THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Friday, November 4, 2022

Lord, as a Christ follower, when we determined to fully follow You, the skeptics and mockers crawl out of every nook and cranny just to point an accusing finger at us. Even friends will sometimes join the chorus of doubters, secretly hoping we fail. Everything we do, every word we say, everyone we talk to is under their microscope. In ancient times, TMZ wasn’t following the psalmist around, but he certainly had his share of critics. He wrote how to handle the naysayers Your way.

“Even princes sit and speak against me, but I will meditate on Your decrees. Your laws please me; they give me good advice”—Psalm 119:23, 24.

The psalmist found spiritual and emotional strength when meditating on Your promises. Your Word revealed how pleased You were by his firm resolve to follow Your precepts. He could disregard what “friends” and enemies say, since Your Word described how You see him: Your beloved child, fully forgiven and an heir to all Your heavenly blessings.

Did the psalmist live a perfect life? Hardly. Scripture doesn’t hide his multiple failures. Scripture also doesn’t hide the extent of Your grace and mercy with each fall. With each failure, he humbled himself, acknowledged his sin and fell upon Your mercy. You graciously forgave and restored him.

Do Christ followers live flawlessly today? LOL! Wondrously, we find the same strength by following this ancient wisdom. Your Word never changes. Your grace is always abundant, Your unfailing love never ceases, Your Spirit still draws the broken and gives us peace with You. Our critics miss out on so much of life by not knowing You.

Lord, strengthen our spirit as we meditate on Your Word. Only what You think of us matters. Amen, Jesus.