Camping at the River

“Your love, O LORD. Reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast. How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life: in your light we see light. Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright heart. May the foot of the proud not come against me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.”
Psalm 36:5-11

Twelve women met at a nearby river for a weekend camping trip. This group of ladies of various ages, from different backgrounds, different churches and each carrying their own burdens came together to enjoy the beauty of creation and the fellowship of friendship and sisterhood. Together, they laughed and played, rested and walked in the cool river water, they ate and shared life together. 

Come Sunday morning I had been asked to lead a short devotional time. I had been thinking about what I would say for a couple of week and spent some of my time at the river, praying and studying. You see with twelve women, each dealing with their own stuff we probably could have spent all day pouring through the Scriptures to find something to encourage each individual. As I studied - this week’s passage kept coming up and so I shared what I gleaned from the passage.

God’s love is - unfailing. His love is loyal, devoted and kind. His love is priceless, it is a rare and precious gift that He freely gives. He loves us no matter what we are facing or how we react to our circumstances.

God’s faithfulness is - steady and trustworthy. He will be faithful to keep His promises even if our faith feels like it is failing, His never will.

God’s righteousness is - strong, sure and as solid as the majestic mountains. His standards will never fail and He stands ready to help us live up to them.

God’s justice is perfect and yet a mystery to us because it does not match our understanding of justice. His justice is always right and will protect us from those people or situations that threaten to trip us up. We just need to remember He welds his justice in His own time.

God will lead us to the river, when we are parched and dry, so we can be refreshed and restored to the thriving and abundant life He intends for us. 

The bottom line in all of this is that David understood that no matter what he faced, no matter what we face - we are never alone. God, whose love reaches to the heavens, can reach our hearts just as easily, no matter where we are. He will protect us and provide for us everything that we need for an abundant life, just like the fertile land that lies beside the rivers of the world.

What about it? Do you need to campout at the river of God’s love - soaking up His faithfulness, righteousness, justice and the abundant life He has for you? 

A Prayer
Father - thank you for making such beautiful world for us to live in and learn about your from. Where rivers flow life thrives in abundance. Our lives can get dried out by circumstances of life, draw us to the river of your delight so we can campout and be refreshed, restored and encouraged by your love and faithfulness. In the name of Jesus - Amen