Nov 30 Daily Rhythm

Morning
Psa. 51:13-19   

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Notice the biblical response to grace. Adoration, praise, and transformation flow from the heart that has been forgiven and accepted. How are you this morning? Do you know the power of being welcome by the creator of the universe on the basis of Christ alone? Do you understand that you are not worthy yet welcome? How does this radically transform the way you experience God?

Afternoon
Psa. 52:1-5

Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day. Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.

Here we have a Psalm that is pointed toward evil and wickedness. It is worth noting that there is a difference between wicked living and sloppy living. I find most christians today guilty of sloppy living. But that doesn’t mean we cant be transformed by reading Psalms like this. Who do you see in this Psalm? Does it bring someone to mind? Pray for that person to be changed.

Evening
Psa. 52:5-7

But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying, “See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!”

It is hard to read. When we read verses like “God will break you down forever” we want to think of people like Charles Manson and Adolf Hitler. This includes them, but it also includes “those who do not make God (their) refuge.” Some days this includes me. Thankfully, there is a place of refuge when I fail. Where is your refuge?