Thursday, March 9
Psalm 23
 
REFLECTION
My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought / My sin, not in part, but the whole / Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more / Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul.
 
When I read or sing these lyrics from “It Is Well With My Soul,” I am filled with a profound sense of relief.  Relief that, though I sin on a regular basis, Jesus is here to forgive me, to love me, and to accept me. That forgiveness, love, and acceptance is an ever-present force that encourages me to pause before I think, act, or speak. My hope is that I can forgive, love, and accept others as Jesus has done for me.
 
We are tethered to God and Christ through baptism and the Church. Sometimes the tie that binds us to Christ can stretch long and thin, and he becomes a small blip on our radar as we think about all the things we have to do/accomplish/take care of. Jesus is constantly and gently tugging on that cord to bring us back to him, to look to him, to seek him. He reminds us to praise God for all the good things in our lives. He encourages us to look to Him for guidance in times of need. He brings us peace when our minds and hearts are racing. Psalm 23 reminds us that God is acutely aware of all our spiritual needs, and is ready to help us when we are ready to hear his wisdom. Pause. Breathe. Listen. Jesus’s love and sacrifice for us is a beautiful gift!
 
PRAYER
Christ Jesus, thank you for your constant love, forgiveness and acceptance. Thank you for always bringing me back to you and reminding me that I am yours. Help me extend that grace to others and be the Christian example you want me to be. Amen.
 
Nikki Spurgeon serves on the Music Ministry Team.