Finally … back to the dresser … to again remind you how important it is to place Scripture where you can see it-and read it-every day.
This is back to the series where we detailing how so many people we know and have read about, post messages of inspiration, especially Bible verses, at various “focal points” around the house. Places where they are sure to be, places where their eyes and attention are sure to be … every day. We talked about mirrors, refrigerators, the car visor, etc. And, of course, the bureau, or dresser, in the bedroom.
I just can’t get that “children’s” song out of my head:
“Be careful, little eyes what you see …
Be careful, little ears, what you hear …”
However … what really strikes me about that song … and, I mean, hits me hard … is how much more important it is to be careful what we see and hear … after we are “all grown up.” It is important what you read … what you see … what music or language you hear …
That’s why it’s so important to read your Bible every day … speak to God every day-and listen to God every day … and, yes, look at those inspirational messages every day.
I wrote about the cards on my dresser/bureau, and those on Carol’s dresser/bureau, which, since her dresser is the one with the mirror … I find myself in front of at least once or twice every day. And, every time … I glance down, and read at least one of the six note cards, neatly arranged, she has placed at the center of her dresser. Three on the left, and three on the right. Of course, mine are in a single stack, on the left side … where I rotate them, day by day, bringing a new verse to the top.
Here is an amazing “coincidence” which I discovered:
I can’t remember exactly when I started doing this, but, every single time, in my early morning prayer time (my first official act every morning), I ask God to specifically forgive me of my wrong thoughts, words, and deeds (actions). I ask Him to help me think the right thing, to speak the right thing, and to do the right thing. I ask Him to control my thoughts, my words, and my actions. To think right; to speak right; to act right. I don’t know about you, but these are the three areas where I need the most help … and, I fail in, the most. As you read this, I hope you notice something very important: I need God in every area of my life. I need forgiveness in every one of these areas, and I need help in all three. Again, I don’t know when I really started to concentrate on these three areas, as they have always been important, but it seemed that, one day, these three areas just took prominence at the beginning of my prayer time.
It was when I began this series (PBI) that I looked at Carol’s cards closely … as I intended to fulfill my promise to share their contents with you … that I noticed that the three cards on the right side, each individually, addressed a certain area of our lives:
They were, in the order of appearance, top to bottom:
Thoughts
Words
Deeds
All this time, I had been reading the Scriptures on the cards, but had not noticed this designation for each card. I did notice how straight my tie was … if my shirt was wrinkled … how my hair was … etc. … but, I hadn’t noticed this on the cards, and I read these cards every day.
I have since asked Carol where she “got” these particular Scriptures from, meaning were they part of a particular lesson or study she was involved in. They were. This is another reason it is so important to participate in a scheduled Bible study … Even without my knowing, God was using HER cards to change me … Another reason I encourage Christian men and women, who have unbelieving spouses, to place these kinds of cards on your own personal bureau/dresser. Because … trust me … if you have notes on your dresser … your spouse will read them!
So, as promised, here are “Carol’s Cards,” and I am copying them exactly as I hold them now:
The three cards on the right address the three areas of which we have spoken. The three cards on the left address general areas of need and concern in our daily lives. Here goes:
Top Right:
PSALM 139:23-24 (THOUGHTS)
SEARCH ME, O GOD, AND KNOW MY
HEART: TRY ME, AND KNOW MY THOUGHTS:
AND SEE IF THERE BE ANY WICKED
WAY IN ME, AND LEAD ME IN
THE WAY EVERLASTING.
Right Center:
PSALM 19:14 (WORDS)
LET THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH
AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART,
BE ACCEPTABLE IN THY SIGHT,
O LORD, MY STRENGTH, AND MY
REDEEMER.
Bottom Right:
PSALM 15:1-2 (DEEDS)
LORD, WHO SHALL ABIDE IN THY
TABERNACLE? WHO SHALL DWELL IN
THY HOLY HILL?
HE THAT WALKETH UPRIGHTLY, AND
WORKETH RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND
SPEAKETH THE TRUTH IN HIS HEART.
Top Left:
ROMANS 6:6
KNOWING THIS, THAT OUR OLD MAN
IS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, THAT THE
BODY OF SIN MIGHT BE DESTROYED,
THAT HENCEFORTH WE SHOULD NOT
SERVE SIN
Middle Left:
2 CORINTHIANS 2:14
NOW THANKS BE UNTO GOD,
WHICH ALWAYS CAUSETH US TO TRIUMPH
IN CHRIST, AND MAKETH MANIFEST
THE SAVOR OF HIS KNOWLEDGE
BY US IN EVERY PLACE.
Bottom Left:
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7
BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING; BUT IN
EVERY THING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION
WITH THANKSGIVING LET YOUR
REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD.
AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH
PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING, SHALL
KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS
THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.
I hope this blesses you as much as it does me!