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Every Sunday A Psalms: Drawing Near To God
02/14/2016

Daily Devotions: by Christina Farris

Psalms 73:1-28 KJV
(1) A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
(2) But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
(3) For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
(4) For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
(5) They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
(6) Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
(7) Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
(8) They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
(9) They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
(10) Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
(11) And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
(12) Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
(13) Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
(14) For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
(15) If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
(16) When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
(17) Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
(18) Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
(19) How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
(20) As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
(21) Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
(22) So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
(23) Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
(24) Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
(25) Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
(26) My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
(27) For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
(28) But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

To draw near to God is to come to a place of understanding his will is best for our life. To come to place that even though evil people prosper it is not a good road in life to take. A man not of Israel, but looking at the people of God and sees peace among those that follow God but are not financial prosperous as those who live in corruption of prosperity and wealth. It is clear that it is not always just when evil seems to rise above good, but God‘s way being best. Yet it takes sometimes years to understand this principal. To understand why evil rises and fails though it plain in scripture. It is the prosperity of the wicked that causes our heart strings to be pulled as to say Lord why am I not prosperous. Why if I serve you I am not reaping more benefits and blessings from you. It is looking through that pocket book of the wealthy, not seeing the cost of the wealth. The murders, the thieving to get ahead sometimes, and out wit and out play another person of wealth. To over take others striving to take your money.

Most people today on February 14th is thinking only of Valentine’s day and romance of getting a date and going out and having fun. Yet what about drawing near to those that already love you? Draw near to God for his ways is best. That romance you searching for is a lasting relationship not a one night stand. Yet Valentines day is magical. It like having all the chocolate one can eat for a moment in time, not realizing it comes with a price, it is only a temporary happiness. It is like most traditions it effects the heart and gives one joy for a moment but the joy is gone within moments of a breakup. To break away from God would be to loose your best friend, your coach for life. The one that answers all the question through his word and through simply allowing us to see the difference He can make in one’s life. Never abusive but patiently teaching us why he allows something to rise and fall. To instill the value of faith in our heart. To see the goodness of light through the darkness of evil. To see the little ember glowing in the dark.

The truth of matter is love always wins, and evil always loses in the end. Evil men going to the pit of hell while the faithful to God are overcomers even in the end. Eternity assured for the people of faith, the hope dawning because of that relationship with God. God giving evil man a taste of heaven, and yet never changing to grab hold of faith, unless the heart becomes unhardened by the power of God. The psalmist found his heart melting as he seen the destruction of evil man. He desiring to draw near to God knowing the benefits of obeying God and believing in God. The benefits alone out weighing the value of gold. God taking care of his own, yet they are not immune to elements of this world. It hard to grasp no immunization always from hardship and heart ache. Yet God uses these things to teach us about life. About why God’s way is best. To see someone else’s mistakes helps us not to fall into that trap. Yet sometimes we fall anyway doing something else we thought was right by our own eyes.

To listen to God to know Him and his ways to hear His Spirit speak to our hearts knowing if we only obey his Spirit then the path we take will be straight and narrow. That all things work together for good to those that love God according to His purpose. His purpose is for us to prosper in life tasting the good fruit of this world. This day to love called Valentines Day may you love God and his choices and ways. Knowing even good relationships should pattern after the relationship we have with God. Our example being Jesus Christ loving the people of this world, by loving others and loving God.

Dear Heavenly Father as a believer as we draw to you though evil rises around us as well as your light shines bright. May we follow you in obedience, knowing your way is better then gold. In Jesus precious name, Amen.