Today is April 18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you.Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”Today’s reading is from Psalm 115"2 Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in heaven;he does whatever pleases him. 4 But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. 5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 6 They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. 7 They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. 8 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.9 All you Israelites, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield. 10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield. 11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield."An idol is anything that we turn to for purpose or provision in place of God. The Israelites lived among nations who fashioned idols out of wood or stone or silver and gold. The idols often looked like a person—with hands, feet, ears and mouths. They were believed to be filled with spiritual power. But even though these idols looked like a person, they couldn’t speak, hear, or move—they were nothing but statues. Yahweh reminded the Israelites that even though he was pure spirit without a physical body, he was alive. He heard, and spoke, and moved among them and on their behalf.We have the same challenge today as the Israelites did. We don’t see God with our physical eyes so naturally we wonder, God, do you exist? And if you do exist, how can we hear you speak and see you move? When we doubt that God is with us or when we don’t see God do what we want him to do, we naturally turn god-substitutes. As you hear the passage again, call to mind a god-substitute that you turn to for purpose or provision rather than God."2 Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. 4 But their idols are silver and gold,made by human hands. 5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 6 They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. 7 They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. 8 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.9 All you Israelites, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield. 10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield. 11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield."As we close our time today, can you make the refrain of the psalm your refrain? As you walk through your day today, say to the Lord, “I put my trust in you… You are my help and my shield.”Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

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