The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “INNER PEACE” for Wednesday, 24 August 2016 with Scripture: Psalm 139:1-12(

The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States “INNER PEACE” for Wednesday, 24 August 2016 with Scripture: Psalm 139:(0) For the leader. A psalm of David:
(1) Adonai, you have probed me, and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I stand up,
you discern my inclinations from afar,
3 you scrutinize my daily activities.
You are so familiar with all my ways
4 that before I speak even a word, Adonai,
you know all about it already.
5 You have hemmed me in both behind and in front
and laid your hand on me.
6 Such wonderful knowledge is beyond me,
far too high for me to reach.
7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I climb up to heaven, you are there;
if I lie down in Sh’ol, you are there.
9 If I fly away with the wings of the dawn
and land beyond the sea,
10 even there your hand would lead me,
your right hand would hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Let darkness surround me,
let the light around me be night,”
12 even darkness like this
is not too dark for you;
rather, night is as clear as day,
darkness and light are the same.
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The psalmist wrote, “Set me free from my prison [O LORD], that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.”[Psalm 142:7 (NIV)]
I have recently formed a friendship with my friend’s son, who is in prison. As I read his letters, I am often struck by his ability to look deeply into his life. In one letter he shared his thoughts on ways of keeping himself focused on positive things: communing with God and allowing God’s word to uplift him, encourage him, and comfort him when he is having negative, self-defeating thoughts. Sometimes he includes some favorite scripture quotations.
I have learned from my friend’s letters that our minds can be free no matter where we are — even in an uncomfortable place. Conversely, we can be physically free to move about in search of peace, but our minds may not find true contentment. If we are honest, we can all admit to having some form of confinement that threatens our peace. But whether we are in prison or not, the message of Psalm 139 can bring us peace. Wherever we are, wherever we go, God is there. Those whom God sets free are free indeed!
The Author: Sharon Owens-Davis (New Jersey, USA)
Thought for the Day: Because God has set me free, I am free indeed.
Prayer: O Lord, you are our shepherd, and we shall not want. Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives. (See Ps. 23.) We are eternally grateful. Amen.
Prayer focus: THOSE IN PRISON

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