Focus
Experience silence in the midst of your busy day. Take some time to relax into a time to be with God.
Read
To the leader: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
1 I said, “I will guard my ways
that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will keep a muzzle on my mouth
as long as the wicked are in my presence.”
2 I was silent and still;
I held my peace to no avail;
my distress grew worse,
3 my heart became hot within me.
While I mused, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Lord, let me know my end,
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my days a few handbreadths,
and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight.
Surely everyone stands as a mere breath.Selah
6 Surely everyone goes about like a shadow.
Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;
they heap up, and do not know who will gather.
7 “And now, O Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.
Do not make me the scorn of the fool.
9 I am silent; I do not open my mouth,
for it is you who have done it.
10 Remove your stroke from me;
I am worn down by the blows of your hand.
11 “You chastise mortals
in punishment for sin,
consuming like a moth what is dear to them;
surely everyone is a mere breath.Selah
12 “Hear my prayer, O Lord,
and give ear to my cry;
do not hold your peace at my tears.
For I am your passing guest,
an alien, like all my forebears.
13 Turn your gaze away from me, that I may smile again,
before I depart and am no more.”
Reflect
How often have you tried to remain silent so that you won’t say things you may regret later? How often does that fire of anger continue to build up inside until you can’t hold your tongue any longer? The first part of this Psalm seems to indicate that David was dealing with this very issue. David appears to be wrestling with anguish, despair, emptiness, and possibly depression. Satan constantly tempts us that our happiness can be found if we do this or buy that. After we allow Satan to control our life we realize that the brief happiness we may have found turns into a bottomless pit of emptiness. David realizes this and cries out for help from the Lord. No matter how dark and miserable our life becomes, God is our path of hope and our road to victory over our transgressions. God is the anchor who steadies our boat during the storms of life. Thank you, Lord, that it is through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that we can have this hope.
Pray
Dear Lord, I’m a sinner and this sin has brought nothing but agony to my life. It brings about an emptiness that drowns me in shame. Thank you, Lord for giving me the hope and promise of eternal life with you in Heaven once I’ve cried out for your forgiveness. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Go with God!
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