Paths of Justice

Proverbs 2:20—Therefore walk in the way of the good, and keep to the paths of the just. 

What does it mean to walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the just? Does it mean to judge others who we perceive as disobedient?  Does it include ranking sins from insignificant to really bad?  Goodness and justice aren’t so much about following a set of rules, though rules do help us to figure out the difference between right and wrong.  Rather, keeping to goodness and justice is about how we treat others.  Daily, we ought to lift others up.  We should strive to show empathy, love, and respect for others.  We walk in goodness when we honor our connection with others. 

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, pray that God would reveal what is good and just in every life circumstance.  Pray for wisdom in discerning right from wrong.  Rejoice in the Lord, for He is good all the time.  Praise Him in song by singing O Give Thanks Unto the Lord.

Seek Wisdom

Monday:  Proverbs 1:32-33—For waywardness kills the simple, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but those who listen to me will be secure and will live at ease, without dread of disaster.

Each day I am struck by the assured self-righteousness of so many people around me.  A quick glance at Facebook reveals how quickly so many of us jump to declare what is “right” and what is “wrong.”  So many are quick to judge and condemn.  Such comments reek of foolishness.  They are made from a position of false security, a place where people gain self-import by drawing lines and pushing away others who “don’t count” to them.  Such simplistic ways of viewing the world are foolhardy.  When we listen to the wisdom God has infused throughout the universe, we begin to see ourselves connected to one another and God’s creation.  We cease to desire separation and exclusion from one another.  We see how our words have the power to impart pain upon others, and we gain wisdom to use our words for good and healing.  Wisdom does not arrive passively—it must be actively sought.  It is never withheld from anyone who seeks it with a pure heart.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for the wisdom He has gifted to His Creation.  Pray that you heart would be made pure and that your spirit would be willing to grow in His Wisdom.  Worship God today through song by listening to Perfect Wisdom of Our God, by Keith and Kristen Getty.

Love in Truth and Action

1 John 3:18—Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.

My boss likes to say, “Turn down the volume, and watch where the feet go.”  This advice has become invaluable in navigating all the relationships in my life.  When it comes to personal relationships, I have found that it’s not so difficult for a person to speak—the hard part arises in the follow-through.  I recently had an experience where a friend promised to help on a project.  It was an important project with a strict deadline.  And the friend just didn’t show up.  I felt so disappointed, but I also learned a great lesson that despite my friend’s best intentions, she couldn’t follow through with the actions. Fortunately, I do have a couple of people in my life who are reliable, who do show up, and who remind me of the type of friend I want to be.  We must also remember that God follows through on His promises to us.  He is not a God of just words, but one of truth and action. Our challenge in this earthly realm is to live in truth and action, not just in word or speech.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for His truth and action.  Prayerfully consider the way you love, and pray that God would lead you in fulfilling that love through truth and action.  Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with courage and energy that your word and deeds match the full love of Christ Jesus which is in you.

A Season for All Things

Ecclesiastes 3:1-14—For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.

The unfolding of our lives is a curious thing rife with emotions.  So often as one chapter ends, we are saddened, perhaps even grieving, at the end of an era while simultaneously feeling anticipation and maybe even joy at the new opportunities that unfold before us.  Life rarely turns out the way we have expected or according to our own plans, and it almost never obeys the timelines we have set.  But life always happens exactly as it should, and the emotions it prompts are intended to be felt.  We must lean into the grief with equal zeal as we lean into the joy. We need never fear our feelings because God is there with us, He lifts us, and He carries us through this experience called life. His Plan is perfect even when we cannot understand the perfection in a given moment.  Faith means we trust His Perfection despite our human inability to comprehend it.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, give thanks for the timing of God’s perfect plan.  Pray that God would make His Presence known to you and that you would have the courage to feel utterly and completely as He has willed.

Learning to Ride a Bike

Deuteronomy 31:6—Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.

The first time I learned to ride a bicycle without training wheels was a Christmas morning when I was about 4 years old.  Santa had left me the most wonderful pink Huffy—my sister and I got identical ones.  All the presents were barely opened before we scrambled out the door to hop on those bikes.  But it wasn’t long before my sister and I realized that we couldn’t ride those bikes without some help.  That fear of having to balance on two wheels rose up from deep inside despite all my father’s assurances that he wouldn’t let me fall.  My legs were timid and refused to turn those pedals with boldness.  Eventually though, I started to trust my dad.  I started to believe that no matter what happened, he would be there to catch me.  And then a wonderful thing happened—I started riding that bike!  The fear had caused me wobble and pedal timidly, which made it a lot more likely that I would fall over.  But when I pedaled with confidence knowing my father was nearby, I could find the balance on that bike.  Our lives are a lot like that learning to ride a bike experience.  We must act strongly and boldly because we are filled with faith and courage in the Lord.  Timidity and nervousness can make us waver, vacillate, and even fall down.  When we believe God is with us, though, we can step strongly and boldly into each moment of life with the assurance that we will continually rise up and never fall. 

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for His unwavering presence.  Rejoice in the courage He fills you with.  Pray that in every moment you would act strongly and boldly according to His Will.  Ask Him for courage to overcome timidity and nervousness as you grow in your faith devotion to Him.

Are You a Planner?

Jeremiah 29:11-13—For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.

Do you ever just feel weary?  Even the most faithful person can grow tired of navigating the world.  It’s not easy to be the salt of the Earth.  It’s challenging to let Jesus’ light shine in a world that can’t or won’t receive Him.  But in all things, we can rest assured that God is working for good, not evil.  Evil may occur – in fact, it surely will.  But God knows the plans He has for us.  In all things He works for good, for our growth, for our development, and yes, even for our discipline.  We don’t have to understand the big picture to trust God’s plan.  We need only call on Him, and He will infuse us with a peace that passes all understanding no matter our circumstance.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, thank God for His Plan for you.  Praise Him for His steadfast presence and guidance.  Pray that He would fill you with strength and endurance.  Ask His Holy Spirit to guide you and lead you in wisdom, love, and service to Him.

Good and Evil

Proverbs 14:22—Do they not err that plan evil? Those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.

In all things, we should seek to live into God’s will for our lives.  It is true that we may be attacked and that others may act with bad intentions against us.  But that is not reason enough for us plot evil ourselves.  At the end of the day, we have to be able to lie down with ourselves at night.  I am the only one who has to live with my own conscience, and evildoers will endure the consequences of their actions.  And God has promised to take all that is intended for evil and work it for good.  That is His nature. 

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for His Righteousness.  Pray that He would continue to illuminate your path and guide you into His Will.  Ask Him to cloak you in His Protective Spirit and to work all things for the good of His Kingdom.  Declare your desire to be His willing servant.