Depart from Evil and Pursue Peace | Psalm 34:14
Psalm 34:14 Devotion: Depart from Evil and Pursue Peace
Today's Psalm 34:14 devotion slowed me down.
I give it to live it. ❤️
The more I share as I learn, the more I understand what it is to experience the living Word of God teaching me how to walk in it.
Sharing causes me to slow down and meditate on each word instead of quickly reading past it. Words I may have once taken for granted begin to take on life as Christ teaches me.
Today's verse is rich.
"Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." — Psalm 34:14
It tells us what to leave.
It tells us what to do.
It tells us what to seek.
And it tells us not only to seek peace, but to pursue it.
To depart means to leave behind.
But what does evil really look like in my everyday life?
Sometimes we recognize obvious sin.
Other times it can be much more subtle.
Scripture tells us that whatever is not from faith is sin. Faith is trusting God—coming into agreement with Him instead of depending on ourselves.
How we treat people when we don't feel like it.
How quickly we justify our own thoughts.
How easily we can spend our energy pursuing explanations, signs, or our own understanding instead of pursuing the peace that comes from trusting God to do His work.
Our intentions may seem good, and God certainly knows our heart. But His Word also lovingly teaches us that our own heart can deceive us. That is why His Word continually invites us to examine ourselves in His light rather than our own.
Then I noticed another phrase.
"Do good."
Immediately I remembered Jesus' words:
"There is none good but one, that is, God."
That made me pause.
Perhaps doing good is not simply doing what I think is right, but surrendering to the One who alone is good and allowing His goodness to be lived through me.
Then comes the invitation:
"Seek peace, and pursue it."
Jesus is our peace.
To pursue peace is to keep following Christ, learning from Him, trusting Him, and surrendering more of ourselves to Him each day.
The reward is far greater than simply having peaceful circumstances.
Jesus prayed,
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3)
To know God is life.
God tells us to choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19), and Jesus reveals that true life is found in knowing the Father through the Son.
And because we still live in a world filled with temptation, Jesus also taught us to pray:
"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
What a beautiful reminder that even our pursuit of peace is never accomplished in our own strength. We continually depend on Christ to lead us away from evil, help us depart from it, and teach us to walk in His ways.
As I reflected on this Psalm 34:14 devotion, I was reminded that Christ continues to teach us through His Word and in the ordinary moments of everyday life.
Today, this verse leaves me with one simple question:
Where in my life is Christ inviting me to stop trusting myself and begin trusting Him more?
That is where faith grows.
That is where peace is found.
Continue the Journey
Thank you for spending a few moments slowing down with me in God's Word.
I don't share because I've arrived. I share because slowing down to explain what Christ is teaching me helps me live it.
If today's devotion encouraged you, I invite you to continue the journey through Hope in Today Ministries as we learn to walk with Jesus one lesson at a time, discovering how Christ teaches us through His Word and the ordinary moments of everyday life.
Because He is still teaching...
...and we are still learning.
Love in Christ,
Karen ❤️
Hope in Today Ministries
🎥 Learning to Walk with Jesus... One Lesson at a Time
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"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." — John 17:3
May all the glory belong to Him. ❤️
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