The Days Of Our Lives

“Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days….”  Psalm 34:12

Wanna better day?  A better life?  Apply this advice from a sane guy who pretended to be crazy.  “Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.  Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it”(vs 12-14).

Times were rough when David penned these phrases.  With a jealous King Saul hot on his trail, David fled to enemy territory and sought refuge with the Philistines.  When his attempt at incognito failed, David faked insanity so the local ruler wouldn’t want him around.  As he praised God for his escape, David called close those who would hear his instruction.  “Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord”(vs 11).

“Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days….”  Aren’t we all in that audience?  Don’t we want the days of our lives to be joyful and pleasant?  Don’t we desire to minimize the bad and maximize the good?  To love life and not loathe it?  Then we should listen up and live this out:  “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.”  The biggest mess comes from our mouths.  Watch your words and why you say them.  Trouble turns up when we don’t tell the truth, and life goes south fast when we speak in selfishness or anger.

Correct actions require constant effort, so “turn from evil and do good.”  Though the bad may be tempting, don’t indulge.  You always have a choice, and your decisions determine your days.  “Seek peace and pursue it.”  Resolve to live at peace with God and others. Guilt makes us restless and agitated, so seek peace by shunning sin—and by shutting up.  Every argument isn’t yours to win.  Every discussion doesn’t need your last word.  Staying cool when things get hot is best for all involved.  David knew the pain and the price of evil words and angry actions, and he begs us to be different.

Manage your mouth.  Eliminate the lies.  Abandon what’s wrong.  Embrace what’s right.  And go after peace, even if it means letting go.

Days make up our lives. 

Make the most of both.