Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson: Psalm 139:7-10

 March 22

"Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in Sheol, thou art there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there thy hand shall lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." -Psalm 139:7-10 (RSV)

Most of us have been in situations where we felt separated from God or perhaps even abandoned. March can be a challenging time where we may feel unsure, insecure, or even sometimes face the death of those we love and feel alone or fearful. Yet the Psalmist in today's scripture assures us of God's absolute provision. God is not only all-powerful, but all present and watches over us even in "Sheol" or the afterlife.

We need never trust a lesser power than God or put our faith in possessions, science, human knowledge, or other gods. They are limited and will eventually fail us but nothing diverts or deters our Lord! We can rest secure in God's love wherever we go for even if we try to fly away from him, our Lord remains with us protecting and guiding with a powerful love. Since God is also omnipresent or present everywhere, we can never flee from him. This is Good News since no matter where we are, we can never be truly separated from God's protective presence.

Even the grave cannot separate us from the love of Christ who assures us of a resurrected eternal life. Nothing can truly divide us from our Lord in this life or the afterlife! Therefore, we can live without fear in any situation. Believers have always had to face hardships including persecution, illness, imprisonment, sickness, pain, suffering, and even death. This reality can cause us to fear abandonment by God yet it is impossible to be separated from God through the power of Christ Jesus. When you believe God's Word, you need not be afraid of anything, anywhere, under any circumstances!

Prayer: God of all Power, remove my fears. Thank you for the gift of eternal life through Christ my Lord. Amen.

Meditation For The Day: God will never abandon you!

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal Paperback – February 21, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)