THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Friday, April 12, 2024

Lord, in this broken world, we have two choices how to live.

We can follow the masses, mindlessly doing our own thing, knowing you exist in some fashion but choosing to ignore your calling us to pursue a relationship with you.

Our other alternative is to dedicate our lives and spirits to knowing you and building an eternal relationship with you, the God and Creator of all (John 1:3).

The psalmist lived both lifestyles. When he joined the world’s carefree, no-holds-barred, loose-living gang, it seemed exciting at first. But the pleasures soon faded, the disappointments mounted, the promises of fulfillment never materialized. He was left empty. Many of his psalms record his sorrows from his bad choices.

Lord, like so many of your followers, we hit bottom before coming to our senses. Include me in this group. The psalmist acknowledged his foolishness and did a 180 to faithfully follow you. When he penned every verse in Psalm 19, he wrote from personal experience.

“The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart” (Psalm 19:8 NLT).

Perhaps at first, the psalmist thought your values and precepts were “old-fashioned” and outdated for his day? Did he have the mindset he was exceptional and could live above your laws without suffering any consequences? Is this attitude prevalent today? Definitely! It’s as old as dirt.

Over millennia, your timeless values have been proven right. Man’s attempts to defy your laws always end in failure. Ignoring your values always leads to increased suffering. Every disappointment in life tags along, adding to our misery.

Lord, teach us to order our lives to follow your commandments so our joy in knowing you will be complete.

Amen, Jesus.