Psalm 16:7

^{(Today’s post is part of a series on Psalm 16. You can find all the posts on my Psalm 16 page.)}

 

I will praise the Lord. who counsels me;

even at night my heart instructs me. Psalm 16:7 (NIV)

 

Praise – bless, kneel down to, boast about

Lord – Yahweh, God’s proper name

Counsels – advises

Heart – reins, control of self; seat of emotion and affection, innermost being

Instructs – teaches me what is right; educates me

 

In this verse, David is expressing his appreciation for the way God leads him and guides him in many different areas..

He is saying God is so good to him that even at night when he is sleeping, God is still working on his heart about things and helping him to know what is right.

 

David knew something very important.

He knew it’s not just during a dedicated prayer time that the Lord counsels us.

As we go along in life He helps us, prompts us, guides us, and educates us.

At all times the Lord is there, ready with wisdom and knowledge, ready to counsel us about any and every thing we might need His help with.

 

I see this a lot in my own life.

I’ll see a verse or subject on several social media posts/sites.

Then, someone will mention it or I will hear it on the radio.

It will come up in my Bible devotions.

Every time that happens it is either in reference to something I am praying about or else something that is coming up in my life the Lord wants to talk to me about.

Whichever it is, it’s always something relevant to my current situation.

It might not be obvious what the connection is, but if I will stop, say a prayer, and look at what I am hearing, the relevance quickly becomes clear.

When I see these patterns it’s not because I am looking for signs.

It is because God is leading and guiding me.

He is showing me the answers I need.

 

His counsel is not limited to what I see and hear as I go about my day.

Sometimes I will pray about something and wake up the next morning with fresh perspective, wisdom, or an idea.

During the night while I was sleeping His Holy Spirit was speaking to me.

Sometimes it is reminding me of Scripture I already know.

Sometimes it is telling me something new.

Sometimes it is a mixture of the two.

Whatever the combination, God’s Spirit is helping me.

This is what David meant when he said his heart counsels him in the night.

 

No matter what is happening in our lives God is always there, offering instruction and advice.

We can trust Him to always guide us on the right path.

I praise Him for His counsel and thank Him for His goodness and generosity in showing me how to live a life that is honoring and pleasing to Him, a life in which He can be glorified.

 

What about you?

Do you see God offering you counsel?

Are there times in your life you see a pattern of a subject coming up?

Do you pray and ask the Lord to help you understand what He might be trying to say to you?

Will you look around and see where He is speaking to you now?

 

 

 

You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Psalm 73:24 (NIV)

 

For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end. Psalm 48:14 (NIV)

 

 

To see all the posts I’ve shared in this series, please visit my Psalm 16 page.

 

To learn more about what a Psalm is, please visit my post, What is the Book of Psalms?