“Tremble, and do not sin; meditate in your heart upon your bed and be still.” (Psalm 4:4)
The context of this verse is that godliness is a special sort of lifestyle – a lifestyle not often found and, therefore, a path not often trod.
The Psalmist’s advice? Even if you have to lay on your bed all night trembling and meditating so that you will avoid temptation – do it. Choosing the right things is no easy task, especially when the wrong things can be so tantalizing. Whatever awful things you wanted to say to another, whatever salacious deed you desired to do… better to grip the bedposts and meditate all night over why that isn’t the sort of person you are choosing to be than to satisfy the wicked tempter’s voice.
Ride the wave of whispering temptation and say to yourself over and over again in your heart, “I choose God. I choose righteousness. This too shall pass.” And it will pass. Satan can only tempt for so long before he must flee.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites
This Week’s Reading: Genesis 31-38; Psalm 4; Proverbs 4 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament. Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon. If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision