doing the right thing because it is the right thing

Psalm 10, Proverbs 10

I received a gift card to Chili's as a Christmas gift, and to simultaneously fulfill several of our New Year's resolutions, we decided to walk to dinner.  It was such a beautiful evening, and my wife and I really enjoyed the time together.  During part of our conversation, we talked about the necessity to eat healthy food not for the results of weight loss, but for long-term health.  After dinner, we were very please with ourselves for eating tasty, moderately portioned, healthy meals.  And the time together walking was so satisfying.

As I read the Scriptures this morning (especially Proverbs), I saw several demonstrations of living rightly.  Of course, there are tangible benefits to doing what is right, but the real motivation for why we should live righteously is because it is the right thing to do.  It honors God for us to love His character and reflect His person in the way we behave.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray that I will know you and seek you.  Lord, please reveal yourself to me and mold me into the image of Christ.  Please make me a righteous man, not for my benefits, but for your glory.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

life and death

Psalm 9, Proverbs 9

Proverbs 9:3 [Wisdom] calls from the highest point of the city. ... 6 "Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding." ... 14 [Folly] sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, 15 calling out to those who pass by ... 18 But little do they know that the dead are there, that [Folly's] guests are in the depths of the grave.

The contrast is so obvious when you sit back and think about it objectively. But in that moment when you are being pulled to go one way or another, the distinctions are more subtle.  I need the Lord Jesus to rescue me from Folly and give me Life, understanding, and the fear of the LORD.

Psalm 9: 1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

The concept is so simple: delight in the Lord!  He is so wonderful, good, kind, and loving! So why is it so hard for me to be glad and rejoice in Him?  Why does it take so much work for me to praise Him and stay focused on Him?  Why am I so distracted by my flesh and the things of this world?  Why do I take more delight in Folly's stolen bread and water instead of the Bread of Life and the Living Water?

Prayer
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for my apathy and complacency. Please forgive me for the treason of loving this world.  Lord, I know in my mind that you are greater than anything this world has to offer - that there is no comparison.  Yet, my heart is divided, and I am so prone to wander from the God I love.  Lord, please take my heart and seal it with your agape love, and give me an undivided heart to delight in you alone.  May your Name receive glory and honor from the faith and obedience that you give me, from the Fruit that your Holy Spirit produces in my life.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

knowing Him

Psalm 8, Proverbs 8

Psalm 8:1 O LORD, our Lord,
       how majestic is your name in all the earth!
       You have set your glory
       above the heavens.

His Name is Yahweh.  His name is Jesus.  His name is Holy Spirit.  How simple and powerful it is to call on His name:  "O Lord Jesus, I worship you.  Lord Jesus, I love you.  Lord Jesus, I need you.  Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit." 

He has revealed Himself to us through creation and through Scripture.  In the personification of Wisdom (i.e., Christ) in Proverbs, He gives is this promise:

Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. ... 34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. 35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, you are glorious and majestic.  Your Name deserves praise.  Lord, you are so kind and compassionate to care for humans, and you are so gracious to create us with the ability, not only to interact with you, but to be united with you in spirit.  Father, please help me seek you, and I trust that you will help me find you.  Lord, please fill me with your ZOE life!  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

sing praise to His name

Psalm 7, Proverbs 7

I found out yesterday that one of my closest Brothers in Christ proposed to his girlfriend and they are engaged to be married this spring!  I pray that he will begin to appreciate the mysteries of Christ and the Church in the marriage relationship and that he will humbly and diligently seek to represent a true picture of Christ.

Psalm 7:17 I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness
       and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

My goal is to meditate on this verse and practice it all day today.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, you are good, and your love endures forever.  You are righteous and just.  You are lovely and beautiful.  Your kindness leads us to repentance.  I pray that I will glorify your name today.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

discipline

Psalm 6, Proverbs 6

Proverbs 6:23 For these commands are a lamp,
       this teaching is a light,
       and the corrections of discipline
       are the way to life,

Psalm 6:2 Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; ... 4 Turn, O LORD, and deliver me;
       save me because of your unfailing love. ... 9 The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
       the LORD accepts my prayer.

His commands and teaching illuminate my mind, and discipline is how we stay on the way of Life in Christ.  Discipline is not easy.  I think "discipline" is closely related to "balance".  I am trying to be disciplined physical diet, exercise, and rest as well as in the spiritual disciplines I blogged a week ago.

He is good to us because He is good; it is His nature.  He defines love.  He is merciful; He hears our genuine prayers.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I praise you because you are good.  Your love endures forever because you are love.  Thank you for showing mercy to me; may I fear you, honor you, accept your discipline, and praise you as I walk in Grace and the Way.  May I worship you and delight in you all day.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

worship

Psalm 5, Proverbs 5

These verses concisely express the longing of my heart:

Psalm 5:7 Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house;
      I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe.
 8 Lead me in the right path, O Lord,
      or my enemies will conquer me.
   Make your way plain for me to follow.

I want to worship God with my life - all day.  And I'm so far away from that.  I want to know Him so well that I know what He wants for me, so that I can follow His plan for me.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I praise you because you are worthy to be worshiped.  Lord, I want to honor you and worship you faithfully.  Thank you for letting me know you and having a good plan for my life.  Please help me know you better and serve you righteously, according to your Holy Spirit.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

praying Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 1, Proverbs 1

For the next five months I'm going to read one chapter of Psalms and one chapter of Proverbs each day and take the time to meditate and pray through them.  I know that I need much wisdom at this time in my life, and I need help developing a habit of praising the Lord.

Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
       and on his law he meditates day and night.

Proverbs 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

 2 for attaining wisdom and discipline;
       for understanding words of insight;

 3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
       doing what is right and just and fair;

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word which guides me and helps me know you.  I pray that you will give me wisdom and teach me to love you and praise you all day.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.