Focus

Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.

Read

Psalm 67 (NRSV)

May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
May God continue to bless us;
let all the ends of the earth revere him.

Reflect

This scripture passage is a song of praise. At the end of some of the phrases, the author of this psalm inserted the word selah. Most Old Testament historians agree that selah means something along the lines of “take a break here,” “breathe,” or “pause for a short moment and think about the song.”

The meaning of Psalm 67, in a nutshell, is this: God will bless us with what we need. All the world will eventually be in awe of God. Pause a moment and let these words sink in. Don’t these words sum up everything for which we should be hoping?

God will bless us in numerous ways. Someday everyone on this planet will not only know God, but will actually be in awe of God! We should just be quiet for a bit and let this thought sink in so that we can more fully understand and appreciate the magnitude of it. While the first two statements are beyond our ability to appreciate fully, it is the third that catches my attention the most. Selah—stop all movement and noise; just be still and know.

Pray

Lord, we are busy. We rush from place to place, trying to get all the things done that fill our day. Forgive us when we do not put you first in our lives. Grant us quiet moments in our day-to-day lives when we can just be still and stand in awe of you. Amen.

Go with God.