17till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. - P74
26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
- P75
23Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
- P75
The psalmist realizes that the wicked‘s success is temporary. Entering God‘ssanctuary, he understands that their downfall is inevitable. - P75
He recognizesGod‘s constant guidance and declares that God is his strength and portion forever. He concludes that nearness to God is good and vows to tell of His deeds. - P75
Asaph the psalmist has a change of perspective when he enters the presence of God. In the sanctuary, he gains divine insight as he sees the true fate of the wicked. What once seemed desirable and secure is now exposed as fleeting and unstable. - P76
The wealth and power of the ungodly are like a dream that vanishes upon waking. This realization shifts Asaph’s focus from earthly prosperity to eternal security in God. - P76
Many times, we are tempted to chase temporary pleasures, forgetting that they will ultimately fade. Only our relationship with God has lasting value. - P76
When we seek Him, we gain true wisdom and contentment. God’s presence reorients our hearts and helps us see life through the lens of eternity, where His justice prevails. - P76
Reflecting on his past struggles, Asaph acknowledges that bitterness hadclouded his judgment when he lost sight of God‘s perspective. He onenvied the wicked, but now he realizes that God Himself is his greatesttreasure. - P76
No earthly possession or success can compare to the security, joy, and fulfillment found in the Lord. Whether in life or death, God remainsour refuge and strength. - P76
Our ultimate hope is not in wealth, health, orcircumstances but in the tshakable presenceof God. - P76
When we abide inHim, our hearts find true peace and contentment. - P76
No matter what we face, we can trust that God is with us, guiding and sustaining us. - P76
Father, forgive me for the times I have sought security in the things of this world. You alone are my portion and my refuge. - P77
Draw me closer to You, and help me find my greatest joy and deepest satisfaction in Your presence. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P77
The psalmist, Asaph, first expresses what is troubling his heart. However, he explains that going to the Lord and understanding God‘s ways have ledhim to no longer be troubled. We can hold similar sentiments to Asaphwhen there are situations in our lives that challenge and frustrate us. - P77
Duringsuch difficult situations, we can become discouraged to the point that webegin to question God‘s character and doubt His wisdom. Yet, Asaph‘sunderstanding when he enters the presence of God reminds us of what weneed to do when our hearts become deeply discouraged in times of trouble:we must seek the Lord. - P77
There are many ways we can seek God including reading the Bible andpraying to Him. Reading Scripture helps us to better understand God‘scharacter; we realize who He is and who we are as His followers. Goingto God in prayer helps us to express our weary hearts to Him. - P77
We can askHim to help us trust in His will and His ways. Seeking God by readingthe Bible and praying to Him strengthens us and allows us to exercise ouri hope and trust in Him. - P77
In giving us access to His Word and the freedomto communicate with Him, God demonstrates His commitment to us. - P77
Wecome to know just how willing He is to be there for us because He loves us. He wants us to seek and find Him, and we often gain greater understandingof our doubts and questions when we do. - P77
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