Blog post September 16, 2026

As I read a Psalm for the day, Psalm 16:8 stuck out to me. "I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved."

Setting the Lord before us means making deliberate, daily choices to keep God at the center of our thoughts, values, and actions.

The reality is we are "setting something before us" all the time. The other day as I pulled up to a stop sign in downtown Cedar Rapids I watched a family of four walk across the street in single file. They each had a phone held up in front of them from which their eyes never lifted. They made their way across the street to an empty bench where they promptly sat down without a word while not once taking their eyes off of their phones. It was a bit like synchronized swimming. I was amazed and a bit flabbergasted all at the same time. I thought to myself, am I that addicted to my phone? Am I ever isolating myself while surrounded by a world of people?

Setting God before us doesn't just happen by accident. we must wake up and choose to look at Him, just like setting an alarm. Beginning our day by reading God's word. Praying throughout our day. Memorizing verses. Pausing before choices. Being intentional about stepping outside and taking in God's creation. All these are practical ways to keep God in front of us that He may stand at our right hand and be our strength, that we may not be shaken by fear or trouble.

Lord please help us to be locked on to You more than we are to our phones. Help us to discipline ourselves like an athlete. To train ourselves for godliness. Help us to choose wisely what it is we "set before us". I Pray in Jesus name. AMEN