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Tuesday... But I am in trouble, I am in distress.


Tuesday... But I am in trouble, I am in distress.

Is that how you are feeling today? 

Psalm 4:1 (AMP) says, "Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have freed me when I was hemmed in and relieved me when I was in distress; Be gracious to me and hear [and respond to] my prayer."

Now distress and trouble come from a lot of sources. Sometimes they come from our being off track. Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) says, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."

Verses 25-27 says, "Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on a safe path. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil."

Verses 25 & 26 in the Amplified Bible says, "Let you eyes look directly ahead [toward the path of moral courage] and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you [toward the path of integrity]." Yes, there can be distress and trouble when we do what is right. But verse 26 says, "Consider well and watch carefully the path of your feet, and your ways will be steadfast and sure." It is in the focus.

Verse 27 says, "Do not turn to the left [where evil may lurk];" That's where real trouble lies. "Turn your foot from [the path of] evil."

So much of our troubles and distress come from our choices. We are tempted to not stay on the path of integrity, because we say, it is so confining, it hems me in or this moral courage business takes all the fun out of life. 

Again verses 23-24 in the Amplified Bible says, "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful (lying, misleading) mouth, and put devious lips far from you." 

And back to Psalm 4:6-8, "Many people say, 'Who will show us better times?' Let your face smile on us, Lord. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvest of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for your alone, O Lord, will keep me safe." And that is so true. And I can call on him when I am in trouble. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

 

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