Psalm 73

Daniel Corey Devotions

Psalm 73:25 b “…Besides You, I desire nothing on earth.”

One day, I hope to do a complete exposition and sermon series on this Psalm, but today let us focus on just one small gem that holds within it such profound implications. This verse forces us to ask one question which perhaps is so forward, so obvious, so outright that you might not have caught it. The question we ask our selves when we read this verse is, “Could I say that? Is that true about me?” The Psalmist says that besides the Lord, all things that lie outside of the boundaries of our beautiful Savior Jesus, all other pursuits, wants, longings, desires, passions, distractions, possessions, people, all things that are not Christ have no appeal to me! I don’t even want them! This verse is saying, “Lord I have searched my heart carefully, I have looked in the deepest parts of it and I have found that not only are You all that I need, You are all that I desire! You are all that I want! The world and all of the passing pleasures that fill it and assault my heart in attempt to get me to desire them hold no ground here Lord, because You have both filled and satisfied me, and I long for no other water but Yours.” This verse causes us to look deep into our hearts, deep into our desires and thoughts and ask, “Do I desire anything but Christ?” If you do, the Bible has a word for that, it’s called idolatry. The Lord often said that Israel did the right actions, but their hearts, their desires, were far from God. Don’t be deceived, your desires, if not focused purely on God, is idolatry.

I wanted this devotional to be shorter, so that you have time to sit and think and examine your heart. Let’s close in prayer.

“Father, you know my heart, my desires, whether evil or good. You are not fooled like everyone else, you see who I am inside. Lord, forgive me for only giving you intellectual ascent, for stopping short of honoring you with my thoughts and desires as well as my actions. Don’t let me fall into the darkness of this world and it’s lies, but keep my foot firmly planted on the rock of Truth. Jesus, be the center of my desires. Help me to search out those desires that are not for You and give me the strength to put them out of my life. Continuously encourage me to put off those worldly things I desire, no matter how seemingly minor, and help me to put on desires for You and renew my heart and my thoughts with your Word. Help me to be constantly thankful for the sacrifice that You made on my behalf. I thirst to be made more thirsty and I hunger to be made more hungry still. Grant me the courage to fight for the pure desire of You, so that I might please you and might be made more into the likeness of Your Son, Jesus Christ, in Who’s name I pray, Amen.”