Proverbs 11:2 - Understand Your Limits

Proverbs 11:2

When pride comes, then comes dishonor

But with the humble is wisdom. 

Message: Understand your limits

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.

What the Lord is Saying: This is the first time that pride is mentioned. This verse compares pride and humility. 

Pride seems to be a problem as this verse mentions, for with it comes dishonor. There is a connotation of pride in our world today that doesn't seem to be wrong, such as me saying "I am proud of my children" which seems to be an admission that I am glad that my children are mine. It is a word which shows that I am extremely glad with a deep level of satisfaction for having an association with a person or cause. 

But traditionally, pride or being prideful is a vice. And more specifically in religious traditions, it is competing with reliance and dependence on God. With God as creator, we serve Him and surrender to Him and His ways. We are guided by His principles and in life, he is the one to receive glory for anything that is accomplished including my work. Without God in the picture, it seems like life shifts to personal achievement as well as societal achievement. Its focus is more on community being served and guiding our principles. 

I have been reading a book on life and more specifically life in my later years. I am 58 and so with the kids gone from the home and myself past my prime of productivity, I am looking at these later years and figuring out my purpose. Chapter 3 of this book is "Kick your success addiction" and primarily is focusing attention on workaholism. The book mentions that "work, which is a source of meaning and purpose, becomes workaholism, which hurts our relationships." Saint Augustine observed that "pride lurks even in good works in order to destroy them." Success is fine and part of excellence but somewhere along the way it becomes an addiction in our life. 

I know I struggle with pride. I have gifts that I think the Lord has given me and it seems it is important to not be tempted to think too highly of myself and in the process get my focus off of God. As years have gone by and as I have done things, often driven to do those things, I start seeing myself as the one that needs to do things. This mostly occurs at work, in the work I do and work assignments. 

In this verse, the writer states that pride produces dishonor. NIV says disgrace, shame (KJV). From the internet, "Luke 14:11 says, "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted". This verse emphasizes a principle of spiritual humility, suggesting that those who seek honor for themselves through pride will be brought low, while those who are humble will ultimately be lifted up by God." Thus, God will humble every person. 

Thus, this verse is framing the unhealthy version of pride or the kind of pride that inflates the view of oneself. The dishonor or shame is the result of this unhealthy or inflated view of oneself. The problem seems to be when the scale is tipped and a person moves from confidence to overconfidence. The overconfident person takes unnecessary risks because they think they cannot fail. A student thinks they can't fail, so in turn, they don't study. A person who has great confidence in their driving might cause themselves to take risks on the road and result in getting a ticket which is showing them at fault. The person starts out thinking they can't fail, but this could produce failure. The failure is the dishonor or shame of now being seen as a foolish person.

I get this way at times, thinking I can do things that sometime are beyond my ability. That time I worked on Pamela's car and changing a tire and then forgot to tighten the lug nuts once the car was on the ground. And the wheel came off and I looked foolish. I felt like a bad person, a failure. And it all started with "I can do this" even though I am not a mechanic. 

The contrast here is the humble person. This is the person with a quiet confidence. It is a person that understands their limits. This is the person knows when they can handle something and knows when they need to shift the responsibility to another person. The humble person still acts but acts within reason and this is the person then which is seen as wise. This person knows when to give where credit where credit is due. 

Prayer: O God, help me to be that person that understands my limits. You have gifted everyone differently and often it is better when the right person does the task at hand. Help my overconfidence. I suppose I have that tendency to think, "I got this" but I can be a strong person that trusts in others and ultimately trusts in You. Help me understand me. And live within my constraints. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Proverbs 10:5 - Seize the day

Proverbs 10:5 - He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who sets shamefully. 

Message: Seize the day

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God. 

What the Lord is Saying: At first glance, work vs not working or even sleeping is the virtue/vice comparison with this Proverb. I did a quick look at different translations and everyone seems to agree with the phrase of gathering; only the New Living Translation is "harvests." The Amplified is always interesting for it often expands on the verse. It states, "He who gathers during summer and takes advantage of his opportunities is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps during harvest and ignores the moment of opportunity is a son who acts shamefully." Here there is the result of each action - one who takes advantage of opportunities versus one who ignores the opportunity. This is the interesting thing about sleep. When one is asleep there are out of it. They are not coherent nor able to see what is going on. It is not that they are simply ignorant or avoiding the situation, but rather there is complete abandonment of the opportunity. 

Here are thoughts from various commentaries I enjoy: 

Joseph Benson (1748-1821) - a prominent Methodist preacher in England: a wise son acts wisely for his parents; he gains reputation to himself, his family, and education. But he that sleepeth in harvest causeth shame — Both to himself for his folly, and to his parents, and will bear the shame of it when he is old: will afterward lament his negligence and folly. -- Observations: There is an idea here of regret. The person will look back realizing he could have done better. Also, the impact of one's actions has an impact on not only the person's reputation, but a person's family. 

Matthew Henry (1662-1714) - nonconformist minister in England: Here is just blame of those who trifle away opportunities, both for here and for hereafter. Observations: As the amplified Bible mentions opportunities so here Henry does as well. There is something before a person to take. There is an opportunity and yet it is ignored. 

Albert Barnes (1798-1870) - American Presbyterian minister and abolitionist: The son is called upon to enter upon the labors of others, and reap where they have sown. To sleep when the plenteous harvest lies ready for the sickle is the most extreme laziness. Observations: As I think about opportunities, I realize the abundant of opportunities that are present in this country. In comparison, as I converse with those in India and Africa and those 3rd world or developmental countries, they lack opportunities. While there is plenty of good and solid education, there are few outcomes of actual good work. As such, one thing important about this verse is whether there are opportunities even to take advantage of with a person. 

John Gill (1697-1771) - English Baptist pastor, biblical scholar, and theologian: In the time of health and youth, persons should be active and industrious in their several callings and stations, and provide against a time of sickness and old age; and that they should lose no opportunities, neither in a natural nor spiritual way, of doing or receiving good. Observations: The proverbs extolls or calls attention to a son. Gill makes mention that the son is living at a time in their life when they can be active and industrious in comparison to older age which often is chronicled by sickness. Again, don't lose out on any opportunities. 

In the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges published from 1878-1918 who had a primary editor in John Perowne (1823-1904), an Anglican bishop: we render literally, a son that doeth wisely … that doeth shamefully. Observations: The mention of the word shamefully is called to my attention. Shame is a painful emotion that infers that a person is bad, not that they have simply done bad things. In shame, we often hide rather than confront before us what is done. The sleeping son not only laments and has regret but in this regret is that feeling of shame, that he blew it and he only has himself to blame. 

In this verse is a stark contrast - one who gathers versus one who sleeps. This is a black and white comparison. One is either actively doing good and seizing the day or one is simply asleep. I remember in 1989, when I was 21, there was a film "Dead Poets Society," where the English teacher John Keating, played by Robin Williams, famously says: "Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary." Later, this line was voted as the 95th greatest movie quote by the American Film Institute. In that movie, I sensed this calling to go beyond the rote and normal education and expand on all that is before us and available to us. In the movie, one of the characters was pigeon-holed by his father or expected to achieve in a certain way - to be a doctor. While there was nothing wrong with that, the son had a desire for the arts and yet for the father, this type of career did not hold the same worth. I think often of a dental hygienist I had who was Muslim and for their 3 kids, they had 2 options - go into the medical field or be an engineer. One son started engaging in a sports activity and was getting into it and his family pulled him out of it for the concern that it was detract from one of those two primary goals. But I digress a little as this verse simply talks about making the most of the opportunities before us, generally speaking versus not, even though at times children are often limited by their parents to take advantage of only certain or specific opportunities.  

Prayer: God, you are good and holy and the wisdom that comes through these verses is wisdom I need and need to be reminded of in my life. Specifically here in these verses I contemplate the opportunities that are before me every day and seizing those opportunities and making the most of them - help me O God to put away my slumber, my life of ease that I gravitate towards so often, and instead embrace those opportunities. There are people in my path to be with, spend time with, conversations to be had. There is work to be done that has been assigned to me, that I have an opportunity each day to do to the fullest. There is so much. I know I have been given so much. And I still pray for those that are struggling with opportunities and don't have the same availability and those that find it hard to achieve even the basic necessities of life. Expand their understanding and their opportunities. Thank you for their hard work and that great example. Be our strength O God. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Mark 8:38 - Of Whom the Son of Man will be Ashamed

Mark 8:38
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.

Message: Of Whom the Son of Man will be Ashamed


Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is headed to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he questions the disciples as to who He is and they answer He is the Christ, the Jewish Messiah. He tells them what the Son of Man must do, but Peter rebukes Jesus, and then Jesus reminds them his purpose is not man's purpose. He speaks to the multitude and the disciples that to follow Jesus means we deny ourselves and take up our cross.

I've been listening to these messages by John Piper on this passage of scripture - Mark 8:34-38. He did four messages on these 4 verses, each about 10 minutes long. He states that verse 34 is the command and then verses 35-38 give reasons as to why denying yourself and taking up your cross.

³⁴ And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. ³⁵ For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. ³⁶ For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? ³⁷ For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? ³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

Come after and follow me has the same idea - follow. The cross was an instrument of death in that day. He states that to take up the cross means (1) embracing opposition, (2) bearing shame, (3) suffering, and (4) death. To come after comes with a risk. We must deny our old self. Our old self wants (1) approval, (2) honor, (3) comfort, (4) safety and (5) life. So when we find this attitude rise up we deny it. We have a new self. We are to take up the cross and deny that old self that does not want to take up the cross. Cross-bearing is losing one's life. To lose life is to embrace the old self and it's ways; to save your life is to bear the crosses way of life. One way is a loss, the other way will save my life. The new self loves Jesus more than the things of the old self (approval, honor, comfort, safety and life) and even if it costs him his life (opposition, shame, suffering, death). 

And then verse 36 says that no amount of money used to acquire the old self ideals of approval, honor, comfort, safety and life can buy one's soul. You cannot acquire the soul this way. And then verse 37 takes it a step further and says that nothing at all can be exchanged for the his soul. So, it isn't just the old self ideals, but it is nothing. 

Verse 38 then concludes Jesus' thought with very clear words. To be ashamed of something is to deny your association with whatever that is. If the world hates Jesus (and it does) then you want to be as far from that as possible. The world desires to please itself (generation). James 4:4 says, "You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." It is not that I love opposition or I love shame or I love suffering or I love death. No, but it is that I love approval, honor, comfort, safety and life more than I love Jesus. Jesus is at the center here. 

For me, I think this entire discourse by Jesus is because Peter first, as the representative of the disciples, speaks in response to Jesus' question of who do you say that I am and responds to Jesus that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ. Then Jesus states his purpose on earth and Peter rebukes him. Peter says, "no Jesus, I will tell you your purpose." This is the danger of man. Even after understanding who Jesus is we still want Jesus to do what we want. And so Jesus then emphatically and with clarity states that to love Jesus means accepting a different purpose for your life. Jesus taught in verse 31 that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. But Peter rebuked this mission. Peter wanted Jesus to maybe continue doing the things that he saw people wanted of him (healing many, casting out demons, exhibiting the power of God, walking around with his people, teaching, preaching); these are all good things but Peter wants it his way. But Jesus says that this isn't simply about knowing who I am so that I (Jesus) will then meet all of your needs, "no" this is loving Jesus more than everything else in life and accepting whatever that comes your way. Jesus says that to follow me means taking up a cross of opposition, shame, suffering, and even death. Anything else is a lost life, it is forfeiting the soul, it is loving the world and the things of the world and so it is not receiving eternal life and having the Son of Man be ashamed of me.

This is a radical and tough statement. Those that see Jesus as the Christ, as the Messiah can still miss it. They can still miss eternal life. We are not a people that simply knows who Jesus is, but rather a people that love Jesus more than anything else in our lives. 

Summary - John Piper concludes - Therefore, take up the cross of opposition and shame and suffering and death, and deny the old self that lives off of the approval of others, and human honor and comfort, and safety, and in your new self -- the self that loves Jesus more than life - follow Him.  

Promise: Jesus will forgive me when I repent for being ashamed of him. But, if I persistently refuse to be identified with Christ, then I am most clearly not his disciple.  

Prayer: Lord, in my life, I notice how much I value the approval of others. I love to be included, to be valued, and in acquiring this I will often sin through gossip or slander of others, just so that I can achieve approval from the audience I have before me at any given time. I want people to be proud of me so that I receive the honor and glory. I want it my way. But, Lord, this is choosing what the world loves, what my self loves - getting it my way - over You. Lord, you have saved me and washed me clean. You have called me to love you more than anything, more than father or mother, more than friends, more than any good. Lord, I have moments where I choose You, but I rather want to have a life that loves you Jesus more than life. I want to follow You. Only you can give me this type of strength. It goes against me to accept opposition, shame, suffering, and even death, but help to realize that loving you and following you is the only way to the Father. You have already bore my shame, my sin. I want to run to You, follow You, love You, honor You, glorify You, even if it means not getting my way.  

Psalm 132:11:18 - A Throne and Temple in Zion

Psalm 132:11:18

¹¹ The Lord has sworn to David a truth from which He will not turn back: “Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne.
¹² “If your sons will keep My covenant and My testimony which I will teach them, their sons also shall sit upon your throne forever.”

¹³ For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation.
¹⁴ “This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
¹⁵ “I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her needy with bread.
¹⁶ “Her priests also I will clothe with salvation, and her godly ones will sing aloud for joy.
¹⁷ “There I will cause the horn of David to spring forth; I have prepared a lamp for Mine anointed.
¹⁸ “His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon himself his crown shall shine.”

Message: A Throne and Temple in Zion

Time: Based upon authorship and subject matter, Psalms cover a range of centuries. David is mentioned 73 times, Solomon 2, Moses 1, and 50 designate no specific person. It is believed they were compiled around 537 BC. The psalms deal with such subjects as God and His creation, war, worship, wisdom, sin and evil, judgment, justice, and the coming of the Messiah.

What the Lord is Saying: I enjoyed the first 10 verses of this chapter, thinking about worship and the sacrifice of David took in his life of building a temple and taking an oath to focus on a place of worship. Now, as a move through these verses, using the Phillips books I have on the Psalms, there are 4 Promises: Regarding the Scepter, the Sanctuary, the Saints, and the Site. 

The Scepter (the Lord will govern righteously and enforce righteous behavior)
The Lord has sworn to David a truth from which He will not turn back. Hezekiah had taken care of the temple, now he mentions the promise or oath the Lord had made to David's dynasty. It was a bold statement, for Hezekiah was making it at a time he was childless. 

Of the fruit of your body (David) I will set upon your throne. If your sons will keep My covenant and My testimony which I will teach them, their sons also shall sit upon your throne forever. Hezekiah's father was not a good man (Ahaz). Ahaz reigned over Judah from 741-726. Ahaz was a man of idolatry. Hezekiah would reign for 29 years over Judah. In 2 Samuel 7:16, God's promise to David and his throne was unconditional, meaning David didn't have to do anything to get it. God made a promise to him without any work required of David, "Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever." (David was the 2nd king of Judah around 1000). After David was Solomon from about 970 to 931 BCE. Solomon's promise was conditional - And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life. - I Kings 3:14. Did Hezekiah wonder about this? David had 2 surviving sons from Bathsheba - Solomon and Nathan. Solomon's descendants included Hezekiah. Hezekiah's sons included Jeconiah (also called Jehoiachin and his name later shortened to Coniah). Jeconiah had 11 sons but none of them took on the throne and thus, the royal line to Christ though Solomon came to an end. Solomon's line is traced to Joseph. But David's other son Nathan, the legal line, is traced to Mary.

Could it be that Hezekiah, knowing what kind of father he had, wondered if the promise of God was still unconditional?

The Sanctuary
For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. Zion is the final resting place of the Ark, in Moriah. This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. God's resting place, as he states is Zion, not in a Muslim mosque. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her needy with bread. The result of this place will be abundant and complete satisfying (possibly pointing to the Messiah). 

The Saints
Her priests also I will clothe with salvation, and her godly ones will sing aloud for joy. Here is a promise to the priests and that they would be made righteous, or have salvation. Before ministering, a man must be right with God and man. Again, these are now words from the Lord. Hezekiah makes this switch in verse in verse 14 and it continues to the end of this Psalm. God will make man righteous. He clothes them with salvation. And the response of man is singing with joy. 

The Site
There I will cause the horn of David to spring forth; I have prepared a lamp for Mine anointed. These verses continue to speak of the product of the temple residing in Zion, God residing in Zion: The Horn of David (The Messiah) will spring forth. A light or a lamp will shine forth for the anointed. I wonder what Hezekiah thought. He may have thought this would come from his seed. But, his seed would actually end this. Manasseh would come from his seed and Manasseh was not good. So these are words of confidence from the Lord, the Lord has prepared a lamp for His anointed.  

His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon himself his crown shall shine. The dreadful things said of the Lord's enemies will be exposed and judged. There will be shame. Yet Jesus, the Lord, will be crowned. 

Promise:  This Psalm chronicles the Davidic covenant, as seen through Hezekiah and what Hezekiah put his hope and trust in. And it what I put my hope and trust in.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for your promises, that they never end. You fulfill them, even if at times, we think they may come about in our own way. Thank you for salvation and making us right before You, making us righteous and clean. Thank you for your promise and how it is interwoven throughout time. Thank you for the anticipation of the Messiah, to take away the sin of the world. There is hope in You. 

Proverbs 10:4-5 - The Diligent Hand of the Prudent Son

Proverbs 10:4-5
4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.

Message: The Diligent Hand of the Prudent Son

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: Even there were not any verse or chapter divisions in the original manuscripts, the beginning of this chapter says -- A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother. Solomon in Proverbs is primarily speaking to a son or his children to discuss things to think about, mostly regarding behavior. The reality is that left to our natural state, we have a tendency to live lives of complete selfishness. We do not naturally please others. For example, a child has to learn to share. For some it is easier than others. I see this in myself often, my selfishness takes over in so many areas. Yes, I work hard, but often I think that hard work then merits a meeting of my expectations.

These two proverbs contrast the hard working with the lazy. This is a common theme. I have learned in life that it is not just about working hard but working hard in a wise manner. After college I worked in a credit union as a teller for just about 6 months. In that job, I worked quickly but not always carefully. I enjoyed being faster than everyone else, but along the way I wasn't always the most accurate. My next year was spent volunteering in radio and doing temp jobs. In those jobs I sometimes didn't have big time requirements and could work at my own pace. Then, I got a job in retail. It wasn't just working hard that was important, but being wise in that work and working with a smile on my face, which has always been a challenge. In this process, I went back to school and then went to work at an accounting office. I worked hard, but not hard enough. My boss was similar to my boss now, expecting me to get the job done and not being focused on my time. I took a few afternoons off to watch Lobo basketball and didn't come in like he did on the weekends and he let me go. That was a wake up call for I spent another couple of months looking for work while having a wife at home and a new child. I then worked in Santa Fe and had different demands placed on me and I responded, thought it was still a challenge. That was a good job, but I still felt inadequate many times and I wasn't sure I was working well. I then took a job back in Albuquerque with a friend being the resident accountant for a small business. That was a job I didn't have much confidence in and I let others decide how I would work rather, though they looked to me for advice often.

I think overall I have learned to be diligent as verse 4 speaks.

And now I look at my children and I must admit their idleness makes em bothered. I think they spend too much time in entertainment and recreation mode. But, I also need to remember myself and what I had to learn and I need to give them time to learn as well.

Promise: Different seasons of life dictate often how often we spent quality time with the Lord and quality time working, but it is always important to be diligent and work in a wise manner.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the experiences that I have had. Some have been hard to go through, but through them you have taught much about myself. Forgive me for continually thinking of myself as deserving something because I simply work hard. You have gifted me in a certain way to be a certain person and this is who I am. And remind me that I am simply behaving in a way that is consistent with my make-up. Help me to be patient with my wife and children. I need your help Lord, I often act in way that I am not proud of. I want to instead bring glory to Your Name.

Psalm 6 - A Prayer for Deliverance

Psalm 6 - ¹ O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. ² Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. ³ My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O Lord—how long? ⁴ Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. ⁵ For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? ⁶ I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. ⁷ My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes. ⁸ Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
⁹ The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer. ¹⁰ All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

Message: A Prayer for Deliverance

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: 

I am not sure what exactly (nor are the commentators) the writer of this Psalm (probably David) is experiencing upon him voicing this prayer. But, he felt like it was important to write down and record. He was obviously feeling a deep sense of hurt. It may not been because of any sin in his own life for he does not mention any sin. 

O Lord, I am at a low point and while there are times when I need your correction and rebuke because of the sin in my life, I ask that you not correct me right now. This world I live in is corrupt and foul mouthed and disregards you over and over, in more ways than one. You deserve to give wrath and anger, but I ask you withhold it from me at this time. Be gracious to me O Lord for I am at a loss of spirit and vigor. Heal me, for my body aches. And my soul is greatly troubled. Lord, how long? How long must I stay in this state? How long do I stay in this condition? 

Turn me around. Deliver my life. Save me for the sake of your never-ending Love. You are a God who is to remembered and to be praised, but if I die I cannot do this, and I want to continue to do this. I don't want to wade through the waters of my own misery, but rather I want to turn my focus on You and remember all of the things you have done for me, praising You. 

My moaning continues. My bed is filled with my tears as I cry myself to sleep. My outlook on life is one of despair and grief. All I can see many times is my enemies or my foes. "Depart from me, all you evil ones, for the Lord hears me and hears me in my weeping. You work evil out, but God is near me." Thank you God for hearing me and thank you God for accepting my prayer. My my enemies be ashamed of their conduct. May the wicked fail in their schemes, immediately. May there ways be confused right now, so they don't continue in their wrath, but it stops, right now.

Promise: God is there in moments of feeling defeated.

Psalm 119:1-8 - The Blessedness of Keeping God's Law

Psalm 119:1-8

1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord!
2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
3 who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!
4 You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous rules.
8 I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me!

Message: The Blessedness of Keeping God's Law

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

At first glance, this is a great statement and then a great prayer, beginning in verse 4.

Blessed are those whose way is blameless
The New Living Translation says, "Joyful are people of integrity." As has been studied earlier, these two phrases evidence Parallelism. And so these two phrases here are synonymous parallelism as they repeat the same idea in both lines. So, it means the same thing "whose way is blameless" and "who walk in the law of the Lord." 

Now, this is interesting because having a way that is blameless or walking in the Law of the Lord is something I will never do. I will never achieve this. I am incapable. Is this a reminder that I need a Savior to completely perform this task and I also need a Savior to help me perform this task? I don't think this means I never try, but I can start each day afresh in this idea to have a blameless way and walk in the Law. I think therefore that what David or the writer is saying is that my life is to be oriented towards walking in the way that is blameless. It is to be my desire.

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies
Once again, if this is parallelism and synonymous parallelism, as the first verse is, then keeping his testimonies and seeking him with my whole heart, are the same. To keep his testimonies would be, I think, to keep his laws and thus, would be to always seek him with my whole heart. If I am truly seeking him, then I am doing what he says. And the next verse continues this repetition. I wonder if verse 1 and verse 2 and verse 3 are all the same thought? Verse 3 says, who do no wrong and walk in his ways.

He has commanded
God has spoken. The urgency to do what he says rests on the fact that He tells us to do it. David says that God is commanding us that His ways are to be kept diligently. They are not simply to be kept. They are to be kept diligently. Diligently is constantly in effort. Again, I can't do this. I must have divine help to even make an effort or try to attempt this. I will still fail, but I cannot think for a moment that I can have any success without God's involvement in my life.

The Prayer
Lord, may my ways be steadfast or unwavering in keeping your statutes. This is my goal and really, my dream. If I were to do this Lord, then I shall not be put to shame. I hate that feeling of distress when I do something that is wrong or foolish. And yet the only way to avoid this is having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. I cannot do this Lord on my own, I admit this. I need you. I want to praise you with an upright heart or an honorable heart. Teach me your rules. It is my desire and my intent to keep your statutes. I do not ever want to be far from you or lost from you.

Promise: My place of righteousness is always based upon the life of Christ in me. 

Jesus Calling: February 14

    Give yourself fully to the adventure of today. Walk boldly along the path of Life, relying on your ever-present Companion. You have every reason to be confident, because My Presence accompanies you all the days of your life--and onward into eternity.
    Do not give in to fear or worry, those robbers of abundant living. Trust Me enough to face problems as they come, rather than trying to anticipate them. Fix your eyes on Me, the Author, and Perfecter of your faith, and many difficulties on the road ahead will vanish before you reach them. Whenever you start to feel afraid, remember that I am holding you by your right hand. Nothing can separate you from My Presence!

Hebrews 12:2
English Standard Version

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Isaiah 41:13
English Standard Version

For I, the Lord your God,
    hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
    I am the one who helps you.”

With Jesus as our guide and source of life, we cannot go wrong. Jesus isn't simply a cane that we lean on, but he is a cot or bed we lay on and then He carries us. It is not as if we can do some things on our own without His help and guidance, but rather we are to rely completely on Him. He is with us. His Holy Spirit is our helper.

Because of this, strife cannot rob us. Difficulties will arise, problems will come, trials will assault us, but we can be confident through them all because Jesus is carrying us through them. Just focus on today and the moment, rather than anticipating tomorrow. So much of life today is revolved around anticipation. We fret about the future and complain about yesterday, but instead we must trust in Jesus now, grab a hold of His hand as he is reaching down to grab us. 

My Prayer
Lord, thank you that dying on the cross, resurrecting, living a perfect life--that these events weren't just things that happened in the past to place me with you forever in heaven. Yes, they did that, but you are with me right now. It is in You that I have strength right now. Yes, you died for me, but you live with me. You carry me. Help me to rely on You each day and not try and do life on my own, in my own power. Show me what it means to rely on your strength and for you to carry me through the ebbs of life. 

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author. 

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.