Focus

Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.

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Read

Psalm 119:137-144 (NRSV)

You are righteous, O LORD,
and your judgments are right.
You have appointed your decrees in righteousness
and in all faithfulness.
My zeal consumes me
because my foes forget your words.
Your promise is well tried,
and your servant loves it.
I am small and despised,
yet I do not forget your precepts.
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
and your law is the truth.
Trouble and anguish have come upon me,
but your commandments are my delight.
Your decrees are righteous forever;
give me understanding that I may live.

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Reflect

If I were to ask how often you read and meditate on the Bible, how would you answer? When I started first grade I could only read and write a little. Each year as I read and studied, I gained more knowledge and was able to do more. Sometimes, though, I didn’t study as much as I should have and and didn’t do very well on the exams…aarrgghh!

I have come to believe that our quality of life and our relationship with God can be in direct relation to how much we read, study the Bible, and pray. In today’s psalm, the author cries out to God for understanding, and he mediates on God’s word. I want a closer relationship with God, and I want to know more about the Word. I bet many of you do, too. Why don’t we resolve today that we will spend more time reading the Bible every day, and more time in prayer? Then each year we should increase in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, and in our closeness to God. It just makes sense.

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Pray

Thank you, God, for your patience with us. When we are ready to know more about you and be closer to you, you are always there. Forgive us for placing other things above spending time with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Go with God.