Lonely in a Crowded Room

Keep me safe, my God,
for in you I take refuge.

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    apart from you I have no good thing.”
I say of the holy people who are in the land,
    “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
    I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
    or take up their names on my lips.

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
    you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    surely I have a delightful inheritance.
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest secure,
because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
    nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
You make known to me the path of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16

“Think back to a time you were in a large gathering and knew no one. Remember that feeling of loneliness, being surrounded by people but unnoticed and unknown. Imagine one of your good friends walks in and suddenly the room feels lighter, conversation becomes natural as connection snaps into place. But what if instead of your good friend walking in, your rival and biggest critic enters the room. Now, not only are you feeling alone, but alone and threatened. Chances are you’ll find a close exit.

“There are great benefits in knowing the Lord. Regrettably, many people don’t like to discuss a ‘benefit’ of knowing God, like its fishing for a cheap toy in the bottom of the cereal box. Yet knowing God is the beauty of your salvation. When you were alone in the universe and your accuser declared you guilty and bound to darkness, God walked in, filling the space with light, full of love and looking straight at you.

“The benefits of knowing God begin and end in His presence. He brings a power strong enough to defeat your greatest challenge, a peace surpassing all human understanding and a provision sustaining you through the most desperate situations. His salvation puts a permanent end to the designs of your enemy.

“Today, stand before God in gratitude and remember the great benefits of knowing Him.”

Presidential Prayer Team Devotion

When I read the Scripture and the devotion, I think of the Ken Davis’ presentation of Super Sheep. I may be a sheep, but I’m with Him (Jesus).

We can do nothing of importance without Jesus. We can do everything with Jesus.

God is our refuge. God is our strength. The reference to an inheritance in the Scripture above may not be until we go into our mansion in Heaven, but it will be a grand inheritance. And the greatest part of that inheritance is that we will be with Jesus.

The first paragraph of the devotion brought back memories. As an introvert in an extroverted world, I have had to adapt, but each time that I went, as a presenter, to a convention or into a customer’s facility to teach a one-day or a one-week seminar, I felt alone in a crowded room. I focused on preparing for the first presentation and checking all the equipment. I have a hard time initiating conversation with strangers. Once I make a presentation, I can gravitate to those in the crowd who seemed to make eye contact, seemed to give the non-verbal understanding cue, or those that asked questions. In time, I connect with everyone, except for the conventions with 300-500 in attendance. But until that first presentation, I only talked when approached by someone. The description in the devotion was perfect for me.

I guess I might be the poster child for introverts coming out of their shell. It may not be easy, but with God’s help, we can become Super Sheep.

Soli Deo Gloria. Only to God be the Glory.