Lord, open my eyes to your good and merciful heart today and speak to me so that my soul might be happy in no one else or nothing else besides you! AMEN.
Psalm 23:6 –
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
What should you praise God for based on this passage?
1. I praise you for your relentless pursuit of me.
2. Your judgment and covenantal curses should follow me, but your goodness and loyal love are like sheepdogs coming after me and guiding me safely home to live in your house forever.
3. I praise you that I have an eternal home in the heavens to go to at the end of my earthly journey.
What sin should you confess based on your passage?
1. For the times that I have doubted your goodness to meet the needs of your people, forgive me O Lord.
2. For the ways that I have spurned your loyal love, pardon me O Lord.
3. For the ways that I have tried to hide my true self from you, forgive me O Lord.
4. For the ways that I have been perfunctory, duty-bound, and distracted in my worship of you in your house – the sanctuary, pardon me O Lord.
5. I ask your forgiveness for not setting my mind and heart on things above where Christ is seated and being too much enthralled and enamored with the things of this world.
What should you thank God for based on your passage?
1. You give us hope for eternity that serves like a steady anchor on turbulent seas – I have a place to dwell in your presence in your house. Jesus said in John 14:2 that “I go to prepare a place for you” and that he would come again to take us home to be with him where he is.
2. You assure us that your goodness and love will be our constant companions throughout the entirety of our earthly journey.
3. You grant us grace to dwell in your presence and worship you in your house. Thank you for giving me the grace of repentance that leads to life. The word “dwell’ refers to turning toward or away from something, often used with the sense of turning away from God (apostasy) or turning back toward God (repentance) [Lexham Theological Wordbook. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.]
4. Thank you for allowing this grace of repentance to be mine for all of my life’s journey – “length of days.”
What should you ask for yourself based on your passage?
1. Please grow my assurance of your goodness and mercy in my life.
2. Help me never to hide from you or from others my true self. Grant me to live as an authentic and genuine follower of Jesus.
3. May I long for your house, to dwell there, and to behold your beauty.
What should you commit to doing based on your passage?
1. Trust the Lord’s heart when I cannot feel his hand. It is full of goodness and mercy.
2. To live like I believe that my citizenship is in heaven and to set my mind on heavenly things not earthly (Philippians 3:19-21). THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.
3. To invest regularly in the things and enterprises that focus on eternal things – God, His Word, and the souls of others.
Record your prayer for God’s help.
1. Free me, my family and your church from the clutches of materialism, hedonism and practical atheism. May our relationship with you be our greatest treasure and delight.
2. Develop in us a love for your house… the house of the Lord which is first of all our church’s sanctuary where you meet with your people on your day for your worship! Then, create us a longing for heaven and the ultimate house of the Lord. Awaken in us an anticipation of finally being truly at home with you our Lord!
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