The strength of my heart

Psalm 73:26

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

There is no greater medicine for any spiritual need, no greater cure for any malady than this wonderful verse. In fact, the seventy-third psalm ought to be read by the lonely, the discouraged, and the despondent. Because, after that you have read it, you cannot possibly stay in your previous state. You will be lifted to plains of joy and encouragement. Your heart will be warmed, and your spirit invigorated. Your soul will be nourished, and your heart will smile, although it was not then smiling. For what a healing balm this is! Whom have I in heaven but Thee? he says in the preceding verse. And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee! The Lord is the fulfillment of our desire. No one in Heaven or on earth can fulfill our needs and wants as He can. No one above or below can come to our aid with such help and comfort as the Lord. None upon earth! None in Heaven!

Asaph, the great Psalmist who we believed penned these words, had been discouraged by the state of the ungodly, who seemed to greatly prosper amidst their sin. Meanwhile, he was beset before and behind with trials innumerable and unbearable. And here he says, “My flesh and my heart faileth!” Is your heart failing? Is your flesh ill at ease? Is it all crumbling and caving in? Are you at the end of your strength and at the terminus of all your wits? God is the strength of my heart! He is my strength! He makes my feet like hinds’ feet! That I may walk upon my high places! He is the only one to look to when the flesh and the heart are failing! When there is no more physical or spiritual strength in your body or spirit, you must look to the only source of abounding energy and vitality. He is the only source, the single fountain, the one and only spring of all my comfort! He is more than life to me! My friend, find your strength in the Lord this very day. When your flesh and your heart is failing, retire to the One who never fails!

And He is my portion for ever! For ever! My portion! Can anything be more encouraging! Can anything raise us above our trials and difficulties like this! He is your portion! Others may not be your portion. A life of ease and health may not be your portion. The absence of trails may not be your portion. A life of fond circumstances may not be your daily cup. You may find that your lot is not the continual favor of men. But God is your portion! When you have nothing else, you have Him! He is always yours! He is always your portion! He belongs to you and you belong to Him! Is there anything greater? Is anything better than this? Surely not! He is the best, the brightest, and the most beloved! He is yours! He is your portion. In your trials, remember this today!

“Oh, my dear Father, I thank you that you have given us something that never passes away, and that is Yourself! You have given your Son for us, and have endowed us with your loving presence. What else do we need? In moments of hardship, and in days of discouragement, remind us of this most wonderful truth. And we shall praise and glorify Thy holy name. For it is in Christ’s name that we pray, Amen.”