Better Than Life

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-Your peace-Your knowledge and discernment. Build my trust. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse: Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV)

23  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Verse of the Day: 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful

Daily Reading: Leviticus 11-12 Matthew 26:1-25

Better Than Life

Psalm 63:3 (ESV)

3  Because your steadfast love is better than life,

my lips will praise you.

Psalm 9:14

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

I looked in the Greek to find how ‘steadfast love’ actually translates and here it is: goodness, kindness, faithfulness

This is where the old chorus comes from, “Thy loving kindness is better than life...”

Paul echoes this:

Acts 20:24 (ESV)

24 “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

Paul says that he considers his life of no value except to testify to the grace of God with his doing God’s will in His life.

How far are we individually from making that statement? The better question is why can’t we make the same statement? The answer is ‘choices’.

We choose the distance-the space that exists between where we are and where God wants us.

How do we get rid of that space and be where God wants? We must want it.

If we truly wanted it, we would be there(ouch).

The reason for the distance is desire. God gives us all we need(Luke 11:13).

Desire for more of God is this equation:

(determination + effort=desire)

It is not the other way around. Yes, God gives us a little desire to start with-the seed-we must cultivate. Our job is to know that God will bless our effort with greater desire and greater understanding.

Pray for it. Believe it.

...because He loves us…

Father in Heaven, I really want to hallow Your name. Let me see the glory of You in Your kingdom and let obedience be foremost in my mind. Guide me to use the bread You supply today. Forgive me my fear of hard work. Lead me away from not wanting You.

Long-suffering and kind God,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen