today's meditation (Pr.2) Understanding

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 2:1-22)

1   My son, if you will receive my words 
     And treasure my commandments within you,
2   Make your ear attentive to wisdom;
     Incline your heart to understanding.
3   For if you cry out for insight,
     And raise your voice for understanding;
4   If you seek her as silver 
     And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5   Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
     And discover the knowledge of God.
6   For the Lord gives wisdom;
     From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7   He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
     He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8   Guarding the paths of justice,
     And He watches over the way of His godly ones.
9   Then you will discern righteousness, justice,
     And integrity, and every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
     And knowledge will be delightful to your soul;
11 Discretion will watch over you,
     Understanding will guard you,
12 To rescue you from the way of evil,
     From a person who speaks perverse things;
13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness 
     To walk in the ways of darkness;
14 Who delight in doing evil 
     And rejoice in the perversity of evil;
15 Whose paths are crooked,
     And who are devious in their ways;
16 To rescue you from the strange woman,
     From the foreign woman who flatters with her words,
17 Who leaves the companion of her youth 
     And forgets the covenant of her God;
18 For her house sinks down to death,
     And her tracks lead to the dead;
19 None who go to her return,
     Nor do they reach the paths of life.
20 So you will walk in the way of good people 
     And keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will live in the land,
     And the blameless will remain in it;
22 But the wicked will be eliminated from the land,
     And the treacherous will be torn away from it.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

I'm the kind of person who likes to know "WHY"!!!  If I'm going to do something, there has to be a really good reason.  It has to make sense!  So, while raising our children, we tried to have a lot of teachable moments all along the way in order to equip them for life.  For example, instructing them to look before crossing the street - BECAUSE - there could be a car coming and you could get hurt very badly.

It was all about instilling a healthy fear along with good reasoning skills.  Therefore, if they started to cross the street and a car was coming, there'd be no time to teach and explain.  If we yelled, "STOP!" it was to our children's benefit to trust us and just do it!  But in order for them to know that we meant what we said, we had to be consistent in our teaching, and they had to realize that we were only looking out for them because we loved them.

It is the same way with God.  When He gives us commandments that maybe don't make sense at the time, it is to our benefit to simply trust that He knows what He's talking about - and just do it!!!  Then, proceed to continually search and study God's word, and pray and ask for wisdom and understanding.  The more we know and understand God, the more things will make sense!  The more we put our faith into practice, the more we will see God working in our lives.  The most important thing to keep in mind is that with God, there is always a good reason, and it is always for good!  

today's meditation (Pr.1) Seeking Knowledge and Wisdom

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 1:1-33) 

1   The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

2   To know wisdom and instruction,
     To discern the sayings of understanding,
3   To receive instruction in wise behavior,
     Righteousness, justice, and integrity;
4   To give prudence to the naive,
     To the youth knowledge and discretion,
5   A wise person will hear and increase in learning,
     And a person of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
6   To understand a proverb and a saying,
     The words of the wise and their riddles.

7   The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
     Fools despise wisdom and instruction. 

8   Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,
     And do not ignore your mother’s teaching;
9   For they are a graceful wreath for your head 
     And necklaces for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
     Do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us,
     Let’s lie in wait for blood,
     Let’s ambush the innocent without cause;
12 Let’s swallow them alive like Sheol,
     Even whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth,
     We will fill our houses with plunder;
14 Throw in your lot with us;
     We will all have one money bag,”
15 My son, do not walk on the way with them.
     Keep your feet from their path,
16 For their feet run to evil,
     And they are quick to shed blood.
17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net 
     In the sight of any bird;
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood;
     They ambush their own lives.
19 Such are the ways of everyone who makes unjust gain;
     It takes away the life of its possessors.

20 Wisdom shouts in the street,
     She raises her voice in the public square;
21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
     At the entrance of the gates in the city she declares her sayings:
22 “How long, you naive ones, will you love simplistic thinking?
     And how long will scoffers delight themselves in scoffing 
     And fools hate knowledge?
23 Turn to my rebuke,
     Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you;
     I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I called and you refused,
     I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
25 And you neglected all my advice 
     And did not want my rebuke;
26 I will also laugh at your disaster;
     I will mock when your dread comes,
27 When your dread comes like a storm 
     And your disaster comes like a whirlwind,
     When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
     They will seek me diligently but will not find me,
29 Because they hated knowledge 
     And did not choose the fear of the Lord.
30 They did not accept my advice,
     They disdainfully rejected every rebuke from me.
31 So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way,
     And be filled with their own schemes.
32 For the faithlessness of the naive will kill them,
     And the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will live securely 
     And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

The person who rejects the wisdom and knowledge of the Lord is foolish.  As verse 18 and 19 says, their decision to live for themselves only leads to their own death.  It actually takes a lot of work to ignore God's truth, because it is right there in front of us - in front of everyone.  Wisdom is even screaming at us from every direction, so there isn't any excuse.

I was taught in a theology course that knowledge is receiving and absorbing information, while wisdom learns and knows how to apply the information we glean while realizing we should continue to seek for more and more valuable knowledge.  Wisdom recognizes valuable information and realizes that it works and wants to use it.  The valuable information is the Lord's truth, and we are wise when we desire to listen and live obediently in His will.  The valuable information is that God wants to help us with everything, and we are wise when we ask for His help and allow Him to work in our lives.

When we choose God's way and His truth, this is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge.  When we become a believer, the Holy Spirit seals us for eternity, and fills us and guides us.  And by placing our fear in the Lord, we do not have to fear evil, death or destruction.

today's meditation (Ps.150) Praising the Lord

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 150:1-6) 

1   Praise the Lord!
     Praise God in His sanctuary;
     Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
2   Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
     Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

3   Praise Him with trumpet sound;
     Praise Him with harp and lyre.
4   Praise Him with tambourine and dancing;
     Praise Him with stringed instruments and flute.
5   Praise Him with loud cymbals;
     Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
6   Everything that has breath shall praise the Lord.
     Praise the Lord!

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Recently, I came across my diaries and journals, from Junior High and college and into marriage... As I'm reading through these, I can see my spiritual journey and maturity as I learned to trust God more and more; and I'm amazed at how God has worked in my life.  He not only protected me from darkness, bad intentions and situations, He protected me from myself and molded and shaped me into who I am today.  God is not finished with me yet, but I am so very thankful that He has never given up on me and He never will.

Very simply, we should be praising God anytime, anywhere and everywhere, including church.  It is the simple act of expressing approval and admiration, which can be done through our actions and words, song and dance... And we should want to praise Him for everything He has done, is doing, and will do - for everything He does is great and excellent!  The Lord is mighty and mostly definitely worthy!

today's meditation (149) Returning to Joy

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 149:1-9) 

1   Praise the Lord!
     Sing a new song to the Lord,
     And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones.
2   Israel shall be joyful in his Maker;
     The sons of Zion shall rejoice in their King.
3   They shall praise His name with dancing;
     They shall sing praises to Him with tambourine and lyre.
4   For the Lord takes pleasure in His people;
     He will glorify the lowly with salvation.

5   The godly ones shall be jubilant in glory;
     They shall sing for joy on their beds.
6   The high praises of God shall be in their mouths,
     And a two-edged sword in their hands,
7   To execute vengeance on the nations,
     And punishment on the peoples,
8   To bind their kings with chains,
     And their dignitaries with shackles of iron,
9   To execute against them the judgment written.
     This is an honor for all His godly ones.
     Praise the Lord!

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

We can be confident in the Lord that there will be a day of vengeance and punishment for all those who have fought against God and His people, and He will give us the honor of fighting alongside Him.  This will happen at the end of the Tribulation.  But until that day, vengeance is still the Lord's.  It is not up to us to determine what and when and how...

In all circumstances, we are to focus on the Lord.  Praising Him and singing praises to Him!  We are to be joyful and rejoice!  Our pastor recently took us through a study on rejoicing, based on the book of Philippians.  Joy is not a feeling that leads us to want to know God, it is a result of getting to know God.  The closer we get to God and the more we know Him, the more joy we will experience.  "Rejoicing" - is the act of returning to joy.  So let us continue returning to the Lord, allowing Him to fill us with His joy.

today's meditation (Ps.148) Praising the Lord

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 148:1-14) 

1   Praise the Lord!
     Praise the Lord from the heavens;
     Praise Him in the heights!
2   Praise Him, all His angels;
     Praise Him, all His heavenly armies!
3   Praise Him, sun and moon;
     Praise Him, all stars of light!
4   Praise Him, highest heavens,
     And the waters that are above the heavens!
5   They are to praise the name of the Lord,
     For He commanded and they were created.
6   He has also established them forever and ever;
     He has made a decree, and it will not pass away.

7   Praise the Lord from the earth,
     Sea monsters, and all the ocean depths;
8   Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
     Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
9   Mountains and all hills;
     Fruit trees and all cedars;
10 Animals and all cattle;
     Crawling things and winged fowl;
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples;
     Rulers and all judges of the earth;
12 Both young men and virgins;
     Old men and children.

13 They are to praise the name of the Lord,
     For His name alone is exalted;
     His majesty is above earth and heaven.
14 And He has lifted up a horn for His people,
     Praise for all His godly ones,
     For the sons of Israel, a people near to Him.
     Praise the Lord!

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

All of creation will bow and praise the Lord.  And one day, even those who chose to reject Jesus, will have no choice but to bow before Him, as they stand trial for all their sins.  It sounds harsh, but everyone has been given a conscience.  Even nature is a testimony to God's truth and glory (Romans 1).  And God knows and gives each person a fair amount of time, as He desires that all come to know Him.  We were all created with the purpose to be in His family and have a close personal relationship with Him!

Israel has been given covenants which will be fulfilled in the Milennium, but even there, it requires that each individual has made a personal decision to believe in Jesus.  For all of those, for His people, God has lifted up a horn.  This is a symbol of royalty, dignity and power, dominion, glory, fierceness and strength.  Israel will experience this in the Milennium as well as in heaven.  For all believers, we will experience this in heaven.  As for right now, God is "on our side" for all of those who are on His side!  Let us not be afraid to praise Him, for He is exalted and worthy!

today's meditation (Ps.147) Being a Light

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 147:1-20) 

1   Praise the Lord!
     For it is good to sing praises to our God;
     For it is pleasant and praise is beautiful.
2   The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
     He gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3   He heals the brokenhearted 
     And binds up their wounds.
4   He counts the number of the stars;
     He gives names to all of them.
5   Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
     His understanding is infinite.
6   The Lord supports the afflicted;
     He brings the wicked down to the ground.

7   Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
     Sing praises to our God on the lyre;
8   It is He who covers the heavens with clouds,
     Who provides rain for the earth,
     Who makes grass sprout on the mountains.
9   It is He who gives an animal its food,
     And feeds young ravens that cry.
10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
     He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The Lord favors those who fear Him,
     Those who wait for His faithfulness.

12 Praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
     Praise your God, Zion!
13 For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
     He has blessed your sons among you.
14 He makes peace in your borders;
     He satisfies you with the finest of the wheat.
15 He sends His command to the earth;
     His word runs very swiftly.
16 He showers snow like wool;
     He scatters the frost like ashes.
17 He hurls His ice as fragments;
     Who can stand before His cold?
18 He sends His word and makes them melt;
     He makes His wind blow, and the waters flow.
19 He declares His words to Jacob,
     His statutes and His judgments to Israel.
20 He has not dealt this way with any other nation;
     And as for His judgments, they have not known them.
     Praise the Lord!

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

When we consider the nation of Israel and the unique relationship and covenants that they have with the Lord, keep in mind that Israel as a nation was meant to be the light to all other nations.  Anyone could immigrate to Israel and become one of them.  As well, before Jesus came in flesh, anyone anywhere in the world could believe in Him and be saved.  (Galatians 3)

The relationship with God is the same now with anyone who believes in Jesus and His work on the cross.  When we put our faith in Him, we become children of God with a special and close relationship with the Lord, who promises to keep us forever.  And just like Israel, God wants us to be a light to other people, so that others can find and have that close relationship with Him.  

It might be a scary thought to stand out and be a light, but it really is simpler than we think.  It is all about living for God.  Fearing people is to put them ahead of God.  Fearing God is to show Him the respect that He deserves by putting Him first in our lives.  Waiting for the Lord is to trust that He will help us live for Him.  And because of everything He has done, is doing, and will do for us, we should be praising, singing and thanking the Lord.  As we are doing these things, we will be a light for Him!

today's meditation (Ps.146) Blessed Are Those Who...

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 146:1-10) 

1   Praise the Lord!
     Praise the Lord, my soul!
2   I will praise the Lord while I live;
     I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3   Do not trust in noblemen,
     In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.
4   His spirit departs, he returns to the earth;
     On that very day his plans perish.
5   Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
     Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6   Who made heaven and earth,
     The sea and everything that is in them;
     Who keeps faith forever;
7   Who executes justice for the oppressed;
     Who gives food to the hungry.
     The Lord frees the prisoners.

8   The Lord opens the eyes of those who are blind;
     The Lord raises up those who are bowed down;
     The Lord loves the righteous.
9   The Lord watches over strangers;
     He supports the fatherless and the widow,
     But He thwarts the way of the wicked.
10 The Lord will reign forever,
     Your God, Zion, to all generations.
     Praise the Lord!

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

The Lord saves and helps those who seek Him, put their hope and trust in Him, and give Him praise.  These are the ones who are...

vs. 8 - the blind:  those who realize this and want to see and understand salvation

vs. 8 - the ones who are bowed low:  those who humble themselves before the Lord, realizing their need for His salvation and help

vs. 8 - the righteous:  those who have been saved by putting their faith in Him

vs. 7 - the hungry:  those who crave to hear more about the Lord

vs. 9 - the stranger:  those who are aliens in this world, because their home will now be in heaven when they pass away

vs. 9 - the fatherless and the widow:  those who are "alone" because they have chosen to put the Lord first in their lives

vs. 7 - the oppressed and the prisoner:  because they are being persecuted for standing up for Jesus

At first glance, a lot of these traits and situations may not seem desirable, but as verse 5 points out, blessed are these people!!!  And as verse 6 points out, God keeps faith forever.  When we allow, He does everything for us, and then blesses us for it!!!

today's meditation (Ps.145) Sincerely Humbling Ourselves

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 145:1-21)

1   I will exalt You, my God, the King,
     And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
2   Every day I will bless You,
     And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
3   Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised;
     And His greatness is unsearchable.
4   One generation will praise Your works to another,
     And will declare Your mighty acts.
5   On the glorious splendor of Your majesty 
     And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.
6   People will speak of the power of Your awesome acts,
     And I will tell of Your greatness.
7   They will burst forth in speaking of Your abundant goodness,
     And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

8   The Lord is gracious and compassionate;
     Slow to anger and great in mercy.
9   The Lord is good to all,
     And His mercies are over all His works.
10 All Your works will give thanks to You, Lord,
     And Your godly ones will bless You.
11 They will speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
     And talk of Your might,
12 To make known to the sons of mankind Your mighty acts,
     And the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
     And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
     The Lord is faithful in His words,
     And holy in all His works.

14 The Lord supports all who fall,
     And raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to You,
     And You give them their food in due time.
16 You open Your hand 
     And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways,
     And kind in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on Him,
     To all who call on Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
     He will also hear their cry for help and save them.
20 The Lord watches over all who love Him,
     But He will destroy all the wicked.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
     And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

From this passage, I can really see how David was a man after God's own heart!  David, who was a king, himself, was humble and looked to God with the deepest respect, honor and love.  To believe in the Lord is to embrace Him and His will, desiring with one's whole heart, soul, mind and body, to know Him more and live in obedience.

Verses 14 and 18 are key.  The Lord knows when a person is sincere in their desire to be saved and helped!  And those who truly love the Lord, will only want to get to know Him more and more.  And the more we know about Him, the more we will desire to praise Him, and talk about Him with each other and to others who do not yet know Him.

today's meditation (Ps.144) Being Prepared

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 144:1-15) 

1   Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
     Who trains my hands for war,
     And my fingers for battle;
2   My faithfulness and my fortress,
     My stronghold and my savior,
     My shield and He in whom I take refuge,
     Who subdues my people under me.
3   Lord, what is man, that You look after him?
     Or a son of man, that You think of him?
4   Man is like the breath;
     His days are like a passing shadow.

5   Bend down Your heavens, Lord, and come down;
     Touch the mountains, that they may smoke.
6   Flash forth lightning and scatter them;
     Send out Your arrows and confuse them.
7   Reach out with Your hand from on high;
     Rescue me and save me from great waters,
     From the hand of foreigners 
8   Whose mouths speak deceit,
     And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

9   God, I will sing a new song to You;
     On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,
10 Who gives salvation to kings,
     Who rescues His servant David from the evil sword.
11 Rescue me and save me from the hand of foreigners,
     Whose mouth speaks deceit 
     And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

12 When our sons in their youth are like growing plants,
     And our daughters like corner pillars fashioned for a palace,
13 Our granaries are full, providing every kind of produce,
     And our flocks deliver thousands and ten thousands in our fields;
14 May our cattle be bred 
     Without mishap and without loss,
     May there be no outcry in our streets!
15 Blessed are the people who are so situated;
     Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

This passage really echos what is said in Ephesians 6:10-24.  Because life is a spiritual battle, we first have to choose which side we are on, and then we need to become equipped and prepared.  Understanding that this battle is the Lord's, only He can save us, only He can prepare us, only He can fight for us.  And only through Him do we have the victory, because He has the victory!  Part of the victory is for people to come to know the Lord and take refuge in Him.  It is in this way that we are able to experience His strength, peace, joy and blessings.  

today's meditation (Ps.143) trusting God for everything

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 143:1-12)

1   Hear my prayer, Lord,
     Listen to my pleadings!
     Answer me in Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness!
2   And do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
     For no person living is righteous in Your sight.
3   For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
     He has crushed my life to the ground;
     He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead.
4   Therefore my spirit feels weak within me;
     My heart is appalled within me.

5   I remember the days of old;
     I meditate on all Your accomplishments;
     I reflect on the work of Your hands.
6   I spread out my hands to You;
     My soul longs for You, like a weary land. Selah 

7   Answer me quickly, Lord, my spirit fails;
     Do not hide Your face from me,
     Or I will be the same as those who go down to the pit.
8   Let me hear Your faithfulness in the morning,
     For I trust in You;
     Teach me the way in which I should walk;
     For to You I lift up my soul.
9   Save me, Lord, from my enemies;
     I take refuge in You.

10 Teach me to do Your will,
     For You are my God;
     Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
11 For the sake of Your name, Lord, revive me.
     In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
12 And in Your faithfulness, destroy my enemies,
     And eliminate all those who attack my soul,
     For I am Your servant.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

No human being can live righteously.  This is why we need the Lord's salvation.  And until we reach heaven, we will still struggle, so we need His help each and every day!  This all requires that we put our faith and trust in the Lord, Jesus Christ!  Then as we allow, He teaches and leads us, just like David asks of the Lord in verses 8 to 12.

The Lord protects us and changes us from the inside out, in His faithfulness and righteousness - not ours.  Our purpose in serving the Lord and living a righteous life is to bring Him glory.  So, because we need His help, the only way we can glorify God, is do everything in Him and through Him!

today's meditation (Ps.142) Pouring Out Our Complaints

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 142:1-7)

1   I cry out with my voice to the Lord;
     With my voice I implore the Lord for compassion.
2   I pour out my complaint before Him;
     I declare my trouble before Him.
3   When my spirit felt weak within me,
     You knew my path.
     In the way where I walk 
     They have hidden a trap for me.
4   Look to the right and see;
     For there is no one who regards me favorably;
     There is no escape for me;
     No one cares for my soul.

5   I cried out to You, Lord;
     I said, “You are my refuge,
     My portion in the land of the living.
6   Give Your attention to my cry,
     For I have been brought very low;
     Rescue me from my persecutors,
     For they are too strong for me.
7   Bring my soul out of prison,
     So that I may give thanks to Your name;
     The righteous will surround me,
     For You will look after me.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

It is awesome to know that we can "pour out" our complaints to the Lord.  Think of a cup filled with complaints.  If we pour it out, it should be all gone.  And when we have given everything to the Lord, we can take refuge in Him.  Even if our troubles are stronger than we are, the Lord is all-powerful.  And because He cares for those who look to Him, He will look after us.

today's meditation (Ps.141) Living to Please God

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 141:1-10) 

1   Lord, I call upon You; hurry to me!
     Listen to my voice when I call to You!
2   May my prayer be counted as incense before You;
     The raising of my hands as the evening offering.
3   Set a guard, Lord, over my mouth;
     Keep watch over the door of my lips.
4   Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
     To practice deeds of wickedness 
     With people who do wrong;
     And may I not taste their delicacies.

5   May the righteous strike me with mercy and discipline me;
     It is oil for the head;
     My head shall not refuse it,
     For my prayer is still against their evil deeds.
6   Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock,
     And they hear my words, for they are pleasant.
7   As when one plows and breaks open the earth,
     Our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

8   For my eyes are toward You, God, the Lord;
     In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless.
9   Keep me from the jaws of the trap which they have set for me,
     And from the snares of those who do wrong.
10 May the wicked fall into their own nets,
     While I pass by safely.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

May our worship and prayers be pleasing to the Lord!  Like fragrant incense, or a well-prepared feast!  For this to take place, we do need to ask God to help us speak and act accordingly!  And when we pray, it will please Him when we pray in His will.  Obviously, it helps to know God's will, as well as other believers who will guide us and help keep us accountable, in a loving and godly way.  

It might sound scary, but we should have the courage to desire this from other believers.  And to be this for them in return.  To say and do things in a loving and godly way is the same as living to please God.  And how do we do that?  It all comes back to us striving to do everything in God's will, and doing it all in His strength, as He protects us from others as well as ourselves, and disciplines, guides, molds and shapes us.