Wednesday... Where does it really start?

Now the word encouragement has different meanings. Yes, it means to encourage or lift up someone when they are discouraged or when they are down but it also means to encourage people to do what is right, to live the way God wants them to live.

I was reading this morning in Psalm 101 a word of encouragement by David, the writer of this Psalm and he said this in verse 1 (NLT), "I will sing of your love and justice, Lord. I will sing praise to you with songs." And that is so important for us to do. But he goes on. Verse 2 says, "I will be careful to live a blameless life - when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home." The Message says, "I'm doing the best I can, and I'm doing it at home, where it counts." And we really do need God's help at home, don't we?

We can get up from praising God and start yelling at our kids and picking a fight with our wife or husband. Someone has said that our weakest link in our Christian life is at home. But we need to start each day with praising God and also asking for His help at being careful to live a blameless life at home, where it counts.

Have you ever had a fight on the way to church and then walked into church raising your hands in worship? And your kids are watching and your mate is watching.

David also writes in verse 3 (NIRV), "I won't look at anything that is evil and call it good." I didn't think they had tvs back in David's time.

He goes on in verses 4-5 (NLT), "I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil. I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors. I will not endure conceit and pride." And then he says in verse 6a, "I will search for faithful people." Who are your closest friends? Do they help you live a blameless life?

The Message says in verse 2, "I'm finding my way down the road of right living, but how long before you show up? I'm doing the best I can, and I'm doing it at home, where it counts." And we really do need God there helping us, don't we? And it really does start at home. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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Todays Beginning

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