As the rain and snow

“Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
    be not envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon fade like the grass
    and wither like the green herb.

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as the noonday.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
    fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
    Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil…

In just a little while, the wicked will be no more…
But the meek shall inherit the land
    and delight themselves in abundant peace.

The wicked plots against the righteous..,
but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
    for he sees that his day is coming…

The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
    when he delights in his way;
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
    for the Lord upholds his hand.

I have been young, and now am old,
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
    or his children begging for bread…

Turn away from evil and do good;
    so shall you dwell forever.
For the Lord… will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
    but the children of the wicked shall be cut off…

I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
    spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
But he passed away, and behold, he was no more.” Psalm 37:1-8,10-13,23-25,27-28,35-36a

David knew well the power of focus for the outlook and emotion of life. Indulge in looking on what is not yours to have, and greed claws with ugly lust into your soul. Look on the threat of enemies, and fear can overwhelm. But look at the Lord and His might, and giants become small while hearts grow stout and courageous. (1 Samuel 17:19-25,32-50; 2 Samuel 11:2-4; Psalm 56:1-11)

The moment our minds awaken and we open our eyes, we have a choice of what we will focus on first, which often determines the course of our day. When we jump to worldly pressures or pleasures and think on superficial things, and long over the veneer of the successful who seemed to have it all, but are unrighteous, our hearts get disordered. If we saw beneath the surface of what the wicked were like, and understood their misery, discontent, and ultimate end, reality would put on new lenses.

When we start our day by focusing on the Lord, His Majesty and splendor and greatness and goodness, wonder and praise will crowd out fretting and worry. If the trinkets or apparent ease of the ungodly look alluring, consider their elusiveness. If we are tempted by earthly delights, ask the Lord to reorient our affection to Him and His way. Training ourselves to bring cares expectantly to Him with thanksgiving will readjust focus on heavenly things. (Philippians 4:6–7; Colossians 3:1-2)

What causes envy of wrongdoers’ prosperity? What deeper delights has the Lord bestowed? How can we refocus on things above, and establish habits of trust and gratitude for God’s sufficiency, hope, and everlasting peace?

Lord, help me turn away from all that’s spiritually unhealthy to the good and glorious of You and Your kingdom.

“Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, ‘We will hear you again about this.’ So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

“After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.  And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.

“When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.’ And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.'” Acts 17:32-18:10

In a culture where many identify by political beliefs or gender or particular persuasions, there is a more important occupation. From the time of the early church, there were crowds who mocked, accused, jeered, and disbelieved, rejecting the gospel. But there were individuals on whom the Lord set specific affection, and saved unto notable lives. Dionysius the Areopagite, Demaris, Priscilla and Aquila, Titius Justus, Crispus. Paul, Silas, Timothy. Laborers, church and synagogue leaders, itinerant missionaries. The Lord identifies His people by faith, not the heritage or hues or parameters of this world.

God’s people may be in a minority in a community, city, or country, but they are many- known, named, and numbered by their Savior. Difficult circumstances may leave us thinking we are alone. Persecution, ostracism, and criticism all peck away at a human sense of security and belonging. But when we are in Christ, we are not only assured of our unbreakable adoptive relationship to Him, but we are bound up forever in the family of believers. (1 Kings 19:9-18; Psalm 139:1-16; Isaiah 43:1; 49:1-5; Ephesians 2:19-21; 1 Peter 2:4-5)

Do we feel alone? Are we making a practice of going solo? How might our perception or isolation be tainted by our own doing? The Lord assigned us different roles and places to spread His salt and light, but it is vital we meet together and grow through fellowship with the saints. There is much encouragement in numbers. How can we, together, bring more into the minority who honor Him and spread His gospel? (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Father, help me think rightly about who and whose I am, and earnestly build up others in the faith that we might glorify You and make You known.

“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
    and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
Day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
    my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

I acknowledged my sin to you,
    and did not cover my iniquity;
I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’
    and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. 

Therefore let everyone who is godly
    offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
    they shall not reach him.
You are a hiding place for me;
    you preserve me from trouble;
    you surround me with shouts of deliverance…

Steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
    shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” Psalm 32:1-7,10-11

The benefits and blessedness of being forgiven go on and on, like a stream that refreshes, carries, frees, and delights. David had known too well the agony of unconfessed sin, of the cruel, heinous monster that crippled his health, poisoned relationships, and disrupted spiritual communion. His heart had grown calloused, impermeable to all but the grace of God that inched close and broke through in love and mercy. Ah, the cleansing! The freedom! The reassurance through restoration! The unadulterated gladness! (2 Samuel 12:1-13; Psalm 38:3-11,18)

Forgiveness is God’s wondrous gift, wholly achieved by Christ’s sacrifice of Himself and imparted by pure grace. Yet, it is tapped by the humbling of the soul, genuine confession and repentance for what we recognize and name as offense against the Holy One. Once we come clean, He rushes in like a powerful wave to crash against our stubborn idolatry, break down our hard hearts, wash clean of all deception, pride, jealousy, malice, impatience. (Psalm 51:1-12)

Forgiveness is the first gift, opening us to receive all others. It mutes our groaning and revives the sapped. It assures hope for the future, whatever troubles and temptations come. It is God’s promise of fidelity to the deliverance and keeping of our souls. Can we shout with gratitude and rejoicing?

Are we taking full advantage of the blessedness forgiveness in Christ affords? If we continue to live in the past, ruing former bad choices and their painful consequences, ashamed for ill behavior and words spoken, regretting what we cannot undo, we have not applied the fullness of what our Savior finished on the cross. He said, It is finished, yet we claim we cannot forgive ourselves- as if we had that power anyway? Freedom comes only when we claim by faith that His finished work was once for all, and we bear no more burden of guilt. (John 19:30; Hebrews 10:12-14,19-23)

What sin have we held too long, and suffered under its deceit, weight, and spread? When will we bow, confess, and seize the grand freedom God offers in Christ?

“My sin oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
my sin, not in part, but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more;
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! 

It is well with my soul;
it is well, it is well with my soul.” ~Horatio Spafford (1873)

Alleluia!

“We were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you.” Romans 6:4-14

United in death, united in resurrection. This mysterious, inextricable bond by shared experience between believer and Savior defines the Christ-life now lived in a dark, cacophonous world. Union with Him infuses boldness to say no to unrighteousness and worldly passions that were put to death at Calvary, and freedom to serve and speak distinctly with resurrection power. The beauty of a new life so identified with His is the impact it can have in a culture fractured by syncopated voices and wayward affections.

Threaded through the ubiquitous buzz of modern disagreement is yearning for unity. With a myriad of definitions floating around and some being insisted on, what does it really mean? For the Christian, being united with Christ paves the way for true and deep unity with other believers. When we come to Him in faith, and die to self so that we no longer live, He, as Regent, lives through us. We are then united with others by grace, and together shine as beacon to the world. (John 13:35; Galatians 2:20)

To be united in Christ with others supersedes cursory differences as it is necessitated by holy purpose. We’re made with different colors, varieties of personality and penchant, yet are all doused with grace, indwelt by the same Spirit, and serve the same Lord. Any gathering of Christian friends, where petty preferences and political views are set aside and commonalities of belief and gratitude reign, can enjoy the deep fellowship the Spirit supernaturally weaves among His children. (Romans 8:14-17; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

How closely uniified with Christ am I? Do daily decisions indicate genuine sharing in His death and resurrection? Am I experiencing unity among fellow believers, willing to listen, learn, and really love those of varying viewpoints and life choices? What hope, joy, and fellowship from being united with Christ is attracting unbelievers?

Father, help me foster unity within Your Body, and lovingly promote the grace-filled unity of believers to the world.

“The Lord saved Israel that day from the Egyptians… Israel saw the great power that the Lord used, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

“Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song,

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
    the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my song,
    and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
    my father’s God, and I will exalt him…

“Pharaoh’s chariots and his host he cast into the sea,
    and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea.
The floods covered them;
    they went down into the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power,
    your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.
In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries…
At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up;
    the floods stood up in a heap;
    the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.
The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake,..
    my desire shall have its fill of them.
    I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.’
You blew with your wind; the sea covered them;
    they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

“Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
    Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
    awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
You stretched out your right hand;
    the earth swallowed them.

“You have led in steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed;
    you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode…
You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain,..
    the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.
The Lord will reign forever and ever.” Exodus 14:30-15:2,4-13,17-18

Moses is curious, seeking out God’s fire. Moses is hesitant, unsure of his speech. Moses is serious, taking care with his Lord’s instructions. Moses is bold, challenging Pharaoh. Moses is obedient, leading a cantankerous people through unfamiliar places. And Moses sings.

In all his manliness and growing bravery, Moses leads a nation through the Red Sea on dry ground, walls of water held back by God’s loud breath on either side, and cannot help but break into song. Praise! Glory! His God has greatly, impossibly delivered them! His constant companion and provider has done the remarkable again, what only He could do, and Moses returns song as only He is worthy of receiving. Praise! Exaltation! (Exodus 3:1-6; 4:13; 11:1-3,10)

Leading others carries with it heavy responsibility that can cause us doubt in ability and weigh us down in fatigue or a sense of drudgery. Stress and pressures mount, we don’t know what to anticipate or how we can do it, and the people around us are not always cooperative. In the grueling responsibility and stretched resources, we can forget who is really at the helm. The same God who calls leaders leads them, supplying capacity, direction, and triumph for every endeavor. Knowing His almighty equipping, we’re energized through the challenges and with upturned heads, can sing. (Psalm 3:3; Philippians 4:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:24)

We are identified by sighing, whine, or praise, all contagious to those we lead. For what attributes and wonders of God can we sing today? How does our grateful attitude lead others in wonder and worship?

Lord, keep me singing all the day, praising You for Your mighty deeds and majestic glory.

“The law of the Lord is perfect,
    reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
    making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
    enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean,
    enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
    and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
    even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
    and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:7-11

“Good and upright is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
    and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
    for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” Psalm 25:8-10

“Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Great reward. Great gain. Paths of steadfast love and righteousness. Godliness. What riches, what sweetness and satisfaction God’s children are promised and will own forever! Made known in His Word is the prescribed path He makes through His Word for sinners to know contentment and blessing. His words are perfect and true, He is good and upright, and we make the decision whether and how to follow.

The start of the path is in the soul. Revived, made wise, and rejoicing by exposure to the Word, we are enlightened to truth and proper fear of God. As we delight in His wondrous words, we are nourished to keep them, step by step. Tending to the inner man is vital to travel God’s way.

The journey bears its own rewards, by affording ongoing intimacy with the Savior. He humbles us, teaches us, and unveils His manners and ways. He supports us in temptation, and proves Himself as a treasure more precious than gold. The longer we walk, the farther we go, the more we experience firsthand His strong love and faithfulness.

Are we dedicatedly pursuing God’s path? What difference does His perfect, sure, right, and pure word make in daily confession, attitudes, outlook, and plans? What satisfaction in fellowship and wisdom from His Spirit’s instruction has become more real? What heavenly rewards am I presently enjoying?

“I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Tho’ some may dwell where these abound,
My pray’r, my aim is higher ground.

I want to scale the utmost height,
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till Heav’n I’ve found,
Lord, lead me on to higher ground.

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s table land;
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.” ~Johnson Oatman (1898)

God, keep me on Your path, pursuing Your ways, toward Your glory.

“I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    or let your holy one see corruption.

You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

“You make him most blessed forever;
    you make him glad with the joy of your presence.”

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
    He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.” Psalm 16:8-11; 21:6; 23:1-6

“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'” Revelation 21:1-4

God’s presence with us is abiding as it is real, palpable at times, sure all times. In this life we live by promise, in faith that He is nigh and ever-present by His Spirit. And one day, that wondrous Day, we will behold Him face to face and enter into His tangible, glorious presence forever. As we become more and more familiar with Him, aware of His might, His keeping, His watchful eye, His tender keeping, we will know His joy, strength, and glory. (1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; 1 John 3:2)

How am I making a practice of His presence now, and what joy ensues? In every awaking, turn of a day, setting out, work of service, or decision, how do I include my heavenly Companion? We can begin by offering Him our resources and time, asking His guidance on our work. We can endeavor to maintain ongoing, adoring communion. We can serve and interact in obedience, and with love. We can thank Him at the end of every day for the privileges afforded us, the blessing of purposeful hours, rich relationships, and the deep joy of life in Him.

In seasons of great accomplishment or famine of hope, strain or ease, doubt or sorrow, have I known His song of joy because He walks beside me? With whom will I sing, and share the delights of this fellowship? (Psalm 30:5)

Lord, keep living in Your presence my chief desire, praising You my highest joy, and spreading Your love my deepest delight. (Psalm 27:4-6)

“I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”

“O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices,
    and in your salvation how greatly he exults!..
For you make him most blessed forever;
    you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
For the king trusts in the Lord,
    and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.”

“He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.” Psalm 62:2

“The righteous will never be moved;
    he will be remembered forever.
He is not afraid of bad news;
    his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.” Psalm 16:8; 21:1,6-7; 62:2; 112:6-7

Lusty wind sways the branches, fingers the windchimes to melody, sweeps the air. Moving like passing time, it cannot be seen, yet does not go unnoticed. Activities of men, machines, and nations hum, push, impress, compulse. Temptations of the enemy taunt, insult, and cajole. Nature shakes, turns, and surprises. Events confuse, unsettle, and grieve. Yet in the swirling midst, the one firm in faith can stand and not be moved. (Psalm 46:1-3,5; Ephesians 6:10-13)

The Lord God Himself is immovable, immutable, the same yesterday, today and forever. His throne cannot be shaken. He hems us in behind and before as a shield round about us, lifts our heads, and upholds us with everlasting arms. Look to Him for safe refuge! Rejoice with steadfast heart! He is a firm foundation that does not change like shifting shadows, the Rock upon which we can stand! (Deuteronomy 33:27; 2 Samuel 22:32; Psalm 3:3; 18:2; 57:7; 139:5; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17b)

What bad news has threatened, toppling plans and confidence? What uncertainties nag at our mind, creating doubt and anxiety? What gusts of coming change push at our resolve and threaten to knock us down? Are we more focused on the winds than on the Lord? (Matthew 14:22-33)

Would we look up, above and beyond the wavering uncertainties of today? Would we stand, faith firm, on Christ the Rock who died to give us eternal security? Will we trust His sure authority? (Psalm 121:1-3; Hebrews 4:16)

“How firm a foundation you saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!
What more can he say than to you he has said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow,
for I will be with thee, thy trouble to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

“The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!” ~R. Keen (1787)

Lord, fix my faith securely so I am not moved by anything or anyone but You- to love and praise You more.

“I am the Lord; that is my name;
    my glory I give to no other,
    nor my praise to carved idols.” Isaiah 42:8

“My glory I will not give to another.” Isaiah 48:11

“Every beast of the forest is mine,
    the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know all the birds of the hills,
    and all that moves in the field is mine...

The world and its fullness are mine.” Psalm 50:10-12

“A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.” John 3:27

“What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” 1 Corinthians 4:7

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” James 1:17

No glory. No Success. No wealth, ability, insight. No right mind or acute senses or intuition. No home, no family, no job. No earthly goods or trinkets or awards. There is only one Owner of all these, God Almighty, and He bestows for our temporary use these gifts. We are not the owner of anything, except the riches and spiritual gifts He imparts at salvation as our eternal inheritance. (Romans 12:6-8; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,  to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,  which he lavished upon us… In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:3-8,13-14

Having a right understanding about who owns what makes all the difference in a Christian’s life. If indeed the Lord owns it all, and we owe all to Him, we will keep a loose hold on the visible and invisible treasures entrusted to us. He measures out goods of all varieties so we will put them to fruitful use, and is responsive to responsible stewardship. When we maintain this perspective through constant gratitude, unselfishness, diligence, and earnest prayer, we can guard against anything coming between us and Him as our highest treasure. (Matthew 25:14-29)

Are there natural gifts of mind or ability we’ve grown a bit smug about? Do we look down on others who do not process or achieve as we do? Are there material resources we hold too tightly, hoarding for personal pleasure or future security?What can and will we do to treasure more the things of God, eternity, and the Lord Himself?

“Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.” ~Dallan Forgaill (8th Century)

Lord, in gratitude for Your bounty, may I handle all You loan with zeal and generosity, to Your honor.

“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools… Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For… a fool’s voice [comes with] with many words.

“When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? For when… words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.” “The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?” Ecclesiastes 5:1-7; 6:11

“Jesus… was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white… Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.’  For he did not know what to say…  A cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is my beloved Son; listen to him.'” Mark 6:2-7

“When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
    but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.”

“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
    he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”

“Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
    and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” Proverbs 10:19; 13:3; 17:27–28

“Charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to… rightly [handle] the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene.” 2 Timothy 2:14-17

Bridling the tongue for righteousness is called for and colorfully illustrated throughout Scripture. The Lord God created tongues for many a good purpose, and we are wise to set right our hearts and them to His tempo if we intend to use them for His greatest good. Understanding His warnings and applying discipline help to direct our tongues toward edifying, wise reactions and words. (Proverbs 25:11; James 3:6-10)

Unless we establish the tone by surrendering the tongue at start of day, we are likely to get caught off beat. Pelleted by pressures, shaken by surprising news, offended or unexpectedly upset by a loved one, we can let words fly like sparks. The desire to be slow to anger is easily jostled awry by circumstance and emotion. O, that we would appropriate self-control! (Nehemiah 5:6-7; Job 5:6-11; Galatians 5:22-23; James 1:19-20)

Who and what set the cadence of our voices? Are we easily swayed and driven by compulsion, or careful to choose words? Are we wont to blurt out on first impulse, or can we react under the Spirit’s measured control? Does our tone of voice betray impatience, or the Lord’s gracious filter? Do we say what we mean, and mean what we say?

Lord, please set the content and tempo of my tongue to lift others up and bring You glory.