This week, spend time in meditation over this passage. Follow the instructions below the passage as your guide. Do this each day for the next several days and see how this passage applies to your heart, your soul, and your current life circumstances.
1 Do not
fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in
the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit
your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain
from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
10 A little
while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.
12 The
wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.
and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.
14 The
wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
16 Better
the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.
than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The
blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,
and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
You will be reading
this passage three times following the guidelines below:
1. First
reading. Read the passage through,
one time, slowly. Pause between each
clause. After you finish this first
reading, be silent for a minute or two.
2. Second
reading. Read the text slowly once
again, pausing between phrases. But this
time pause even longer and be aware if any of the words or phrases that catch
your attention, or seem to stand out in some way. Make a mental note of those. After you finish the second reading, write down
those special words or phrases.
3. Third
reading. Reread the passage up to
the word or phrase that touched you in some way. When you reach that word or phrase, stop and
repeat it a few times.
4. Pondering. Reflect for a while on the phrase that moved
you. Repeat it a few more times. Let the words interact with your thoughts,
your memories or any other Bible passages that come to mind. Let it touch your heart, desires and
fears. Begin to wonder, “What might God want to say to me
specifically”?
5. Prayer. Turn that last question into a prayer,
asking God, “What is the word you have for me in this passage, God? Is there anything you want to say to me
today?” Listen. Write down anything you sense God might be
saying to you.
6. Rest. Be still and silent for a while. Enjoy being in the presence of God. In this step you move from doing to
being. Simply be for a while.
7. Response. Ask yourself and God, “What am I being called to do as a result of
the word I have been given?” Perhaps
you are feeling challenged to love God more, or to accept some aspect of who
you are, or to serve someone you know or to begin changing some aspect of your
character. Whatever it is, write it out. “Today God is calling me to be a more ______
person. Be with me God and teach me
how.” Thank God for the word and the
calling you have been given.
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---------------------------------------
Click HERE to purchase Weekly Devotional Thoughts: Weekly Applications of God’s Word on Amazon Kindle and write a review.
---------------------------------------
Don't forget to visit my Amazon links. General purchases: Click on the Banner at the top of the blog. For a list of my favorites go to: http://astore.amazon.com/weekldevottho-20
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