Author: Dave Dishman (Page 223 of 458)

I find it easy to kill time flipping through channels or scrolling through my news feed. In my boredom or exhaustion I escape, looking for brainless stimulation to bounce around in my head.

I know there are better options, if I could only rouse myself to them.

When in this mindset David’s words are an encouragement to me: I will not set my eyes before anything that is worthless.

It’s like David curated multiple social media accounts. Why waste time tic-toking or twittering when all the great literature of the world waits at my fingertips? Why watch cat videos when I can access the best films ever produced?

I know why. Worthless screen distractions are eye-catching and entertaining. They pop-up endlessly. They take no work. I’m rewarded with an instant shot of pleasure, a sugar rush for my psyche.

The psalmist prayed, Lord, turn my eyes from worthless things (Psalm 119:37). Such a good prayer in this era in which we live. My time is more valuable than I understand, my mind more malleable.

That’s one of my prayers for the coming year—to turn from the worthless toward the good and valuable and excellent things the Lord put into this world for me to enjoy.

Psalm 101 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2021

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters

I enjoy the cards we receive this time of year, Christmas greetings from friends old and new. I especially like seeing pictures—of friends, their kids, grandkids, even dogs—all that we choose to represent ourselves and our families to others.

The psalmist reminds us of hope for families who follow the giver of Christmas—The Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

This passage makes for a good prayer for our families at this family-focused time of year:

Lord, may your faithfulness continue for my children and grandchildren and to their children beyond them. May each one recognize that you are good and your love endures forever. May they contemplate your goodness in their minds, and feel your love in their souls.

In the midst of the busy and frenetic, we can thank the Lord, remember his faithfulness, and pray for the next generations to recognize and enjoy the same.

Psalm 100 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Annie Spratt

Advertising assaults of buy and buy and buy still more drain my strength.

Cold weather and gray skies drain my strength.

Searching for a garage door opener drains my strength.

Watching the suffering of Ukrainian people drains my strength.

Living in a world often far from the values of the Lord drains my strength.

So I ask the Lord for an infusion of strength, because God makes his people strong.

Then I discover peace paired with strength, because God gives his people peace.

Which reminds me of The Prince of Peace, our bringer of strength, our giver of peace. The one we venerate this season.

Amen, come Lord Jesus.

Psalm 29 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Scott Rodgerson

Ever since Adam and Eve bit into that shiny apple, people have been estranged from God. Job, speaking some of the oldest words found in the Bible, felt his separation keenly:

God is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more.

Job desperately needed a mediator. He anticipated the coming of a messiah to take the blows of God’s rod upon himself. One to remove terror and bring peace.

A line from a hymn we sing at this time of year reminds us that two thousand years after Job lived, his mediator was born in the little town of Bethlehem:

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

You and I enjoy the view from a different section of history’s timeline. The mediator—Jesus Christ—offers to walk with us before the Lord. As we celebrate his birth, let’s remember to lift a glass to Job, who called for him so long ago.

Job 9 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Chad Madden