On of the suggested Psalms for this mornings prayer is Psalm 12:

1 Help me, LORD, for there is no godly one left; *
the faithful have vanished from among us.
2 Everyone speaks falsely with his neighbor; *
with a smooth tongue they speak from a double heart.
3 Oh, that the LORD would cut off all smooth tongues, *
and close the lips that utter proud boasts!
4 Those who say, “With our tongue will we prevail; *
our lips are our own; who is lord over us?”
5 “Because the needy are oppressed,
and the poor cry out in misery, *
I will rise up,” says the LORD,
“and give them the help they long for.”
6 The words of the LORD are pure words, *
like silver refined from ore
and purified seven times in the fire.
7 O LORD, watch over us *
and save us from this generation for ever.
8 The wicked prowl on every side, *
and that which is worthless is highly prized by everyone.

Sometimes as you are reading and praying through the scripture, just a phrase will pop out and stick with you. I’ve been taught that when that happens, pay special attention, that’s one of the ways that the Lord will speak to you through the reading of scripture.

Today, as I was reading this Psalm, the last verse stood out to me – “and that which is worthless is highly prized by everyone.”

That got me to thinking about what I prize.  About what I value.  About how I live, how I spend my time.

Is it worth wild?  In my life, am I chasing what really matters?  Am I spending my effort, my energy, my passion, on those things which are truly valuable?

Or am I spending my time chasing fool’s gold?  Am I spending my time chasing things which are fleeting?  Am I chasing my pride?  My ambition? Wealth?  Whatever.  Am I focusing on that which is worthless?  Or that which is eternal?

I think sometimes we find our lives empty because the things that we most chase are empty.

Today, what are you chasing? What are you after? What are you living for?  Is it really valuable?

The things of God are of priceless worth. They will not leave us empty. They will not leave us dry. They will not leave us alone. They are of amazing worth.

Today, do we chase that which is worthless?  Or do we chase that which is priceless.  My we spend our precious lives after that which truly matters.