Day 30: 31 Days of Prayer

July 30, 2010

Morning

Psalm 16:11 (NIV) You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Review Psalm 16, noting David’s devotion to the Lord. In this closing verse David reveals why he was so devoted. David received his greatest happiness from God. He was committed to his own happiness. 17^th century mathematician/philosopher, Blaise Pascal, claimed that we do what makes us happy. The Founders of our Country agreed with Pascal, calling the pursuit of happiness an inalienable right from God. David served God because no greater happiness could be found.

We always do what we think gives us the greatest happiness. No matter what we say about Christ, if we choose other things above Jesus, we believe that they will make us happier than He will. But is that true? Jesus said that is not true. Matthew 13:44-47 (NIV) "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. ⁴⁵ "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Jesus said that anything you must give up to follow Him will seem small compared to what you receive from Him. Matthew 19:29 (NIV) Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. Like David the Apostle Paul also experienced God as his greatest treasure. Philippians 3:7-8 (NIV) Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ…

Meditate on the Scriptures in today’s devotionals until you believe that greatest happiness comes from Christ. Perhaps C.S. Lewis can help you here: “Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”(C. S. Lewis, from the sermon "The Weight of Glory") Don’t be half-hearted. Make the Lord your happiness.

Evening

Note the change in tense. You will fill me with joy…with eternal pleasures. David knew that life with God always gets better. God serves the best wine last (John 2:10). That requires faith. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Life is good now with the Lord, but it will be better. Believe it by faith. Drift to sleep tonight with the truth that the best is yet to come. Philippians 1:21 (NIV) For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.