The Reward [Day 12]
As we get into the last verse in Psalm 91, I encourage you to read the whole Chapter in full (again) and receive for yourself what God has specifically for you. Each verse speaks life, protection, security, love, and peace into the troubled areas of our hearts; so that we walk out with boldness and confidence in our freedom and identity in Christ.
Personal Testimony: This originally began as a simple breakdown of one of my favorite Psalms, and has transitioned into a beautiful journey that God has used to transform my heart and reevaluate my perspective.
Again, I encourage you all to do the same with your favorite chapters, anywhere in the Bible. I'd also love to hear about your journeys if you'd be comfortable sharing!
Without further ado, let's get into our final verse breakdown of Psalm 91:
With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalms 91:16 NIV
I will satisfy him with a long life and show him my salvation. Psalms 91:16 CSB
I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.” Psalms 91:16 NLT
With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation. Psalms 91:16 NKJV
“With a long life I will satisfy him And I will let him see My salvation.” Psalms 91:16 AMP
After everything that we've learned about God, all that He saves us from, protects us against, provides us with, and all that He does for us: we learn what the reward is for trusting in Him: A long life, with satisfaction; and God will show us His salvation.
Translated in the Hebrew, "long life" is synonymous with "length of day". The word to describe "life" here was also used in Genesis 1:5 to describe when God created the first day. That being said, I don't believe the Psalmist was referring to our perception of time.
To God, a thousand years is but a day; so when God promises us a long, satisfying life, I believe it isn't measured in time or quantity of days, but in quality of days.
In the last devotional, I mentioned suffering can make every minute feel like an eternity; but what we gain is beautiful. Because only through the suffering can we experience God's rescue. And only in God's rescue can we begin to trust Him with every aspect of our lives. And only in trusting in God, can we begin to taste the goodness God has for us; we can begin to experience the depths of His love for us, we get a taste of the salvation we all have waiting for us when we die.
A long, satisfying life, is a life full of both amazing, beautiful, externally quiet days and with suffering, mourning, and externally chaotic days; because regardless of the number of days we have and what type of day we find ourselves in, one moment in God's presence gives us rest, joy, peace, and complete satisfaction.
We will always be equipped with what we need for each day; the Lord God promises to supply provision for all of His plans. We will always have rest available when we need it within each day; the Lord invites us to go to Him when we are weary, and dwell in His fortress and refuge. We will always be satisfied, because the Lord will always be with us every day of our lives.
One hundred years without God, is not a life at all; but one day with God can equate to an eternity of life to the full. That is what I think God means when He wrote this verse. It's a reminder that dwelling and abiding in Him, completes us in every single way within every single day.
- Challenge -
Regardless of the season you're in right now, practice thanking God for anything He's done for you throughout your life. Each day mention as many as you can think of, and thank God for them in a prayer; even if the only one you can think of is that He woke you up today. Start there.
Then, follow-up with reading a Bible verse everyday. Need wisdom to understand what God is trying to say? Pray for it, the Lord is faithful to provide. Need patience to be able to allow God time to answer or confirm? Pray for it, the Lord is the God of patience and comfort. Need self-control to be able to sit and read the Word for more than 2 minutes? Pray for it, the Lord wants to spend time with you, through you reading His Word, He will provide what we need.
Do you find it easier to thank Lord God in hard times or good times?
- Hard Times
- Good Times
- Both
Starting with praise, worship, and thanksgiving, sets our hearts in the right place to receive what God has for us. Regardless of how we're feeling or what's going on, we can put our whole trust in the fact that God is still good. God still loves us. God has a plan for us, and a plan to turn the suffering around; and God is still worthy of all our praise.
Once our hearts are in the right place, our prayers begin to flow easier. We can lay down our burdens easier. When we lay down our burdens it frees our heart to pray for what we need, and the needs of others; opening the gates of Heaven's resources sending an outpour here on earth. Then, we can see the hand of God in our lives, for ourselves. Not through someone else's experience or testimony, but our own.
- Closing Prayer -
My Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your salvation. I thank You for choosing each of us and adopting us as Your sons and daughters. I thank You for the precious gift of the Holy Spirit. I thank You for this day, that has allowed us to see the goodness of You, Lord God. I thank You for Your love and patience, as we grow and learn more about You. I thank You for Your grace and forgiveness; for not keeping a record of wrongs, but using all experiences for our good. I thank You for Your gentleness and kindness that is evident even through Your correction or the trials we face in life; we are never discouraged in your presence, Heavenly Father.
I thank You, Heavenly Father, for the wisdom You so freely give. For the understanding You provide those who seek You. For the guidance You are pleased to provide. For the power of Your Word that feeds us daily with life. I thank You, Lord God, for each breath that You send as proof our work on earth is not yet completed; that each day represents another opportunity to love you. I thank You for those You've ordained for our lives, family and friends, mentors, teachers, pastors, and the entire body of Christ. I thank You Lord God, and pray for all our hearts and for all the hearts around us; that we all be strengthened and encouraged with all the spiritual blessings available to us, Lord God. I pray for grace and peace to be given in abundance for those who love You and seek You, Heavenly Father; and also for those who do not yet know who You are. I pray that all of those that have gone astray, be found and brought back into the goodness and presence of God. I pray that those who never knew You would receive a new heart; one of gratefulness and praise and awe of Your Holiness, Lord God.
I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.