DEVOTION – DAY 157

Psalm 73:26 “Drawing Strength From God”

 

Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Psalm 73 was written by Asaph. He was the head of one of King David’s three Levite Choirs. Asaph was a Levite priest. As a priest, his livelihood was dependent upon the tithes and offerings that the priesthood received from the other 11 tribes of Israel. The Levite tribe did not have a portion of the Promised Land and they lived by the people’s tithes dedicated to God. The psalmist acknowledged in this verse that God is the One who sustained and preserved the life of those who put their faith and trust in Him. God is his source of strength.

This is also true for all Christians today. There are times when we feel helpless and fearful. But this verse encourages us to look to God for He is the strength of our heart and our portion forever. God knows that our flesh and our heart may weaken and fail us but God never fails us. We know someone who knows he will be losing his job within a few months. The company he worked for had decided to close its business and he has been asked to wind down the business operations and slowly retrench all the workers. He will be the last employee left to close the operations. This man is the sole bread winner for his family. He is fearful as he is approaching the age where he is not very marketable and the opportunities for a similar job is tough given that the economy is going into recession. But he draws strength from the Lord and the Lord has lifted up his spirits. He chooses to trust in the Lord that He would sustain and provide for Him. The Lord had given him an inner peace and he remains faithful in serving the Lord.

We know of a couple who are also badly affected by the global Covid-19 pandemic. One of them had a salary cut of 70% because the company she worked for had its business badly affected by the economic slowdown. There was a drop in her salary and everyone had to do more work because staff who resigned were not replaced. Her husband worked in a non-profit organization that depended on donations. Their funding was badly affected as donations dropped sharply so he is in danger of losing his job. This couple have also drawn their strength from the Lord during these challenging times. They are learning to trust in Him.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we worship You for You are the source of our strength and our portion forever. Please help us to trust and depend upon You and Your gracious provisions for us in every season of our lives. We thank you for looking after us. In the great name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. What is causing you to be fearful and weak? Share.
  2. How does this verse help you in your time of need? How do the examples in this devotion help you as you cope with uncertainties?
  3. How has God been your source of strength and portion forever? Discuss.
  4. How can you help someone you know who is going through hard times? Share.