DAILY TEXT, Today  Thursday, September 21, 2023,  Understand what the will of Jehovah is (Eph. 5:17).

Let us examine the scriptures every day 2023

Thursday September 21

Understand what Jehovah's will is (Eph. 5:17).

It is wisest for us to use our lives in a way that makes Jehovah happy. We must establish priorities well. To make the best use of your time, sometimes you have to choose between two activities, even if neither of them is bad. That's what happened when Jesus went to visit Mary and Martha. Because Martha was so hospitable and she felt so happy to have Jesus in her house, she started cooking a big meal. But her sister, Mary, took the opportunity to sit next to Jesus and listen to what she wanted to teach them. Martha did nothing wrong, but Jesus said that “Mary chose the better part” (Luke 10:38-42). It is likely that over time Mary forgot what she ate on that occasion, but surely she never forgot what she learned from Jesus. It is clear that Mary greatly valued the time she spent with Jesus, and we, too, value the time we spend with Jehovah. w22.01 27 paras. 5, 6.

Why is it so important to pray, study and meditate?

Let us remember that praying, studying and meditating are part of our worship. When we pray, we are talking to our heavenly Father, who loves us so much (Ps. 5:7). When we study the Bible, we are gaining “the knowledge of God,” the wisest person in the universe (Prov. 2:1-5). And, when we meditate, we are reflecting on the beautiful qualities of Jehovah, as well as his wonderful purpose for us and for all humanity. Could there be a better way to spend time? Of course, the time we have is limited. Therefore, what will help us make good use of it?

What good example did Jesus give us when he went into the desert?

If possible, let's find a quiet place. Let's think about how Jesus did it. When he began his ministry on Earth, he spent 40 days in the wilderness (Luke 4:1, 2). There he was able to pray and meditate on his Father's will for him. Without a doubt, this prepared him for the trials he would soon face. What do we learn from his example? If our family is large, it may sometimes be difficult for us to find enough peace inside our house. If that's our case, can we try going outside? That's what Julie does when she wants to spend time with Jehovah praying to him. She lives with her husband in a small apartment in France, so it is not easy for her to be alone and without interruptions. She says: “Every day I go to the park for a walk. There I can be alone, concentrate and talk comfortably with Jehovah.

Although Jesus was a very busy person, how did he show that he valued his friendship with Jehovah?

Jesus was a very busy person. Wherever he went, he was always surrounded by people who asked him to give them time and attention. The Bible says that, on one occasion, “the whole city was gathered at the door” of a house to see him. Even so, he made sure to take time to care for his friendship with Jehovah. Before dawn, he went to a solitary place to spend time with his Father (Mark 1:32-35).

According to Matthew 26:40, 41, what timely advice did Jesus give to his disciples in the garden of Gethsemane, but what happened?

On the last night of his life on Earth, when his ministry was ending, Jesus again sought a quiet place where he could pray and meditate: the garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36). There he gave his disciples very timely advice about prayer.

Let's see what happened. When they arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane, it may have already been past midnight, so it was already very late. Jesus told the apostles to stay awake and then went to pray (Matt. 26:37-39). When he returned, he found them asleep. So he again told them, “Keep awake and pray constantly” (read Matthew 26:40, 41). He knew they had been under a lot of stress and were very tired. That is why he had compassion on them and said that “the flesh is weak.” Despite everything, he twice more went to pray and, when he returned, he found that they were not praying, but sleeping (Matt. 26: 42-45).

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