Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law. When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O Lord.
(Psalm 119:49-52, ESV)
God has given me His word so that I may hope upon it. It is my comfort in my affliction. It gives me life. Though the waves crash, I stand firm upon God's word - unmovable, unshakable, safe from all of Satan's attacks. O let me hide Your word in my heart, dear Lord, that it might ever be with me.
Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law. Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and keep your law. This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.
(Psalm 119:53-56, ESV)
When the way of the pilgrimage seems long and you are weary, God's word is the song upon your lips. When the wicked mock and forsake God's word, God's word is the song upon your lips. Even in the darkest night, God's word is the song upon your lips. And this fact, that God's word is the song upon your lips, is your reward for keeping His word. His word is the reward in and of itself.
-----
You have just finished reading God's Word, My Song.
Connect with me on Twitter and Pinterest.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
God's Word, My Teacher
Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules. I will keep your law continually, forever and ever.
(Psalm 119:41-44, ESV)
I learn of God's mercies and His salvation from His word. I learn how to respond to others from His word. I learn how to speak the truth from His word. May I be in His word so much that I may live a life that is upright and pleasing before Him.
And I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts. I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. (Psalm 119:45-48, ESV)
When I delight myself in God's commandments, when I love them, when I lift my hands up to them, when I meditate on them, when I seek them, I will walk at liberty. I will be able to go forth with an unsuppressible confidence. I will be able to speak God's testimonies before kings unashamedly. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16, ESV)
-----
You have just finished reading God's Word, My Teacher.
Connect with me on Twitter and Pinterest.
I learn of God's mercies and His salvation from His word. I learn how to respond to others from His word. I learn how to speak the truth from His word. May I be in His word so much that I may live a life that is upright and pleasing before Him.
And I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts. I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. (Psalm 119:45-48, ESV)
When I delight myself in God's commandments, when I love them, when I lift my hands up to them, when I meditate on them, when I seek them, I will walk at liberty. I will be able to go forth with an unsuppressible confidence. I will be able to speak God's testimonies before kings unashamedly. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16, ESV)
-----
You have just finished reading God's Word, My Teacher.
Connect with me on Twitter and Pinterest.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Be Anchored to God's Word
Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!
(Psalm 119:33-36, ESV)
In my sinful flesh it is not natural for me to want to follow God's word. And yet God has planted a seed of desire for His word. I need His empowerment to do this, which is why I cry out, "Teach me! Give me understanding! Make me walk in the path of Your commandments! Incline my heart to your testimonies."
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared. Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good. Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life! (Psalm 119:37-40, ESV)
My eyes can be fixed on one of two things: either on worthless things or on God's word. How important it is for me to have my eyes fixed upon God's word! Because of this great importance, my prayer must be to God that He will establish His words to me.
-----
You have just finished reading Be Anchored to God's Word.
Connect with me on Twitter and Pinterest.
In my sinful flesh it is not natural for me to want to follow God's word. And yet God has planted a seed of desire for His word. I need His empowerment to do this, which is why I cry out, "Teach me! Give me understanding! Make me walk in the path of Your commandments! Incline my heart to your testimonies."
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared. Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good. Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life! (Psalm 119:37-40, ESV)
My eyes can be fixed on one of two things: either on worthless things or on God's word. How important it is for me to have my eyes fixed upon God's word! Because of this great importance, my prayer must be to God that He will establish His words to me.
-----
You have just finished reading Be Anchored to God's Word.
Connect with me on Twitter and Pinterest.
Tuesday, March 04, 2014
God's Word is Our Source of Strength
My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word! When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes! Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!
(Psalm 119:25-28, ESV)
When hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed, I can gain my strength from God's word. He will revive and strengthen me according to His word. For He is the One who worked in me to will to follow His way, and He will teach me His statutes and make me understand the way of His precepts. And I, I shall stand there in awe of His wonderful works.
Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me. I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame! I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart! (Psalm 119:29-32, ESV)
Although I have chosen the way of truth, I still need God's power to remove from me the way of lying. As I saturate myself with God's word, I will be granted that power. As I run the course of God's commandments, He will enlarge my heart. He will cause me to love Him more.
-----
You have just finished reading God's Word is Our Source of Strength.
Connect with me on Twitter and Pinterest.
When hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed, I can gain my strength from God's word. He will revive and strengthen me according to His word. For He is the One who worked in me to will to follow His way, and He will teach me His statutes and make me understand the way of His precepts. And I, I shall stand there in awe of His wonderful works.
Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me. I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame! I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart! (Psalm 119:29-32, ESV)
Although I have chosen the way of truth, I still need God's power to remove from me the way of lying. As I saturate myself with God's word, I will be granted that power. As I run the course of God's commandments, He will enlarge my heart. He will cause me to love Him more.
-----
You have just finished reading God's Word is Our Source of Strength.
Connect with me on Twitter and Pinterest.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
We Need God's Word
Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.
(Psalm 119:17-20, ESV)
The believer's need for God's word:
Since I am a stranger here on earth, I need God's commandments and judgments all the time. I need Him to deal bountifully with me, that I might live and that I might keep His word. I need His word to live. I also need Him to open my eyes so that I might be able to see what is in His word; otherwise it is foolishness to me.
You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments. Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies. Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. (Psalm 119:21-24, ESV)
The proud turn away from God's word because they think they don't need it. Only the humble will come to God's word, thirsting for it. And the proud will gather and mock the humble for clinging to God's word. But that will offer comfort and delight to the one clinging to God's word, making all else blur and fade.
-----
You have just finished reading We Need God's Word.
Connect with me on Twitter and Pinterest.
The believer's need for God's word:
Since I am a stranger here on earth, I need God's commandments and judgments all the time. I need Him to deal bountifully with me, that I might live and that I might keep His word. I need His word to live. I also need Him to open my eyes so that I might be able to see what is in His word; otherwise it is foolishness to me.
You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments. Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies. Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. (Psalm 119:21-24, ESV)
The proud turn away from God's word because they think they don't need it. Only the humble will come to God's word, thirsting for it. And the proud will gather and mock the humble for clinging to God's word. But that will offer comfort and delight to the one clinging to God's word, making all else blur and fade.
-----
You have just finished reading We Need God's Word.
Connect with me on Twitter and Pinterest.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Keeping Our Lives Pure
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!
(Psalm 119:9-12, ESV)
To cleanse your way, take heed according to God's word. You will do this, if you seek Him with your whole heart. And as you seek Him with your whole heart, you hide His word in your heart, so that your way may be clean and you will not sin against Him. However, you cannot do this on your own. You must be taught to do so by the Lord as you grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
(Psalm 119:13-16, ESV)
The correct reaction to God's word:
- rejoice in it as much as in riches
- declare it
- meditate on it
- contemplate it
- delight yourself in it
- do not forget it
-----
You have just finished reading Keeping Our Lives Pure.
Connect with me on Twitter and Pinterest.
(Psalm 119:9-12, ESV)
To cleanse your way, take heed according to God's word. You will do this, if you seek Him with your whole heart. And as you seek Him with your whole heart, you hide His word in your heart, so that your way may be clean and you will not sin against Him. However, you cannot do this on your own. You must be taught to do so by the Lord as you grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
(Psalm 119:13-16, ESV)
The correct reaction to God's word:
- rejoice in it as much as in riches
- declare it
- meditate on it
- contemplate it
- delight yourself in it
- do not forget it
-----
You have just finished reading Keeping Our Lives Pure.
Connect with me on Twitter and Pinterest.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
