Tap on the image for a video meditation on Psalm 36.

Soon leaves and acorns will be falling away, leaving a silence that increases with each passing day of autumn. For those inclined to evil, the silence offers an inner space where the soft voice of sin whispers into the ears of their hearts.

The psalmist’s awareness of this perversion of silence is accounted in the first four verses. Then the verse for the day breaks forth as he finds his spirit awakening to holy assertions that come from one who has been listening to the voice of the Spirit within. Each succeeding verse penetrates the silent mystery of God, with many verses that gloriously manifest God’s goodness, greatness, and generosity.

To whose whisperings are you listening? Pray for the gift of discerning the spirits, to enable you to sift the source of the sounds in the silence. Pray only to respond to the promptings of God.

Psalm 36

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More
Example: Your love, a treasure for me v. 7

We continue to follow the Psalms in numerical order.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information

Listen to Nick read the Firestarter.

Once again, the original language helps us to picture what is abstract in English. The Hebrew word for “commit” is galal. It literally means to “roll over.” The image comes from the action of a camel as the animal lets go of the burden it is bearing. It drops to its knees and rolls to one side, allowing the heavy load simply to drop to the ground.

Drop to your knees and roll over your plans, your works, your burdens, to the Lord. Then your planning and your thinking will be grounded in God.

Pause and kneel before the Lord when you read a proverb that especially touches you. Highlight your Bible and your heart with the soothing words of the Lord that are meant to fill your mind with God’s thoughts and God’s ways—letting go of yours.

Proverbs 16

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More…
Example: Kind words being like honey v. 24

Tuesdays are dedicated to the Old Testament books of history
and the Hebrew “Writings.”
In the season of Kingdomtide this year we read Proverbs 15-16, 2 Samuel and Ecclesiastes 1-4.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information

Listen to Nick read the Firestarter.

The theme of yesterday’s Gospel about saying versus doing continues in today’s reading. Words of worship of the mouth are empty and vain unless connected to a heart filled with devotion. When this connection is broken, words scatter themselves about in the wind as dead crackling autumn leaves. The awesome power of worship becomes a sacrilege; the sacred becomes secular. The root of the word “secular” means, “to be scattered.” The secular is that which is not rooted and defined by the holiness of God.

What will happen if your heart is not right with God? Begin there. Go to where your heart is, and make an honest confession to the Lord and repent. The sweet feelings of devotion in worship will come after your mouth honestly expresses the sinfulness that may be lurking in your heart. Then your mouth will find itself expressing the grace of the Lord that floods from within.

Isaiah 29

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: My mouth and my heart as one v. 13

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the season of Pentecost this year we read Isaiah 13 – 27; Lamentations 1 and 2 in the Ninth Week.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.