Tag: Psalm 1

Guard Your Heart: MT e70

In our last time together, we were looking at Psalm 1 and how the people, places and things around us can impact us. 

The phrase, “Guard your heart” was used and this will get our attention today.

Several things can come to mind when the word guard is mentioned. 

One is related to sports.  When playing defense, a person is responsible for guarding an area or even a person. 

Another is like a security detail where one is guarding a business or a house.

In each of these, the desire is to make sure something does not happen.  Gaurding in sports the effort is to keep the opposing team from scoring.  In security, the effort is to keep thieves or unwanted vandals.

The key thought is to prevent something.

Proverbs 4 says to “Guard your heart with all diligence for from it flows the spring of life.”

This reinforces Psalm 1 from our last time.  Walking not in the advice of the wicked or standing in the way of sinners or sitting with those who ridicule IS a one way to guard your heart.

By avoiding situations, people or entertainment where is a method of guarding. 

We guard the things that mean much to us.  In the life of following Christ, purity and righteousness mean much.

Guard it as if your life depends on it. Pray that our Lord may send His Spirit to keep you from harm. 

As always S.D.G.   

Letting God Speak To You: MT e37

In our last time together we were considering Psalm chapter one: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, or sits in the seat of scoffers or stands in the way of sinners.  His delight is in the law of the Lord and on this law he meditates day and night.

Regarding this, our focus was upon how time for most people who say they are Christians spend such little time in God’s word.  That is a real problem. 

It would be very similar to me saying to Tina, someone that I love, “I love you, but please do not speak to me.”  That would be crazy right?

Yet, that is what we do when we say, “I love Jesus,” or “I love the Lord,” but then do not spend anytime in His word.  He speaks to us through His word. 

So today I what I wanted to focus upon is a couple of ideas to help you in reading more, getting into the Scriptures and reading more.

The first thing I would like for us to consider is having the word read to you.  There is, for no cost and totally free, and there are other options where the cost is minimal, a whole bunch of phone applications and web sites where the Bible can be read to you.

For some people, reading is difficult.  Some are slow readers and this can be a source of discouragement.  There are other people that are distracted easily.  They begin to read something and then the mind begins to wander off and there is no focus. 

Having the Bible read to you is one way to combat these issues. You can block out a time to have the Bible read to you (which is what I prefer one do), or you can do it while you are driving on commute or working out. 

DO not consider this cheating.  The literacy level for many early Christians was very low.  Not only that but there were not the number of copies of the Bible therefore they would read the Bible when they came together in assembly.  This is how the Bible was shared back then. 

Another idea and suggestion is that you do not start your reading time by carving out 30 minutes or an hour everyday.  If you are not currently reading, start small.  Start with like ten minutes a day.  Do this for 21 days and you have a habit. 

Lastly, pray over this, like the strength to get this done is outside of you.  Hint: it is.  Ask God to help you and I can guarantee you that He will help you.  Pray, “Give me success in loving your word.”

You will start out with ten minutes, but then before long you will want more.  You will want 20 minutes even more. 

S.D.G.

Sit, Stand, Walk: MT episode 36

Psalm 1 says, “Blessed is the one who walks not in the counsel of the wicked nor stands in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is on the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night.”

It’s a beautiful passage and among my favorites.  It poetically covers every aspect of the believer.

Most Christ followers can use some drastic improvements in time with Jesus.  A recent survey revealed that A third of Americans who attend a Protestant church regularly (32%) say they read the Bible personally every day. Around a quarter (27%) say they read it a few times a week.

Fewer say they only read it once a week (12%), a few times a month (11%) or once a month (5%). Close to 1 in 8 (12%) admit they rarely or never read the Bible.

I have no idea exactly who is watching this short video.  There are potentially some who watch this and are in the word daily.  That would be commendable and great.

The purpose of highlighting these numbers is to bring attention to what influences our lives.  Chances are some social platform, television show, Netflix or other similar service, has great influence in life.  Distracting you from what matters more. 

For some believers, Jesus gets the church assembly time, and the rest is for everything else.  You can’t make it that way.  Please don’t take this to the other extreme in there should be no time for leisure for there most certainly is.

But, through each day, we should read, pray and meditate (ponder and think) upon the WORD of GOD.  You can do it daytime or nighttime; just make certain that if you consider yourself a believer, spending time with God’s word is absolutely necessary. 

Next time we will consider this issue a bit further.  Until then S.D.G.