A meditation inspired by Psalm 14.

The fool says in his heart,

“There is no God.”

Yet which of us has never boasted,

“I am the god of my own life;

I am master of myself”?

We indulge our selfish urges

and tell ourselves that free will means we will answer to no one.

We pursue the prizes we desire

stumbling over our integrity,

stepping on our neighbors to get what we want.

The Lord looks down from heaven

on all the generations of humankind

to see if there is anyone wise,

anyone who seeks God’s will above his own.

But all have turned away,

every eye clouded by sin and lust.

Have all God’s ways been forgotten?

People devour each other with ravenous appetites

and no conscience to warn them of impending doom.

They never think of begging God for rescue

from the dreadful fruit of their corrupt ways.

There was One who was wise and good,

who walked in perfect communion with God

with no thought to harm or deceive.

Love’s divine plan surrendered him to a cruel death

to pay for sins we could not afford

and restore us to friendship with God—

holy intimacy for which we were created.

The Father Almighty bends low to me.

Let my heart sing!

Let my mouth proclaim, ”Yes, there is God!”

The Lord is my hope and my rescue.

Let me boast in the righteousness of the Lamb

and give thanks for the Spirit Companion

who counsels and comforts me.

O my people, take hold of the salvation the Lord has given you!