today's meditation (Ps.119:97-112) Remaining Steadfast

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 119:97-112) 

97   How I love Your Law!
       It is my meditation all the day.
98   Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
       For they are ever mine.
99   I have more insight than all my teachers,
       For Your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than those who are old,
       Because I have complied with Your precepts.
101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
       So that I may keep Your word.
102 I have not turned aside from Your judgments,
       For You Yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are Your words to my taste!
       Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 From Your precepts I get understanding;
       Therefore I hate every false way.

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
       And a light to my path.
106 I have sworn and I will confirm it,
       That I will keep Your righteous judgments.
107 I am exceedingly afflicted;
       Revive me, Lord, according to Your word.
108 Be pleased to accept the voluntary offerings of my mouth, Lord,
       And teach me Your judgments.
109 My life is continually in my hand,
       Yet I do not forget Your Law.
110 The wicked have set a trap for me,
       Yet I have not wandered from Your precepts.
111 I have inherited Your testimonies forever,
       For they are the joy of my heart.
112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes 
       Forever, even to the end.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Although God teaches us and changes us from the inside out, our obedience still requires our will.  Our actions are a result of our willingness to seek out and do God's will.  So even when we do make mistakes or find ourselves in trouble, what we have set before us as our heart's desire, will help guide our actions.  

To keep from stumbling, it also helps to hate the things that God hates.  It is less likely that we will be tempted to do something that we hate.  And always we need to keep going to God for help!  When we ask, God is faithful to guide us and fill us with wisdom.

today's meditation (Ps.119:81-96) Recognizing Perfection

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 119:81-96) 

81 My soul languishes for Your salvation;
     I wait for Your word.
82 My eyes fail with longing for Your word,
     While I say, “When will You comfort me?”
83 Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
     I do not forget Your statutes.
84 How many are the days of Your servant?
     When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?
85 The arrogant have dug pits for me,
     People who are not in accord with Your Law.
86 All Your commandments are faithful;
     They have persecuted me with a lie; help me!
87 They almost destroyed me on earth,
     But as for me, I did not abandon Your precepts.
88 Revive me according to Your faithfulness,
     So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

89 Forever, Lord,
     Your word stands in heaven.
90 Your faithfulness continues throughout generations;
     You established the earth, and it stands.
91 They stand this day by Your ordinances,
     For all things are Your servants.
92 If Your Law had not been my delight,
     Then I would have perished in my misery.
93 I will never forget Your precepts,
     For by them You have revived me.
94 I am Yours, save me;
     For I have sought Your precepts.
95 The wicked wait for me to destroy me;
     I will diligently consider Your testimonies.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection;
     Your commandment is exceedingly broad.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

David praised God for His faithfulness and counted on His faithfulness to save and revive him.  In David's lifetime, he had a lot of experiences with many dangerous and powerful enemies, so he would have known from experience that God is always faithful.  As well, being a king, he would have seen many wonderful things that this world can offer, but David recognized the perfection of God and His word.

As for me, no matter where or how I need help, God's wisdom and guidance never fails me.  And no matter what I'm going through, when I wait on the Lord, I am never disappointed.  My experiences are not as vast as king David's, but I have had enough to know for myself that God is always faithful, and His word is true.

today's meditation (Ps.119:73-80) Having No Regrets

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 119:73-80) 

73 Your hands made me and fashioned me;
     Give me understanding, so that I may learn Your commandments.
74 May those who fear You see me and be glad,
     Because I wait for Your word.
75 I know, Lord, that Your judgments are righteous,
     And that You have afflicted me in faithfulness.
76 May Your favor comfort me,
     According to Your word to Your servant.
77 May Your compassion come to me so that I may live,
     For Your Law is my delight.
78 May the arrogant be put to shame, because they lead me astray with a lie;
     But I shall meditate on Your precepts.
79 May those who fear You turn to me,
     And those who know Your testimonies.
80 May my heart be blameless in Your statutes,
     So that I will not be ashamed.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

David asks God for insight!  Since God created us, He knows exactly what we need and what we should be doing in order to live a righteous life.  And since He created all of us, He knows exactly what we need to be doing in order to get along with others.  This includes knowing what to do when we face our enemies or those who might cause us trouble.

As well, God knows exactly what we should be doing in order to get along with other believers.  As brothers and sisters in Christ, we should love and appreciate each other!  As brothers and sisters in Christ, we should encourage, help and pray for each other.  We should enjoy getting together to worship and praise God.  Our faith and trust should never deviate from God by placing that on ourselves or others.

Each one of us needs to remain focused on God and living in His will... trusting that what He says will work.  From past experiences, I know that when I have done it the world's way, or my way, I find myself in further trouble.  And even though God's way sometimes doesn't "feel" right or doesn't quite make sense - I've got to say - I have never had regrets after doing something in God's will!   God's way always works!

today's meditation (Ps.119:65-72) Seeing Value in Suffering

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 119:65-176) 

65 You have treated Your servant well,
     Lord, according to Your word.
66 Teach me good discernment and knowledge,
     For I believe in Your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
     But now I keep Your word.
68 You are good and You do good;
     Teach me Your statutes.
69 The arrogant have forged a lie against me;
     With all my heart I will comply with Your precepts.
70 Their heart is insensitive, like fat,
     But I delight in Your Law.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
     So that I may learn Your statutes.
72 The Law of Your mouth is better to me 
     Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

David valued God and His Law so much that he valued the time that he suffered, because it was a time when he could grow closer to God and have a better understanding of His word.  If we say that we trust in God and that He is always there for us and that His word is truth, but never go through anything, how can we actually know this?  Where would be our proof?  So, any time that we struggle through something, we should look at it as an opportunity to learn and grow in our faith and knowledge of God.

today's meditation (Ps.119:57-64) Hurrying to God's Will

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 119:49-176) 

57 The Lord is my portion;
     I have promised to keep Your words.
58 I sought Your favor with all my heart;
     Be gracious to me according to Your word.
59 I considered my ways 
     And turned my feet to Your testimonies.
60 I hurried and did not delay 
     To keep Your commandments.
61 The snares of the wicked have surrounded me,
     But I have not forgotten Your Law.
62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You 
     Because of Your righteous judgments.
63 I am a companion to all those who fear You,
     And to those who keep Your precepts.
64 The earth is full of Your goodness, Lord;
     Teach me Your statutes.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Why wait?   If we know that God is good, and that living in His will is beneficial to our lives, why would we not want to immediately correct something that we are doing wrong?  And when we face temptations, why would we not immediately think through God's Law in order to remain steadfast? 

 And to help in our walk, why would we not turn to the Lord in prayer and thanksgiving no matter when or where we are.  And to have extra little help in our walk, why would we not develop deep friendships with those who also walk in God's will?  If the best things in life are in one direction, why would we walk in the opposite direction?

today's meditation (Ps.119:49-56) Living in God's Comfort and Hope

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 119:49-56) 

49 Remember the word to Your servant,
     In which You have made me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my misery,
     That Your word has revived me.
51 The arrogant utterly deride me,
     Yet I do not turn aside from Your Law.
52 I have remembered Your judgments from of old, Lord,
     And comfort myself.
53 Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked,
     Who abandon Your Law.
54 Your statutes are my songs 
     In the house of my pilgrimage.
55 Lord, I remember Your name in the night,
     And keep Your Law.
56 This has become mine,
     That I comply with Your precepts.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

God's word and promises should be our comfort and hope.  And this hope isn't just a wishy-washy-type of "oh I hope so", it is a present confidence of things we know are true and of things yet to come.  One thing about living in this hope is that we don't take it for granted.  If we say that we believe in God and His word and that our hope and trust is in Him, then we will love His commandments and know that they are for our benefit.  We will then be actively striving to live in His will, all in His strength, all to His glory!

today's meditation (Ps.119:41-48) Having Confidence

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 119:41-48) 

41 May Your favor also come to me, Lord,
     Your salvation according to Your word;
42 So that I will have an answer for one who taunts me,
     For I trust in Your word.
43 And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
     For I wait for Your judgments.
44 So I will keep Your Law continually,
     Forever and ever.
45 And I will walk at liberty,
     For I seek Your precepts.
46 I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings 
     And shall not be ashamed.
47 I will delight in Your commandments,
     Which I love.
48 And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments,
     Which I love;
     And I will meditate on Your statutes.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

I've always wanted to have a ready answer which was confident and ironclad in case anyone tried to ridicule or challenge me.  We have to remember that David was speaking of eternal salvation from the Lord hundreds of years before He had even finished His work on the cross.  This is how much faith David and other godly ones of the Old Testament had!  They weren't sure how God was going to make it happen, they just had faith in God that He would somehow make that happen.

Now we have the Bible, both the Old and the New Testaments.  Within these pages are many prophecies, most of which have been fulfilled already.  It also contains many testimonies of eyewitnesses to all these events.  And anything found in both nature and historical archives supports what the Bible says, it never undermines it.  

If this isn't enough to give one confidence, we definitely will find confidence and strength from God's words themselves!  But remember that being a believer isn't academic or about winning any sort of debate, it is a personal relationship with God.  Therefore, our confidence comes from Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! From God, Himself!