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A Spiritual Dilemma
Today’s Scripture
Psalm 145:1-8
Today’s Insights
In Psalm 145, the psalmist David extols the name and character of God, who is “worthy of praise” (v. 3). He praises His mighty acts, glorious splendor, wonderful and awesome works, great deeds, abundant goodness, and righteousness (vv. 4-7). And in verse 8, he lists characteristics of God that are repeated throughout the Old Testament: “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love” (see Exodus 34:6; 2 Chronicles 30:9; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:15; 103:8; 111:4; 112:4; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2). David concludes, “I will praise the Lord, and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever” (Psalm 145:21 nlt). One day, “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them” will join in praise “to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb” (Revelation 5:13). We praise Him today as we anticipate what’s to come!
Today’s Devotional
The average person checks his or her phone 150 times a day. Let that sink in a minute. Something has our attention, and it may not be for our good. Tristan Harris believes this. He’s one of the voices in a film that features some of the top names in technology, people who ushered us into “social media.” But instead of praise, their voices are sounding an alarm, calling our reality (and the film) The Social Dilemma. “We’re the product. Our attention is the product being sold to advertisers.” We give our attention to what we believe is valuable or worthy. And in a very real sense, what we give attention to, we can find ourselves worshiping.
That word dilemma indicates a situation where a choice has to be made. Believe it or not, we face such a dilemma in our spiritual lives, a choice we have to make daily: Who or what will I give my attention to? In other words, Who or what will I worship? The psalmist clearly made his choice: “Every day I will praise you [God] and extol your name for ever and ever” (Psalm 145:2). The verse that follows gives his rationale: “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom” (v. 3).
The psalmist believed nothing compares to God’s greatness, and so he focused his attention there. God and God alone is worthy of our praise.
Reflect & Pray
In contrast to time for praying or reading Scripture, what vies for your attention? What changes can you make to keep technology from becoming an idol?
Dear God, You alone are worthy of my praise. Nothing compares to You.
Bible in a Year
1 Samuel 1-3; Luke 8:26-56