During 2025, Peachtree Church is focusing on the Book of Psalms with a series called Dwell, through which we seek to deepen our conversation with God and open ourselves to hearing his response. The practice of praying three times each day will unite the voices of our hearts and souls as we seek the day when we will see the full realization of the Kingdom of God, promised in Revelation 21:3: “…Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”
We will email devotionals twice weekly with Monday’s providing an overview of the Psalm as a whole, and Wednesday’s focused on that week’s Daily Dwell.
My heart is not proud, Lord,
Psalm 131:2
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
Devotional
On May 1, 2020, our family had gone to visit a drive-through zoo as a way of getting out of the house during those early days of the Covid pandemic. As we were driving home, a church member called to let me know that he had just received a diagnosis with one of those illnesses that we both knew would end in the healing that could only come from rejoining the presence of the Lord. We talked for twenty minutes or so; I remember that toward the end of the conversation, he laid out the hard reality that while he knew that he would die from this disease, he wanted to trust in God’s presence to provide for him and his family the best that was possible for every moment that he had before he breathed his last. It was a level of trust and humility that I could only envy and that I continued to see him exhibit for the rest of his life.
God’s desire for all of us is a simple one: that we would be able to put aside the desire to be more than we are and to instead live as we have been created to be, centered around living in right relationship with Him. Those words seem simple, but they’re some of the most difficult to follow, since they require that we put aside our own image of what is best, of what is right, and of what would appear to be of the greatest benefit to ourselves, and instead love the Lord with all of our being, which also requires that we would trust Him with all that we are. I don’t do this as well as I would like to. I want to forget that I am not God, and much more often than I would like to admit, I try to convince God that I am the one in charge.
This reminder that comes in this particular psalm is an important part of the worship life of the Israelites. Psalm 131 is one of the Psalms of Ascent, sung and recited as the devout children of Israel made their ascent of Mount Zion on their pilgrimages to Jerusalem that they were expected to make for Passover, Pentecost, and Sukkot each year. As the people made their way to the city where they believed God Himself dwelt in the temple, these words served as a reminder that all that humans are capable of pales in comparison to what God is capable of doing without any more effort than we make in taking a deep breath.
For Discussion
- What has challenged you the most in keeping your heart from being proud? In reflection have these places been ones that you have achieved or have they purely been the blessings of God?
- Where do you see the most common reminders that we are not in charge?
Prayer
Gracious God, help me to keep my heart focused on you and you alone. Where I believe that I am more than you, bring me to humility with gentleness. Where I begin to think that I am more than you, show me your hand of grace. May my life be one that reflects your presence and points always towards the work that you have done, not what I have believed that I have accomplished. In Jesus’ name we pray: amen.
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Devotionals