Be Still and Know Daily Bible Devotion

Psalm 119:1-2
Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.
This is the beginning of what is by far the longest psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible. It is made up of 22 sections, each one of which begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of those sections is made up of eight verses, and the whole psalm is beautifully designed like a piece of intricate tapestry. It is nothing like those psalms in which the psalmist pours out his emotions of anger, sorrow and joy. The whole purpose of the psalm is to declare the blessing of God’s laws, because they are the key to living life to the full. It’s as if the writer sees God’s instructions as being so beautiful that, like a diamond, every single angle of them needs to be identified and celebrated.
When we first hear the word ‘law’ we are inclined to think of restrictions, and no one likes the thought of that. We want to be free to do what we want. But God’s laws are given so that we can be protected from the things that can only damage our lives. The psalmist was convinced that God’s law offered the path to the deepest blessings and joys of life. He summed it up by declaring: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105).
Question
In what particular ways have you found God’s laws to be a blessing?
Prayer
Lord God, I thank You that You love me so much that You have given me rules to enable me to enjoy life to the full. Amen

Psalm 118:5-6
When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; He brought me into a spacious place.
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
The Duke of Wellington said: “The only thing I am afraid of is fear.” He had good reason to say this. Doctors tell us that fear can have a huge effect on our lives. It can lead to accelerated ageing and even premature death.
The psalmist knew all about fear. He reflected on the experience of being surrounded by hostile nations. He graphically described them as swarming around him like bees, and they did their best to kill him (Psalm 118:10-13). Such experiences are far away for the majority of us but, whoever we are, we all face scary situations. Perhaps it’s a health issue, or concerns about our families, our work or our finances. When fear takes hold, it can have devastating effects, so we need to listen carefully to the psalmist.
The fundamental discovery of the psalmist was that God was stronger than his opponents. Powerful as they were, God was stronger. He was able to put his human threats in a proper perspective and concluded today’s verse with a rhetorical question: “What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psalm 118:6). He didn’t need to be afraid because of the absolute security that he had in God.
Life will throw many challenges at us. There is no way in which we can avoid them. But, if we give our lives to God, we don’t ever need to be fearful.
Question
What do you do when you are tempted to be fearful?
Prayer
Lord God, I praise You that I can look to the future with confidence because of Your constant presence with me. Amen

Psalm 117
Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.
So reads the whole of Psalm 117. It’s the shortest psalm, but it has an enormous message which embraces the whole of the Bible. Every single person needs to join in praising God. Praising Him isn’t confined to a little group of fervent believers. He is God of the world, so He needs to be worshipped by everyone.
I love the fact that all the churches I know draw together people from a number of different nations. Some of them choose to display the flags of the countries that are represented in the congregation and this seems to me a wonderful way of affirming this great psalm. Although God had a very special relationship with the people of Israel, it was never His intention that they alone should worship Him. God’s heart was always for the whole world. In the book of Revelation, we see the climax of history, when a vast crowd will gather together so great that no one could count it: “from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands” (Revelation 7:9).
Worship is important because it puts everything and everyone in their right place. When we acknowledge the supremacy of God, our creator and saviour, we see our lives in a true perspective and can then enjoy them to the full.
Question
What has been the importance of worship in your life?
Prayer
Loving God, thank You for the way in which worship blesses and strengthens my life. Amen

Psalm 115:1
Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
It is said that William Wilberforce marked the passing of the bill to abolish slavery in the UK by meditating on this psalm. However great our human successes, it is always our first duty to worship God and to praise Him for His greatness and provision. Everything we have and are comes to us as a gift from God, so we need to make sure He is the first one to get the praise. From our modern perspective, the slave trade appears so obviously evil that it is hard to believe the struggle was so great. However, Wilberforce and his friends fought a very long battle against huge vested interests including, not least, within the Church. He deserves much credit, but he knew that it was God Himself who really deserved the praise.
I really don’t want to detract from your successes in life. If you are an amazing pianist, successful businessperson, fine painter, loving parent, excellent church leader or talented dancer, I would like to congratulate you on what you have achieved. It is right that your successes are recognised and that you receive some praise. However, there is One who deserves recognition and praise in advance of you. Without God, you would be nothing and have nothing.
Question
In what way do you seek to give glory to God day by day?
Prayer
Lord God, I praise You for all that You have given me. Forgive me for the times when I have failed to give You the glory that is rightfully Yours. Amen

Philippians 4:11-13
I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Advertising is a major influence in the modern world. Its deliberate intention is to stir up discontent. We are continually urged to buy newer, trendier, brighter, faster and more efficient products. Being consistently pounded with these messages means it can be difficult to live contentedly with what we already have, but that must surely be the most desirable life of all. To live with contentment is to live a life without strain and stress because we aren’t fixated on trying to get things to change. Epicurus, the Greek philosopher, said: “He who doesn’t find a little enough, will find nothing enough.” There is wisdom in this quotation, but Paul wouldn’t have agreed with it. His contentment didn’t flow from a particular philosophical understanding of life but from his relationship with Christ. Because he was completely secure in his faith it didn’t matter what his personal circumstances were.
Because of the continual pressures of society and of the changing circumstances of our own lives, it is a daily challenge to live with contentment. However, it can be done just so long as we keep our lives focused on Jesus. I have met many people over the years who have been wonderful illustrations of this. For one reason or another, their lives have suddenly changed. Sometimes it is because of a change in their relationships or their finances, but I have been particularly moved by those who have suddenly seen their health taken away from them. This is probably the biggest shock of all. How is it possible to continue to be content after the sudden loss of mobility or of eyesight, for example? Miraculously, it is possible – but only when we have learned to focus on Jesus rather than our circumstances.
Question
Are you content with your present life and, if not, what do you think you could do to become contented?
Prayer
Thank You Lord for the blessing of knowing You. Help me to live so closely to You that I will always be content. Amen