Prayer: Father, oh that kings would model themselves after You and care for the poor and the oppressed. Oh, that I would model myself after You and care for the poor and oppressed. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 72 key: 1-3
1 Of Solomon.
Give the king Your judgments, O God,
and Your righteousness to the king’s son.
2 May he judge Your people with righteousness,
and Your poor ones with justice.
3 Let the mountains bring shalom to the people,
and the hills righteousness.
Attention: What is the purpose of the Choose Life Journal plan? In one word, “transformation (Romans 12:1-2)” which leads to “being conformed to His image (Romans 8:29-30).”
What is Solomon appealing for in this Psalm? Give me Your judgments and “Your righteousness” so that I might be able to judge like You. When God asked Solomon what he wanted (2 Chronicles 1:7-12; 1 Kings 3:1-15), what was his response? He asked for “wisdom” and God gave him more.
The apostle Paul challenges us, no exhorts us, to become like Christ in all our ways. Solomon asks that He might be like God in his counsel and judgements with the people of God, His nation which Solomon inherited. Might we do well to desire to think like God, apply His wisdom, read His word, and engage with the Holy Spirit in transforming us body, mind, and soul, leading us to be conformed to His image.
Many of us have been born again but not continued in the process of becoming “like Christ.” Will you consider inviting the Holy Spirit to begin the work of transforming you and conforming you to the image of Messiah Yeshua.
Action: I commit myself today to the daily lifestyle discipline of reading and journaling which results in an action plan.
Yield: When I am yielded to the Holy Spirit, I am teachable.
Engaged: I am intentionally engaging with the Holy Spirit through the Word of God in His work of transformation.
Relationship: I am one with Christ and in full relationship with Him.
Prayer: Father, I want to emulate You to my spouse, my family, my community of faith and the world around me. Help me stay on task and never lose sight of You. Amen.
Memory Verse: Philippians 3:13b-15
13 … But this one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the reward of the upward calling of God in Messiah Yeshua. [f] 15 Therefore let all who are mature have this attitude; and if you have a different attitude in anything, this also God will reveal to you.
Music Video: Take my life/ Holiness – Scott Underwood