The Contented Life Daily DevotionalSample

Live Righteously

Do you remember that awful childhood feeling of doing something that you knew was wrong?

When I was about eight years old, I convinced my five-year-old brother to throw a rock through one of the windows in our house. He was hesitant, but I guaranteed it would be okay, and with good aim, he shattered that window with the first rock. Once the deed was done, I left him standing in dismay as I ran away, announcing he had broken a window.

That day, there were more things broken than I bargained for. The most significant was the damage to my heart, not to mention my relationship with my little brother and my parents.

I remember my brother understandably seeming confused about the consequences he received. My heart began to pound with conviction. In such a short time, I made a mess of my little eight-year-old life, and any fun, innocence, peace, or contentment vanished.

Eventually, I could no longer bear the unpleasant feeling and approached my dad. I was at his mercy but decided to confess the truth. Sitting on his lap and through my sobbing, I explained what had happened.

In our house, intentionally breaking a window was a big deal, but my father recognized that the condition of my heart needed repairing first. Without my heart repaired, I could not be truly reconciled to my brother, parents, God, and myself.

That day, I made it right, and peace was restored to my heart. Living in right standing with God leads to lasting peace and contentment.

Today, if you need to make a relationship or situation right, take a step of faith to do it. Confidence, peace of mind, clear conscience, and contentment will be a rich reward.

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By: Wanda Dobsin