I find it disheartening to discover at day’s end that my level of God-consciousness has been extremely low again.

“Help!” I say.

This portion of Proverbs 23:17 reminded me of that: “…Be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.”

Later on in the chapter I hear an appeal from the Father’s heart.

“My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways” (26).

Sometimes I say or write “beautiful” and/or “inspirational” and/or “pious” things. When my children hear or read such things, sometimes I wonder if any one of them thinks: “That doesn’t fit Dad. I know him — what he’s saying just doesn’t fit him.”

I want the words I say and write to fit me. And when they’re “spiritual” words, I want me to fit them as well.

“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips” (Proverbs 22:17,18).

So the keys to having lofty words fit me is pay attention to them in my own living, to apply myself to them, to keep them within me…consciously and purposefully.

Will God’s Word echo through my being today? Or is my heart too dull to echo at all?

Oh, by the way, at what point does midlife crisis kick in? I was born 46 years ago today. Since I don’t expect to live to be 92, perhaps I have already put my midlife crisis behind me.