Good Lord: A 5-Day Devotional From David LeonardSample

I Got a Good Lord

Lord, how my foes increase!
There are many who attack me.
2 Many say about me,
“There is no help for him in God.”Selah

3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.

– Psalm 3:1-3

In many Bibles, a heading is included above Psalm 3: “A psalm of David when he fled from his son Absalom.” That might seem confusing when we consider this is the same guy who faced Goliath and believed with his whole heart that the Lord “will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37). In Psalm 3:1-2, David seemed far less confident in God’s goodness. His world was crumbling around him, and he heard others say, “God isn’t helping him out this time” (see v. 2).

Here's the thing—David didn’t always rest completely in God’s goodness. Sometimes he wrestled with his circumstances and the legitimately awful state of his life. But in those times, he was again reminded of the truths he knew about God’s character. What began as desperation and uncertainty quickly turned to the everlasting fact that God is always good (see v. 3). David’s son had betrayed him, but he had a good Lord. His enemies were increasing, but he had a good Lord. People were literally attacking him, and no one thought he had a chance, but David had a good Lord, and he decided to remember that truth stood above everything else.

Even as we mark God’s goodness in our hearts as Ebenezer stones, there will still be moments when we forget. In our human nature, God doesn’t always feel good at the moment. What do you do then? Choose to focus on the good. Say it out loud if you need to. Sing songs about God’s goodness. Let the truths of who God has shown Himself to be in the past reframe your feelings in the present. David had a good Lord, even in those moments when he and others couldn’t see it. And so do you. Let God’s goodness help build your faith. The truth is, God is good, even when your circumstances are not.

·What do you do when you don’t feel like God is good or have difficulty focusing on anything other than your circumstances? How is Psalm 3:1-3 an encouragement to you?

·How does God’s goodness protect us like a shield from all that stands against us?

·Name the circumstances you’re presently struggling with, and after each one, read Psalm 3:3. Thank God that He is good, even when it doesn’t feel like it.