Daily Journal: 8 November

Do What Is Right

At times I have a little voice running around in my head about a situation I find vexing, and I think ‘I don’t know what to do about it.’ So I leave it. I wait to see if lightning strikes to change the situation, or if someone else does something about it, or if I wondrously come up with a plan that feels good and seems fitting.

What I’m really doing is sitting on my hands, like a little kid not wanting to do what’s expected of them.

These times simply call for me to step up and just do the right thing. It’s probably not what I feel like doing. That’s why it keeps running around in my head, and I stall on it, waiting for a better idea.

Matthew 7:12 (NCV)

“Do to others what you want them to do to you. This is the meaning of the law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets.

As a believer, I need to repent for my heart that wants to please myself. Often times, I don’t really need to pray about the situation. I don’t need to wait on God. I already know what God is telling me to do. At all times, He tells me to do what is right.

Proverbs 21:3 (NLV)

To do what is right and good and fair is more pleasing to the Lord than gifts given on the altar in worship.

Deuteronomy 6:18 (NIV)

Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors,

Sometimes, God may tell us to wait, or to approach a situation in a certain way. But if we know we're hedging and we don't sense any particular direction from God, deep down there will be a conviction of what the right thing to do is, and it's not based on what feels good. It is probably what we don't want to do. God is expecting us to do that thing.

1 Peter 3:14 (GNT)

But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, how happy you are! Do not be afraid of anyone, and do not worry.

Remember who we are representing in all things. That tends to clarify our attitude.

Colossians 3:17 (NLT)

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.