Day 30
Start with Posture of Silence and Solitude (2 minutes)
Read Psalm 73 two or three times either aloud or silently.
A psalm of Asaph.
Surely God is good to Israel,
ย ย ย ย to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
ย ย ย ย I had nearly lost my foothold.
For I envied the arrogant
ย ย ย ย when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
They have no struggles;
ย ย ย ย their bodies are healthy and strong.
They are free from common human burdens;
ย ย ย ย they are not plagued by human ills.
Therefore pride is their necklace;
ย ย ย ย they clothe themselves with violence.
From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
ย ย ย ย their evil imaginations have no limits.
They scoff, and speak with malice;
ย ย ย ย with arrogance they threaten oppression.
Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
ย ย ย ย and their tongues take possession of the earth.
Therefore their people turn to them
ย ย ย ย and drink up waters in abundance.
They say, โHow would God know?
ย ย ย ย Does the Most High know anything?โ
This is what the wicked are likeโ
ย ย ย ย always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure
ย ย ย ย and have washed my hands in innocence.
All day long I have been afflicted,
ย ย ย ย and every morning brings new punishments.
If I had spoken out like that,
ย ย ย ย I would have betrayed your children.
When I tried to understand all this,
ย ย ย ย it troubled me deeply
till I entered the sanctuary of God;
ย ย ย ย then I understood their final destiny.
Surely you place them on slippery ground;
ย ย ย ย you cast them down to ruin.
How suddenly are they destroyed,
ย ย ย ย completely swept away by terrors!
They are like a dream when one awakes;
ย ย ย ย when you arise, Lord,
ย ย ย ย you will despise them as fantasies.
When my heart was grieved
ย ย ย ย and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant;
ย ย ย ย I was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you;
ย ย ย ย you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
ย ย ย ย and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
ย ย ย ย And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
ย ย ย ย but God is the strength of my heart
ย ย ย ย and my portion forever.
Those who are far from you will perish;
ย ย ย ย you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
ย ย ย ย I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
ย ย ย ย I will tell of all your deeds.
What word or phrase stood out to you?: Meditate on that word or phrase.What might God be speaking to you this day?
Respond to God who has been speaking to you through the word: You can speak out your prayer to God or journal it as you reflect on the Psalm.
End with Posture of Silence and Solitude (2 minutes)