“I weep with grief; encourage me by your word. Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your law.” Psalm 119:28,29, NLT
“My sad life’s dilapidated, a falling-down barn; build me up again by your Word. Barricade the road that goes Nowhere; grace me with your clear revelation.” Psalm 119:28,29, Msg
It’s another bad day for the Psalmist as his mind takes a nose dive back into grieving over his past sins and crying out to God to use His Word to know the Word so well that he will not sin again.
There is a very good lesson in knowing the word so that we might not sin, but the underlying message of God’s Word to us is so that we will know HIM more and be reminded of how much we are loved and cared for no matter what. We demand perfection in ourselves because we know God requires us “to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God”. Micah 6:8, NLT But we are not God and we are not perfect.
Our constant adversary, satan knows that uses all our weak points with putting thoughts in our minds of all the ways we are not perfect, all the times we messed up, all the conversations we had with others that made us feel less than perfect. We can use God’s Word to battle this kind of “self talk” and turn grief into pure, holy joy in knowing our God is a forgiving God and remembers our sins no more! Amen! Can I get an amen?
Keep this chart handy that I have included below. It is a very helpful way to combat satan’s very old trick of planting seeds of doubts in our minds…think of the Truth of the Word. We are set free from our past mistakes for future glory all because Jesus paid it all when He opened his hands to receive the nails that took away ALL our sin. So be encouraged! Move on! That’s where God can do His best work…through people who live knowing they are sin-debt-free!
Dear Heavenly Father, We pray for all who are reading this today for Your pure, holy, eternal joy unspeakable would overwhelm their souls…as well as mine…as we go about “this day”, that You have given us, knowing and believing what Your Word says and then living it…outloud!
In Jesus Name, Amen
My husband, the analyzer, has taught me to look closer at life in many different ways. Did you see that? Did you see how that happened? Did you catch the meaning of that part of the movie when…?
In my rush to do life’s chores and other mundane challenges, I often miss God’s working in and through me, through situations, and slightly forget that I prayed for something that He just answered. Life is too fast.
Does life control us or does God control us? That’s the bigger question. We would notice God’s happenings and daily miracles more often the deeper we focus on Him.
The Psalmist has good days and bad…today’s words from him see to be a better day,
“Help me understand the meaning of your commandments, and I will meditate on your wonderful miracles.”
Psalm 119:27, NLT
“Help me understand these things inside and out so I can ponder your miracle-wonders.” The Message
HOW?
Know God more and more as we read His Word about His character and the way He works. Remember He is God and we are not.
Wake up each day grateful for the miracle of…waking up!
LOOK for ways God’s miracles are transforming you from the inside out with His Word, others he puts into your life to help you, and the changing way you begin to treat others. Those are miracle-wonders. We can’t transform ourselves. We need God’s miracle working power to be all He intended for us to be…before the doing or serving in His Work.
NOTICE all miracles from tiny to terrific. It will put a new smile on your face and greater vigor in your step!
Dear Heavenly Father, Today I will teach first graders. Help me to notice and ponder all your miracles all day long as I meditate on this part of your Word. In Jesus Name, Amen
“When I told my story, you responded; train me well in your deep wisdom.” Psalm 119:26, The Msg
This is a pivotal verse in the longest lament or chapter in the Bible. He has told his story, all of it, honestly, with sadness, repentance, but with the knowledge that God hears and responds to his cries. That’s why he cries out to God first and foremost because of the knowledge he has gained from God’s Word that it is acceptable to do just that.
Taking stock of our lives, remembering the good and the bad, and evaluating what was helpful and what hurt us and others is a great story to tell…to God…who knows us better and loves us more than anyone else. “Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus”…as the old hymn says, is a good exercise in assessing one’s life, if it leads to what the Psalmist is after…more of God and His wisdom.
Wisdom, skills for living this life here on earth, comes from experience, knowledge of right from wrong and applying it at the right time and place, and it is deemed as “common sense”. Not all people live with wisdom. They merely survive.
After recounting his life to God, who knew it in the first place, is as important for the Psalmist in the repentant process which sets him free. Why? By going over his past, good and bad, the bad, or wrong choices, were brought to light. All his mistakes or shortcomings in his life made him realize he did not want to repeat them. Haven’t we all been there? Of course we have. But, we need to admit it, repent of it, learn from the experience and freely move on with a new desire to please God.
“Train me well in your deep wisdom”… We all want to learn more, have more wisdom to be all that God wants us to be so we will behave in ways of wisdom that make God smile and bring him glory and praise!
HOW?
1. TAKE STOCK OFTEN, tell it to Jesus.
I am reminded of Romans !2:3, warning us, “Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you.” (NLT) The Message says, “…it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you.” In others words, we join God in HIS work, He does not join us. “The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.” Romans 12, Msg Repent of those times when we have thought and behaved this way.
2. THINK like Jesus. Want what God wants…”Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.” 1 Peter 4, Msg Leave the bad, ask every morning, “Lord, what do you want today? Learn to think like Jesus.
3. PRACTICE wisdom in every opportunity. “Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don’t miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.” Colossians 4, Msg
4. PRAY…then pray more. “Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Don’t forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ, even while I’m locked up in this jail. Pray that every time I open my mouth I’ll be able to make Christ plain as day to them.” Pray for yourself to proclaim His message. Pray for others to do the same not matter what the circumstance. Prayer leads to making wise choices, having wisdom, the skills for living this life with integrity.
5. NOTICE when God shows up. (Talking about Israel) Paul reminds the church, “They were absorbed in what they themselves were doing. They were so absorbed in their ‘God projects’ that they didn’t notice God right in front of them, like a huge rock in the middle of the road. And so they stumbled…” Romans 9, Msg Remember He is God and we are not.
6. TRUST God. For everything. For every detail of this life. “May Your Kingdom come, YOUR will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way.” (Another old hymn of wisdom.)
Dear Heavenly Father, Continue to teach us your deep wisdom in all we are and do. We trust You. We believe in what You say. We know You love us. So, we love to follow your commands for we know You know what is best for us. We repent of those times we went our own way. Help us to be honest with ourselves and learn from our mistakes. Set us free to be all You created us to be.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Be honest. Grumpy is not just the name of a dwarf.
There is a very old story line that ends with “Sometimes I wake up grumpy and sometimes I let him sleep.” Did you wake up grumpy or even depressed today? The Psalmist did…
“I lie in the dust, completely discouraged; revive me by your word.” Psalm 119:25, NLT
Or in the Message version; “I’m feeling terrible–I couldn’t feel worse! Get me on my feet again. You promised, remember?”
Either way, the writer is relying on God’s Law, His Word to revive his soul, lift him up out of the dust of discouragement from whatever is happening that is challenging to him and is asking God to remember his promise to him to always be with him and to help him.
The Psalmist is honest. I love that. God wants us to be totally honest with Him when we talk with him. He sees and knows our hearts anyway, so why try to hide anything from the God who created us from the “dust of the earth”?
So, we wake up grumpy sometimes. Stumble over the covers of last night’s restlessness and pick up God’s Word that speaks abundant life back into our souls! God’s Word energizes us. His commands bring ah-ha moments to our minds as we search for the right decisions to make. His Holy Spirit overwhelms us with insight and understanding and fills us with peace and reminders of God’s unconditional love…as we read His Word!
Grumpy, still? Read more. Ask God for help. He will. He promised.
Dear Heavenly Father, THANK YOU for Your Word speaks life back into our tired and sometimes depressed souls. We cannot remain down in the dumps for very long for You lift us up with words of love, peace, joy, direction as well as showing us what we need to spruce up in our lives. We believe. We are open to Your transformation work in us. Thank you for caring enough, in spite of our grumpiness at times, to remain unchanged in Your love for us. And thank you for letting us be honest.
In Jesus Name, Amen
“Your statues are my delight; they are my counselors.”
Psalm 119:24, NIV
“Your decrees please me; they give me wise advice.”
Psalm 119:24, NLT
To be confused in the middle of life is the most frustrating part of my life. I want to know the answer! I’ve had several teachers along my educational career as a student who were arrogant at times, making you guess at the answers to their questions instead of guiding me to the answer. That is not good teaching.
As a teacher, we pose questions to make our students think, but then we are the impetus, the facilitator to guide them to the right answers. But there is a fine line in making them think and just frustrating them. That’s where wisdom and guidance come to the rescue. If students are left frustrated, then teaching did not take place.
God’s Word is not meant to keep us guessing at life. His Truth is clear, concise and meant to give Life. Frustration only comes when our will is in battle with His will and we don’t want to accept Truth. “We can’t handle the Truth!” (Movie, A Few Good Men quote) And…we don’t want to change.
His Word shows us how to love Him back. His Word is filled with His promises that He will be with us, will show us the way through dark times, will bring eternal peace, “not like the world gives” but a special peace that leads to joy in all circumstances, that He will give us a counselor, (His Holy Spirit) to convict, not condemn, and guide us to His will and purpose.
In other words…He readily gives the answers we are longing for about our life and purpose. His Word brings knowledge that is meant to transform us to be more and more like Him…so that our lives shine so brightly that others are attracted to His Light of hope through salvation. It is God’s Story of how he includes us IN His Story of reconciliation through Jesus Christ His Son (John 3:16). God is to be worshiped and praised, not His Word. His Word is be lived out in our daily walk as we are continually transformed by it! His Word is absolute Truth, written by God himself whether we choose to accept and believe it or not. It still stands as Truth.
Yes, I believe every word. I delight every morning to converse with God through his Word, commands and statues, not ashamed to come to His throne and have coffee with Him “in the garden, alone” of my heart and soul, as he tells me I am His own.
“And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other as ever known.”
Thank you, LORD, for Your Word to us, Your Holy Spirit that guides us as we read and convicts us to transform. Confusion disappears every time I go to Your Word for the Truth, because You are Truth. I believe.
In Jesus Name, Amen
“And he walks with me and he talks with me…”
LET IT GO!
Okay, now I’ve got you singing the song from the movie Frozen, right? It’s in my brain! Yes, I’ve only seen it 3 times and will probably see it more often, now that I have the movie at home for grandkids to watch. The theme? Let it go.
Let go of what people around you expect of you, see in you, and use their assumptions to talk about you. Let it go.
Our next verse in Psalm 119 reminds of this song:
“While bad neighbors maliciously gossip about me, I’m absorbed in pondering your wise counsel.” Psalm 119:23 Msg
The NIV version tells that leaders will do the same:
“Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees.” Psalm 119:23
It is human nature to talk about someone else instead of talking to someone else. Sad, but true.
If we keep our heads and hearts tuned to God’s Word, and by the power of His Holy Spirit working in us, we can change this habit. Let it go.
But until then, remember Whose you are and who you are in Him. That’s how the Psalmist got through those times of slander and bullying by the leaders of the day. He meditated on God’s Word. Begin with Psalm 139…
“I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too–your reassuring presence, coming and going.” Msg
Believe in what God says about you, not what others say, for God knows you better than you know yourself, and He speaks Truth over you. Every. Time. So Let it go. Let what others say about you..go.
You are God’s Masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10) and “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for” (Ephesians 1).
Be blessed with one of my favorite passages…Romans 8, Msg:
“There are things to do and places to go! This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike ‘What’s next, Papa?’ God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children.”
“AND we know we are going to get what’s coming to us–an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!”
Can I get an amen???
So…LET IT GO! We are not defined by what others have said about us, what others are saying about us now. We are not defined by our past! We are defined by Who we know…God, through His Son, Jesus Christ. God is the only one who knows us, inside and out, so love Him back. Rely on His Word that tells you who you really are and what you are to do. As the Psalmist said…be “absorbed in pondering His wise counsel.”
Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word gives us hope, peace and encouragement this morning. We are pondering your wise counsel to us. Thank you for knowing us so well and loving us anyway, unconditionally. I love you back with all that is within me. What’s next, Papa?
In Jesus Name, Amen
“Don’t let them mock and humiliate me; I’ve been careful to do just what you said.” Psalm 119:22, Msg
“Remove from me scorn and contempt, for I keep your statues.” NIV
“Don’t let them scorn and insult me, for I have obeyed your decrees.” NLT
The cry of the Psalmist is maybe our cry from time to time, when we are criticized in many ways right at the peak of our work for God. We strive to follow every letter of the law of God’s Word and still it comes. Criticism is timely in it’s effort to bring down a person and the work they are doing. Criticism is powerful–if we let it. It can destroy the work (for only a time) and sometimes destroy or at least hinder the growth of people. It seems the greater the work (to help the most people) the greater the amount of criticism of the work. Fighting against it, alone, can be exhausting while all our energy is focused on the work. Many times the church shoots and wounds it’s own in the process.
WHAT TO REMEMBER!
1. “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12, NLT Discern in your heart that this a ploy of satan working through one of your brothers or sisters to bring down the work by bringing down you. See it for what it is.
2. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Jesus was mocked, criticized and ridiculed from the time he entered ministry until he was crucified on the cross for our sins. You are in good company IF you are following God’s Word, staying focused on what He has given you to be and do, and have a pure desire to bring HIM glory through the work. “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.”–Jesus.
3. Ask for God’s Help to discern the difference between real help from those who love God and love you versus criticism of those who are jealous that you are living the abundant life that they have avoided for a number of reasons. Criticism usually stems from the root of pride and self. Be wise, in other words. Listen, then pray, and the Holy Spirit will direct you to what is right.
4. Never stop following God’s Word! No matter what is said or done to you. I was once mocked because I got to the church early (before my scheduled work hours) where I was working as a pastor of discipleship, to dive into the Word, meditate and journal before beginning my day. I will never forget the audacity of this mocking! In my mind, my first response was WHAT? You brought me here to disciple and you don’t like the “textbook of life” that I use to digest before I try to help others? WHAT??
Then, after a few weeks of prayer over this disappointing, single incident, I began to realize quickly that our goals were very different. Sometimes God will take you out of places where you cannot do His will freely. Jesus told his disciples before sending them out to world, if you come to a place that won’t accept you, then shake the dust off your feet and move on. (Matthew 10:14, Luke 9:5, Mark 6:11) God’s Word and living it trumps everything this world, in and out of the church, has to offer.
5. God will take care of you. He will make all things work for good for those who love Him. (Romans 8:28) And He will take care of those who mock you…and Him…in His time in His way. That is NOT our job. If we try to “get back” by using the same weapon as was dealt to us, having hate as a motive, then we are bringing ourselves down to the level of our accusers. Be silent. Take it. Jesus did. Then move on with the most important mission on earth that was given to us “Go and make disciples”. With that has our focus, all else, including the critical statements just melt or fall away. Our mission trumps criticism.
Dear Heavenly Father, We are honored to come before you, following Your Word. We know full well that many will criticize all our efforts to obey you. But as you told Paul to write, we want to know Christ so we must share in His sufferings. Our desire is to love you back, so we will move on, at your command. The Psalmist cried out, “Don’t let them scorn and insult me” but we know that it will come anyway. We ask that you give us the power of Your Holy Spirit to combat the desire to get even and the discernment to know what is best to be and do. Be gentle with us, Lord. Be with us.
In Jesus Name, Amen
