7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

When I read this portion of the Psalm I always think of Jonah and how he ran from and tried to hide from God. Of course we know that God knew all along where Jonah was and what he was doing. The lesson in this is that God does indeed know where we are today and exactly what we are doing. However, that is not what this Psalm is really talking about. It is concerned with the assurance and peace that comes from knowing that God knows every detail of our lives and our goings and that we will not get lost from him. God does not loose his people. When someone is sick and we intend to check on them and help them we too often fail because we forget about them and their needs. God does not forget us. His right hand is always there to hold us. The “hands” of God are used in scripture to designate his execution of punishment. For example, his “mighty hand” was shown against Pharaoh in the time of Moses. But in this instance (as in many others) his hand is used to lovingly and tenderly hold his own and assure them of his protection and his provision. In Hebrews 11 we read of the men and women of faith. In the first 31 verses several are named and some details of the demonstration of their faith. However, in the verses that follow many are given as examples who are not even named but who faced all kinds of trials, troubles, persecutions and even death because of their faith. God was there for each of these unnamed ones just as much as he was with Moses or Abraham. He is also there with us each step of our way and is working in our lives just as much as he was with Joseph or Isaac. We can therefore face each day and each tomorrow before it arrives because we have a risen Savior and we serve a God who is always present and watching over us. When we open our hearts to him and to his Spirit, we are opening the door to his blessings, his wisdom to guide us, his protection and his constant care. Our job is to commit our heart, our lives and our way to him and his will.

O God, please help me to open my heart and allow your Spirit to fill me with your goodness. I know that you work all things for good in my life and that I can do all things in you. Please work in me what you want me to work out for you. Help me to never grieve you and your Spirit. Show me how I can serve you better today by loving and serving those around me. Help me to share the salvation that is only in Jesus. In his name I pray.

May God bless each of us as we live in him today.