April 21 | Psalm 127:1-5
Updated: Apr 22
DAILY READING
Psalm 127:1-5
REFLECTION
Oh, Woe is Me
by David Thompson
The opening verse reminds us that no matter what we do in life the Lord must be a part. It reminds me of the song "If the Lord Builds the House." The chorus of which states "If the Lord builds the house, nobody can tear it down.
Jesus wants to be a part of all we do. The second line of verse one reads, "Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain." Again, showing us that our best work here on earth, without God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit being in it, will not yield the best result. The Lord is ready and waiting for us to ask Him to be a part of all we do.
I have a tendency to shut God out of big decisions and stressful situations. This is my human nature taking precedence. I find myself losing sleep and having anxiety over a decision that could have been given over to God. When I have fought the human instinct to solve my problems myself and instead given them to God, I sleep better and more times than not, the decisions made turn out to be very positive. So why do I fall back into the trap of doing things on my own?
It reminds me of the apostle Paul. In Romans 7:19-25 Paul writes, "For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Our sin nature is ever present and the evil one delights in the times we shut God out.
PRAYER PRACTICE
Dear Lord, Thank you for always being there. Help me remember to go to you first when there is a decision or need of your presence. Assist me when I count on only myself as you have so rightly stated this is done in vain. We know you are there ready to assist. Amen.
