Be Acceptable - February 2020

For 2020, my theme verse is Psalm 19:14. Be Acceptable! But not acceptable by what I think is right or what the world thinks, but acceptable in the sight of God.

Be Acceptable - January 2020

For 2020, my theme verse is Psalm 19:14. Be Acceptable! But not acceptable by what I think is right or what the world thinks, but acceptable in the sight of God.

The Greatest Choice

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

Just. Justly. 

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:3 

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice [for wrongs repeatedly committed]. Proverbs 21:3 (AMP)

Doing what is ·right [righteous] and ·fair [just] is more ·important [preferable] to the Lord than sacrifices. Proverbs 21:3 (EXP)

This is a simple concept. Do what is right and acceptable so that you don't have to ask for forgiveness. However, too often we find ourselves making the wrong choice and doing the wrong thing..... and asking God to forgive us. 

This past week a person made a series of wrong choices. Her actions were not that of righteousness or justice. And those choices had deadly consequences. I found the comments posted on the news story interesting. So many spoke of what a great person she was. Some were quick to judge her for her actions. And some were just saddened by it all. A few mentioned the wrong choices she made that led to the consequences of her death. 

Actions do have consequences. What we do not only affect us personally, but others get caught up in those consequences as well. 

The lady mentioned above made wrong choices. I'm not judging, just stating the facts. She broke specific laws, and her actions caused her to lose her life. How many times have I made wrong choices? How many times have I chosen to do what I wanted, rather than what was acceptable to the Lord? 

Doing what is right is more preferable to the Lord than having to ask for forgiveness. Doing what is just is the right choice — 100% of the time. 

The act of doing what is just

is the greatest choice one can make. 

Proverbs 11:17-21 Can't go wrong with mercy & integrity!

The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh. The wicked man does deceptive work, but he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward. As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death. Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord, but the blameless in their ways are His delight. Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered. Proverbs 11:17-21

"The merciful man does good for his own soul." Proverbs 11:17a

Merciful: kindness (especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable)

Does good: accomplish, be beautiful, goodly

Soul: that which breathes, the inner being of man

"The blameless in their ways are His delight." Proverbs 11:20b

Blameless: sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity

Delight: be acceptable, desire, favor, good pleasure

Mercy. Integrity. 

Mercy produces a godly response. 

Integrity produces good pleasure. 

Mercy and Integrity — both are results of a heart that is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). 

Simply put, mercy makes you personally happy and blameless makes God happy. You can't go wrong with mercy and integrity!

God Approved

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 19. Here is what I learned.

·I hope my ·words [The words of my mouth] and ·thoughts [meditations of my heart] ·please [be before] you. Lord, you are my Rock, ·the one who saves me [and my redeemer]. Psalm 19:14 (EXB)

May the words that come out of my mouth and the musings of my heart meet with Your gracious approval, O Eternal, my Rock, O Eternal, my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 (VOICE)

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer." A sweet prayer, and so spiritual that it is almost as commonly used in Christian worship as the apostolic benediction.

Words of the mouth are mockery if the heart does not meditate; the shell is nothing without the kernel; but both together are useless unless accepted; and even if accepted by man, it is all vanity if not acceptable in the sight of God.

We must in prayer view Jehovah as our strength enabling, and our Redeemer saving, or we shall not pray aright, and it is well to feel our personal interest so as to use the word my, or our prayers will be hindered. Blessed Kinsman, give us now to meditate acceptably upon thy most sweet love and tenderness. The Treasury of David

Today as I was thinking over this verse, I had a good example of how my thoughts don’t always reflect God and His Word. 

I heard one of my neighbor’s kids crying and screaming in the hallway and stairwell. That happens often, when they are told “no”. I immediately thought.. again! But then I heard the ambulance pull up with the fire truck and police cars. I then learned that one of the kids had fallen out of the second story window. 

I had to stop and realize that my original thoughts were not only based on a wrong assumption, but they were not godly either. I should have compassion and understanding. I should show love and kindness to my neighbors... no matter how loud their kids are. I talked with my neighbor tonight and the little boy is ok; just a bump on the head and sore. 

My thoughts and words need to  pass through God’s sieve, so to speak. My thoughts and words are to be acceptable to God. My attitude, actions, and what I articulate, need to be God approved! 

To create a positive day, I must meditate on God’s Word so that my thoughts and words will be God approved.