14 day plan

Blessings

Day 14 of 14

NIV

Psalms 34:8-14

8Taste and see that the Lord is good;

blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

9Fear the Lord, you his holy people,

for those who fear him lack nothing.

10The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11Come, my children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12Whoever of you loves life

and desires to see many good days,

13keep your tongue from evil

and your lips from telling lies.

14Turn from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it.

Reflection: Blessing Fourteen – Simple Pleasures

During the extended lock downs many of us have lived through in the past two years, we have lived very restricted lives. In the midst of this, one can become more acutely aware of the many simple pleasures that make life richer and fuller. Walking, reading, watching, swimming, connecting with neighbours, and strangers etc. Even though it was all very unusual and different, it was possible to be thankful for the many little things that made each day, each week more bearable.

It’s great to know we are blessed by a God who is good and is our refuge and hope. We all want to be able to love life and see good days, don’t we? In seeking after good days, we need to be faithful people, to turn from evil and pursue the good.

Today, give thanks for the simple pleasures that God is blessing you with. Sing his praises and acknowledge him along the way.

Prayer: Sustaining God, we thank you for being our refuge in good days and in tough days. We thank you that we are blessed with many simple pleasures each day and we ask that you would prompt us to acknowledge who you are, as we share in them along the way. Amen.

Psalms 34:1-22

Psalm 34

Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

1I will extol the Lord at all times;

his praise will always be on my lips.

2I will glory in the Lord;

let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

3Glorify the Lord with me;

let us exalt his name together.

4I sought the Lord, and he answered me;

he delivered me from all my fears.

5Those who look to him are radiant;

their faces are never covered with shame.

6This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;

he saved him out of all his troubles.

7The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,

and he delivers them.

8Taste and see that the Lord is good;

blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

9Fear the Lord, you his holy people,

for those who fear him lack nothing.

10The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11Come, my children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12Whoever of you loves life

and desires to see many good days,

13keep your tongue from evil

and your lips from telling lies.

14Turn from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it.

15The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and his ears are attentive to their cry;

16but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,

to blot out their name from the earth.

17The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;

he delivers them from all their troubles.

18The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19The righteous person may have many troubles,

but the Lord delivers him from them all;

20he protects all his bones,

not one of them will be broken.

21Evil will slay the wicked;

the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

22The Lord will rescue his servants;

no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.