DAILY TEXT, Today Tuesday February 21, 2023, I will cry to God, and he will hear me (Ps. 77:1).

Let's Examine the Scriptures Every Day 2023

Tuesday February 21

I will cry to God, and he will hear me (Ps. 77:1).

Of course, if we want to have a strong faith, it is not enough that we learn things. We must meditate on what we are learning. Consider the writer of Psalm 77. He was distraught because he and the other Israelites seemed to have lost Jehovah's approval. He was so worried that he couldn't even sleep at night (verses 2-8). What did he do? He told Jehovah: “I will meditate on all your activities and reflect on your way of acting” (verse 12). Of course, he knew full well the things that Jehovah had done for his people in the past. But still he wondered: “Has God forgotten to grant us his favor, or is it that his fury has nullified his mercy?” (verse 9). The writer of this psalm reflected on the acts of Jehovah and on the mercy and compassion that he had shown in the past (verse 11). As a result, he was convinced that Jehovah would not abandon his people (verse 15). w22.01 30-31 pars. 17, 18.

How can electronic devices distract us when we are spending time with Jehovah?

Let's avoid distractions when we are studying. In addition to praying, another thing we can do to strengthen our friendship with Jehovah is to study his Word and attend congregation meetings. Is there anything we can do to make the best use of our study sessions and meetings? Let's ask ourselves: "What is it that tends to distract me in those moments?" Could it be calls, emails or text messages on the phone or some other device? These devices are useful, and are used by billions of people today. But some experts believe that when a person is trying to concentrate, simply having a phone nearby can distract them. A psychology professor explains: “You don't focus on what you're doing. Your mind is elsewhere."

According to Philippians 4:6, 7, what will Jehovah do to help us focus?

Let's ask Jehovah to help us focus. If we are studying or in a congregation meeting and notice that our mind wanders, let us ask Jehovah for help. If something is bothering us, it may not be easy for us to put worries aside and focus on spiritual things, but it is very important that we do so. Let us pray that Jehovah will give us the peace that protects not only our hearts but also our minds.—Read Philippians 4:6, 7.

What is a benefit of spending time with Jehovah?

We will benefit greatly if we spend time talking with Jehovah, listening to him, and thinking about him. Which is it? First, we will make better decisions. According to the Bible, "he who walks with the wise will become wise" (Prov. 13:20). So the more time we spend with Jehovah—the wisest person in the universe—the wiser we will become. We will better understand how to please him and avoid making decisions that could hurt him.

Why does spending time with Jehovah make us better teachers?

Second, we will be better teachers. When we teach the Bible, one of our main objectives is to help the student get closer to Jehovah. The more we communicate with our heavenly Father, the more we will love him and the more we will be able to teach our student to love him. That was the case with Jesus. When he spoke of his Father, he spoke with such love and affection that his faithful disciples could not help but love Jehovah as well.—John 17:25, 26.

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