Verses To Live By
Devotionals by Marian
Making Each Day Count
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.–Psalm 90:12
We easily count down the days to something big…like our next birthday or the day when we finally get to go on vacation. But how often do we consider that in some sense, whether we do it intentionally or not, we’re all showing how we “count” our days by how we “spend” our time?
When I’m living for temporal fulfillment, then I’m not marking each day with God’s daily stamp of approval: “Time well spent for My kingdom.” When I’m frittering away the hours on short-lived, self-centered goals, then I’m not viewing this brief life through the long lens of eternity. Whenever I’m letting the moments, the minutes, and the months slip away without purposefully storing up the treasure of today’s time for heaven, then I need to seriously stop and ask God: “Lord, do I have a heart of wisdom?” (Even if you feel like you’re walking close to God, I believe this is a prayer we should all ask from time to time!)
When we ask this, God is faithful to come and shed light into every corner of hearts. He will examine us…if we let him. And when He does, we should allow Him to change our hearts into hearts that beat just like His. He gives every sincere seeker a heart of wisdom every time we ask.
A prayer for today:
Gracious Father: I invite you to search out my heart and replace it with a wise heart. May I spend every day remembering that I can make it count for eternity through the wisdom of Your Word. Show me that I can make each day count for eternal values when I spend it on You. In Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.
A Heart After God
My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.–Psalm 84:2
The psalmist has this beautiful passion to be in God’s presence. It is where he is the most blessed and so he can wait to be once again worship His Lord. It is something that he wants more than anything else. His salvation is so precious to him that he yearns for that hour and minute when he will be again in devotion before God. He anticipates the moment when he will feel gladness and have songs of praise to the Almighty God.
Father God: Create this kind of heart in me that seeks you above other pursuits. Birth within my heart a single-minded devotion to You. May revival sweep over my life so that joy of the Holy Spirit abounds in everything that I say and do. In Jesus’s name, Amen
Just Ask For Whatever You Want
“Give me wisdom and knowledge.”–II Chronicles 1:10
When it comes to presents, most of us know exactly what we want. We don’t have to think about it too much.
One day, the Lord gave Solomon a blank check-of-sorts. He basically said, “Go ahead and ask for anything your heart desires.” But Solomon did not share might be considered a typical, “Kingly” kind-of-list…you know, like money or that all his enemies would be put to death. read more…
Light Everywhere
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”–John 8:12
This radiant light seemed to overflow into my home today as the fresh fallen snow from last night had made the world brighter this morning. I opened all my curtains to enjoy every bit of this winter glow in spring! I didn’t even need to turn on any lights throughout the day because every room was basking in this light.
This is the kind of brightness the Lord sheds into my life. I can follow Him and know that He will lead me. I have His light for my journey. read more…
All You Need Is A Good Memory
I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.–Psalm 77:11
I love looking at old pictures. I have albums of photos and can easily spend an afternoon pouring over them one by one. I seem to enjoy it even more when I look at them with my mom or aunts. Their jokes and laughter make it even more fun.
The Psalmist says that he also remembers the amazing acts of God. He looks back into his part and revisits those moments where God showed up in a mighty way. This is a lesson we should never forget.
Gracious Father God: I have so many wonderful memories where I can remember your presence and guidance. May I always bring to my mind how You have always been working for my good all of my life.
Watch Where You’re Going
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.–Ephesians 5:15-16
There are so many people on their phones that most of the time they’re clueless to their surroundings. Whether crossing a street or driving on it, pedestrians and drivers seem to have their eyes glued to their phones. They are in their own little world hardly noticing the “real” world that they’re really part of at that moment.
The Bible calls us to a life of discernment. It warns us that it’s very easy to be foolish and just go with the flow. It takes effort to truly pay attention to every step we take.
The way we begin this is by considering how we use our time. The world expects us to be frivolous in what we occupy our eyes and hearts with. The message is that fun is the most important and a good laugh is all that counts. read more…
