Has someone ever done something kind for you and you made it a point to repay them somehow—not because it was what they expected, but because you appreciated their gesture? That’s what the psalmist was talking about here when he calls God his portion. God satisfies us at the core of our being, beyond physical and emotional needs. He reaches our soul and brings a sustaining, never-ending joy that the world can neither explain nor take away. Because He is so giving to us, our appreciation should lead us to want to please Him by obeying Him and following His instructions. If you’ll recall, Jesus told His followers to love their neighbors as themselves. When we practice this biblical mandate, we point others to the One who loves them.
You May Also Like
Fresh hope
I have a collection of Bibles. I like reading from different translations to get a full grasp of the Holy Scripture. I wouldn’t like a steady diet of The Message, but every now and then it’s a refreshing change. Particularly in the books that hold a story-like quality. Such is…
Before God and man
Remember the scripture about removing the plank from one’s own eye before trying to help a brother with the speck in his eye? Nehemiah’s prayer reminds me of this. He was begging God for help in restoring this city. Before asking God to do him a favor, he first wanted…
Seek God’s guidance
As we’ve noted on previous days, Nehemiah became aware of the broken down state of Jerusalem and the despair of its inhabitants, and his heart was moved—he cared. His grief over the city and the Jewish people drove him to his knees. He pleaded with the great and terrible (awe-inspiring)…

