“Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way.” Psalm 119:37

          I just love Psalm 119 and appreciate the challenge Bill Welte put before the staff this year to memorize numerous verses from the Psalm.  It is easy to memorize a few verses but to meditate on them and be impacted and changed by their truths, that is not so easy.  This verse caught my eye. 
          “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things…” 119:37
          Worthless means lacking worth, valueless, useless.

          What do I spend time looking at, meditating on, seeking, thinking about that have no value to me spiritually, mentally, emotionally?  Some things that we waste time on are actually counter-productive. 
          For example, looking at the ads on Sunday morning may be harmless in and of itself but I find that it stirs up my lust for things, things that now that I have seen them I am pretty sure I need or at least really want.  So thus begins the week of stealing moments away from what I should be doing to think about how and when can I get to that store to get that item.  I think of creative ways to finagle my finances to be able to “afford” this new item.  It stirs up lust in my heart for things.  So FOR ME, generally speaking, looking through the Sunday ads would fit into the category of “worthless things.” 
          There are so many things out there that can stir up lusts in our hearts.  Romance novels can stir up lust for romance and a discontented spirit in our marriage, shopping can stir up lusts for things and overspending, gossip stirs up a desire to tell others what we know that they do not.
          What does your list of worthless things look like?  It differs for all of us. 
          Ask yourself the question, “does this activity add value to my life?  If so, what value does it add?” Isn’t it easy to just go through our day without intention?   We need to Think. Consider. Give thought. BE INTENTIONAL. CHOOSE WORTHY THINGS.

Be Blessed.
Diane

Diane Hunt is part of the Development and Addiction Recovery teams at America’s Keswick.  In addition to being a Biblical Counselor, she is a Women’s speaker for retreats, conferences and events.  She is a regular writer for Victory Call and one of the authors of Crossing the Jordan Bible Study. She has been married to her husband John over 28 years.  She has 2 adult children and 3 grandchildren and 3 adult step-children with 7 grandchildren making 10 in all.  She delights reading and teaching, but mostly laughing at the funny things her grandchildren say and do.  
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i http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worthless accessed 2.19.13