OUR DAILY BREAD : THE GOOD OLD DAYS

[cimi]

January 28
Monday


THE GOOD
OLD DAYS

READ:
Psam 143:1-6
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I remember the
days of old.
__Psalm 143:5
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Sometimes our minds run back through the years and yearn for the better time and place--the "good old days."

But for some, the past harbors only bitter memories. Deep in the night, they ponder their own failures, disillusionments, and fantasies, and think of the cruel hand life has dealt them.

It's better to remember the past as David did, by contemplating the good that God has done, to "meditate on all [His] works;...muse on the work of [His hands" (Ps. 143:5). As we call to mind the lovingkindness of the Lord, we can see His blessings through the years. These are the memories that foster the highest good. They evoke a deep longing for more of God and more of His tender care. They transform the past into a place of familiarity and fellowship with our Lord.

I heard a story about an elderly woman who would sit in silence for hours in her rocking chair, hands folded in her lap, eyes gazing off into the far distance. One day her daughter asked, "Mother, what do you think about when you sit there so quietly?" Her mother replied softly with a twinkle in her eye, "That's just between Jesus and me."

I pray that our memories and meditations would draw us into His presence. __David Roper
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I have promised you My presence~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~With you everywhere you go;~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I will never, never leave you~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~As you travel here below. __Rose~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Fellowship with Christ is the secret
of happiness now and forever

*********************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 143:1-6********************

1 Hear my prayer, O
LORD, give ear to my
supplications! In Your
faithfulness answer me,
and in Your righteousness.

2 Do not enter into
judgment with Your
servant, for in Your sight
no one living is righteous.

3 For the enemy has
persecuted my soul; he has
crushed my life to the
ground; he has made me
dwell in darkness, like
those who have long been
dead. 4 Therefore my spirit
is overwhelmed within me;
my heart within me is
distressed.

5 I remember the days of
old; I meditate on all Your
works; I muse on the work
of Your hands. 6 I spread
out my hands to You; my
soul longs for You like a
thirsty land.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

This is one of seven penitential psalms (Ps. 6,32,38,51,102,130,143)
where the author expressed deep sorrow over sin. These psalms
are intended to help worshipers see themselves as forgiven people
whose only right to enter God's presence is by His mercy. In this
psalm, David__pursued ruthlessly by an enemy and in grave danger
(vv.3-4)__cried out to the Lord for mercy and deliverance (vv.1-2,11-
12), not based on his own merit (v.2) but on God's faithfulness and
righteousness (vv.1,11). Deeply aware of his own sinfulness, David
recognized that he was not qualified to stand in God's presence, "for
in [His sight no one living is righteous" (v.2).