Monday Devotion: Psalm 121
Today it was my turn to provide the message for our morning devotion at the ELCSA office. Yes, I preached, and then everyone started calling me Umfundisi (Zulu word for Pastor).
Psalm 121:
I lift my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth
He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber
Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep
The LORD watches over you – the LORD is your shade at your right hand
The Sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night
The LORD will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life
The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore
It’s sometimes hard to believe that God is always watching over us. I don’t know about you, but there are many times in my life when I thought God was asleep. Take a look at what is going on around the world with all the political and humanitarian concerns and you may start to wonder where God is in this world. However, there is one thing I have learned this year and that is the true meaning of “Let Go and Let God.” No matter how bad things get, how tough it can be, or how much you think God is asleep, He has a plan. I have lived in South Africa for six months now and it has not always been easy. Being so far away from home during our elections and now with all the changes going on, has been really hard. But, it has also been really good. Stepping out of everything I know and immersing myself in life here, has given me a new perspective on life. I have learned to look at things differently and to put my trust in God that everything will turn out okay in the end.
One of the first songs I learned at church was “Modimo wa resheba. A re tsamaya, a re rapela. Modimo wa resheba.” The tune was so catchy and I would mumble the words that I didn’t really know. A few weeks ago Thuli was singing the song and I jumped at the opportunity to ask her what the words were and what the translation was. She explained to me that the song is saying that “God sees us. When we walk and pray, God sees us.” Learning the actual words and the translation, gave the song so much more meaning to me. God is always watching, when we are happy or sad, angry or frustrated; he is our ever loving and forgiving God and he is always there. We just have to Let Go and Let God, trusting in the plan he has for us and that he will not let our feet slip along the path.
© Courtney Smith March 2017
