Loving God's Word

DAILY BIBLE READING:

2 Samuel 14:1–15:22 
John 18:1-24 
Psalm 119:97-112 
Proverbs 16:8-9

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 119:103-104 (CSB) "How sweet your word is to my taste - sweeter than honey in my mouth. I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every false way."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The Psalmist didn't read God's Word because he had to. He read it because he wanted to. It was "sweeter than honey in (his) mouth."

And as a result of spending time reading and meditating on God's Word, he "gain(ed) understanding" and "hate(d) every false way." He became more astute in how he thought about life and he despised what he understood to be sin.

So, the Word of God was a catalyst in the Psalmist's life to develop wisdom and a distaste for sin. And he spent much time in it because he loved reading and meditating on God's Word.

Friend, do you enjoy your time in God's Word? Is it as enjoyable to you as a sweet dessert? If you don't enjoy your time in the Bible, you won't spend sufficient time in it and you won't benefit from your exposure to it.

Why not ask God to give you a hunger for His Word today. Then take your responsibility seriously by spending time reading it, thinking deeply about it, and looking for ways to apply it.

Oftentimes, our appetite will increase as we spend more time at the supper table.

How to have a happy heart

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Numbers 2:1-3:51
Mark 11:27-12:17
Psalm 47:1-9
Proverbs 10:24-25

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 47:1-2 "Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise! For the LORD Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Life is tough. For some, it can be incredibly tough.

Yet, God does not get glory when His children walk around with discouragement written all over their faces. While we should never plaster fake smiles on our faces, we should strive to think in such a way that smiles come naturally.

In our Bible reading for today, the Psalmist calls us to clap (our) hands and shout to the Lord with joyful praise. In other words, we aren't called to go through some lifeless religious ritual - we are to enjoy Him! This joy is to come from a heart that full to overflowing!

There is much superficiality in Christianity these days. People plaster a smile on their face and speak of how blessed they are. Yet, all the while, their heart is aching and empty.

So, what is the basis for clapping and shouting for joy? How can these actions be filled with genuine substance?

Believe the truth of verse 2: For the LORD Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth."

When we spend time reflecting on the character and works of God and come to the conclusion that He is absolutely wonderful, then the heart attitude will flow naturally. When we reflect on the fact that our Heavenly Father rules as the sovereign King over the earth, a positive attitude and a smile will be the most obvious response.

God doesn't simply want our religious activity. If we go through the motions and there is no joyful heart that drives those actions, then we are no better than the hypocritical Pharisees. God wants us to demonstrate that we are people of joy - but He wants it to come from our heart.

And, as we have seen in our verse for today, a change in action and heart always starts in the mind. We must think on the right things. So, be very careful what you think today:

Philippians 4:8 "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

Praying God's Word

One practice that I have come to enjoy is turning God's Word into my personal prayers. I learned this at a Promise Keepers gathering about 15 years ago.

Essentially, all it requires is to read through God's Word. When I come across something that seems particularly relevant, I change a few of the words to make it my own and then I pray it to God.

Here's how it works. I came across 1 Peter 5:8-9 this morning. Here's what it says:

1 Peter 5:8-9 (New Living Translation)

"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are."

Here's how I might pray it:

"Lord Jesus, please help me to stay alert and watchful today.

I know that I had better be diligent because I have an incredibly powerful enemy, the devil. He prowls around just like a roaring lion who would love to paralyze me with fear and doubt. He spends his days looking for someone to devour.

Lord Jesus, help me to realize that while my enemy has a loud roar, he is chained and cannot touch me without Your permission. Help me to stand firm against him, to resist him as a courageous warrior of the cross. Allow me to experience that courage that comes by wholeheartedly trusting you, being strong in your faith.

And Lord, please help me to never forget that I'm not in this alone. Help me to remember that my brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering and tempting circumstances as I am.

And finally, help me to remember that one day, it will all be over as I stand before you in glory. I want to live today in light of eternity. Amen."

Try doing this in your own time with the Lord. It takes the two basic Christian disciplines, Bible intake and prayer, and combines them. The end result is that you are essentially meditating on God's Word and allowing it to take root in your mind and heart.