Encouragement to Stay Faithful Today
This morning on the radio we looked at Psalm 119. I love the heart of the Psalmist. It seems from reading that he has had a taste of the goodness of God and of following His ways and he is vowing to never walk apart from a life of devotion to God again. That’s the heart I seek.
Look at the words of the Psalmist and see his passion.
Psalms 119:33-38
Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.
Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.
(NIV…emphasis mine)
Yet the Psalmist had apparently lived long enough to know himself. He would make a vow, but then normalcy would set in again and, if not careful, he’d be right back to living to please himself again. He dreaded that return to the mundane Christian experience.
Continue to look at his words:
Verse 39-40
Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good.
How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness. (NIV….emphasis mine)
It reminds me of what happened to Jonah in the belly of a fish. He cried out to God with a heavy realization of what truly is valuable in life:
Jonah 2:8
“Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. (NIV….emphasis mine)
God, help me today not to sacrifice your grace for the seemingly glamorous temporary pleasures and trappings of this world.
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