This post was last updated on March 12, 2026
Day 363, Year 1
Receive Counsels and Instructions
“I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.” (Psalm 16:7 NKJV)
In the above, “instruct” is the Hebrew word yasar, which also means “discipline, correct, or chasten.” The word “heart” is actually “kidney,” which is also in the Chinese Union translation as “place of emotion” (Job 19:27; Psalm 73:21), “conscience” (Psalm 7:9; Proverbs 23:16), “intestines” that can be tempered or examined by God (Psalm 26:2; Jeremiah 11:20, 17:10, etc.). Hence, people’s consciences could be far from God (Jeremiah 12:2). We believers are to receive and follow God’s instructions and the warnings of our consciences. This is the focus of today.
When we receive God’s instructions with His wisdom and understanding, we will naturally praise Him. Sometimes, however, God’s instruction is directed at our weaknesses or the bottom line that irritates us. Thus, it is not always pleasurable for us to receive His instructions, because those weaknesses or buttons are sometimes what we want to ignore or escape from. The more problems people want to avoid or refuse to deal with, the more they fear God’s instructions. Contrarily, for we, who strive for progress in faith, we praise God when we receive His instruction. It’s because we want to listen to Him. I believe that people who are willing to face and solve problems are obviously different from those who avoid them, leading us to heaven or hell.
In the quiet of the night, our conscience sometimes looks back on the day’s circumstances or decisions, including those that have made us happy or difficult. Thus, a normal conscience will rebuke and correct us at night. It is often necessary for believers to look back on what happened each day, reflect on what we need to improve in the future, offer prayers, ask God for forgiveness and help, and search for ways to change or break through. It is worth noting that a change in conscience often involves a change in emotions. Thus, one of the main points of our reflection is why we lack actions such as self-blaming after making a wrong decision, or, on the other extreme, inappropriate self-blaming. It could even be why there is no conscious reaction or intuition to be alert before facing imminent wrongdoing. We need to accept the warning of our conscience and reflect deeply on ourselves so that we can be changed by studying God’s Word. We need to reflect with the voice of our conscience to acquire a better understanding of God’s mind. We need to cooperate with His work with our ever-improving conscience, and ask Him to renew our minds constantly.
Reflection questions:
1) Do you like to be instructed by God and follow His guidance? Why?
2) Are you willing to accept the voice of your conscience and change your judgments with emotional reactions accordingly?