My portion forever

The Verse of the Day for March 1, 2014 is found in Psalm 73:25-26:

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

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

The New Living Testament renders the passage in this way:

Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
he is mine forever.

Along with the Psalmist, I also declare that “God is the strength of my heart,” in that verse 26 of Psalm 73 became the inspiration for the following scripture memory song:

God Is the Strength of My Heart

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart,

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart,

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart,

And my portion, my portion, and my portion for evermore.

He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me on my high places.

He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me on my high places.

He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me on my high places.

He’s the lifter, the lifter, He’s the lifter up of my head.

In thinking about the passage from Psalm 73, I also recall the opening verses of Psalm 27, my favorite psalm which I committed to memory as a youngster.

Psalm 27:1-3

 ¹The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

²When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

³Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

We also find another reference to “my heart “and “my flesh” in Psalm 16:8-10

⁸I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

⁹Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

¹⁰For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Throughout the Psalms we find references that reveal that God will strengthen our hearts. Psalm 27 ends with this reminder:

Psalm 27:14

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Psalm 31:24 tells us:

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

Psalm 84:2 makes known

My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God

Josh Bayne captures the heart of the Psalm 73:25-26 in the song “My Portion Forever”:

The classic Don Moen composition “God is the Strength of My Heart” reinforces the message in a special way:

 

Tags: Don Moen, God is the strength of my heart, My Portion Forever, portion, Psalm 24:1-3, Psalm 27, Psalm 27:14, Psalm 31:24, Psalm 73:25-26, Psalm 84:2