Another Beautiful Day!
The last couple of days I've been hearing about friends that are struggling with the disease, DM. Several have recently died. There are three that have been doctoring and have been unable to take their IV treated because they are to ill and are stuck in bed :-) My thought and prayers are with them. I'd been thinking about Kelly, her daughter says she's not well. :-). I miss hearing from her and I pray God will turn all their situation and this awful illness around for them so they can live a long, quality life...Amen
Hearing about these struggles makes me wonder about the journey I am on.
What are all these symptoms, struggles, and medicines doing to my body?
Lord I pray for great heath and a long future...Amen
I am so Thankful for all I can do....
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Today's Bible Study
Meditation Brings Blessings
By Charles Stanley
Read | Nehemiah 1:4-7
Our time spent with the Lord has a dramatic impact on our daily life. When we set aside periods to meditate upon His Word and listen to what He's telling us, we'll start to notice both subtle and dramatic changes taking place.
First, we'll begin to gain a godly perspective. Certainly the apostle Paul was mindful of this; he actively prayed for himself and others to have the Lord's outlook (Eph. 1:16-19). When we start to see with enlightened eyes, the world—along with its joy and pain—becomes much clearer, as does our understanding of how to deal with circumstances.
Second, spending time with God causes the pressures of life to dissipate. Jesus warned His disciples that they would face trouble in this world (just as all of us will), but He assured them that they had no real reason to be afraid. Why fear a foe that Christ has already conquered (John 16:33)?
Third, meditation brings peace. In this troubled world, we frequently find ourselves in need of a tranquil heart, which can be attained only through Jesus (John 14:27). Paul tells us that the world is not even capable of understanding God's peace (Phil. 4:7), let alone able to offer us any kind of authentic serenity.
While a desire for personal reward should not be our only reason for spending time with the Lord, there are indeed wonderful blessings in store for those who meditate on His Word. Tomorrow we will consider more of the rewards that await believers who dwell on the Scriptures.
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The Rewards of Meditation
By Charles Stanley
Read | Psalm 51:1-14
Yesterday we looked at three blessings that are derived through spending time with the Lord and meditating upon His Word. Now, let’s look at two additional rewards.
First, meditation brings a genuine personal closeness with God. Think about a family member or one of your good friends. The warmth and depth you share with him or her did not simply appear out of nowhere. Rather, the relationship is the result of long-standing, close-knit interaction that has been built on a foundation of love and trust. And we must ask, How is it possible to get close to someone without spending precious time together? Likewise, we cannot grow close to the Lord unless we make it a point to spend time with Him.
Second, our meditation enables us to develop a pure heart. As we spend time in the Lord’s presence, He will bring to the surface those things in our heart that do not belong there. We see this clearly in the repentance of King David, as described in Psalm 51. This passage was written after David’s sorrowful realization of his sin with Bathsheba. Because of his close relationship with God, David could not hide from his own sin. In verse 3, he cries, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.”
David’s painful self-awareness led him into reconciliation with God. In the same way, when we allow our relationship with the Lord to permeate the darkest places of our heart, we, too, can find the strength to accept our Father’s amazing love and forgiveness.
Looking forward to another great day...
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