Psalm 16

¹ Keep me safe, O God,
for in you I take refuge.

² I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing."

I know that this is how I'm supposed to view God. I know that this is supposed to be how I live my life. It's so hard to do though. There are so many temporarily satisfying things of this world. They all seem to be so good, don't they? And they can be! But not apart from God! Not when we turn to them to satisfy the desires of our hearts that only our Lord can satisfy. They will only leave us empty and broken. They will let us down. Christ will not. Our Creator and Savior will not! Why is that so dang hard to remember? Man! When you really think about it, it just makes so much sense to follow completely after our Creator 24/7 without hesitation! But we just continue to stray. To follow after the tangible empty calories. I don't want to settle for that anymore. I know I will, but I just really don't want to!

³ As for the saints who are in the land,
they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.

⁴ The sorrows of those will increase
who run after other gods.
I will not pour out their libations of blood
or take up their names on my lips.

⁵ LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.

He knows how much we can handle and He won't give us a drop more than that. We already have the ability to defeat and conquer anything that comes our way because we have the Holy Spirit inside of us. Just think about that real quick. Absolutely NOTHING will come our way EVER that we cannot overcome BECAUSE of Christ in us and the Spirit that leads us. Next time you're tempted and feel defeated, remember that promise. It's going to be hard and you probably won't believe it, but just remember it. 1 Corinthians 10:13- "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." That's a promise.

⁶ The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.

Hebrews 9:15- "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant."

⁷ I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.

⁸ I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,

¹⁰ because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

¹¹ You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

This is just so encouraging and really just makes me smile. I am SO blessed! I have so much to be thankful for! I serve such a loving God! I forget that so much. I have "eternal pleasures" at His right hand. I have been filled with more joy than any sinful human being deserves... especially me! I have a faithful God who will NOT abandon me! He's always here for me. He always listens. He always knows my thoughts and feelings. It doesn't always feel that way to me, but it really doesn't matter how I feel! He promised me these things so I can either live like I don't believe them or I can embrace them and live for Christ! I can live for the one who died for me! I can sacrifice my own selfish desires and lifestyle for the one who selflessly sacrificed his life for me!