Mixtapes Reading Plan – W5D4

Check out all the previous Mixtapes readings here.

Mixtapes Reading | Week 5 | Day 4

Prayer

Take a moment to be silent and still. In order to be fully present in body and mind, take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Do this three times. Ask God to give you His wisdom today.

Bible Reading: Psalm 127

Read these verses three times slowly.

Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents in court.

Reflection

Pastor Jim Todd

I don’t remember songs about children, family and legacy from my Baby Boomer years, but there must be chords and melodies involved with this song that Hebrews would sing as they trekked to Jerusalem for one of the festivals. Along the way someone would start the song … and others would chime in.

Life, legacy and self-sufficiency are all addressed as saying none of it happens without the involvement of Yahweh. If we try to do life on our own, it just doesn’t work. The family structure of even a home cannot really be built without the Lord as central. Security is pentratable if humans are in charge. The Lord gives children, and are not merely conceived. Children will one day be those who will rise in the presence of their elders and honor the aged among them. Old age will bring opportunities for families to celebrate with each other. It speaks to the quiver being full of children … a handful (for sure) before even being considered a quiverful. Enjoy the clamor of children in your life … they are a blessing from the Lord.

Self-sufficiency is not depending on God, and instead depending on yourself. Don’t seek to do life DIY (completely). Okay, study up, You Tube, ask around … and dive in on some projects. But don’t do life on your own. You cannot build your home on your own; especially as it involves family life. Seek the Lord as He taught you how to pray, and understand your reliance cannot be on yourself.

Burning the candle at both ends is hopefully a rare pressure you might irregularly face. Realize sleep is a blessing from Him. My all-nighter before Corporate Tax (the first time) didn’t help. Study, then sleep, prevailed.

If you have been entrusted with children … THANK God daily for them, and daily pray for each child by name.

Have you excluded God along the way in life recently? Apologize to Him that you relied on yourself.

Have you slipped out of the rhythm of turning to the Lord before you drift off into sleep? Try nightly thanking him for your day, and appreciating something specific from your day.

See if you can come up with a family song on your way to the door of your house … and teach it to your family as the family jingle.

Prayer

Talk to God in response to today’s reading.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?