Online House of Prayer

Aneel Aranha is an author, preacher, and evangelist who has spoken to hundreds of thousands of people around the world. You can find a huge selection of his reflections, articles, sermons, songs and other resources on his website www.aneelaranha.com.

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Online House of Prayer

Psalm 16

January 19, 2023 • Aneel Aranha • Season 3 • Episode 16

0:00 | 4:05

St. Augustine once said: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." Is your heart restless, or have you found rest?

Psalm 016 - A Goodly Heritage

Keep me safe, my God,
for in you I take refuge.
I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing.”
I say of the holy people who are in the land,
“They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
or take up their names on my lips.
LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I keep my eyes always on the LORD.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Every believer who spends time in the presence of the Lord can testify to the truths contained in this psalm. When we sing it, we declare that there is none like the Lord, and we could search for all eternity but find no one like him. He is our portion and our cup; he is our refuge and our hiding place; he is our guide and counselor. He makes known to us our purpose in living.

Unfortunately, much of the world hasn't discovered the Lord, much less spent time in his presence. So they keep searching for love, joy, and peace as they drift from one thing to another, looking for a meaning to life. David calls them "other gods." If only they understood that they can find everything they are looking for in the Lord. St. Augustine once said: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." Truer words were never spoken.

Those of us who know the Lord are obligated to those who don't know him to draw them to him. We do this by shining in the darkness. Jesus said: "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

However, like the moon, we bear no light of our own. But as the moon reflects the light of the sun, we need to reflect the light of the Son — SON — and the closer we are to him, and the more time we spend with him, the brighter we will shine. So, what are you waiting for? Shine bright, God's precious star!

God be with you.