THOUGHTFUL LIVING
by C.S.
Psalm
25:8-15
8
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 9 He
leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. 10 All the
paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his
covenant and his testimonies. 11 For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt,
for it is great. 12 Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in
the way that he should choose. 13 His soul shall abide in well-being, and his
offspring shall inherit the land. 14 The friendship of the LORD is for those
who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. 15 My eyes are ever
toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
Are
you living thoughtfully and intentionally--or automatically? It¡¦s so easy to
get up each morning, do our work, enjoy some relaxation or entertainment, and
fall into bed each night without giving any thought to God¡¦s involvement in our
lives. But to be ignorant of how He has blessed, guided, protected, and warned
us is a foolish way to live. Just consider the benefits of keeping our
spiritual eyes and ears open throughout the day.
Those
who are aware of the Lord¡¦s presence during their daily activities enjoy the
peace of knowing that He is always in control and working to accomplish His
good purposes. Every day¡¦s experiences with Him teach them to know and love Him
more.
When
we learn to see God¡¦s footprints in our days, we will become aware of the scope
of His involvement in our lives. Maybe He strengthened you for a task or opened
a door of opportunity. Perhaps He guided your decisions or helped you respond
in a godly way to a difficult person.
If
our ears are open to the Lord¡¦s warnings and instructions, we won¡¦t repeat the
same mistakes again and again. But those who are deaf to His voice will
continue in unhealthy thought patterns, negative emotions, and foolish
responses.
Each
night before you go to sleep, take some time to reflect on the day¡¦s
activities. The Lord is constantly with you, guarding and guiding your way. He
wants you to see Him in everything and understand life from His perspective as
you rely on His wisdom and power to face any challenge.