based on the Love God Greatly Study, Psalm 119, Seeking Him With All Our Heart/ w1d1
THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)
Scripture: Psalm 119:1-8 / SOAP 1-2
Joyful are people of integrity,
Psalm 119:1-8 NLT
who follow the instructions of the Lord.
2 Joyful are those who obey his laws
and search for him with all their hearts.
3 They do not compromise with evil,
and they walk only in his paths.
4 You have charged us
to keep your commandments carefully.
5 Oh, that my actions would consistently
reflect your decrees!
6 Then I will not be ashamed
when I compare my life with your commands.
7 As I learn your righteous regulations,
I will thank you by living as I should!
8 I will obey your decrees.
Please don’t give up on me!
While works are not part of our salvation (Eph 2:8-10), they should play a part in our faith (Phil 2:12). As we have discovered on many of our journeys, the Christian faith is not meant to be passive. If we want to enjoy the full and satisfying life that Christ came to bring, we must be active in our faith. The Psalmist paints a clear and beautiful picture of what this means.
As we will see throughout the Psalm, the full and satisfying life requires the Word of God. However, it’s not just to be carried in our hands, laid on a table in our homes, or downloaded on our phones but hidden in our hearts and minds and part of our speech and way of life.
Why aren’t all believers joyful? Because there is a key to being filled with the joy of the Lord. The Psalmist writes that joyful people are people of integrity, meaning they are honest and have strong moral principles. Joyful people are those who obediently follow the instructions of the Lord and obey His laws. They are the people who seek after God with all their hearts; they want to know Him and model their lives after Him.
LIVING THE JOURNEY (APPLICATION)
- live an active faith
- search diligently for God with all of your heart
- learn His righteous regulations
- don’t compromise with evil
- walk only in His paths
- carefully keep God’s commandments
- give Him thanks by living as you should
Question FOR THE JOURNEY
- What is the best way to search for God?
- How do we do this, specifically with all of our hearts?
PRAYER FOR THE JOURNEY
Father, help us – You are good and faithful. Your Word is TRUTH, and Your ways are upright. Help us to be like You. Help us to walk only in Your path and not compromise with evil. Let us live in such a way that we are not ashamed. Help us to thank You by living as we should – Holy and upright – as You have called us to. – In Jesus’ Name – amen!
Me From the Inside Out 