9. Psalm 16 and the Secret of a Steady Heart

What’s the one thing that would make today a good day?
Psalm 16 says it’s simpler—and deeper—than you think.

In this teaching, John Ortberg walks through Psalm 16 and introduces a powerful idea: your life-scape—the inner world where your thoughts, desires, and attention live.

Most of us drift through our days reacting to whatever comes. But Psalm 16 invites us to something different: “I have set the Lord always before me.”

In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What shapes your inner life (your “life-scape”)
- Why chasing “other gods” leads to restlessness
- How to center your day around one transforming focus
- What it means to live with a steady, unshaken heart

This is a practical invitation to live today with clarity, presence, and purpose.


📚 Today's Resources:

Sam Storms, One Thing: Developing a Passion for the Beauty of God 
Jenn Johnson, “Goodness of God”  @ www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0FBb6hnwTo
Søren Kierkegaard, Purity of Heart Is to Will One Thing 

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00:00 – Opening Prayer
00:20 – What Is Your “Life-Scape”?
00:46 – Psalm 16: The One Thing
01:07 – The “City Slickers” Illustration
01:34 – What Shapes Your Inner World
02:16 – The Illusion of Life Without Purpose
03:06 – The Search for “One Thing”
03:33 – What Scripture Says the One Thing Is
03:55 – “You Are My Lord” (Psalm 16)
04:19 – The Danger of Other “Gods”
04:44 – Modern Idols (Reputation, Ego, Control)
05:05 – “You Are My Portion”
05:30 – Living Where You Actually Are
06:02 – God Speaks Through Your Heart
06:51 – How God Guides Your Thoughts
07:38 – Recognizing God’s Voice
08:04 – “I Set the Lord Always Before Me”
08:18 – Jesus: “Seek First the Kingdom”
08:49 – The Freedom to Choose Your Focus
09:09 – Practicing God’s Presence
09:27 – A Story of Unexpected Grace
10:04 – Becoming a Blessing to Others
10:19 – What It Means to Be Unshaken
10:55 – God Will Not Abandon You
11:08 – The Path of Life
11:27 – Joy in God’s Presence
11:47 – Final Prayer: Walk With God Today