Thurs., 9/1/16 Devotion (Ps. 40:17a)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 40, v. 17a, which says this:

"But I am poor and needy; yet the LORD thinks upon me. . . . "

David wrote these words (above). He was "poor and needy" in that he knew he was bankrupt before God—having no righteousness of his own. All of David's favor with God came through his union (by faith) with Christ. But what I find most intriguing in this verse is the expression, "The LORD thinks upon me."

Can we picture the God who created the entire universe "thinking" on you, and me? He does—so long as we are joined to Christ as His church. We may not think of ourselves as particularly interesting—but the people of the true church are of intense interest to God. He "thinks" on us; and all His thoughts are for our good, our welfare, our betterment, and our prosperity. Let us think on Him today, and thank the Lord for His goodness.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Do not say thus, 'I shall never be helped; I am in a sad condition and shall never be better.' . . . This you cannot say, for who knows what God will do?” —William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up for the Down-cast"]