Psalms – Prayers of Honesty and Praise
What does it really mean to love someone personally? Let’s define personally. “with the personal presence or action of the individual specified; in person.” This adverb is also defined as: “from someone’s personal standpoint or according to their particular nature; in a subjective rather than an objective way.
When you love someone “personally” it means you are there for them. You act in their behalf. You hold them in high esteem. From your view and thought, according to all you know, you love them with all that is you.
We talk a lot in church about being in the Presence of God because that is the glorious place to be. We expect God to do all for us, in us and through us. But do we PERSONALLY love God. From all that we know, with all our hearts, minds and souls, do we personally stand before God and reverently listen to what HE has to say without interrupting? Do we speak about His goodness, declare His Word absolute and right with our personal presence and actions? Do our lives show our personal love for Him? Do our lives show others who God is and how He personally loves us?People know how much I love my husband and our children and grandchildren, but do they know how much I personally love God?
I think about this as we read the next installment of Psalm 119, the novel that just keeps teaching!
Psalm 119, The MessagePart 17
129-136
Every word you give me is a miracle word—
how could I help but obey?
Break open your words, let the light shine out,
let ordinary people see the meaning.
Mouth open and panting,
I wanted your commands more than anything.
Turn my way, look kindly on me, as you always do to those who personally love you.
Steady my steps with your Word of promise
so nothing malign gets the better of me.
Rescue me from the grip of bad men and women
so I can live life your way.
Smile on me, your servant;
teach me the right way to live.
I cry rivers of tears
because nobody’s living by your book!
FROM THE HEART…
The more we love God who loved us first, the more we get to KNOW Him personally, as in any relationship that is love driven. We begin to understand what God sees as right and good. We begin to think and act more like His Word commands. We obey because of our trust and love for God. We can’t wait to be with Him. We run to Him with every detail of our lives because we know He wants us to tell Him! We begin see the best not the worst in others who know and love Him. We think higher, nobler thoughts as Paul relates in Philippians.Paul also tells us that our personal love for Christ will settle those thoughts that come to bring us down, testing our trust in God with a byproduct called worry.
“Let your petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.” (Philippians 4, The Message)“It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”
When we personally love God we don’t ever have to worry if He loves us! He does. He always has and always will love us. His love never changes. Point made.
We need to PERSONALLY love God back with all our heart, mind and soul. We need to know God and know we will never know Him completely. We need to stand for God. We need to stand in His Personal Presence driven by our personal love for Him. Personal relationships with God and others, driven by love, are the best creations in the world.
“Turn my way, look kindly on me, as you always do to those who personally love you.”
Our Father in Heaven,
I do personally love You more than words can tell. I love You with all that is in me. I’m glad you know my heart. Teach me to know your heart. I run to You each morning as a child runs to a loving parent. Your Word gives me life, hope and a future. You save me. Your Holy Spirit guides and provides. You protect. Jesus, You are my Master Teacher. Smile on me, your servant; teach me the right way to live.
In Jesus Name, Amen
