September 22nd

SEPTEMBER 22nd

Psalm 119:24-32 Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors. I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word. I gave an account of my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees. Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds. My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me your law. I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. I hold fast to your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.

Is His Word your delight?

Do you count it as your counselor or do you look to others for advice first? Is the Word of God your first resource or a last resort? I think too often we seek the Word of God after we have listened to what others have to say about a situation. When in reality we should see the Lord first and then consider whether to seek other counsel as well.

Have we asked the Lord to help us understand His Word? This passage says “Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.” Do we remember His wonderful deeds often enough? Remembering His wonderful works boosts our faith and that enables us to see beyond our circumstances. Often throughout the Psalms we see that David takes time to remember the wonderful works that the Lord has done and he rejoices in them. Wander through Psalms and notice that.

Also consider King Jehoshaphat as an example in 2 Chronicles 20:5-9 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and said: “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’

King Jehoshaphat’s first response after hearing that enemies were going to attack, was to gather the assembly and start his prayer by remembering the wonderful works of God before he ever prayed about the situation facing them. So whatever you face today, weariness because of your schedule and lack of time, difficult relationship issues, kids that aren’t listening, loneliness, anxiety, stress or whatever it is that you face today, lean in to His Word for strength and clarity and remember the good things the He has done. 

Today let us hold fast to His Word, let us set our heart on His Word, let us run in the paths of His Word, let us look to His Word for strength and meditate on His marvelous works!

Lord, thank you for giving me your Word to lean upon for strength and direction. Thank you that your Word is alive and active, not just sentences on a page. Help me to remember that and reach for it often!

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.