Psa 42:5 (NIV) Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.
John 10:10 (NKJV) The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
I met Fred this morning, walking his black spaniel, Lacky, a lovely dog, but like many spaniels, I’m sure it is wired into the moon! Lacky proceeded to bounce around me, completely oblivious to anything except for the joy of being out for a walk. Fred seemed a bit down in the mouth though, so cheerily, I asked him, “How are you today, Fred?” He replied, “Oh, so-so”. And he moved on with his walk, pulling bouncing Lacky behind him, but obviously preoccupied with some weighty matter. But it made me think about how much time we often spend, in an “Oh, so-so” manner, instead of living in the reality of today’s texts. The psalmist asked of himself, “Why are you downcast, O my soul.” He realised his state of mind and knew where the solution lies, by hoping in God and focussing his praise on Him. Jesus came to bring us abundant life, so let’s live in the reality of that this week. That is not to say we deny the reality of life and its situations; it is realising the reality that in Jesus there is a whole different perspective, as we hope in Him. And as we thank and praise Him, we can experience abundant life.
Being a Pilgrim 