Psalm 150:6 English Standard Version (ESV) Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

This morning I ponder transitions, the ending of one life and the beginning of another. As I read Psalm 150 it ended with this verse and began to read the next chapter. It was this.

² To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,
³ to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;

There it was, the transition from Psalms to Proverbs. Somehow the connection between the two books feel tied together. Empty praise leads nowhere but heart felt appreciation of all that God has done for us lends itself to wisdom and instruction.

There always seems to be a better transition if a proper attitude accompanies relationship, between teacher and student, between Shepherd and sheep, between disciple and discipler. While there is no proof that there is a connection between the end of Psalms and the opening verses of Proverbs there is the God that authored both and His foreknowledge of the placement into His finished work.

God being a God of order must in some fashion care if not cause the order of His Word. All those loose parchments have no numbering system and yet man with the every sincere effort to bring us God’s Word have seen fit to place everything into order by divine inspiration. Nothing done with such praise of worship could have ignored God’s order.

Can the same be said as we transition from one life event to another? We transition from child to parent, surely there is praise in that and wisdom and understanding is needed. We transition from co-worker to boss. Do we take the same attitude of praise and seen wisdom there? There are so many transitions in life that it might be easy to forget to praise God in the midst of our business.

Praise God for my current transition. Now I seek wisdom.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 King James Version (KJV) For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

We are reading from the KJV this morning to address the wording “effectually worketh” which in the Greek is energeō. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon identifies it as intransitive, to be operative, be at work, put forth power. What we do know about energy is that it cannot be lost but can be translated to effect change. The power of the Holy Spirit abiding in us uses the Word of God to change us.

While the transformation of the mind is required to align our thinking patterns, it is not required to change our hearts. In our former lives education came to mind and then taken to heart. This spiritual concepts are designed to change the heart and then educate the mind with spiritual understanding which is provided by the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 8:1b-3 English Standard Version

 ¹ …we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. ² If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. ³ But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.

Can we see that the abiding presence of God in our hearts changes our hearts? If so then the abiding love will reveal to us God’s truths as we read His Word and changes our minds and way of thinking?

A lifetime of being told that effort brings reward has to be overcome to understand that we need to let go and let God. We will receive the benefits of change if we allow God to just let it happen.

Energeō!!