THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Friday, January 6, 2023

Lord, the more I read the psalms, the more I identify with the writer. Humanity hasn’t changed. Our human nature, our carnality, is the same.

In the psalmist attempt to “hold his tongue from sinning” when the ungodly acted ungodly, he didn’t always respond as he should. His writings from 3000 years ago describes me, and if we’re honest, describes most of us in this broken world. I re-read his declared intentions to watch his mouth:

“I said to myself, ‘I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me,’—Psalm 39:1

Then his humanity showed up.

”But as I stood there in silence, not even speaking good things, the turmoil within me grew worse. The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words,” —Psalm 39:2-3

Instead of turning the confrontation over to You, Lord, the more the ungodly raged, I stood there, closed fists, clenched teeth, getting madder by the minute. As a Christ follower, but also as a human, I confess my reactions have not always reflected me as a Christ follower. In Your wisdom, You deny me the power to call down fire and brimstone on those who offend me. Untold thousands would have been obliterated by now. But then, if others had that power, I would have been wiped out long ago.

Forgive me, Lord. By Your grace, humble me to pray for the ungodly who offend us (Matthew 5-7). I may not understand, but I know You have this worked out for our good. Amen, Jesus.

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