God’s Goodness and Love Will Follow You - The Crosswalk Devotional - January 19

God’s Goodness and Love Will Follow You
By Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” – Psalm 23:6, NIV

As the calendar turns to January, new beginnings and fresh opportunities come to mind. It’s a natural time to look forward to the year ahead. Yet the uncertainty of what lies ahead can also tempt you to worry. What will this year hold? How will your challenges be met? Will blessings outweigh the burdens? 

While you wrestle with questions like those, Psalm 23:6 says something powerfully reassuring: God’s goodness and love will follow you all the days of your life. 

Psalm 23 uses the imagery of a shepherd and his sheep to describe God’s care. Just as a shepherd faithfully leads his flock, God’s loving presence is a constant reality in your life. The word “follow” in this verse has the sense of pursuit. God seeks you out, day after day. God isn’t distant or passive; he intentionally and actively pursues you with goodness and love. 

The truth of this verse becomes even more profound when you choose to look for the evidence of God’s goodness and love around you. While God’s work in your life is constant, your awareness of it often depends on your focus. When you intentionally look for the wonder of God’s work in your life each day, you will begin to notice God’s care in both small and significant ways, such as: 

• In the beauty of a sunrise that reminds you of God’s creativity.
• In the kind words of a friend that reflect God’s love.
• In the strength God gives you in a difficult situation.
• In the unexpected blessings that seem to arrive at just the right time.

The more you open your heart and mind to see the wonder of God’s work in your daily life, the more you will recognize God’s faithfulness. 

Every day God gives you is a precious gift – a new opportunity to experience God’s goodness, share God’s love, and walk in God’s purposes. It can be easy to take the ordinary moments of life for granted, but each sunrise is a reminder of God’s sustaining grace, and every breath you take is evidence of God’s mercy. 

You can embrace each day fully, even in difficult circumstances. When life feels overwhelming, take a break to slow down and turn your attention to the simple yet significant gift of being alive. Ask God to show you the wonder of his work in your daily life, and intentionally look for it. A moment of peace, an act of kindness, or the ability to experience the beauty of nature can all remind you that every day is a gift from God to you. Even the most challenging days of your life are still valuable gifts that God has given you – and God is right there with you, ready to help you deal with your challenges. The more you reach out to God, the more you can notice God’s presence with you in every day and in every moment. 

The second part of Psalm 23:6 shifts your focus beyond temporary earthly concerns to eternity in heaven: “I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” This promise reminds you that God’s goodness and love are not limited to your earthly life; they will also be available to you in heaven. This eternal perspective can give you the strength to face each day with confidence. No matter what happens in the coming year, you will be fine, because you have access to God’s goodness and love anytime and anywhere. 

So, as you move forward into the new year, let the assurance of God’s goodness and love following you every day shape the way you live. Expect the best from your loving Heavenly Father during all the days of your life! 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider how you can count on God’s goodness and love every day, reflect on these questions: 

• In what ways have you seen God’s goodness and love in your life over the past year?
• How does the promise of Psalm 23:6 bring you hope and confidence as you enter the new year?
• What practical steps can you take to recognize and celebrate God’s goodness and love each day?
• How does the assurance of dwelling in the house of the LORD forever encourage you now in your earthly life?
• What challenges or uncertainties can you surrender to God to trust him more deeply in this new year? 

Further Reading:
Lamentations 3:22-23
Romans 8:28
John 10:27-28
Isaiah 41:10
Hebrews 13:8

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Toby John Varhaugvik 

Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com, on Facebook, and on  X/Twitter.

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