So far, Lord, it has not become too difficult to keep up my Rule of Life. The early mornings are not the best, but I do enjoy the knowledge that I am sacrificing sleep for You. It was great to talk accountability and temptation with the Exodus guys and know that someone is going to be watching my back, and willing to ask me questions. So I have to celebrate what has happened so far.

In my Bible reading today, I read Psalms 1 & 2. I've been through the Psalms a whole lot in the last year, actually three times since the summer. It's strange because it is the longest book and the one that I keep coming back to. The reading plan that I picked this year spreads the Psalms throughout the whole year. So it will certainly be good to have them sprinkled into the week. What really grabs me about the Psalms is that they are poems or songs, and that they are prayers. I don't know why, but I love to read other people's artistic prayers.

I love the honesty and personal nature of the Psalms, that then spills over into theology. This morning, the phrase that stuck out in the reading was this: "Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling." There has been a song I've recently listened to often that contains a line reminding the listener of the importance of fear and trembling in the place of pride.

When I think of fear, even in its proper understanding as reverence, prioritizing with God first, I think of authority. I mean, maybe that says something about who I fear in my daily life, those with authority to change my life situation. But I think it is odd to see service tied to this authority. It almost seems as if service is not an option, when we are fearing the LORD it is requirement. Serve the One with ultimate authority.

I think I tend to be proud and rest on the laurels of my faith after a true service experience for the LORD. I tend to pat myself on the back for choosing to serve and not just sitting back with the sinners who never put faith into action. I think this text speaks to that, the service is something done because of priorities, because of having the right One in the position of authority in our lives...You. In that case, there should be no pride, just action.

Lord God, short and simple, help me to live this life of continuous action.