Quiet Time today--Eccle5:1-7

 

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Ecclesiastes 5:1-07
Stand in Awe of God

5 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

² Do not be quick with your mouth,
    do not be hasty in your heart
    to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
    and you are on earth,
    so let your words be few.
³ As a dream comes when there are many cares,
    so the speech of a fool when there are many words.

⁴ When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. ⁵ It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. ⁶ Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? ⁷ Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.

vs 6: God has in the process of many years led me to see the need to know his Word daily. When I was younger, I constantly caught the flu and had asthma or cough while at it, so I couldn't breathe much on cold nights. I would then strike a deal with God to let me live this night and then I would read the Bible everyday. I didn't state the time period, so it meant EVERYday. I musta got the notion to do that from the pastor's weekly speeches--reading daily.

Almost quickly after that, there were some sermons on watching our tongue and swearing and making vows. If I said sth to God and didn't fulfill it, it was an empty promise and God wouldn't be too happy with that. So I was scared to death 'cos I didn't want to face God's wrath over such a matter. I strived to read the Bible daily, or study when the church came up with a good booklet on daily studying the Bible and filling out questions. Everyday became 3 days study to once a week, Sundays only, and so that was my struggle during my sec sch life. When I came to poly, perhaps it's the grace of God that helped me get to know the Nav ppl, 'cos strict as they were in the daily Bible reading thing and prayer and QT, I at first found it problematic to do it daily. But after much persuasion and many days/weeks I missed QT (sorry God!) I managed to create the habit in a year... I find it good to jot down QT thoughts in a personal devotional book. Weekly I read thru it to see what main lessons God has inspired in my life and if I had applied them personally.

APPLICATION: It's really by God's mercy that his wrath was spared me. I'm daily now trying to make my QT in the early mornings with God so as to start my day right. I will need to ask for God's strength in the nights so I can wake and be on time with his appointment.