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Posts Tagged ‘bible’

Thankful to Be Honest with You, Lord

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on November 1, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus
November 1,2024

Lord, the psalmist finally understood how your act of grace wiped his many sins from his sin record. He must have felt the heavy burden of guilt lift from his soul. The exposure of his secret sins must have haunted his every waking moment. The fear his deceptions, his half-truths, his sins of omission now lay forever buried in God’s sea of forgetfulness. Such a relief to know his sin record held no evidence against him. After making restitutions with those he wronged, with a heart free of guilt and fear, he penned these famous words:

“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!” (Psalm 32:1,2 NLT).

Honesty. Complete honesty. Countless times, the psalmist might have twisted the facts concerning his sin to justify his actions. With his record now wiped clean by your grace, the psalmist began his new life of complete honesty. Living in truth in all matters would bring the rewarding life of peace with you and others that the psalmist needed.

Lord, come to think of it, that is the kind of life I desire as well. As a former race car driver, a life of complete honesty is what I need. A non-worry life of complete honesty with you, others, and myself. No more half-truths. No more tangled webs of deceptions we cannot talk ourselves out of. Instead, more peace. More joy amid problems. More freedom to love you. More freedom to become who you created us to be.

Yes, Lord, that my life might honor you as I am determined to live in complete honesty. Amen, Jesus!

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Thankful Lord You Keep Your Promise

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus
Thursday, October 17, 2024

Lord, the more I read about the psalmist and his struggles with life issues, I see a common trait. I’ll never be a shepherd, nor a warrior, and certainly never a king, but the psalmist had the same human nature as I have. He might have faced temptations I may never face. He might have met challenges I will never meet, dealt with a caliper of people I’ll never associate with, however, we have this in common: We broke our promise. I doubt I’m alone in this comparison with the psalmist.

I know he promised you he would forsake his wandering ways and remain loyal to you. But life has its ups and downs. There were periods he rode high with you, sharing your message of hope, making a difference in his world. Nonetheless, occasionally, he made foolish choices that landed him in trouble. Driven by his passion to serve you, he must have kicked himself repeatedly for acting so foolishly. Hoping to escape the embarrassment and shame, he made the same promise again, possibly for the umpteenth time.

“I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations. I have suffered much, O Lord. Restore my life again as you promised” (Psalm 119:106, 107).

By your grace, Lord, the psalmist ceased his wandering ways.

Sadly, I must confess the psalmist’s story sounds much like me. You have been with me while I’m doing life and the dumb choices I made, but by your grace, you have kept me on the right path. You will help me keep my promise to you. And you will do the same for all who call upon you, for you are a forgiving and merciful God.

Amen.

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Thankful to Be Good as You are Good, Lord

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Lord, there hasn’t been a time when I wasn’t good. Growing up, I was good at lying to my parents, lying to my teachers. I worked at being good telling whoppers, making me appear as someone I was not. I was a good cheater. I’d do anything good or bad to win. I was good at manipulating the naive to get what I wanted. Yes, I was good alright—good at being bad.

Reading the psalmist’s story, he could have been the poster child of being good at being bad. As king, he had the power to do as he pleased, and for a period, he did. But as the psalmist found, as well as those who forsake goodness to embrace the bad have found too, that wandering path leads to heartaches, disappointments, and not to mention, opposition from you. What a sad way to live. You opened his spiritual eyes.

The psalmist repented, corrected the wrongs he could, and made amends to those he harmed. His famous Psalm 101 details his determination to live a changed life. Later, while reflecting on his faith journey, he recorded his breakthrough.

“You are good, and you do what is good. Teach me your demands” (Psalm 119:68).

The psalmist stated without doubt you are good. There is no darkness, no evil, no “badness” in you, nor ever will be. Lord, you heard his humble prayer and honored his plea: “Lord, teach me to be good as you are good.” I desire to be good at being good.

Might my prayer be the same as the psalmist. Teach me how to be “good as you are good.” Help me show your love and kindness and be your Light in this dark world. Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful to Know You, Jesus

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Lord, in the beginning when you created the heavens and the earth, you created man in your image (Genesis 1–3). Because you created us in your image, you placed deep inside each person a desire to know you.

While the psalmist meditated upon your glory, your Spirit inspired him to write “You made me and created me [in your image]. Give me understanding so I can learn your commands” (Psalm 119:73)

Lord, after creating us, you didn’t leave us alone to figure out this life thing. The psalmist’s understood how living by the Golden Rule—do unto others as we would have them do unto you—was essential to knowing you. That rule is self-explanatory. Of course, despots, tyrannical rulers, and corrupt folks throughout time have ignored the Golden Rule, but for the most part, people have abided peacefully with one another by this concept.

Your sovereign Word outlines how to live. If we want a peaceful and meaningful life, to persevere in pain, remain joyful amid suffering, comforted in despair—live according to your Word (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Show us how we can know you and have a personal relationship with you. Give us understanding of who you are. What does your Word mean? How does your Word change us? You created us to know you. Teach us, Lord, to understand you are who you claim you are, and will do what you claim you will do. We might know about you, Lord, but we want to know you personally, just as you created us to desire you.

Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful When We Wander You Make Us Ponder

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus

Monday, October 14, 2024

Lord, those close to the psalmist kept after him. “Man, what are you doing? Have you lost your mind?” His friends tried to reason with him. “Abandoning God’s ways isn’t working out for you, is it?” they warned. Those who loved him prayed he would come back to sanity and abandon his stubbornness. He was headed toward a cliff.

Like many believers, we go through a period of questioning our beliefs. Does God really care about me? Am I on the right track? Are my convictions really true? What am I missing out on by committing to follow you, Jesus?

Examining the psalmist up and down spiritual walk with you, we see how much we are like him. After all, like us, he was a believer. Maybe he took for granted that you would bless his actions whether they were in your plans or not. Often, Lord, you and the psalmist were not on the same page, or should I say, on the same scroll. That scenario so resembles me.

Scripture tells of the psalmist’s plight when he wandered from you. Everything that could go wrong went wrong. Lord, you loved him too much to allow him to continue down that destructive path. In mercy, You opened his spiritual eyes and he acknowledged his folly:

I pondered the direction of my life and turned to follow Your laws. Psalm 119:59

Lord, may I learn from the psalmist’s experience. When I ponder my life’s direction, forgive my wandering. Help me keep my mind steadied on you and your precepts. As the psalmist discovered, so have I. True happiness and contentment is found by living for you, Jesus.

Amen.

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Thankful to Seek Only That Which is Worthy

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 11, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus
Friday, October 11, 2024

Lord, how did we get bogged down in such a busy do-more/see-more lifestyle? We rush from one “must-do” activity and scurry to another “can’t-miss” event. Then we hustle off to another “must-attend” meeting. We know we need to slow down, but our busy lifestyle will not allow it. In all this busyness, we must ask ourselves if our participation in all these activities is necessary. For me, in my younger years, I thrived in such environments. Now older, and hopefully wiser, I enjoy a slower pace.

Media ads claim we’ll never have the quality of life we deserve unless we have the latest gadget. New miracle creams promise to keep us looking young well past our twilight years. Unless we have the latest cell phone, which comes with lunar rocket programming, how can we keep up with our friends? Madison Avenue is aware of our desire for the latest widgets. Their advertising keeps us focused on their client’s product. Why can’t we just live primitive lives without these latest marvels?

When the psalmist committed to live totally for you, the devil lost him forever. His only tactic was to disrupt the psalmist’s walk of faith. The psalmist wrote how these distractions, and the never-ending temptations, tried to lure him away from you.

“Turn my heart to your decrees … Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless. Give me life in your ways: (Psalm 119:36, 37).

Lord, that I might pray the same. Help me keep my eyes on you and may I focus on fulfilling the plan you have for me. I’m thankful I find my purpose, joy, and contentment in you and not in man’s worthless marvels.

Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful to Love You More

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus
Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Lord, the psalmist had a love problem. Who did he love more? Did he love you more or himself? He had to choose.

His writings suggest that during a period in his life, all attention focused on him. After all, he was king and being king had its perks. True to your character, you loved the psalmist enough not to allow him to stray too far. Being publicly humbled has a way of bringing us back down to earth—and to you—where we belong. He wrote about his redemption journey.

“Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!” (Psalm 119:36).

When the psalmist wrote about your “laws,” he implied that following your laws, or “commands,” or “precepts” was a believer’s formula for a life of peace, joy, and contentment. The psalmist found the hard way that ignoring your laws, and living for himself, left his soul empty. Money left him empty. More money left him even more empty. Seeking sensual pleasures and chasing worldly things led to gaining more of the same emptiness.

Reality brought the psalmist to his senses. Self-centeredness wasn’t working. He moved his affections from himself and turned to you. The more he sought you, the more you revealed your character. You filled his soul with grace and love, the things he sought, but his money could never buy.

Lord, you refuse to remove this desire to know you from our hearts. Thank you. The world offers substitutes that try to satisfy this desire, but man has found money, pleasures, fame, or power can become monsters that consume our souls. In his rebellion, man looks at every passing fancy, except looking to you, to try and satisfy his soul.

Only you can give us life, and life to its fullest (John 10:10). Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful You are Lord for All Ages

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus
Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Lord, surely you weren’t restricting this Scripture to young people only.

“How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your Word” (Psalm 119:9)

Couldn’t this apply to folks of all ages, those “fresh from the womb” to those “close to the tomb.” You require those claiming to be your follower to obey your Word—the sacred Scriptures. The psalmist may have been remembering his youth, when in the confusions of youth, he searched for meaning and purpose. Like all youths before him, including me, he asked all the “why” and “how” questions of life. These questions are not limited to youths. All ages seek answers only you provide.

Genesis details how you created us in your image. You even trusted us with the gift of free will, allowing us to make our own decisions. Sadly, that apple in the Garden that looked so luscious and juicy turned out to be rotten and full of worms. The sin of disobedience caused a separation between you and us. If there is a positive side of man’s downfall it must be this: you never allowed our desire to know you to be lost. We still desire to know you. True to your character, you revealed to the young psalmist your glory.

The psalmist wrote: “I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands” (Psalm 119:10).

Imagine the exuberance of the psalmist. He’d finally found what he had been looking for. Those lingering questions were finally answered. Following your commands, he found the joy and contentment he sought. His life had meaning.

How wonderful, Lord. You have this for all who follow you. Amen, Jesus.

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Thankful in My Distress, You are with Me

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 3, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus

Thursday, October 3, 2024

Lord, what did the psalmist need to be set free from? His pride may have caused him to stumble in his plight. Nothing to fear here, the psalmist may have told himself. No big deal. I got this. After all, I’m smart enough to figure things out.  But what probably started as a minor problem had evolved into a distressful situation

It appears his problem got out of hand. With his spiritual and emotional wellbeing disrupted, he recorded his situation to show what to do and not to do.

“In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free” (Psalm 118:5).

Lord, you’ve seen the countless times I reacted the same as the psalmist. How many times have I ignored a problem, thinking it’s so minor it will solve itself, or just fade away. No need to bother you, Lord, since you have much more to do in the universe. How many times have you proved me wrong?  Too many times I’ve allowed the enemy of our soul, the devil, take an issue and blow it up into an overwhelming distressful situation? How did it get to this point?

Your answer is simple: “Why didn’t you bring me your problem in the first place? I’m for you. I’m on your side. Read my Word:”

“The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.  What can mere people do to me?” (Psalm 118:6).

Lord, as I’m doing life here, help me bring my molehills to you before they become mountains I cannot climb. Help me not fear what others may think. There is no fear while you are in control of my situations, Jesus. Amen.

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Thankful Your Faithful Love Endures Forever

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on October 2, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chatting with Jesus

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Lord, from ancient days down to today, this truth has never changed. All people should agree with this message: “Your faithful love endures forever.” If this truth of your holy character could be cemented into people’s hearts, what a difference it would make in the world.

The psalmist praised your glory over thirty centuries ago. Honoring your character hasn’t lost its impact or importance. Today, this message is needed more than ever. The psalmist urged people everywhere to take to heart this truth: Your faithful love endures forever.

“Let all Israel—God’s people everywhere—repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”

Let Aaron’s descendants, the preachers, priests, biblical teachers, theologians, spiritual leaders, be on the same page: “His faithful love endures forever.”

Let everyone who stands wide-eyed, in awe and wonder of the majesty of your creation, the glories of the heavens and starry sky, praise you: “His faithful love endures forever.” (Psalm 118:2-4, my paraphrase)

The psalmist fit into all three categories. Could the psalmist not stay out of trouble? Or did you allow his mistakes to force him to call on you?

“In my distress, I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear” (verses 5–6).

Lord, you honored your Word. You rescued the psalmist from whatever threatened him. Throughout my life, you have done the same for me.

I laugh now about some of my boneheaded choices, but when they occurred, I followed the psalmist’s advice. I prayed to you, Lord, and you answered me and set me free. I know “your faithful love endures forever.”

Amen, Jesus. Your faithful love sustains me as I follow you.

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