Month: January 2014

This year, I am using the Discipleship Journal’s Book-at-a-Time Reading Plan as a guide for reading through God’s Word.  Yesterday morning was a special feast as I read Exodus 12-14 and Psalm 23.  For me, two most familiar passages met together to refresh my soul and give me counsel.  As I read Exodus 14, it was like the very first time! So much to see, to consider, to think about, to put myself in their shoes!  Then I read Psalm 23, and it all came together.

1  The LORD was Israel’s Shepherd; they had all they needed.

2  He made them lie down in green pastures, not Egyptian soil.  He led them beside still waters as the Red Sea stood in rapt attention as the millions crossed.

3  He restored their fainting, troubled, complaining soul as He led them in the right path for His name’s sake that Pharaoh and the Egyptians would know He is God.

4  They walked through the valley of the shadow of death on dry ground and did not need to fear the approaching army of Pharaoh because their Shepherd was with them.  His rod would defend them from their enemy, His staff would control and comfort them along their way.

5  He most definitely prepared a table before them in the presence of their enemy and what a “banquet” it was!  He anointed their head with oil to empower them on their journey and remove their fears, irritation and conflict. Their cup most definitely overflowed with the abundance of God’s grace!  When they came to the other side, the abundance of their joy overflowed into praise and song!

6  Indeed, as Israel looked over their shoulder, they could see that goodness and mercy had pursued them all through that day and night, and they dwelled in the presence of their God, their Shepherd.

Today, take Psalm 23 and put your day into each verse and watch our Shepherd take you through the Red Sea beside still waters for His name’s sake.

My wife and I have the same Android smart phones.  One of the features of our keypads is something called Swype.  Instead of pressing each letter on the keypad while preparing a text or email message, we just use our finger to swipe or slide from one letter to the next.  All of you android users know what I’m talking about.  Well, many times, Swype doesn’t “read” the way my mind is thinking and my finger is suppose to be moving.  Therefore, I have to be careful as to what my non-Christian phone dictionary thinks I’ve swiped.  For instance, instead of my return text reading, “I’ll be praying for you,” it reads “I’ll be pursuing you.”  Now, that is not what you want to say to a female church member who just sent you a prayer request!!  When I want to use the name “God” it puts up the word “good.”  My smart phone is not smart when it comes to spiritual things or applications.

Swype on my smart phone is much like my everyday thought life.  There is much information in my mind that I have accumulated over these past 55 years.  As I respond to life situations or think through a scenario in my mind, what comes up as I swipe through my thoughts?  Is my response biblical or self-centered?  As I swipe through my thoughts, does it give me a passage of scripture or one of my humanistic viewpoints?

So that I can receive the proper message when I swipe, I need to slow down and spend time in God’s Word receiving His message and meditating on His thoughts.  Psalm 94:19 says, “In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.”  As you Swype through your mind today, will God’s thoughts delight your soul?  Will they guide your steps?  Will they give you the “proper word” on life?