Daily devotional · March 22
Better Than Life
“O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water. So I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and glory. Because Your loving devotion is better than life, my lips will glorify You. So I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will lift my hands. My soul is satisfied as with the richest of foods; with joyful lips my mouth will praise You. When I remember You on my bed, I think of You through the watches of the night. For You are my help; I will sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.”
David wrote this psalm in a dry and weary land, and his longing is both physical and spiritual: his soul thirsts and his body faints for God. He remembers seeing God's power and glory in the sanctuary, and he declares that God's steadfast love is better than life itself. That is a big claim, coming from someone who is running for his life. It suggests that his satisfaction does not depend on circumstances. He praises God through the night watches, remembering him on his bed, and describes being held up by God's right hand. A quiet moment of remembering can transform a sleepless night. If you lie awake tonight with worries, you might follow David's example. Instead of rehearsing problems, quietly recall a few of God's kindnesses, one at a time. Today, pick a short moment, before sleep or upon waking, to thank God for three specific things.
Prayer
God, Your love is better than life. Satisfy my soul and hold me up. Amen.