Greetings! It’s been a terrific Tuesday for me. How about you? I didn’t have to leave the house at 6:30 am today. However, tomorrow it will be 7:30 am. I have an appointment with my new primary care physician. My old one relocated. We will discuss the recent changes and test results. I don’t have many other preventive visits left except for the dentist. I am glad to have taken care of all of this. As someone proactive about my health, I feel good about taking care of business. It takes being on top of things to get to where you can say self-care is a priority.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: 1 KINGS 3:9
“Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
Where do we get the skill to distinguish right from wrong? I believe God gave us a conscience, and we can sense when some things are amiss. However, because of deception and nuances that appear to lead us in the wrong direction, we need God. Adam and Eve had God all to themselves, and still they were led astray by the enemy. Not following God’s instruction led to destruction. As Solomon prayed to God for an understanding heart, he was fully transparent about human nature.
Proverbs 14:12 – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Jeremiah also had insight into the heart of man. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” I am sure we can all, in reflection, look over our lives and recall the times, “I shouldn’t have done that.” If we are honest with ourselves, we need a standard that protects and guides us. God’s standard is the perfect standard because it doesn’t change. God’s word is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Remember, one of the nuances is our sin nature. It does rise and bring on precarious situations.
As one who believes in the transformative power of God’s word, I can still give thanks for what God kept me from, even though I thought it was a good idea. In full transparency, I need God. Part of my strength lies in knowing I need Him. Solomon knew that. He couldn’t do what God wanted him to do otherwise. And, neither can we.
Proverbs 2:3-5 – “Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you gain knowledge of God.”
God bless you, and be encouraged.