Psalm 119:73-96
The attitude and approach of the Psalmist captured my attention as I read Psalm 119:73-96 (Yodh, Kaph and Lamedh). Two times in this passage he states that God's law is his delight (vs. 77 and 92), and in a number of other verses he tells us how God's Word has given him life (vs. 93) and that his hope is in God's Word (vs. 74 and 81). There's no doubt in my mind that God's Word is everything to this man and that it is truly his first priority.
So where are you in comparison to the Psalmist? If you're in alignment with him, would you tell us how you got to this point? And if you're not in the same place yet, take a few minutes to think over and consider why that is. Ok, now what can you do to get there? Tami W.
I can relate to this, as more people try and tell you that the bible is irrelevant. I find my peace in the Word, and it has gotten me through times when, like the Psalmist, I felt like my time on Earth was at end.
For me I use to be there. I have allowed things in my life to pull me away and to discourage me and question things, that I knew where true. I now know to hold on and keep god's promises in the front of my mind. To know there will be others out there to trip us up and some may not even know it. That is when we need to continue to go back to God's Word and ask God to help us, and go to others that will keep you on track.
God Bless, Stay the course, it is worth it.
I thank God for His Word, but i need to spend more time meditating on it. I want to saturate myself in His Word from now on; that is my prayer that i will start doing this.
I believe this is moment by moment experience. Once you have eternal life in Christ, you walk with Him evry breath. As long as you keep you eyes on him andyeald to his power within you, you are able to hear the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Our ,old nature, thinking often interferes with his work in us. Praise the Lord he never leaves us and at any given moment we can yeald, once again recieve His direction. Spending time in his word renews our minds and createats a right spirit with in us.
Where is my focus? Is it on myself, my situation, my problems? I need to be God-focused. We are reminded today to look to God with our eyes and soul, our entire self. God is the answer. God is our hope. His Word reveals what I NEED. May God help me to delight in His Word. I thank God for His reminders and the truths of His Word.
I am struggling with worship on the 7th day of the week. If we honor God's word what do we do with Sunday worship?
Who changed from the 7th to the first day of the week as our worship day? Do you know?
This verse really spoke to me! 78)Where the insolent(those that hate, rude, lack respect, arrogant), be put to shame because they have wronged me with falsehoods; for me I will meditate on your precepts (Your Word). I must meditate on His Word to over come and possible expose those that have spread falsehoods, lies about me and have put me to shame. I must trust that God's Word is true and will expose the wrongs that have been done to me and bring those before Him so they can live a faithful life in Him.
I have an anxiety disorder which has caused me to find my solace in God's Word. It is what has been the Balm of Gilead in my life. Any time I begin to neglect the Word my anxiety drives me back to God through His Word.
I am in alignment or perhaps a better statement would be in agreement in that when I read God's law I am delighted to know and reminded that there is a better place where there is all love and not pain and suffering. God's word does give me hope which gives me life when I am worried about the horrors of the world and how those will effect my family and of all of the suffering of innocent people. Un-fortunately like others I fall short. Where God's word should be everything to me I find I am distracted by worldly things. I don't spend near enough time in prayer or in the word. Alas I can only effect things going forward. To get there I have sign up for P4 as well as a couple of other back to the bible newsletters. That was step 1. Step 2 is now reading them. I find that the more I surround myself with God's word and God's love that God starts to become everything to me. I become a better Christian.
I experience the up and down nature of humanity in this part of Scripture. I see the overwhelming joy of God's greatness in the Yodh. I feel the tension believers experience in a sin-saturated world in the Kaph. I rest in the assurance of God's faithfulness in the Lamedh. I have to think anyone who has the Holy Spirit guiding them knows what this is like-being caught between this world and the next. Walking on the edge of this world is hard, but God is good and gives me the assurance of His Truth through His Word.
John, welcome to the P4 family! Glad you signed up to study God's Word with us. We totally agree that great things will come when we surround ourselves with the Word of God. Looking forward to seeing more of your comments on the blog.
Meredith
P4 Team Member
i do not spend enough time with the Lord,I long to do that but the things if the world do get in the way. I know the more time we spend in his word and prayer the closser are walk becomes and we will see that we need it every day.
Hello! This is primarily in answer to Jean's question about the seventh day. If I am not mistaken, Sunday was adopted by the early Christians primarily because Christ was raised on Sunday (maybe also to separate themselves from the Jewish traditions). We also note that Jesus healed on the Sabbath day and Jesus, when questioned, said, "My father is working until now, and I am working." (John 5:17)I think it also says somewhere about not letting man tell us what day etc but for the life of me I cannot find it!!! There are many who have to work on Sundays - especially those in the emergency services. I don't think it really matters which day you take for the Lord as long as you are not doing it for your own convenience. Jesus continually healed on the Sabbath and I think it was really to point out the foolishness of keeping to the letter of the law (John 9 for further example). Keeping the law will not lead you to heaven - faith in Christ and his gift of life will. I am not a Bible scholar but I hope this helps. Pray about the question and I am sure the Lord will answer.
I agree that the up and down nature of the writer is reassuring to me -- I have had times of feeling far from God, and times of feeling near to Him. The difference is me -- how am I choosing to spend my time? I receive the Powered by 4 email everyday -- how many days do I actually read it and pause to allow God to speak to me? Today, I am in alignment with God -- and I got here by filling my mind with His Word at every opportunity. I have a 35 minute commute and I listen to Christian radio; I talk with Him throughout my day and ask Him for help. This didn't happen overnight -- at first, I had to force myself to turn away from the up-beat music station and would find my mind wandering as I listened to a sermon on my commute. But, in a short matter of weeks, I look forward to the drive and plan my time in the car around the shows that are one. I listen online when I can, and I followup by reading. I know for sure -- I DIDN'T DO THIS -- God changed my perception, and turned the dreaded time in the car into a private time for us. I'm so glad I opened the Powered by 4 email today -- thank you for this ministry!!
Re: KS reply to Jean Aug 16, post
Jean:well said on the subject of the sabbath.
The scripture you are looking for is below.
3.Colossians 2:16
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
this message is a clear reminder to me as a believer to keep my eyes focused on the Lord though the storms and battle rage on the one thing i know about God is that God makes a way where there is no way he makes my rights wrong and he opens doors which no man can shut and in hebrews 13 Gods says he will not fail us the best thing we can do is to hold onto Gods promises
His mercy and love have come. Comfort us lord with all your riches and love. Jesus has overcome "it is finished"
I am so glad the bible is not written about only perfect people... I can relate to the psalmist struggles..they are my own. It is so hard to see the relative success of evil. Again and again I look away at the things of the world and again and again God draws my eyes back to Him. GOD IS GREAT!
Like the psalmist I can sing when I'm down and distressed! "like the deear panteth for the waters so my heart..../Give ear to my words oh Lord, Let the words of my mouth, the meditations of my heart.. etc...Hmmmm? its marvelous how the songs are soothing to the soul. Have you experienced heat and torment on the flesh? How did it feel when you took a cool shower? Thats how I feel when I sing the words of the psalmist!