When He speaks, let us listen

I was distracted in my devotions this morning.  I woke up on time, took a shower, made coffee for my family and sat down to read scripture while the dog was doing her business.  I read parts of Judges, John 1 and then the Psalms came along.

I must have read Psalm 101 four times this morning and even now as I re-read it I am distracted by the truths within it.  I want to just sit and think about the different verses, I want to dwell upon the word and pray through different parts of it.  Sometimes you just need to slow down and re-read something a few times to get it through your head.

I know I have read this Psalm many times before, but today, for some reason, it struck me new and differently.  So now it is time to slow down, so often during the course of our daily devotions we want to just get it done and move on to the next thing.  Then God distracts you by His word and you know that you are supposed to spend more time looking at it, studying it, and applying it to your everyday life.

Today is that day for me.  I am continuing to read Psalm 101; I am praying it through.  When the rain changes my plans today, I will read it again.  I want to take time to hear from God and have Him make me into a better disciple of His.  These first 2 and a half verses have me thinking.

Psalm 101 (ESV)

1 I will sing of steadfast love and justice;

    to you, O Lord, I will make music.

2 I will ponder the way that is blameless.

    Oh when will you come to me?

I will walk with integrity of heart

    within my house;

3 I will not set before my eyes

    anything that is worthless.

If I listen to these verses today, I will turn on some music or pick up my neglected guitar and make some music to worship God with.  I will sit and listen to the thunderstorm as it rolls across the plains and then spend my evening thinking about God’s best.

When God speaks to us, let us listen and respond to His word.  He speaks to us through His word and wants to transform our hearts to be more like His.  May your day be filled with God speaking to you, may it be slow enough for you to listen, and respond with joyous obedience.