture

“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

“David said about him: ‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’” Acts 2:22-28

Opening Prayer

Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for rest and the promise of a new day. I praise You for Your loving kindness, Your thoughtful provision, and Your comforting presence. Help my hope and security be in You today, not in what I do, or what I have, or what others think. May Your Spirit guide me in the way I should go. Help me to appreciate Your blessings and see You at work around me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Psalm 16

Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips.

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Reflection  

The Psalms vividly express a wide range of deep and sincere responses to God’s self-revelation. This unique collection of poems, prayers, and songs conveys the full range of emotion – from tragedy to triumph, from despair to delight – as individuals navigate the complexities of the human experience. As such, the Psalms function not only as a “hymnal” for God’s people, but as a “prayer book” as well.

When Peter stood up at the Feast of Pentecost to address the crowd that had gathered in response to the Spirit’s manifestation of rushing wind, tongues of fire, and the wonders of God being proclaimed in various languages, he referenced Psalm 16 in his sermon (see Opening Scripture).

David opens this psalm from a place of trouble or distress, either from antagonists or circumstances, with the plea, “Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.” This is a familiar refrain for King David. The introduction to Psalm 18 states that it was written “…when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.”

Reading through the Psalms, we see David experiencing high highs and low lows. He was constantly moving from joy and celebration to sorrow and agony. From the thrill of slaying Goliath to the pain of deep family dysfunction.

Over the course of his life, God brought David from tending sheep to ruling His people. “And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them” (Psalm 78:72).

As the king of Israel, David’s life was very public. First and Second Samuel vividly record his triumphs and failures, from amazing military conquests to fleeing for his life from Saul. David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), yet he committed adultery and murder.

In every situation – repentance and confession, fear and betrayal, triumph and celebration – David turned to God. Despite King David’s power and authority, his hope and security were in Yahweh alone. He was grateful for God’s protection and provision and humbled by the fact that “the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.” God’s blessing was the best inheritance anyone could receive!

In addition to proclaiming his own confidence in God’s sustaining grace, David’s words in this psalm were prophetic. Referenced by Peter at Pentecost and Paul at Antioch, they became historically true of Jesus. David was “not abandoned to the realm of the dead” by God’s divine protection from death. Jesus was “not abandoned to the realm of the dead” by God’s divine resurrection from death.

“For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:25-26).

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Christians

As a ruler fully dedicated to the LORD, King David “took delight” in godly people, the “holy” and “noble” ones who make governing a pleasure. It is not a stretch to view this statement in the context of Christian citizenship. Our identity as God’s New Covenant people certainly shapes how we live and represent Him in the world.

Our Flourishing emphasis is built on the premise that each of us, living as Flourishing Christians who are part of a Flourishing Congregation, is contributing to a Flourishing Community. Our moral character makes us the “holy” and “noble” ones, who make governing a pleasure. On top of that, we pray for our leaders!

The “saints” – Hebrew: devoted to God, consecrated, and set apart for His service – who are the “excellent” – Hebrew: worthy, mighty, and glorious – ones, should live lives of integrity, purity, and productivity. Faithfully following Jesus results in a tangible contribution to the common good.

Our honesty, generosity, and healthy relationships benefit the community and make us good neighbors. Our responsibility as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven makes us outstanding citizens of our earthly country as well.

Like David, we should “delight” in those who are fully devoted to our Heavenly Father. We should take great joy and be happy when we see someone who has committed his life to Jesus and is following closely after Him. Conversely, we should be burdened and saddened by “those who run after other gods.”

Are your hope and security in God alone today?

Are you one of the “holy” and “noble” ones in the kingdom?

Are your eyes always on the Lord, so that He counsels you at night, so your heart and mind are secure and you “will not be shaken”?

Is Almighty God filling you with joy in His presence?

“The reality is, my prayers don’t change God. But, I am convinced prayer changes me. Praying boldly boots me out of that stale place of religious habit into authentic connection with God Himself.” Lysa TerKeurst

You can do more than pray after you’ve prayed, but you can’t do more than pray until you’ve prayed!