Songs of the Soul: A Lent DevotionalSample

Have you ever wondered how to draw closer to God in your journey? The psalmist provides us with invaluable insights in these four short verses. He begins by declaring “Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths.” Right from the start, he establishes one of the most important elements of walking closely with God: teachability. It goes beyond mere intellectual curiosity; it entails a willingness to be transformed and filled by His Divine Wisdom. Often, the tendency that some of us fall into is reading Scripture solely to accumulate knowledge. However, it would be far better to let Scripture transform us by putting that Truth into practice.

The psalmist continues: “Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Saviour, and my hope is in You all day long.” Here the psalmist gives us the second element of walking closely with God: trust. Ultimate trust is the fertile ground in which hope blossoms. To have hope is to wholeheartedly place unwavering trust in something, believing that it has the power to transform and enrich our lives. Here, we are instructed to anchor that hope in God.

Lastly, the psalmist concludes with this: “Remember, Lord, Your great mercy and love… do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways.” The third element of walking closely with God is humility. Here, the psalmist appeals to God’s Mercy and Love, pleading with Him for the forgiveness of sin. It has been wisely said that “humility is being close to the truth,” and this sentiment resonates powerfully. The Truth is that we are sinners in need of forgiveness and redemption, and adopting a posture of humility is having a constant awareness of this Truth.

Let us take inspiration from the example set by the psalmist, embracing a teachable spirit, placing our unwavering trust in God, and humbly seeking His Mercy and Forgiveness. In doing so, we will find ourselves growing ever more Christ-like in the way we live. Moreover, we will experience the bountiful blessings of being in close relationship with God.

Kevin Kusunoki
Pastor

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I desire to walk closely with You. Please help me cultivate a spirit of teachability, an unwavering trust in Your Ways, and the humility to know that I need Your Forgiveness. Amen.