You’re Beautiful

November 12, 2025

By Jewel Roque

It had been a stressful couple of weeks. Facing deadlines in my work and college classes was enough of a challenge, but some personal issues had come up with my family as well. An overwhelming feeling settled over my heart, like a dark shadow, sucking away the light and color from my world. My outlook morphed from hopeful and confident to hopeless and depressed.

Most of all, I felt like I was letting Jesus down.

For most of my life, I have tried to do the right thing. Be strong. Keep forging ahead. I have tried to be a blessing to others and walk the path that I knew would eventually lead me toward fulfilling my life’s purpose. But I had come to the point where I didn’t feel like walking.

I felt like sitting down and crying.

So, one morning, that’s just what I did. I finally had a couple of hours to myself, as I escaped the noise of the kids and the duties of my home to do some laundry at my mom’s place. Her house was empty. It was perfect.

After putting in a load of laundry, I sat down and opened my laptop. I needed to check my email and finish up a bit of work.

The Lord had other plans, though. I clicked on a link that a friend had sent me, and a YouTube video popped up—the kind that plays a song while the words form on the screen, a waterfall or sunset in the background. I had heard songs by Mercy Me before. They were one of my favorite bands, but I had never heard this one, which is entitled “Beautiful.”¹

Days will come when you don’t have the strength …

I thought to myself, “You got that right.” The song continued:

When all you hear is you’re not worth anything
Wondering if you ever could be loved
And if they truly saw your heart
They’d see too much …

It was at this point that the tears began. And they didn’t stop through the rest of the song.

Those opening words seemed to describe exactly what I was going through. My energy was gone. I couldn’t stop myself from thinking, “You’re failing. You’re not doing things right. You’re worthless.” Maybe it was my mind; maybe it was the Devil. I don’t know. All I knew was, if anyone had truly known what was going on in my mind and heart, I’m sure they would have been like, “Whoa, okay! Too much information!” And they would have backed off.

All my emotions were just stuffed down inside of me … waiting to hear the next words of the song:

You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful.
You are made for so much more than all of this.
You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful
You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His
You’re beautiful.

I couldn’t remember the last time someone had looked me in the eyes and told me that I was beautiful. Okay, so it’s not like someone was looking me in the eyes at that moment; it was even better.

He was looking into my heart. It was Jesus!

And praying that you have the heart to fight
’Cause you are more than what is hurting you tonight.
For all the lies you’ve held inside so long
They are nothing in the shadow of the cross.

I had been allowing dark shadows of hopelessness to zap my life of light and hope. All I needed to do was move, just a step, and I would be right under the shadow of His cross, under the shadow of His wings. There I would find light, meaning, purpose, and a reason to rejoice.

The chorus played again, and one line stood out to me: “You are made for so much more than all of this.”

“Made for so much more.” Before the years of my life even hit two digits, I had a deep feeling of purpose for my life. And since then, I felt like I had been taking steps toward accomplishing the calling that I knew God had placed before me.

But these last months I felt like I had lost the trail and my compass. That I was tracing circles through the shadows. So the words of this song shone in my heart like the North Star on a misty night, inviting me to find my way once more.

Before you ever took a breath, long before the world began
Of all the wonders He possessed, there was one more precious
Of all the earth and skies above, you’re the one He madly loves
Enough to die.

He did, didn’t He? Jesus was called the Lamb “slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).—For you and for me. The apostle Paul put it like this: “Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love” (Ephesians 1:4).

“To be made whole and holy by his love.” As I listened to that song, not just once, but again and again that morning, I felt like I was being made whole.

By His love.

The love that sees only beauty when we see nothing but a mess.

The love that calls us beautiful when we would choose some very different words to describe ourselves.

The love that makes us beautiful, not because of who we are or what we do, but because of His light and love that re-creates us.

You’re beautiful.

Those words were for me that morning. But not just for me. They’re also for you. Take them as your own, hold them tight, and let them fill your heart with beauty.

You are treasured. You are sacred.²

But most of all, “You are His,” and that’s what makes you beautiful.

Adapted from a Just1Thing podcast, a Christian character-building resource for young people.

---

¹ “Beautiful” (YouTube, 4:20).

² “Beautiful” lyrics by MercyMe.

Copyright © 2025 TFI Published first here November 12, 2025.

 

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Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1 King James Version

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which takes away the life of the owners thereof.

20 Wisdom cries without; she utters her voice in the streets:

21 She cries in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she utters her words, saying,

22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

23 Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you.

24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded;

25 But ye have set at nought all My counsel, and would none of My reproof:

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear comes;

27 When your fear comes as desolation, and your destruction comes as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish comes upon you.

28 Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer; they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me:

29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:

30 They would none of My counsel: they despised all My reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

33 But whoso hearkens unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

King James Version (KJV)  Public Domain 

First published December 1, 2025

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The Daily Voice - February 1 - "I am like a pelican of the wilderness."

 

Dennis Edwards

Psalm 102: 6 "I am like a pelican of the wilderness." 

 

Now what does that mean, "A pelican of the wilderness?" 

I remember one day watching a wildlife documentary of Africa somewhere south of the Sahara. It showed how after the heavy spring rainfall a lake would be created. The parent pelicans would come, nest and rear their young along the lakeside. However, over the course of the summer, the lake would slowly start to dry up. The adult pelicans would eventually fly away with the young pelicans old enough to fly. 

The pelicans which were last to be born, and still not so sure about flight would stay by the diminishing lake. Eventually they would starve to death, as the lake turned to desert once again. Verse 5 in the same psalm says: "By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin," Psalm 102:5. 

The author is painting a picture of his desperation for God, like a dying pelican in desperate need of water and in need of rescue, or as a starving man in need of nourishment, so do we look to God for help in the time of great affliction and distress. 

These verses remind me of the first verses in Psalm 42 which say, "As the hart (deer) pants after the water brook, so pants my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?" Psalm 42:1-3. 

Again, we see the author comparing his desire and need for God to a deer who is panting and in his search for a watery brook to drink from. We need God´s presence in our lives. We need His Spirit running through us to bring us happiness and to fill up that aching void in our heart which He has made for Himself alone to fill.

Are you searching for God´s presence in your life? Are you like a dying pelican needing rescue or a deer panting in need of a fresh drink from a cool mountain stream, or a starving man needing food and nourishment? 

The Lord says, "Ye shall seek Me and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart," Jeremiah 29:13. He says, "Call upon Me and I will answer you," Jeremiah 33;3a.

Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount "They which do hunger and thirst after righteousness...shall be filled," Matthew 5:6. Are you hungering and thirsting after God and His goodness? Later on, in the same sermon Jesus says, "...seek and ye shall find;" Matthew 7:7. 

Are you seeking for Him and His will in your life?

If we go back to Psalm 42, the author keeps repeating how his soul is cast down. He says, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why are thou disquieted in me?" Psalm 42:5. 

Is your soul cast down? Has some personal problem been weighing on you so that you are weighed down with sorrow, or doubt or confusion that you have lost your joy in living? You have lost your direction. You find it hard to get up in the morning. There is a certain dryness in your life.

Though the author of the psalm is feeling that dryness of spirit, he does not stay there. He calls out to God for His mercy and help. He reminds God of His promises unto His children. He says, "...All thy waves and billows are gone over me," Psalm 42:7. Here he sounds like he feels like a drowning man going down for the last time. 

But he continues with, "Yet the Lord will command His loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life," Psalm 42:8. He reminds God of His loving kindness and he keeps God´s word as his song and prayer in the night season.

Finally, he reminds himself to not lose his hope in God. he says, "Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God," Psalm 42:11.

 Please do not lose hope in God if you are feeling down and out and with no sunrise on the horizon. God loves you and will work things out as He always has before. Do not lose hope! Call upon Him with all your heart. He is not far from any of us as Paul has so wisely said.

"That they (all nations) should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being," Acts 17:27-28.

Lift up your hands in praise unto Him. God loves you and is going to take care of you. Meditate on His promises found in His word. Read His word and it shall be "a lamp unto your feet, and a light unto your path," Psalm 119:105. May God bless and keep you and make you a blessing to others, in Jesus´ name we pray.

First published June 12, 2012.   To go to Psalm 101

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La Voz Diaria - Febrero 1 - "Soy como un pelícano en el desierto".

 

Dennis Edwards

Salmo 102:6 "Soy como un pelícano en el desierto".

¿Qué significa "un pelícano del desierto"?

Recuerdo un día que vi un documental sobre la vida silvestre africana, en algún lugar al sur del Sahara. Mostraba cómo, tras las fuertes lluvias primaverales, se formaba un lago. Los pelícanos padres llegaban, anidaban y criaban a sus crías en la orilla. Sin embargo, durante el verano, el lago comenzaba a secarse lentamente. Los pelícanos adultos finalmente se iban volando con las crías lo suficientemente mayores como para volar.

Los pelícanos que nacieron los últimos, y que aún no estaban seguros de volar, se quedaban junto al lago, que menguaba. Finalmente, morían de hambre, mientras el lago volvía a convertirse en desierto. El versículo 5 del mismo salmo dice:

 "Por la voz de mi gemido, mis huesos se pegan a mi piel", Salmo 102:5. 

El autor describe su desesperación por Dios, como un pelícano moribundo que necesita desesperadamente agua y ser rescatado, o como un hombre hambriento que necesita alimento. Así es como buscamos la ayuda de Dios en momentos de gran aflicción y angustia.

Estos versículos me recuerdan los primeros del Salmo 42, que dicen: 

«Como el ciervo brama por las corrientes de las aguas, Así clama por ti, oh Dios, el alma mía. Mi alma tiene sed de Dios, del Dios vivo; ¿Cuándo vendré, y me presentaré delante de Dios? Fueron mis lágrimas mi pan de día y de noche, Mientras me dicen todos los días: ¿Dónde está tu Dios?» (Salmo 42:1-3).

De nuevo, vemos al autor comparando su deseo y necesidad de Dios con un ciervo jadeante que busca un arroyo de agua para beber. Necesitamos la presencia de Dios en nuestras vidas. Necesitamos que Su Espíritu corra a través de nosotros para traernos felicidad y llenar ese vacío doloroso en nuestros corazones, que Él ha creado solo para Sí mismo.

¿Buscas la presencia de Dios en tu vida? ¿Eres como un pelícano moribundo que necesita ser rescatado, como un ciervo jadeante que necesita beber de un arroyo fresco en la montaña, o como un hombre hambriento que necesita alimento y sustento? El Señor dice:

 «Me buscarán y me hallarán, porque me buscarán de todo corazón» (Jeremías 29:13). Dice: «Clama a mí, y yo te responderé» (Jeremías 33:3a).

Jesús dijo en el Sermón del Monte: «Los que tienen hambre y sed de mí serán saciados» (Mateo 5:6). ¿Tienes hambre y sed de Dios y de su bondad? 

Más adelante en el mismo sermón, Jesús dice: «...buscad y hallaréis» (Mateo 7:7). ¿Lo estás buscando a Él y su voluntad en tu vida?

Si volvemos al Salmo 42, el autor repite una y otra vez cómo su alma se siente abatida. Dice:

"¿Por qué te abates, oh alma mía, Y te turbas dentro de mí?" (Salmo 42:5).

 ¿Tu alma se siente abatida? ¿Algunos problemas personales te han agobiado tanto que te sientes abrumado por la tristeza, la duda o la confusión, y has perdido la alegría de vivir? Has perdido el rumbo. Te cuesta levantarte por la mañana. Hay cierta sequedad en tu vida.

Aunque el autor del salmo siente esa sequedad de espíritu, no se queda ahí. Clama a Dios por su misericordia y ayuda. Le recuerda sus promesas a sus hijos. Dice:

 "...Todas tus ondas y tus olas han pasado sobre mí." (Salmo 42:7). 

Aquí parece como si se sintiera como un hombre que se está ahogando y se hunde por última vez. Pero continúa diciendo: 

«Pero de día mandará Senhor su misericordia, Y de noche su cántico estará conmigo, Y mi oración al Dios de mi vida.» (Salmo 42:8).

 Le recuerda a Dios su misericordia y mantiene su palabra como cántico y oración en la noche.

Finalmente, se recuerda a sí mismo que no debe perder la esperanza en Dios. Dice:

 «Espera en Dios; porque aún he de alabarle, Salvación mía y Dios mío.» (Salmo 42:11). 

Por favor, no pierdas la esperanza en Dios si te sientes desanimado y sin un amanecer en el horizonte. 

Dios te ama y resolverá las cosas como siempre lo ha hecho. ¡No pierdas la esperanza! Invócalo con todo tu corazón. Él no está lejos de ninguno de nosotros, como dijo Pablo con tanta sabiduría.

 “Que todas las naciones busquen al Señor, si es posible que lo busquen, y lo hallen, mientras no está lejos de todos nosotros: porque en él vivimos, nos movemos y existimos” (Hechos 17:27-28).

Alcen sus manos en alabanza a Él. Dios los ama y cuidará de ustedes. Mediten en sus promesas que se encuentran en su palabra. Lea su palabra y será “una lámpara a sus pies y una lumbrera a su camino” (Salmo 119:105). 

Que Dios los bendiga, los guarde y los haga una bendición para otros, en el nombre de Jesús.

Salmo 101

Publicado por primera vez el 12 de junio de 2012.

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A Voz Diária - Fevereiro 1 - "Sou como um pelicano do deserto."

 

Dennis Edwards

Salmo 102:6 "Sou como um pelicano do deserto."

Mas o que significa "um pelicano do deserto"?

Lembro-me de um dia ter assistido a um documentário sobre a vida selvagem em África, algures a sul do Saara. Mostrava como, após as fortes chuvas da primavera, se formava um lago. Os pelicanos adultos vinham, faziam os seus ninhos e criavam as suas crias nas margens do lago. No entanto, ao longo do verão, o lago começava a secar lentamente. Os pelicanos adultos acabavam por voar com as crias, que já tinham idade suficiente para voar.

Os pelicanos que nasciam em último lugar, e que ainda não tinham tanta certeza sobre como voar, permaneciam junto ao lago que diminuía. Eventualmente, morriam de fome, à medida que o lago se transformava novamente em deserto. O versículo 5 do mesmo salmo diz: 

"Por causa da voz do meu gemido, os meus ossos se apegam à minha pele" (Salmo 102:5). 

O autor descreve o seu desespero por Deus, como um pelicano moribundo que necessita desesperadamente de água e de socorro, ou como um homem faminto que necessita de alimento; assim também procuramos a ajuda de Deus nos momentos de grande aflição e angústia.

Estes versículos fazem-me lembrar os primeiros versículos do Salmo 42, que dizem: 

"Como o cervo brama pelas correntes das águas, assim suspira minha alma por ti, ó Deus. A minha alma tem sede de Deus, do Deus vivo; quando poderei entrar e apresentar-me diante dele? As minhas lágrimas têm sido o meu alimento de dia e de noite, enquanto me perguntam constantemente: Onde está o teu Deus?" (Salmo 42:1-3).

Novamente, vemos o autor a comparar o seu desejo e necessidade de Deus a um cervo que brama pela corrente das águas. Precisamos da presença de Deus nas nossas vidas. Precisamos do Seu Espírito em nós para nos trazer felicidade e preencher o vazio doloroso nos nossos corações, vazio esse que Ele criou para se preencher apenas a Si mesmo.

Está a buscar a presença de Deus na sua vida? É como um pelicano moribundo a precisar de resgate, ou um veado ofegante a precisar de água fresca num riacho de montanha, ou um homem faminto a precisar de alimento e nutrição? O Senhor diz: 

"Procurar-me-eis e me achareis, quando me buscardes de todo o vosso coração" (Jeremias 29:13). Ele diz: "Clame a mim, e eu responder-lhe-ei" (Jeremias 33:3a).

Jesus disse no Sermão da Montanha: "Os que têm fome e sede de justiça... serão saciados" (Mateus 5:6). Tem fome e sede de Deus e da Sua bondade? Mais adiante, no mesmo sermão, Jesus diz: "... procurai e encontrareis" (Mateus 7:7). Está a procurá-Lo e à Sua vontade na sua vida?

Se voltarmos ao Salmo 42, o autor repete constantemente como a sua alma está abatida. Ele diz:

 "Porque estás abatida, ó minha alma? Porque te perturbas dentro de mim?". (Salmo 42:5). 

A sua alma está abatida? Algum problema pessoal tem pesado sobre si, causando tristeza, dúvida ou confusão, ao ponto de ter perdido a alegria de viver? Perdeu o rumo. Tem dificuldade em levantar-se de manhã. Há uma certa aridez na sua vida.

Embora o autor do salmo sinta esta aridez de espírito, não permanece nela. Ele clama a Deus pela Sua misericórdia e ajuda. Ele recorda a Deus as Suas promessas aos Seus filhos. Ele diz: 

"...Todas as tuas ondas e vagas passaram sobre mim" (Salmo 42:7).

 Aqui, parece sentir-se como um homem a afogar-se, indo para o fundo do poço. Mas continua: 

"Contudo, o Senhor demonstra a sua misericórdia de dia, e de noite o seu cântico estará comigo, e a minha oração ao Deus da minha vida" (Salmo 42:8). 

Ele recorda a Deus a Sua misericórdia e mantém a palavra de Deus como o seu cântico e oração durante a noite.

Finalmente, lembra-se de não perder a esperança em Deus. Ele diz:

 "Espera em Deus, porque ainda o louvarei, a ele que é a saúde do meu rosto e o meu Deus" (Salmo 42:11). 

Por favor, não perca a esperança em Deus se se estiver a sentir desanimado e sem esperança. Deus ama-te e resolverá as coisas como sempre fez. Não perca a esperança! Invoque-O de todo o seu coração. Ele não está longe de nenhum de nós, como Paulo tão sabiamente disse. 

"Para que (todas as nações) buscassem ao Senhor, se porventura, tateando, o pudessem achar, ainda que não esteja longe de cada um de nós; porque nele vivemos, e nos movemos, e existimos," Atos 17:27-28.

Levanta as tuas mãos em louvor a Ele. Deus ama-te e vai cuidar de ti. Medite nas Suas promessas encontradas na Sua palavra. Leia a Sua palavra e ela será "lâmpada para os teus pés e luz para o teu caminho," Salmo 119:105. 

Que Deus te abençoe e te guarde e te faça uma bênção para os outros, em nome de Jesus, oramos.

Salmo 101

Primeira publicação a 12 de junho de 2012.

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Salmo 101 - Español

 Salmo 101 - Español

1 Cantaré de misericordia y de juicio; a ti, oh Señor, cantaré.

La palabra de Dios nos exhorta continuamente a cantar y dar gracias al Señor. Cuando Moisés cruzó el Mar Rojo en tierra firme, algo que los egipcios intentaron hacer y fueron vencidos, su hermana Mariam dirigió a las mujeres en cánticos de acción de gracias. El libro más extenso de la Biblia en cuanto a capítulos es el de los Salmos, un libro de cánticos de alabanza y agradecimiento a Dios. En el Nuevo Testamento leemos lo siguiente:

“Que la palabra de Cristo caiga sobre vosotros en abundancia en toda sabiduría, enseñándoos y exhortándoos unos a otros con voz melodiosa, con himnos y cánticos espirituales, cantando con gracia en vuestros corazones al Señor” (Colosenses 3:16).

En su carta a los Efesios, Pablo dice lo mismo:

“Y no os embriaguéis con vino, donde hay vino, sino sed llenos del Espíritu, hablando entre vosotros en alabanzas y alabanzas, con himnos y cánticos espirituales, cantando y alabando al Señor en vuestros corazones, dando siempre gracias por todo a Dios Padre, en el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.” (Efesios 5:18-20).

2 Me conduciré sabiamente de manera perfecta. Oh, ¿cuándo vendrás a mí? Andaré en mi casa con un corazón perfecto.

David intenta caminar con Dios en total obediencia. Anhela a Dios por encima de todo. Ama a Dios ante todo. Ama al Señor con todo su corazón, cuerpo, mente y espíritu.

3 No pondré nada malo delante de mis ojos; aborrezco la obra de los que se desvían; no se me pegará.

No pongamos nada malo delante de nuestros ojos. No veamos programas en internet ni en televisión que no glorifiquen a Dios. No veamos programas ni leamos libros que promuevan ideas contrarias a nuestra cosmovisión bíblica. Cuidemos lo que nos permitimos consumir espiritualmente al ver, escuchar y leer.

¿Cómo podemos derribar imaginaciones y toda altivez que se levanta contra el conocimiento de Dios, y llevar cautivo todo pensamiento a la obediencia a Cristo, si nos alimentamos de lecturas, visiones y escuchas impías?

El Salmo 119:37 dice: «Guarda mis ojos de la vanidad». Necesitamos apagar la televisión, o dejar el libro, y ver o escuchar algo diferente en internet.

Si creemos que podemos darnos el lujo de no ser estrictos con lo que vemos, nos equivocamos. Estamos jugando con fuerzas espirituales y se nos pegarán. Josué advierte sobre la importancia de estar vigilantes en nuestro caminar y amor por Dios.

Josué 23:6-8 “Por tanto, sean muy valientes y cumplan todo lo que está escrito en el libro de la ley de Moisés. No se desvíen en él ni a la derecha ni a la izquierda; no vayan entre estas naciones, sino que permanezcan entre ustedes; no mencionen el nombre de sus dioses, ni juren por ellos, ni los sirvan, ni se inclinen ante ellos, sino que se unan al Señor su Dios, como lo han hecho hasta hoy.” 

Josué 23:11-13 “Cuídense, pues, de amar al Señor su Dios. Si de alguna manera regresan y se unen al remanente de estas naciones, a las que quedan entre ustedes, y contraen matrimonio con ellas, y se unen a ellas, y ellas a ustedes, sepan con certeza que el Señor su Dios no expulsará más a ninguna de estas naciones de delante de ustedes; sino que serán lazos y trampas para ustedes, azotes para sus costados y espinas para sus ojos, hasta que perezcan de la buena tierra que el Señor su Dios les ha dado.”

En el siguiente capítulo, Josué continúa su amonestación.

Josué 24:20-23: “Si abandonáis al Señor y servís a dioses ajenos, él se volverá y os dañará y os consumirá, después de haberos hecho bien… Ahora pues, quitad —dice él— los dioses ajenos que hay entre vosotros, e inclinad vuestro corazón al Señor, Dios de Israel”.

Nuestros esposos o esposas no deben incitarnos a adorar a otros dioses, que no son dioses, sino fuerzas espirituales demoníacas. Debemos instruirlos en los caminos del Señor y ganarlos para el amor de Dios que se encuentra en Jesús. Debemos discipularlos a ellos, no que ellos nos discipulen a nosotros para seguir a los dioses de este mundo.

4 El corazón perverso se apartará de mí; no conoceré al malvado.

Ten cuidado con quiénes aceptas como amigos. Tus amigos te influirán para bien o para mal. Te ayudarán a acercarte a Dios o te alejarán de Él. Elige a tus amigos sabiamente.

5 Al que calumnia a escondidas a su prójimo, lo destruiré; al de mirada altanera y corazón orgulloso no lo toleraré.

6 Mis ojos estarán sobre los fieles de la tierra, para que habiten conmigo; el que ande en el camino de la perfección, me servirá.

Elige sabiamente a tus compañeros o empleados. Todos tenemos influencia. Todos nos influenciamos mutuamente para bien o para mal.

7 El que obra engaño no morará en mi casa; el que dice mentiras no permanecerá ante mis ojos.

8 Destruiré pronto a todos los malvados de la tierra; Para exterminar a todos los malvados de la ciudad del Señor.

Josué de ninguna manera amonestó al pueblo a elegir a quién servir.

Josué 24:15 «Escoged hoy a quién serviréis: si a los dioses a los que sirvieron vuestros padres, que estaban al otro lado del río, o a los dioses de los amorreos, a los cuales vais a desembarcar. Pero yo y mi casa serviremos al Señor».

Sirvamos y amemos al Señor, y enseñemos y animemos a nuestros seres queridos a hacer lo mismo. Amar al Señor con todo nuestro corazón, alma y mente, que es el primer y gran mandamiento. Mateo 22:37.

Josué 24:24 «Y el pueblo dijo a Josué: ‘Serviremos al Señor nuestro Dios’, y obedecimos su voz».

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Salmo 101 - português - Não porei coisa má diante dos meus olhos

 

Salmo 101 - 

1 Cantarei misericórdia e juízo; a Vós, Senhor, cantarei.

A palavra de Deus exorta-nos continuamente a cantar e a dar graças ao Senhor. Quando Moisés atravessou o Mar Vermelho em terra seca, o que os egípcios tentaram fazer e estavam a afogar-se, a sua irmã Marian liderou as mulheres em cânticos de acção de graças. 

O livro mais longo da Bíblia em termos de capítulos é o livro dos Salmos, um livro de cânticos de louvor e gratidão a Deus. No Novo Testamento, lê-se o seguinte:

“Que a palavra de Cristo habite ricamente em vós, instruindo e aconselhando-vos mutuamente em toda a sabedoria; cantem salmos, hinos e cânticos espirituais, louvando o Senhor com gratidão nos vossos corações.” Colossenses 3:16.

Na sua carta aos Efésios, o apóstolo Paulo diz a mesma coisa:

"Não vos embriagueis com vinho, em que há dissolução, mas enchei-vos do Espírito, falando entre vós com salmos, hinos e cânticos espirituais, cantando e louvando o Senhor de todo o vosso coração, dando sempre graças por tudo a Deus Pai, em nome de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo." Efésios 5:18-20.

2 "Portarei-me com sabedoria e perfeição. Quando virás a mim? Andarei na minha casa com coração íntegro."

David está a tentar andar com Deus em total obediência. Ele deseja a Deus acima de tudo. Ele ama a Deus em primeiro lugar. Ele ama o Senhor com todo o seu coração, corpo, mente e espírito.

3 "Não porei coisa má diante dos meus olhos; aborreço a obra dos que se desviam; ela não se apegará a mim."

Não poremos nenhuma coisa má diante dos nossos olhos. Não vejamos programas na internet ou na televisão que não glorifiquem a Deus. Não vejamos programas nem leiamos livros que promovam ideias contrárias à nossa cosmovisão bíblica. Guardemos o que permitimos consumir espiritualmente através do que vemos, ouvimos e lemos.

Como podemos destruir as imaginações e toda a altivez que se levanta contra o conhecimento de Deus, e levar cativo todo o pensamento à obediência de Cristo, se nos alimentamos com leituras, programas e conteúdos ímpios?

O Salmo 119:37 diz: “Desvia os meus olhos da vaidade”. 

Precisamos de desligar a televisão, largar o livro e ver ou ouvir algo diferente na internet.

Se pensamos que nos podemos dar ao luxo de não sermos rigorosos com aquilo a que assistimos, estamos enganados. Estamos a brincar com forças espirituais e elas vão apegar-se a nós. Josué adverte para a importância de sermos vigilantes na nossa caminhada e amor a Deus.

Josué 23:6-8 & 23:11-13 “Portanto, tenham muito cuidado para que amem o Senhor, vosso Deus. Se voltarem atrás e se unirem ao resto destas nações, aos que ainda estão entre vós, e fizerem casamento com eles, e se unirem a eles, e eles a vós, saibam com certeza que o Senhor, vosso Deus, não expulsará mais nenhuma destas nações de diante de vós. Pelo contrário, elas serão para vós armadilhas e laços, açoites nas vossas costas e espinhos nos vossos olhos, até que sejais exterminados da boa terra que o Senhor, vosso Deus, vos deu.”

No capítulo seguinte, Josué continua a sua admoestação.

Josué 24:20-23 “Se abandonardes o Senhor e servirdes deuses estranhos, ele se voltará contra vós e vos consumirá, depois de vos ter feito o bem. […] Agora, pois, livrai-vos dos deuses estranhos que há entre vós e inclinai os vossos corações para o Senhor, o Deus de Israel.” 

Os nossos maridos ou esposas não nos devem levar a adorar outros deuses, que não são deuses, mas forças espirituais demoníacas. Devemos instruí-los nos caminhos do Senhor e ganhá-los para o amor de Deus encontrado em Jesus. Devemos discipliná-los, e não o contrário, para seguirmos os deuses deste mundo.

4 O coração perverso afastar-se-á de mim; não tolerarei o ímpio.

Tenham cuidado com quem escolhem como amigos. Os seus amigos irão influenciá-los para o bem ou para o mal. Eles ajudá-los-ão a aproximar-se de Deus ou afastá-los-ão Dele. Escolham os vossos amigos com sabedoria.

5 Quem difama o seu próximo às escondidas, Eu o eliminarei; quem tiver um olhar altivo e um coração orgulhoso, não tolerarei.

6 Os meus olhos estarão sobre os fiéis da terra, para que habitem comigo; quem anda em retidão, esse me servirá.

Escolha os seus colegas de trabalho ou colaboradores com sabedoria. Todos nós temos influência. Todos nós nos influenciamos uns aos outros para o bem ou para o mal. 

7 Quem pratica a falsidade não habitará em minha casa; quem profere mentiras não permanecerá na minha presença.

8 Destruirei depressa todos os ímpios da terra;para que eu possa eliminar todos os ímpios da cidade do Senhor.

Josué, da mesma forma, admoestou o povo a escolher a quem serviriam.

Josué 24:15 “Escolhei hoje a quem sirvais: se aos deuses a quem serviram vossos pais, que estavam além do rio, ou aos deuses dos amorreus, em cuja terra habitais; porém eu e a minha casa serviremos ao Senhor.”

Sirvamos e amemos o Senhor e ensinemos e encorajemos os nossos entes queridos a fazer o mesmo. Amar o Senhor com todo o nosso coração, alma e entendimento, que é o primeiro e grande mandamento. Mateus 22:37.

Josué 24:24 “Disse o povo a Josué: O Senhor nosso Deus nos servirá, e nós obedeceremos à sua voz.”

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Psalm 101 - King James Version

 

Psalm 101 - King James Version

1 I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O Lord, will I sing.

God’s word continually admonishes us to sing and to give thanks to the Lord. When Moses crossed the Red Sea on dry land, which the Egyptians attempted to do and were drown, his sister Marian, led the women in songs of thanksgiving. The longest book in the Bible in terms of chapters is the Psalms, a book of songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. In the New Testament we read the following:

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching, and admonishing one another in psalms and in hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord,” Colossians 3:16.

In his letter to the Ephesians Apostle Paul says the same thing,

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-20

2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

David is trying to walk with God in total obedience. He’s desiring God above everything else. He’s love God first and foremost. He’s loving the Lord with his whole heart, body, mind, and spirit.

3 I will set no wicked thing before my eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

Let’s not set any wicked thing before our eyes. Let’s not watch programs on the Internet or on television that do not glorify God. Let’s not watch programs or read books that promote ideas that are contrary to our Biblical worldview. Let us guard what we allow ourselves to consume spiritually through our viewing and listening and reading.

How can we cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, if we are nourishing ourselves with ungodly reading, viewing and listening?

Psalm 119:37 says, “Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity.” We need to shut off the television, or put down the book, and watch, or listen to something different on the internet.

If we think we can take the luxury to not be strict in our viewing, we are wrong. We are playing with spiritual forces and they will cleave unto us. Josuah warns about the importance of being vigilant in our walk and love for God.

Josuah 23:6-8 “Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; that ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: but cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day.”

Josuah 23:11-13 “Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God. Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they unto you: know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off the good land which the Lord your God has given you.”

In the next chapter Josuah continues his admonition.

Josuah 24:20&23 “If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then He will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that He has done you good. … Now therefore put away, says he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your hearts unto the Lord God of Israel.”

Our husbands or wives should not cause us to worship other gods, which are not gods, but demonic spiritual forces. We should be instructing them in the ways of the Lord and winning them to the love of God found in Jesus. We should be discipling them, not they discipling us to follow the gods of this world.

4  A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.

Be careful who you accept as friends. Your friends will influence you for good or for evil. They will help you walk closer to God, or they will pull you away from God. Choose your friends wisely.

5 Whoso privily slanders his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that has a high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

6 My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walks in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

Choose your work mates or employees wisely. We all have influence. We are all influencing one another for good or for evil.

7 He that works deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that tells lies shall not tarry in my sight.

8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.

Joshua in like manner admonished the people to choose whom they would serve.

Joshua 24:15 “Choose you this day whom ye will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Let us serve and love the Lord and teach and encourage our loved ones around us to do the same. To love the Lord with all our heart, and soul, and mind, which is the first and great commandment. Matthew 22:37.

Joshua 24:24 “And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and His voice will we obey.”

King James Version (KJV)  Public Domain

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