Psalms 63-64 – Day 1

"I lie awake at night thinking of you, meditating on you through the night." – Psalm 63:6 NLT

I wish I could say the statement found in the verse above was true of me. But rarely do I find myself lying in bed meditating or thinking about God. Oh, I may find myself thinking about all the things I need God to do for me, but that is not the same thing. I often find myself talking to Him, making requests and asking questions about why things are the way they are and what He is going to do about it all. But David seems to be saying something completely different. Like a child lying awake in bed on Christmas Eve, anticipating the joys of the morning to come, David finds himself immersed in the greatness and goodness of God Himself. He says, "My soul thirsts for you, my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water" (Psalm 63:1 NLT). David is in the midst of trying times, living in wilderness environment, both literally and figuratively. He is miles from the Tabernacle and far from the presence of his own people. Even though he was surrounded by those who have aligned themselves with his cause, David still struggled with feeling alone and isolated. So he found himself staying up at night thinking about God – His power, glory, unfailing love, protection, mercy, and ultimate salvation. Even in the midst of difficulty, David could sing about the goodness of God. He focused his attention on God instead of his circumstances. He thought about the character of God instead of worrying about the cares of the day.

David's life was anything but easy, as Psalm 64 clearly illustrates. He still had enemies. He still had difficulties. He still had plenty of reasons to worry, doubt, fear, and despair. But rather than let his attention focus on his problems, He focused on His God. Reflecting on the nature and character of God is the greatest way to get our minds off of the worries of this world. Suffering should drive us to the One who has the capacity to relieve it. Difficulty should motivate us to turn to the One who can do something about it. Trials should encourage us to turn to the One who can perfect us through them. Rather than lie awake at night worrying, wouldn't it make more sense to spend our time worshiping?

Father, thank You for this timely reminder. Help me to cultivate a habit of thinking about You instead of my problems. Let me learn to focus my attention on Your goodness and greatness rather than the difficulties in my life. Amen