My Ample Portion

“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” Psalm 16:5-6,9,11

“Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
    you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:23-26

“‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,
    ‘therefore I will hope in him.’” Lamentations 3:24

A portion is: 1: an individual’s part or share of something: such as a: a share received by gift or inheritance; b: dowry; c: enough food, especially of one kind to serve one person at one meal; 2: an individual’s lot, fate, or fortune; one’s share

Choosing God as our portion is the best decision, ever. Jesus our Portion, Jesus our Only. David knew it. Asaph knew it. Jeremiah knew it. In Christ we own every spiritual blessing, guaranteed and without fail. In Him ours is an eternal inheritance, bounty, abundant life, satisfaction, and treasure. (John 4:14; 6:35; 10:10; Ephesians 1:3; )

So why do we toil for what does not last, and partake of so much that does not satisfy? What influences our reason to invest in what deteriorates or fades away? How are our hearts so easily inclined to wayward affection? Is it the media’s voice that convinces us what we need, or deserve, or should think, and might we do better to take a hiatus from the incessant feed? Does the company we keep steer us to godly or worldly thinking? Would we take enough time alone and quiet to assess the influence of our companions? Do we investigate and search until we find those who will feed us what our itching ears want to hear, or will we honestly pour over God’s word to hear His truth? (Ecclesiastes 2:11; Isaiah 55:2; 2 Timothy 4:3-4)

What circumstances are showing up the gaps in our worldview, our knowledge, our purity, our health, our desires? Will we look for God there? He is the One who abides, guides, and satisfies. What change of direction, or affection, or determination, will it take for us to root our strength and hope in God alone? What will it look like in our priorities, workplaces, ministries, and expenditures, to absolutely trust Him, and nothing else, as our Portion?

Thy Way is Perfect

“Long is the way, and very steep the slope,

Strengthen me once again, O God of Hope.

Far, very far, the summit doth appear;

But Thou art near my God, Thou art near.

And Thou wilt give me with my daily food,

Powers of endurance, courage, fortitude.

Thy way is perfect, only let that way

Be clear before my feet from day to day.

Thou art my Portion, saith my soul to Thee,

O what a Portion is my God to me.”  ~Amy Carmichael (1867-1951)

Lord, keep me choosing You as my highest and best, my only Portion, day by day, and forever.