Psalm 63:5-8 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 63:5-8 on biblegateway.com
Verse 5My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
Verse 6when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
Verse 7for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
Verse 8My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
Devotion
The longest days end with a nighttime of sleep. The psalmist speaks of the contentment that comes from trusting that our days and deeds are held securely in God’s grace and mercy. Yet in our harried world it can be challenging to let go of worries and anxieties. There are times when we cannot sleep and pass the night in fretful wakefulness. When those times come, we are invited to name and remember the many ways in which God has carried and befriended us through the years.
Prayer
God, our comfort and our joy, we thank you for your abiding presence. Help us to trust that you offer forgiveness and peace to us this day. We pray for those whose grief or worry keep them awake at night. Nestle them - and us - in the protective shelter of your wings; for Christ’s sake. Amen.