Tuesday Reflection- January 5, 2021

Say It, and Keep Saying It.

Psalm 23 is a favorite of many persons. In fact, I’m sure many will say it’s one of the first Psalms that they learnt. I remember as a child in school, we would say this Psalm almost every morning as part of our devotions. That constant repetition served not only to reinforce the words of the Psalm in our minds but the assurance that it gave to us as well. Today’s watchword is from Psalm 23: 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Author and motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar, said, “Repetition is the mother of learning, the father of action, which makes it the architect of accomplishment.” In other words, if we say something long enough it becomes riveted in our minds and begins to direct our thoughts and actions. That’s why it is important to think positive thoughts, make favorable proclamations over our youth and always maintain an optimistic outlook on life. This Psalm of David is one of many Biblical passages that helps us to do this. It undergirds God’s accompanying presence, guiding hands and supplying grace to those who believe. This is available to us always. At times it will seem otherwise, times when the devil will try to overturn our conviction, but if you believe then nothing will convince you otherwise. This is therefore a Psalm worth saying every day. It is a Psalm worth believing with all your heart. Indeed, we serve a God who provides for our needs, who spiritually restores us, who guides us in the right way and when we are surrounded by danger, steadies and assures us with His presence. We serve a God who is not phased by those who would do us harm but in fact blesses us so that they can see that He and not them is in control. God honors us by His anointing and blesses us with overflow. It is because of all of this we can say with certainty: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. I know you know this, but it is worth saying this until you are convinced, until you believe it with all your heart and soul. Say it until you believe it.
I want us to note David’s conviction in this verse. It’s not a conditional ‘if we accept this’, neither is it the uncertain ‘maybe’. He uses the word ‘surely’. It gives assurance and confidence. According to the dictionary, ‘surely’ is used to emphasize the speaker’s firm belief in the truth of what is being said. It leaves no room for doubt. Surely takes the onus off us and places it on God. God’s promised presence will be with us not because of us, but in spite of us. In spite of our doubts, in spite of our rebellion, in spite of our self-indulgencies, in spite of our stubbornness. It is this promised presence of God that keeps drawing us back to God in true and hearty repentance. There’s no doubt in David’s mind that whatever comes his way, God’s goodness and mercy would be his salvation. As we look ahead in this new year, we have no idea what it holds for us. There will be disappointments, there will be losses, relationships will be broken, sickness and failures will be part of the journey. The only certainty, the ‘surely’, that we have as we enter this new year is that God’s love, goodness and mercy will be with us to the very end. This is all the assurance we need because God keeps us in this life and promises us an eternity in glory. ‘I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am there you will be also.’ John 14: 3. It’s good to know this, but even better to believe it. Let us keep saying it because we believe it. In times of doubt, when we are down or discouraged, when trouble surrounds us, or when we can’t see our way through, let us remember: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. Amen.