August 5, 2015: Psalm 34: 2-15

^{Psalm 34: 2-15}

² My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
   let the humble hear and be glad.
³ O magnify the Lord with me,
   and let us exalt his name together.

⁴ I sought the Lord, and he answered me,
   and delivered me from all my fears.
⁵ Look to him, and be radiant;
   so your faces shall never be ashamed.
⁶ This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,
   and was saved from every trouble.
⁷ The angel of the Lord encamps
   around those who fear him, and delivers them.
⁸ O taste and see that the Lord is good;
   happy are those who take refuge in him.
⁹ O fear the Lord, you his holy ones,
   for those who fear him have no want.
¹⁰ The young lions suffer want and hunger,
   but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

¹¹ Come, O children, listen to me;
   I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
¹² Which of you desires life,
   and covets many days to enjoy good?
¹³ Keep your tongue from evil,
   and your lips from speaking deceit.
¹⁴ Depart from evil, and do good;
   seek peace, and pursue it.

¹⁵ The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
   and his ears are open to their cry. 

Reflection:
This is a difficult charge for us; especially in v. 13 and 14.  Do we really stop and think about how many times we have engaged in speaking horrible things?  So easily it slips from our lips.  I remember hearing this story one time.  A four-year old son was talking with his dad.  He comes up with this very difficult question, "Dad are we able to go a whole day without sinning?" The father pondered for awhile and said "I am not sure that is possible."  The four year old asked then, "What about an hour? Could we go a whole hour without sinning?!?"  The father again pondered and said he wasn't sure.  Small things are a sin and sometimes we do it without thinking.  Determined the son asked, "What about a MINUTE!?!?"  The father said "I think that is possible." So, the son responded, "Maybe we just try minute by minute then."  May we live minute by minute boasting and living joyously in our Lord. 

Reflection Questions:
Morning: When have you experienced speaking and doing something unkind?
Noon: How did you and the people around you respond to it?
Evening: How might you live minute by minute in your life? How would this be different than now?