Closer Day 18 | Psalm 41
Read: Psalm 41
1Blessed is the one who considers the poor!
In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;
2 the Lord protects him and keeps him alive;
he is called blessed in the land;
you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
3 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed;
in his illness you restore him to full health.
4 As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me;
heal me,[c] for I have sinned against you!”
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
“When will he die, and his name perish?”
6 And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words,
while his heart gathers iniquity;
when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
7 All who hate me whisper together about me;
they imagine the worst for me.
8 They say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him;
he will not rise again from where he lies.”
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
10 But you, O Lord, be gracious to me,
and raise me up, that I may repay them!
11 By this I know that you delight in me:
my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.
12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity,
and set me in your presence forever.
13 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.
Reflect:
When we understand our need for Christ, we grow more sensitive to the needs of others. The needs of others may be spiritual, physical, financial, or emotional. Regardless of the need, God sees and cares about all of them. When we step in and care for the needs of those around us, we rightly bear the image of Christ to our world. Our effort to care for others is not because we are good, but because Christ has been good to us. The more we realize this, and how gracious God has been to us, the more our hearts bend outwardly to care for the needs of others and desire for them to experience the same provision and grace that we have received.
Living with this perspective and selflessness is pleasing to God. David says in this passage that God delights in him and gives him triumph over His enemies. We do not serve others to gain but to give and share the loving nature of God. When we share that love, we are living out God’s will for our lives by bearing His image. God wants to preserve our efforts in this life to continue that work so all may come to know Him. Reflect on how God has met your needs in the past and ask Him to humbly help you see, consider, and meet the needs of others around you so they may experience the love and hope of Christ for themselves.
Prayer:
God, reveal to me and remind me of how merciful and gracious You have been to me. You compassionately meet all of my needs, and I thank You for your kindness towards me in my weakness and neediness. I ask that Your grace humbles me to serve those around me so I may glorify You by reflecting to them the grace, love, and mercy that I have received.
This devotional is part of our Closer: 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Our hope is that this will assist you in focusing your heart each day. To learn more or to get caught up, click here.