Passage of the Day:
Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. 9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land, Psalm 37:1-9.
Reflection:
If your work environment is similar to mine, companies like to emphasize what I call the flavor of the month. Depending upon your line of work, this may involve productivity, safety or situational awareness. As for Christians, whatever trial each new day may bring you, the goal never changes: delight yourself in the Lord. Unfortunately, some may strive to do this for the wrong reasons, focused on the desires of their heart rather than deepening a personal relationship with Jesus. Christians that concentrate on the Sowing Principle, you reap what you sow, will receive the desires of their hearts in the form of blessings, Matthew 6:33.
Prayerful Action:
My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways, 27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well. 28 Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies the unfaithful among men, Proverbs 23:26-28.
Restoring Your Heart:
Based upon King Solomon’s confession in the passage above, he regrets his decision to marry 700 women and take an additional 300 others as concubines. Like a scene from a modern reality television show, Solomon was constantly dealing with envious and jealous women. If Solomon would have focused on delighting in the Lord before getting married, his life would have been much less complicated. Yet, when you sow according to your flesh, worldly relationships will distract you from delighting yourself in the Lord.
Song of the Day:
Most Christians find delight in the Lord once a week at some point in a worship service. This could be the lyrics of a chorus, a passage from the Bible or something said by a pastor which spoke to your heart. The more I read the Bible, I realize that delighting in the Lord should be a daily quest. May today’s song Make My Heart Like Yours serve as a turning point to draw closer to Jesus in 2024.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 