Reflective living
David prayed: You have done this wonderful thing, and you have let me know about it, because you wanted to keep your promise. ~ 2 Samuel 7:21 (CEV)
God gave us a glimpse of the depths of his love when he sent his only Son into the world with the purpose of sacrificing his life for us. ~ 1 John 4:9 (ABP)
KEY IDEA:
Everything God does reveals his love and faithfulness.
PRAYER:
I am amazed, God, every time that I pause to consider what you have done and how you have done it. You are incredible! My problem is that I don't often pause to consider what you have done and how you have done it. I am not very reflective. Even when I pay attention to a sermon I'm mostly just looking for nuggets of practical advice -- for ways to improve my life. Keep reminding me of what you have done so that I can get my focus off self and onto you -- which is where it needs to be. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
