Passage of the Day:
Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you. 23 The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him. 24 A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way? 25 It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows. 26 A wise king winnows out the wicked; he drives the threshing wheel over them. 27 The human spirit is[a] the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one’s inmost being, Proverbs 20:22-27.
Reflection:
Psychological evaluations are typically required when an employee endures or suffers a traumatic event during their shift at work. Psyche evals are a common practice for law enforcement when agents, detectives or officers are shot or witness a death. Yet, in this age of mental health awareness, I have never heard someone suggest an individual undergo a soul evaluation. King Solomon lays out a series of hypothetical situations that you might find yourself in. Yet, at the end of this passage, Solomon points out how the Lord sheds light on one’s inmost being, your soul.
Prayerful Action:
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers, 1 Timothy 4:13-16.
Refreshing Your Soul:
Each time you open the Bible to study this book on your own, you undergo a soul evaluation, Hebrews 4:12. The words of the Bible are living and active, which may result in conviction, guilt, inspiration and or motivation to keep growing spiritually. The apostle Paul urges a teenage pastor in the above passage to actively exercise your spiritual gifts as well as devote your life to following God’s commands, decrees and precepts. Those who put into practice the principles of the Bible will preserve their soul by listening to the Bible’s teaching. This is an example of a successful soul evaluation.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
Some soul evaluations will reveal that you’ve reached the bottom of the barrel like the prodigal son in Luke 15. The lyrics of Red Carpet provide a new spin on this famous parable. When pain brings spiritual relief, you’ll know you are on the road to recovery for your soul to be revived.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 