Mixtapes Reading Plan – W5D5

Check out all the previous Mixtapes readings here.

Mixtapes Reading | Week 5 | Day 5

Prayer

As you come to spend time with Jesus, calm your mind and body until you feel fully present. Thank Jesus that he came to save you!

Bible Reading: Psalm 128

Read these verses three times slowly.

Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
who walk in obedience to him.
You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
Yes, this will be the blessing
for the man who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
May you live to see your children’s children—
peace be on Israel.

Reflection

By Pastor Jim Todd

Promises and assurances, and the fine print of trust.

I love being clean and comfortable, freshly showered, satisfied. After Thanksgiving dinner comes a wave of enjoyment mixed with a dose of being tired from tryptophan from the turkey. Unless you are going to be part of doing the dishes for the team, relaxing is wonderful.

There are such great promises and assurances that sound like you have life in the bank. God promised it, and you can count on it and not give it a second thought.

The first verse starts with how blessed are people who trust in the Lord, who walk in his ways. The last two verses speak of the voicing of enjoying blessings of God, all the days of your life, “and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem, and may you live to see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel.”

All of that sounds like I just go out of the shower, I have comfortable clean clothes on in proportion to the temperature, and I am at rest.

Versus 2-4 sound a bit like bonus blessings, if everyone got what everyone has, without life changing things up a bit. Bonus blessings would be life with work in a disciplined life, and some money left over. A woman (or spouse) and children come relatively easily. A “quiver-full” from Ps 127). Children who go on to have children, and playing with your children before later years kick in.

I believe if you never married, you would still be blessed by fearing the Lord and walking in His ways. Biological children may not be in the cards for you, and yet you would still be blessed by fearing the Lord and walking in His ways. Spiritual children (children who you disciple) are a major blessing in many people’s lives. You may live during turbulent times, yet you would still be blessed by fearing the Lord and walking in His ways.

If you experience some of the blessings of the whole enchilada of life … praise God, and continue to trust in Him by fearing Him and walking after Him. If others seem to have more than you through the buffet of life … continue to trust in Him by fearing Him and walking after Him. Don’t stop trusting in Him and thanking Him and walking in His ways … despite what comes your way.

Confess to the Lord comparing what others have in life, compared to what you have in life. Tell God you “fear” Him … trusting Him, despite anything or everything that would give you reason to doubt Him. Thank Him for your blessings, and perhaps think back to that old hymn that began “Count Your Blessings, name them one by one.” Walk in His ways … and he will walk with you as you climb uphill toward Jerusalem.

Prayer

Talk to God in response to the reading today.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?