Exodus 20:1-2, 16

And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ... "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

Psalm 106:24-27

Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in His promise. They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the LORD. Therefore He raised His hand and swore to them that He would make them fall in the wilderness, and would make their offspring fall among the nations, scattering them among the lands.

Lord, where do I fail to rely on Your promise? Where do I let doubt and fear set in and begin to be the dominators of my life? Is there a spirit of complacency that drive me? Am I satisfied that I am being a good little Jack Horner? Root these out, Lord, cleanse and continue to make me suitable for the ministry You have set out for me. Let me not fail You, my Lord and Master.

Psalm 106:28-31

Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead; they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them. Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stayed. And that was counted to him as righteousness from generation to generation forever.

How many times each day, Lord, do I yoke myself to a Baal, accepting the practices and judgments of this world to guide my own life? Where do I anger You and offend Your righteousness by my unwillingness to stand for Your precepts?

Lord, You have brought a Phinehas into my life, a man of God to stand and demand that I obey You rather than man. Give me the heart to listen and repent. And, Lord, give me the perception and grace to be a Phinehas to others, if and when You direct, but not in my own strength and wisdom but in Yours.

Psalm 106:32-33

They angered him at the waters of Meribah, and it went ill with Moses on their account, for they made his spirit bitter, and he spoke rashly with his lips.

Lord, how often am I a Moses, allowing others to make me bitter and speaking rashly against them? Forgive me, release me from this sin, transform me into a man of peace and well reasoned, appropriate words. Give me Understanding and Your Wisdom so that they are what proceeds from my mouth, not my knowledge and thoughts.

Psalm 106:34-39

They did not destroy the peoples, as the LORD commanded them, but they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did. They served their idols, which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood. Thus they became unclean by their acts, and played the whore in their deeds.

Lord, where am I still entangled with the mores of this culture; where do I accept their ways rather than seeking Your ways? Some is deliberate, convict me of my willfulness, but some is an unawareness of the offense, teach me and convict me of my ignorance. Show me where the world is my guide and my arbiter of right and wrong; move the Holy Spirit into those places in my heart to set it right in Your eyes.

Psalm 106:40-43

Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against His people, and He abhorred His heritage; He gave them into the hand of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them. Their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their power. Many times He delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes and were brought low through their iniquity.

Lord, how often must You deliver me from the consequences of my rash actions and disobedience? How often must I be reminded that You use even my disobedience to instruct and draw me closer to You?

Praise You, my Lord and Savior for Your faithfulness and love.

Psalm 106:44-48

Nevertheless, He looked upon their distress, when He heard their cry. For their sake He remembered His covenant, and relented according to the abundance of His steadfast love. He caused them to be pitied by all those who held them captive. Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name and glory in Your praise. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise the LORD!

Lord, Your covenant is from everlasting to everlasting. So incomprehensible to me that You are so gracious and forgiving. You relent and bring me back into Your loving arms time after time. Teach me, my Lord, to forgive those against whom I find reason to be offended as You do with me.

Exodus 20:1-2, 17

And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ... "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's."

Psalm 107:1-3

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

Lord, You gathered me in from the Slough of Self-Sufficiency; redeemed me out of the mess and mire that I had created for myself out of my pride and stubbornness. Praise You, Lord; thank You, Lord; You are Love and Light.

Psalm 107:4-9

Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.

Amazing, my Lord, how You satisfy and provide. You truly lead me beside still waters, even in the midst of turmoil and strife. Your peace is like a great river flowing over me, feeding and nourishing me with stillness and joy. O, Lord that You would bring this same peace to my family, my children and grandchildren.

Psalm 107:10-16

Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. So He bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! For He shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.

Thank You, my Lord, for You lifted me out of the morass that my sin had cast me into; You washed me and are making me presentable; You are leading me along the path of Kingdom living; You provide for my every need and protect me from the bonds of sin and destruction.

Now, Lord, use me to bring that same message of hope and release to my family and neighbors. It is part of the praise of obedience that I should be one of Your messengers of grace.

Psalm 107:17-22

Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He sent out His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of His deeds in songs of joy!

Lord, thank You for the transformations that You have worked in me, for the love and mercy that have erased not only the sin but the love of sin from my life. And You continue to work through Your Holy Spirit to bring me into conformity with Your will and purpose.