Table Of Contents. Welcome Letter from Pastor Doug 1. How to use this Devotional Guide 2. Psalm 119 An Overview 3. Psalm 119 Devotionals 4.

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2 Table Of Contents Welcome Letter from Pastor Doug 1 How to use this Devotional Guide 2 Psalm 119 An Overview 3 Psalm 119 Devotionals 4 Week One 5 Week Two 11 Week Three 17 Week Four 23 Week Five 29

3 Dear Woodside Family, When I was a child, my parents taught me, by their instruction and modeling, to always pray before meals. All through the years, that has been a rhythm of my life. At Woodside, we understand that prayer is a necessary part of life. But, what would it look like if we lived out that truth? Not only would we pray before meals, we would pray before our feet hit the floor in the morning, before the test in school, before we send the text, before significant conversations, before we put the car in gear, and before and during every situation. PRAY FIRST. I believe that is the kind of prayer life the Apostle Paul had in mind when he challenges us to, pray without ceasing. An ongoing conversation with God would be welcomed by Him and would be life-changing for each person who accepts that challenge. This journal was designed to help us have that ongoing conversation with God, so that it can become a rhythm of our lives. Take the challenge. Not only will a lot of things change, you will as well. Pastor Doug Senior Pastor, Woodside Bible Church 1

4 How to Use This Devotional Guide We are excited to see what God has in store for you and Woodside as our church focuses on the rich truths of Psalm 119. We have designed this devotional guide to align closely with our Pages sermon series. We believe this will help you get the most from your worship experience on the weekend, while deepening your relationship with God throughout the week. Each devotional entry highlights three primary areas for you to engage: 1. Scripture 2. Devotional writing 3. er We encourage you to read and reflect on the biblical text, read the devotional writing with a humble heart and an open mind, and then pray to our Heavenly Father about what you ve read and experienced. It is our hope and prayer that this devotional guide will deepen your understanding of Psalm 119 and ultimately draw you closer to our Heavenly Father. 2

5 Psalm 119 Overview God s written Word is a great and precious gift to His people. Psalm 119 celebrates the significance of this gift! Throughout Psalm 119, the power, grace, direction, and clarity of God s Word is celebrated. Yet nothing is more clearly emphasized in Psalm 119 than the power of God s Word to instruct the life of the believer. This is why Psalm 119 is often referred to as the wisdom psalm, because it provides wisdom and instruction on right living and right devotion. Throughout Psalm 119, we ll see this instruction represented clearly in God s laws and precepts. They serve as the foundation for our devotional guide. Each week of devotional writings seeks to highlight important aspects of the biblical text, and align closely with the weekend sermon. Here is an overview: Week One Staying on the right path means guarding our lives with God s Word Psalm 119:10-16 Week Two Dependence on God brings delight in God s Word Psalm 119:33-40 Week Three God s promises will overcome my problems Psalm 119:49-56 Week Four The stable life delights in the Eternal Word Psalm 119:89-96 Week Five A Love for the Word of God will result in a life well lived for God Psalm 119:

6 Week One

7 Week 1 : Day 1 Psalm 119:10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! Almost everyone has a cell phone. Have you ever noticed, that whenever our phone notifies us of a text message, we stop whatever we re doing to check it? Yet, if someone tries to call us, we often swipe left to cancel the call. We figure if people have something important to tell us, they ll either call back or leave a voice message. But text messages are different. When we get a text we read it right away! Nobody asks: Did you read my text message? Instead, we ask: Did you get my text? Why? Because we assume that if they received it they read it. I ve also never heard anyone say: I got your text message, but I didn t read it. I m just not a reader. Strangely, I ve heard plenty of people use this rationale for why they don t read the Bible. We somehow overlook that the Bible is essentially a large text message from God. The psalmist prays that he won t wander from God s commandments. We can t wander away from somewhere we ve never been. If we re going to seek God, we have to spend time in His Word. The Bible will change your life if you give it time to. It s not just that it could or it might it will! Because of our limited perspective, we ve all made decisions we regret, because it can be hard to know what the right path forward looks like. But what if we had access to the eternal perspective of God? That s exactly what He gives us through the Bible. Father, I confess that at times I ve made decisions without considering Your perspective. Guard my life with Your Word. May I spend time reading it so You can speak to me through it. Amen. 5

8 Week 1 : Day 2 Psalm 119:10-11 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. Someone once said: The Word can keep you from sin, or sin can keep you from the Word. That thought echoes the same sentiment the psalmist expresses in today s text. I don t know exactly what temptation you struggle with, but I do know that the solution to overcoming it isn t will-power. The antidote to temptation is truth. Jesus said the truth will set you free! The Bible is filled with stories of what happens when people trust God and follow His commandments. In fact, when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He responded to each temptation by quoting Scripture. If Jesus relied on God s Word to overcome temptation, then how much more do we need it? If we re not consistently spending time in the Word is it any wonder we struggle? The psalmist says the starting point is approaching His Word wholeheartedly. You might wonder: Why does God require me to be so surrendered? Why not make it a bit easier? Because God is more interested in your knowing Him, than simply knowing His will. You don t get to know God more deeply, so you can then decide whether to do His will. You get to know God more deeply by doing His will. Everybody has times when they fall into temptation, but you will never simply fall out of temptation. The only way to overcome temptation is to store God s Word in your heart and allow it to guide your choices your attitudes, and your actions. Father, today I want to seek You with my whole heart. Allow me to surrender all of my life to You. May You guide my steps and keep me from sin. Amen 6

9 Week 1 : Day 3 Psalm 119:12-14 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! 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. For one grueling summer in college, I had a job framing houses. I certainly did not become an expert builder, but I did learn one important lesson. It s a rule that every true carpenter knows: measure twice, cut once. Be sure you re making the right cut because there is no way to un-cut wood! In life, once we make a decision, it s often too late to go back and start checking our assumptions. I ve known Christians who said things like: I can t understand why my life isn t going better Often the answer is painfully obvious the person hasn t been living from a foundation of biblical truth. I ve been around church long enough to see many people fall away from their faith. I ve seen people who slip back into their favorite sin, a bad habit, or a detrimental relationship. In every single case, before they slipped into sin, they slipped away from the Bible. They stopped making the personal investment of time into embracing God s Word. No other habit will have a more positive impact on your life than reading God s Word and aligning yourself with it. The Bible isn t addressed to whom it may concern. It was written for you! It was intended to enable you to experience the abundant life God has for you. But the Bible cannot benefit you at all if you are not aligned with its truth. Father, as I spend time in Your Word today, teach me what You want me to know. Show me any attitudes or behaviors that don t align with Your will so I can turn away from them and turn toward You. Amen. 7

10 Week 1 : Day 4 Psalm 119:15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. Meditating doesn t mean getting in the lotus position, chanting Ommm, and contemplating what the word existential means. Meditation simply means serious thinking. It doesn t involve putting your mind in neutral. In fact, it means the exact opposite. Do you know how to worry? Then you already know how to meditate. It means considering something in your mind over and over again. Unlike worry, though, you re going to choose to not continually contemplate the negative thought or outcome. Instead, you re going to think seriously about Scripture. If you think about something often enough, you ll get to the point where it becomes automatic. That thought pattern will become more natural for you. This is why it is so important to meditate on Scripture. The Bible gives us God s point of view through commands, promises, and principles. The commands of Scripture are the things we re supposed to do. The promises are what God has promised to do. The principles are the unchangeable truths about how life works. They reveal the cause-effect relationships of what happens when we do or don t follow God s truth. When you have God s precepts in your life, you have everything you need to become who God created you to be. God wants us to spend time in His Word not to scare us or scold us because He wants a relationship with us. He wants us to get to know Him better by using His Word in our everyday life. Father, remind me to meditate on specific biblical truths today. As I spend time in Your Word, teach me what You want me to know. Show me Your will so I can walk in your ways. Amen. 8

11 Week 1 : Day 5 Psalm 119:16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your Word. Nutrition is important. Good food causes us to become stronger, healthier, and even have more energy. Even though junk food tastes amazing, those cheap calories harm our bodies. Even though it tastes good, it can be like poison. The same is true of our thought life. Instead of feeding our minds junk, we need to feed it truth. When we become parents, we re so careful about what goes in our infant s mouth. As adults we take so many supplements into our bodies that it has become a multi-billion dollar industry. Isn t it odd that we have become so casual about what we put into our minds? Let s change that! When most people want to make a change, they focus on changing their circumstances ( I want to lose weight make more money have a better marriage ). Yet, any true change that will happen in our life, doesn t start with our behavior. The change has to start in our mind! If we start with anything else, the change will only be temporary. Do you want to make a change? Delight in God s statutes, and don t forget His Word. To truly see life change we must start by changing the way we think, because our thoughts create our actions, and our actions create our immediate future. Let s delight in God s truth so that our mind can be aligned with His ways. Father, what truth do You want me to remember today? I want to know You more and to be all that You created me to be. Please help me delight in Your Word and remember Your ways. Amen. 9

12 Week Tw o

13 Week 2 : Day 1 Psalm 119:33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Welcome, if you are reading this you are about to make HISTORY! Yes, history belongs to those who pray and today you are committing to seek God in prayer. You are committing to hear from His Word, and to obey His still small voice. All things are now possible, as you are about to enter the meeting of meetings a one-on-one interaction with your Heavenly Father who desires this moment with you! How will you be inspired to pray today? What will be the cause and effect of your prayers? The sweet psalmist of Israel was inspired by God to use a verb to start all his prayers from vv He used teach, give, lead, incline, turn, confirm, and turn to start each prayer. The psalmist is saying that God is the One who causes the actions of his desired prayers. He understands that the work belongs to God. God is the Source. He is the reason. God is Everything. And all who depend on God will delight in His Word. The cause of our prayers is God, through the power of The Holy Spirit, who teaches, gives, leads, inclines, turns, confirms and turns us, all for His glory. He is the Cause, depending prayer is the effect. This is the law of seeking God! Father, I believe in the power of prayer. May You cause me to have a genuine dependence upon You. A dependence that will bring me delight in Your Word. Jesus, I need your Word because I cannot live by natural food alone. May I depend upon You as my Sustainer and Provider of all things. Amen. 11

14 Week 2 : Day 2 Psalm 119:34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. You could be doing anything, but when you pray you come to the Throne of Grace. You are about to join Almighty God in prayer. Thank God for prayer! Consider it for a moment. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to give you this amazing, unspeakable honor! Remember from yesterday how God is the cause of the psalmists request? Today we must consider the effect represented in Psalm 119:33-34? The psalmist is praying with the hope that God would cause him to know the effect. We can see that God is the cause, but what is the effect in the psalmist s life? That he would keep God s Laws to the end as his reward! Have you ever felt like God s Word is a reward? A prize of eternal value, that can never pass away? David is pleading with God to cause this truth to become a reality in his life, but he doesn t stop there. He is still seeking God to be the source of his understanding, which will result in whole-hearted obedience. Have you ever felt as if you were powerless? You come to church, you meet with a group of believers, but still you feel defeated. What do you do when you know better but don t feel like you have the power to do better?. For it s in that very moment that God can give clarity to know and obey His Word! Father, You know me from the inside out! You see how weak I am to know and obey You. Lord, I need You. Please empower me to see clearly so I can know You in the power of Your resurrection and in the fellowship of Your suffering. May I obey You with my whole heart. Amen. 12

15 Week 2 : Day 3 Psalm 119:35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Welcome back to the most meaningful time of your day prayer with a holy and righteous God! Today, let s get inspired to pray by the psalmist. In today s text, David prayed that God would cause him to march on the right path. And the effect of this prayer in David s life would be that he would delight in God s Word. David continues by asking God to cause him to incline or extend his heart. Do we ever ask this of God? To draw near to us? Do we delight in walking in the ways of God? Or does it feel more like a burden? Embarrassingly, I admit that sometimes I take the simple things in my life for granted. And David reminds me that instead of seeking my delight in this world, I need my heart stretched toward God! This is what the psalmist petitions God to make happen to stir in him a heart that longs to live by the truth of God s Word. What could David, or you and I, get when we ask this of God? Freedom from selfishness. That God would grant us a strong desire to see His goodness in our life. That we would be free from a heart that seeks dishonest gain and selfishness, but a heart that is humble before a holy God. Is this your prayer today? As the psalmist has modeled for us it should be! Lord God Almighty, Holy is Your Name. I ask for a deep desire to see Your goodness in the land of the living. Please forgive me for covetousness, dishonesty, and pride that often grows in my heart. I believe that your thoughts and your ways are far better than mine. Would you give me a true delight in Your ways. Amen. 13

16 Week 2 : Day 4 Psalm 119:38 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways Have you ever needed God to do something only He could do? Do you remember a moment in your life that caused you to depend upon nothing but the promises of God? This is exactly where David finds himself as he asks God to turn his eyes away from the evil he sees around him. What is the effect of God answering David s prayer? That God would mold the psalmist s life to walk in His ways. But the psalmist s prayers don t stop there. He continues praying for God to establish him in His promises, because they are given to all who respect God and worship Him. (v.38) Now David is on a roll! He asks that God would cause His critics words to be deflected, because only the words of God are good and true always. (v.39) Do you ever feel as though you waver in your prayer life? You have a hard time embracing the promises of God? You can be established today, because God s promises are given to those who worship Him. This should give the believer confidence! We can trust God for His Word. We can trust God for His promises. And we don t have to allow the words of others to keep us down. Why? Because they don t have the final say God s Word does! Father, all Your promises are fulfilled in Your Son, Jesus! I ask, in the name of Jesus, that You would grant me the grace to embrace the Good News, and for the faith to believe it in all areas of my life. God, I need You to cause me to trust in Your sovereignty and power. Amen. 14

17 Week 2 : Day 5 Psalm 119:40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life! God is depending on you today! He is working to establish His will on earth as it is in heaven, and He desires to use you in the process. Do you believe Him? I believe you do if you are reading God s Word along with this devotional (prayer) guide. This week, we have seen God s cause to teach, give, lead, incline, turn, confirm and turn! But what is the action step to this amazing portion of Psalm 119? What is the effect for the believer? Behold! For all who walk faithfully with God are called to behold Him and His precepts. We are encouraged to behold the righteousness that is ours because of God s amazing grace. As we ve seen throughout this week, David is praying that God would cause him to do many things. And in the final verse of this section, this desire now causes the effect of beholding a deep longing and hunger for God and His precepts. Is this what you re hungering for in your life? Is this the longing of your heart? Let s pray that God would give us a deep-rooted hunger for Him and His precepts, because this is where God gives us true life! Father, thank you for making me righteous through the blood of Jesus. I ask You for the grace to behold who you really are Almighty God. For it is my desire to have a hunger and longing for You and Your ways. Amen. 15

18 Week Th r ee

19 Psalm 119:51Week 3 : Day 1 The insolent utterly deride me Life is not easy! Sometimes it even feels like everywhere we look we see complex problems or significant trials. We are reminded from this section (vv ) of Psalm 119, that Christ followers will all face problems. David encountered problems both externally and internally. David s external challenges came as he was constantly ridiculed because he patterned his life after the commands of God. The world has always been filled with people who hate God, and in turn hate those who love God. David s internal challenges came as it made him angry to see others live their lives in opposition to God s commands. What problems or trials might you be facing today? Are you going through external problems or trials? Are you dealing with a strain in an important relationship? Difficulties at work? Or, perhaps, your problems or trials are more internal? Do you struggle with pride, anger, jealousy, evil desires, ill feelings, poor attitude, or impure thoughts? Before we can allow God to overcome our problems, we must first identify the problems. In Psalm 139:23-24, David wrote a simple prayer that helps us identify internal problems. Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Take a few moments to pray. Asking God to identify what problems you re facing. Then take a few moments to write out your answer to the following questions: What problems are you facing externally? What problems are you facing internally? Once you have identified your biggest challenge pray! Heavenly Father, I know that You care for me. That s why Jesus died for my sins, to that I might be forgiven. Would You please give me strength through the Holy Spirit to face my problems. I trust in You. Amen. 17

20 Week 3 : Day 2 Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. Believe it or not, my wife and I sometimes disagree. We argue when we get mad. And sometimes our marriage is hard. But in those tough moments when we are not getting along, or when we walk through difficult times, I find my mind wandering back to the day of our wedding. That s when I begin to remember afresh the promises that we made to love, honor, and cherish each other. Remembering the promises that we made to God and to each other often changes my attitude. It helps remind me of the life and the joy that God has blessed us with to share together. Just as marriages can be difficult, life can also be difficult. It can be hard. As we walk through life s difficulties and challenges, it is important to find time to go back and listen to the promises that God has given us through His Word. David gives us a good example in verse 50. In his affliction, the psalmist responded to problems that he faced by remembering God s Words by reflecting on His promises. This gave David confidence in God. And it gave him trust in God s faithfulness. Take a minute to look back to some problems you are facing. Then read each of the following Bible passages, and write a promise that God gives to your problem. Psalm 55:22 Isaiah 41:13 Matthew 6:25 Matthew 11:28-29 Philippians 4:6-7 1 Peter 5:7 18 Father, may You give me the faith and trust in You to look beyond my problems. Help me instead to see You and Your Words more clearly. Amen.

21 Week 3 : Day 3 Psalm 119:52 When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD. While traveling through the Smokey Mountains a few summers ago, I had an experience that I won t forget. While driving up the mountain, I found myself enjoying the switchbacks and the steep climbs. I imagined I was driving in one of those aggressive car commercials that shows a car traversing through picturesque terrain. Everything was fine until I started heading back down the mountain. Gravity kept pushing my car faster and faster. Now those switchbacks and sharp turns became close calls with death! Driving up the mountain I paid no attention to the guard rails or signs that warned of upcoming sharp turns. But on the way down, clutching the steering wheel and riding the brake, I was thankful for the guard rails that provided protection. I was grateful for the signs that gave guidance for the steep descent. Sometimes believers are guilty of acting as though God s laws are punishment rather than protection. We view His laws as a list of things we cannot do. But what if we, like the psalmist, saw God s laws as the guard rails that protect us? What if we saw His laws as signs that guide us as we navigate the challenges of life? David, while going through difficulties, turned his mind back to the law of God. He spent time thinking of God s rules, and he took comfort because he understood the rules were there for his protection. As we walk this journey with Christ we may find protection and guidance in God s laws. Father, thank You for the guard rails for life that You have given me in Your Word. Help me to see these as another way that You love me and guide me on my faith journey. Amen. 19

22 Week 3 : Day 4 Psalm 119:55 20 I remember your name in the night, O LORD, and keep your law. A few years ago, I decided that I wanted to compete in a triathlon. One problem: I didn t know how to swim! Sure, I could get from one side of the pool to the other. But when I did, I was out of breath. There was no way that I was prepared to swim two miles. So, I began learning from other swimmers. I watched videos that showed the best way to stroke and breathe. I also spent numerous hours at the community pool practicing. (Enduring much laughter from kids who were swimming circles around me.) After months of changing my habits I could really swim! Developing godly habits is important for our walk of faith especially as we face challenges or problems. And problems will come! Sometimes they will come one at a time, and other times they ll come in bunches. Over this past week, we ve looked at the habits David developed that helped him face his challenges. He filled his mind and heart with God s promises, precepts, provisions. How can a believer develop these habits today? Read It begins by spending time daily in God s Word to hear His words of truth for your life. Communicate daily with God. Let him know your problems and give Him space to speak to you. Listen Make it a habit to regularly listen to the preaching of God s Word. Join a Group. Creates space in your life to gather with others to interact and practice God s Word together. Which of these habits do you need more practice? Ask God for help. Father, thank You for the grace that is mine because of Jesus. Help me to walk more closely with Him by practicing these habits. Amen.

23 Psalm 119:56Week 3 : Day 5 This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts. Have you watched TV or listened to the radio lately? If you have, you know that after watching or listening for a short time you will hear commercials that promote products and services that are guaranteed to solve all of your problems. We hear promises about the best food, the nicest car, the cleanest house, and the best relationship. These products and services promise happiness and peace, but in the end they will always let us down. No matter how much we place our faith in these products, they ll never bring us the blessing we so desperately desire. The blessings that we yearn for don t come from products of services. David discovered that true blessings, true peace, and true joy comes when we know and obey the Word of the Lord. It is not enough just to know what God says we are to do, we must obey what He asks of us. And when we do, the peace, the blessings, and the joy follow. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus gives us this promise, seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Jesus shows that our pursuit as His followers should be to seek Him first, and to know His words and His ways. Are you seeking God to help you know His ways? Father, thank You for the blessing of forgiveness that You have given me through Your Son, Jesus. May I seek You passionately for the rich blessings that I desire because they only come from You. Amen. 21

24 Week Four

25 Week 4 : Day 1 Psalm 119:89 Forever, O LORD, your Word is firmly fixed in the heavens. What is unmovable in your life? Something that never changes and never wavers? Something that is so stable and trustworthy you can depend upon it no matter your circumstances? Perhaps it s the large maple tree in your front yard that offers shade all summer. Perhaps it s your old pickup truck that always performs the tough task with strength and toughness. Perhaps it s the unconditional love you receive from your grandmother. Perhaps it s the lifelong faith you ve seen lived out by your grandfather. Whatever it is that you recognize as firm, fixed, and strong in your life; whatever it is that gives you peace; whatever it is that gives you comfort; whatever it is that gives you something to trust in. That s what the psalmist is affirming in verse 89. He is boldly declaring that the Word of our Lord is firmly fixed in the heavens. What is this Word? God s truth! Throughout this portion of Psalm 119, we are reminded of the trustworthiness of God s Word. We are reminded of its stability. And we are reminded that it was God s truth that provided confidence to the psalmist. God s Word of truth is fixed in the heavens for all to see. It offers more stability than our sturdy maple tree. More faithfulness than our trusty, rusty pick-up truck. And more consistency than our loving grandparents. God s truth is so stable and trustworthy that it is fixed in the heavens. Do you trust in God s Word of truth? Heavenly Father, please give me the ability to see the stability. Grant me the faith to trust Your Word of truth. Amen. 23

26 Week 4 : Day 2 Psalm 119:92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. What brings you joy? What puts a smile on your face? What brings delight to your soul? You know what it is. And you know the importance of depending on it when the trials of life are weighing heavily upon you. For the psalmist, God s law was this source of genuine delight. In fact, his experience with God s law was so life-giving that if he had not had it he declares that he would have died! This perspective seems very different than what most of us think about when we consider God s law. Many believers view God s law as something that puts parameters on our lives. Something burdensome. Why is this? Because we often see God s law as stifling. We often struggle to delight in it. This faulty view often excludes one important aspect of God s law teaching. God gives His people the law to teach us how to think, how to love, and how to live. That s how the psalmist can boldly proclaim that had he not had God s teaching he would have perished. Because he found his joy and his delight in the law of the Lord. This is what God desires from all His followers, that we would find both love for Him and love for His teaching. Why? Because God s law gives life! Father God, help me to respect Your Word and Your ways. Please help me be faithful to set aside time to be with You. I know that You have much to show me. I pray for a humble heart and for godly wisdom. Amen. 24

27 Psalm 119:93Week 4 : Day 3 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. Most of us have days in our lives that we never forget. The day we graduated from college. The day we got married. The day we landed our first career job. The day we witnessed the birth of our child. The day we were diagnosed with cancer. The day we lost a parent. Powerful moments on life s journey that are forever etched into our memory. Some of these memories are moments that we love to reflect upon, while others are painful experiences that we wish we could leave in the past. Good or bad, powerful memories are things we just never forget. The psalmist is declaring that God s precepts are something that will never leave his mind. He says that God s laws of truth will never depart from his memory. They are etched in his mind. Why? Because they have given him the teaching and training necessary to experience true life! Most of the memories that we never forget are based on our experiences the great times and the challenging times. And that s why the psalmists words in verse 93 are so significant; because he acknowledges that the precepts of God have given him life. Are God s precepts fixed in your mind? Are God s teachings something that you never forget? As you engage more deeply with God s Word His precepts will become unforgettable. Father, help me to store up Your Word in my mind and my heart. May I remember it, cherish it, reflect upon it, and never forget it. May it be a true source of life for my faith journey. Amen. 25

28 Week 4 : Day 4 Psalm 119:94-95 I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies. I ve been praying every day for years that my son would come to know Jesus as his Savior. I ve heard many parents of adult children say something like this as tears welled up in their eyes. They shared that they have seemingly worn out a path to God in prayer on behalf of their child. Seeking salvation from our Heavenly Father. That s what lies at the heart of this parental prayer. Spiritual and physical salvation from our Heavenly Father is at the heart of the psalmists words in verse 94, I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. He s declaring to God that he knows his place in the family of God. He is a child of the Father. Yet, the psalmist also makes his dependence upon Almighty God for salvation known. The psalmist also reminds God of his personal faithfulness to engage with His Word. He reminds God that he has sought out wisdom and counsel from His laws. He reminds God that he has consistently pursued the truth found in His precepts. He reminds God that he has not sat idly by without considering the testimonies of God s faithfulness. Whether you are in prayer for a loved one, or seeking salvation for yourself, God s Word is a source of deliverance for the believer. Father, may You give the me courage to seek after Your precepts with faithfulness and consistency. Save me from attack and allow me to know that Your testimonies are true and good. Amen. 26

29 Psalm 119:96Week 4 : Day 5 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad. June 29, That s the day that technology delivered something so new and innovative that it literally changed the world. That s the day that Apple released the first iphone. A device so technologically advanced that it proved to be ground breaking. That is, until the next iphone was released on June 9, The very first iphone was viewed by tech leaders and everyday users as revolutionary until it wasn t. That s how perfection works with things created by man. Today, many of us have an iphone 8. Apple s brilliant technology of 2007 no longer seems as impressive as it did a decade ago. The best the world has to offer is only significant for a season, because all man-made things have a limit. Not so with God and His commands! The psalmist helps us see that God s commands are useful to all people for all times in all circumstances. God s Word gives guidance to our thoughts, comfort to our hearts, and instruction for our path. And it has no limits. God s commands are perfect yesterday, today, and forever! This is why the prophet Isaiah says, The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever. Only God s Word endures. Only God s precepts give life to those who follow them. Only God s commands give true freedom. Father, You are holy. Your commands last forever. May You give me the faith to turn from the temporary blessings of this world, and instead seek true freedom in You and in Your commands. Amen. 27

30 Week Five

31 Psalm 119:97Week 5 : Day 1 Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all day. What do you think about God s Word? Does it confuse you? Does it trouble you? Does it excite or delight you? Do you know God s Word? It seems that many Christ followers in our culture today become familiar with a few Old Testament stories, gain an understanding of a couple of Jesus teachings, and grasp a few biblical concepts and then assume they know enough about God s Word. This isn t what the psalmist experienced. If I spent time listening to my wife for the first couple years of our marriage and then one day just thought, Alright, I think I know enough about her, would my love for her continue to deepen? Would our relationship continue to grow? Of course not! Yet it seems as though many believers approach God and His Word this way. Maybe you ve fallen out of love with God s Word for some reason. If this is your story, don t be discouraged. There is good news! God s Word is not moving or changing! You can reconnect with the truth of what you ve been missing. You can dig into the history, poetry, philosophy and prophecy that has inspired generations before you. It s right where God left it and just how He wants it, breathed out by His Spirit for us to have and to hold, all day, every day, until death do us part. Father God, help me to love Your Word. Help me to read it, process it, and be changed by it. Help me to put Your Word in my heart that it may become a part of who I am all day, every day. Amen. 29

32 Week 5 : Day 2 Psalm 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers What do you value in this world? Do you think more about appearance, money, and notoriety than you do about wisdom, knowledge and virtue? It seems that our culture does little to honor the wisdom and experience of the aged. Yet we are quick to celebrate outward beauty and wealth. An estimated $8 billion is spent on beauty products in America each year! It s clear what we value as a culture. Yet, according to Scripture, gaining wisdom, knowledge, and virtue is far more important than losing weight or worrying about wrinkles. Yet even in our appearance-driven culture, there a is a deep-seated respect for those who live a high-character life. But where does this character come from? When we choose to love God s Word and seek to live out what it teaches. God s laws were not given to make His people miserable. They were not designed to make His followers unhappy. They were given to us to make us more like Him. This idea is similar to being an earthly father. I don t tell my kids not to play in the streets because I don t want them having fun. I do so because I want to protect them. I give them guidance because I know what s best for them. And God wants the same for us. So, let s seek a deep understanding of God s Word and allow it to shape our character. Father, help me to put my hope in You and Your wisdom. Your ways are beyond my own. I trust that as I get to know Your heart better through Your Word, Your Spirit will mold my life to look more like Your Son, Jesus. Amen. 30

33 Psalm 119:100Week 5 : Day 3 I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. We have been contemplating wisdom and understanding the past couple days from Psalm 119:98-100, where we read about three very important words. All three words give us insight into growing in God s ways. The first word (v. 98) is commandment. The psalmist says that God s commandments, are what God tells us to do and what not to do. And while it may be hard to understand at first, these commandments actually give us more wisdom than our enemies. Let s use the classic commandment, Thou shalt not covet as our example. God is telling us not to want possessions that we don t have. While some may see this as stifling, it s actually quite the opposite. There s real freedom in living this way! God knows there is great wisdom in this approach to life. The second word (v. 99) we see used by the psalmist is testimonies. In other words, all the life lessons and stories of Moses, Abraham, David and Solomon give us more knowledge and wisdom than many of our own current teachers. The testimonies of these heroes of the faith make us wiser. These stories give us timeless insight on how, and how not, to live. The third word (v. 100) is precepts. And the emphasis is that when God s people follow God s precepts it helps us become wiser than the aged. Because living out God s instruction has the power to show us wisdom. Are you following God s commandments? Are you listening to God s testimonies? Are you living by God s precepts? All three of these words help to make us wise. Father, help me to know Your ways. Help me to learn from those who came before me. May I put into practice Your wisdom. Show me how to value God s commandments, testimonies, and precepts so that I might follow You every day. Amen. 31

34 Week 5 : Day 4 Psalm 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste; sweeter than honey to my mouth. One of my favorite definitions of worship is an active response to the presence of God in Your life. Worship is an action that feeds a desire for God. And worship itself is fed through an increasing knowledge of God. So, it s easy to grasp that you cannot respond in worship to someone that you do not know. To keep with this line of thinking, it s important for followers of God to know God s Word. Because you can t keep God s Word if you don t know God s Word. As we read God s Word, the easier it is to see its goodness. As we meditate on God s Word, the clearer it is to see God and His creative handiwork. This is why the psalmist can say that God s words are sweet because they help all who read see God more clearly. And the more clearly we see the power and majesty of God, the more likely we are to respond to Him in worship. Singing sweet songs of adoration and praise! When God s people worship, we are acknowledging what is good, what is true, what is right, and what is pure about God and His holy Word. God, help me to love Your Word so that I can know Your heart. I want to see things the way You want me to see them. Please keep me from evil, and help me know that You are all I need. May You increase my knowledge of You so that I might worship You with all of my being. Amen. 32

35 Week 5 : Day 5 Psalm 119:104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. I ve been married almost ten years. Every day, my wife shows me something that reveals more to me about her character. Even after a decade together, I m still learning a lot about her. Each day is filled with new experiences. Truth is, spouses reveal more and more about ourselves to each another as we spend time together. The deeper we get into each other s lives, the more layers we recognize there are to uncover. This is also true of God s Word! While this could make God s Word seem intimidating, instead it reveals God s heart to us. His Word shows His glory. This is why the psalmist writes, through your precepts I get understanding. In the words of Theologian R.C. Sproul, the Bible is simple enough for a child to understand yet sufficiently profound to inspire the greatest of thinkers. So, if you are an avid Bible reader keep at it! There s still much for you to glean. If you have only skimmed the truths found on the pages of Scripture, I encourage you to make time to read it. And if you ve never spent time in God s Word, begin today. Take time to read it to know a God who loves you more deeply than you know! When you engage deeply with God s Word you ll not only gain a deeper understanding of God and His purposes, you ll also begin to see more clearly the error of the false way. Father God, help me to respect Your Word and Your ways. Please help me be faithful to set aside time to be with You. I know that You have much to show me. I pray for a humble heart and for godly wisdom. Amen. 33

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