Scripture: Psalm 34.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Psalm 34:12-14 (NLT)

12 Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?

13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!

14 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

It is easy to look at our prescription container, read the directions and follow them to improve our medical condition. But how often do we consult with God’s Word and look for ways to improve our spiritual health? So often we wish family and friends a long and prosperous life around birthdays and/or the New Year’s holiday. God wants this for His children – us. But how often do we stop to think about how this could be accomplished. David shares with us the formula to achieve just this:

1. Keep your tongue from speaking evil – I believe that this refers to gossip and spreading news about the failures of others and/or talking about others with a sense of rejoicing in their failures or misfortunes;
   
2. Keep your lips from telling lies – this is always harmful, but especially bad when we do this in order to take a good man/woman down. We should always strive to tell the truth and be prepared to deal with the circumstances of any actions that we are not proud of;
   
3. Turn away from evil and do good – there are way too many people who will follow worldly desires and expectations. God saved us so that we might be like Him and do good wherever we go. Let’s learn to look for the good in situations and rejoice in what is praiseworthy. Let’s learn to do good, and not make a bad thing worse. When we walk away from a situation, let’s pray that others will rejoice that they saw and felt God’s presence while we were there, not evidence of the evil one;
   
4. Search for peace, and work to maintain it – we have two options in a bad situation such as a fire, we can throw water on it to quiet the fire and stop the heat, or we could add fuel to it and see it escalated. When we look to find and maintain peace, we are looking at everything through lens that are filled with Christ’s love. We must find the peaceful resolution and institute those things that result in result in glory to God.
   

Doing the 4 things listed will result in a long and prosperous life, so when we wish this on folk we love and care about, let’s remember the things that they will need to concentrate on to truly see our wishes come true for them. Let us fill our wish with prayers for God to help them achieve success in these 4 things.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, I believe that You have called us to be just like You. In this lesson this morning I have been reminded about things that I must concentrate on and to help others with as we strive to be more like You. I believe that in order for us to impact the world, there will have to be more of You in us and more of You reflected in what we say and do. I pray that You will fill my life with Your character today so that my life will impact others for the Kingdom. If living a long and prosperous life equates to my likeness of You, then I want to live forever!

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
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