Category: Devotion

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Come and Find Me

Posted on by

Based on Love God Greatly’s study of Psalm 119 / w8d4

Scripture: Psalm 119:174-176 / SOAP: Psalm 175-176

O Lord, I have longed for your rescue,
    and your instructions are my delight.
175 Let me live so I can praise you,
    and may your regulations help me.
176 I have wandered away like a lost sheep;
    come and find me,
    for I have not forgotten your commands

Psalm 119:174-176. NLT

Observation of the Journey

“The psalm ends on the reminder that the power and greatness of God’s word does not rest only in its literary brilliance. Its greatness and glory is in the fact that God comes to us and seeks us in and through His word.”

David Guzik1

We have read throughout this journey how the Psalmist loves God’s Word, he delights in it, he obeys it – but he here cries out to God: “Rescue me… Let me live… Come and find me.” He confesses that he has wandered away like a lost sheep who longs to be found. Can I just tell you, my friends, that while this may, to some, sound like an odd scenario given his love for the Lord and His ways – it does not sound odd to me, for I find it a puzzle piece from my own life. I have been in that place where I have found myself loving Him but veering off the path and finding myself stuck in the wilderness. The threads of sin entangling me, the lies of the enemy pulling me further and further away from the narrow path, and the sound of my Shepherd’s voice. I longed for it at times and wondered how I had gotten so far away. I truly loved His Word, but I found myself in the place of the Apostle Paul; I wanted to do what was right, but I didn’t do it. Instead, I did what I hated.2

I love the way Charles Spurgeon explains this passage. He wrote:

“The Psalmist was not like a dog, that somehow or other can find its way back; but he was like a lost sheep, which goes further and further away from home; yet still he was a sheep, and the Lord’s sheep, his property, and precious in his sight, and therefore he hoped to be sought in order to be restored.” (Spurgeon), cited by David Guszik, Enduring Word – Psalm 119:175-176

Like the Psalmist, I, too, called out to God, asking Him to rescue me, to come and find me, to help me live—not as one dead in their sins but as one alive in Christ and safe in the “sheepfold.” God not only rescued me but pursued me; even as I turned from Him, He pulled me back with His staff and led me to safety. He surrounded me with His protection. He became my refuge, my shield, and my defender.

Response to the Journey

If you have wandered away or strayed from the right path – call out to God. He will find you and rescue you. Do you want to live in slavery or in the rich, free life that Christ died to give you? Tell Him, He will come and find you and lead you safely back to the ‘fold.’

We are like sheep, but we are not without a Shepherd. We can call out to God, and He will rescue us. Find delight in His instructions, and do not forget His commands. As Soloman said of His wisdom, it brings delight to those who find it and healing to their whole body. (Prov. 4:20-22)

Prayer for the Journey

Father, You have pursued and rescued Your people throughout history. but what better story than the one found in Hosea, a picture of Your relentless love for Your beloved but adulterous people, Israel? Through His story, we know that You are a good and faithful Shepherd, or- as pictured in Hosea3, a good and faithful, unbelievably loving husband. May we delight in Your Word and not forget Your commands. May we be quick to follow after You, and if we stray, may we be even quicker to call out to You and rejoice when You lead us back to safety. – Thank You for rescuing me and changing me from the inside out! 🦋

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Let Daily Praise Arise!

Posted on by

based on the LGG Study of Psalm 119 / w8d1

Scripture: Psalm 119:161-164

Rulers pursue me for no reason,
yet I am more afraid of disobeying your instructions.
162 I rejoice in your instructions,
like one who finds much plunder.
163 I hate and despise deceit;
I love your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise you
because of your just regulations.

Psalm 119:161-164 NET

While our focus./SOAP is to be on the last portion of this passage, I couldn’t help getting caught up with the statement that the writer of the Psalm was more afraid of disobeying God’s instructions than he was of the authorities that pursued him without cause. It prompted the question, ‘Do I fear1 disobeying God more than I fear those who “pursue me for no reason,” or for that matter, all of the other concerns of life that strike fear and trembling in the heart and mind?” In other words, do I have more love and respect for God’s Word than I do for the dangers that threaten? –

When we fear God, we acknowledge He is holy and highly exalted the only One worthy of our worship and complete obedience.

gotquestions.org/fearing God

The second portion of today’s journey, particularly the declaration that he hated deceit and loved God’s law, brought more questions to mind. Namely, do I “hate and despise deceit?” If not, how can I then say, like the Psalmist, “I love God’s law?” For God hates a lying tongue. It is a “detestable evil to God, who is a God of truth.”2 To have anything but contempt for deceit is to disregard the Word, which is the truth of God.3

A lying tongue is one that speaks falsehood, knowingly and willingly, with an intention to deceive others. Lying can be used to impugn the character of a brother or to flatter a friend. It is a most detestable evil to God, who is a God of truth. Nothing we do causes us to more closely resemble the devil, who is the father of lies (John 8:44).

gotquestions.org/a lying tongue

The last portion of the verse presented me not so much with a question as with a challenge/inspiration to praise Him from the rising of the sun to its going down. Praise Him when you awaken, when you lie down, and all the hours in between. Look for reasons to praise Him. While I do not believe that seven times is a mandate, I do believe it represents a day filled with praise, and as we have seen from this Psalmist, in good times as well as difficult times.

The More We Know

For more insight, check out the links below as well as the Love God Greatly blog

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

It Only Takes a Spark

Posted on by
Psalm 119:145-160; Week 7 response/recap
My Response

What a great week it’s been in this week’s journey through Psalm 119! Hope…power…prayer…, and loyal love – these are all found and experienced and heightened in and through God’s Word! His true, righteous, and reliable Word is our strength in weakness, our light in darkness, our wisdom in life… our peace and comfort for fears and sorrows…and our salvation and victory over sin and death. There is no greater gift, and we must never waste it! 🦋

The following post is borrowed and shared from the lovegodgreatly.com site. I pray you will read the beautiful post and find a wealth of wisdom and encouragement from every word. Grow from it and share it as you are led – remember: it only takes a spark to get a fire going! –

passing it down to the next generation.

The precious Word of God, read and treasured…worth more than any gem or stone.

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Repetition & Persistence

Posted on by
Scripture: Psalm 119:157-160 / w7d4 of the Lgg study of Ps. 119

The enemies who chase me are numerous.
Yet I do not turn aside from your rules.
158 I take note of the treacherous and despise them,
because they do not keep your instructions.
159 See how I love your precepts.
O Lord, revive me with your loyal love.
160 Your instructions are totally reliable;
all your just regulations endure.

Psalm 119:157-160 NET

Oh, how I am loving our journey through this Psalm. It is a constant example of prayer, boldness, and persistence in coming before God, It is encouragement to come before Him persistently and boldly. It is an inspiration to stay faithfully in love with God and true to Him despite the threat of the enemy. or other circumstances we may face. The Psalm brings conviction to my heart to pray repetitively for those who do not love or keep God’s instructions. It is also a reminder to trust in and depend on the Lord’s “loyal love” and the reliability of His Word – which is the true and evident basis for the psalmist’s persistent request and hope for revival.

 Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness: The psalmist asked God to look at his love for His word, but then asked for revival on the basis of God’s lovingkindness instead of on his own merit.

Enduringword.com

The following commentary is borrowed and shared from a wonderful commentary I found on this particular part of our journey through Psalm 119. I pray you will take the time to read it, as it has much to offer.

 (Ps 119: 157-158) Keeping to God’s word despite persecution.

Many are my persecutors and my enemies,
Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.
I see the treacherous, and am disgusted,
Because they do not keep Your word.

a. Many are my persecutors and my enemies: The psalmist lived life in the real world, not sheltered in a constant Scripture-study environment. His trust in the word of God was forged in the real world, a world full of persecutors and enemies.

i. “Persecution, to the false professor, is an occasion of apostasy (Matthew 13:20-21); to the faithful servant of Christ, it is the trial of his faith (1 Peter 1:6-7), the source of his richest consolations (Matthew 5:10-12, Acts 13:50-52, 1 Peter 4:12-16), the guard of his profession (Matthew 10:16, Philippians 2:14-16), and the strength of his perseverance (Acts 20:22-24).” (Bridges)

b. Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies: The presence of so many persecutors and enemies did not make the psalmist despair or doubt the love of God for him. He didn’t have the expectation that a godly life was a problem-free life. Instead, he was determined to keep turned to and focused on the word of God.

i. “So long as they cannot drive or draw us into a spiritual decline our foes have done us no great harm, and they have accomplished nothing by their malice. If we do not decline they are defeated. If they cannot make us sin they have missed their mark. Faithfulness to the truth is victory over our enemies.” (Spurgeon)

c. I see the treacherous and am disgusted, because they do not keep Your word: It wasn’t that the psalmist expected godly behavior from the ungodly – something that Paul warned about (1 Corinthians 5:9-13). He felt disgusted because God and His word were being disgraced, even if it came from the disgraceful.

i. “I was sorry to see such sinners. I was sick of them, disgusted with them, I could not endure them. I found no pleasure in them, they were a sad sight to me, however fine their clothing or witty their chattering. Even when they were most mirthful a sight of them made my heart heavy; I could not tolerate either them or their doings.” (Spurgeon)

ii. This sensitivity toward sin and passion for the glory of God is entirely characteristic of the revival that the psalmist prays for repeatedly in this section.

iii. “A fellowship with the joys of angels over repenting sinners (Luke 15:10) will be accompanied with bitterness of godly sorrow over the hardness and impenitency of those, who keep not the word of God.” (Bridges)

4. (Ps. 119: 159-160) Revived by the completely true and lasting word.

Consider how I love Your precepts;
Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness.
The entirety of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

a. Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness: The psalmist asked God to look at his love for His word, but then asked for revival on the basis of God’s lovingkindness instead of on his own merit.

i. “A second time he asks for consideration. As he said before, ‘Consider mine affliction,’ so now he says, ‘Consider mine affection.’ He loved the precepts of God – loved them unspeakably – loved them so as to be grieved with those who did not love them.” (Spurgeon)

b. Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness: An idea stated before (Psalm 119:88) is here repeated. Revival is never deserved or earned, but given from the lovingkindness of God.

i. “The consciousness of need is revealed in the thrice repeated, ‘Quicken [Revive] me.’ He feels the weakening of his very life under the pressure of circumstances.” (Morgan)

c. The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever: The psalmist again declares the infallible character of the word of God. The entire word is true, not merely portions or individual concepts from the word. Not only is it true; it is eternally true.

i. “The Scriptures are as true in Genesis as in Revelation, and the five books of Moses are as inspired as the four Gospels…. There is not one single mistake either in the word of God or in the providential dealings of God. Neither in the book of revelation nor of providence will there be any need to put a single note of errata. The Lord has nothing to regret or to retract, nothing to amend or to reverse.” (Spurgeon)

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Prayer and the Word

Posted on by
Scripture: Psalm 119:149-152

Listen to me because of your loyal love.
O Lord, revive me, as you typically do.
150 Those who are eager to do wrong draw near;
they are far from your law.
151 You are near, O Lord,
and all your commands are reliable.
152 I learned long ago that
you ordained your rules to last.

Psalm 119:149-152 NET

While I am not easily intimidated – when I am – whether it be due to those who are eager to do wrong or simply those who have a surly personality, I have learned to trust that when God is near (and He always is) not even the toughest or most fear-inducing person or situation can overpower the peace and joy of His presence. If, for some reason, I cannot sense His presence, I have learned to trust His heart, which He has revealed to us in His Word.

I love the opening words of this passage, “Listen to me because of your loyal love. O Lord.” We should imitate this posture of humility in all of our prayers— coming not as one who depends on his own goodness or worthiness but on the faithful love of the Lord. However, I believe the keywords in this passage are found in verse 151, where the Psalmist declares the Lord’s nearness and reliability. When we know these truths and stand upon them as the promises of God, we will not be shaken in the face of danger. This isn’t to infer that we will never be afraid, but that when we are afraid, we will trust in the one who has said/promised: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

One commentator said it like this: “Though the wicked are near to injure, because far from God’s law, He is near to help, and faithful to His word, which abides forever.” –

Biblehub.com
Encouragement for the journey

Humble yourselves before God and pray. One of the ways we humble ourselves before God is to cast on Him all of our cares/anxieties – not just the ones we think might be important enough but all of them because He cares for us.1 Prayer is one of, if not the greatest, privileges and assets of the Christian’s life. We have been given direct and bold access2 to God and every assurance that we can trust Him to not only hear but answer.3

Like the Psalmist, tell God your concern(s),

Those who are eager to do wrong draw near;
they are far from your law.

Psalm 119:150

and then remind yourself who He is and what He has said or promised.

You are near, O Lord,
and all your commands are reliable.

Psalm 119:151

If you aren’t sure how to pray or prayer itself intimidates you, remember that God has given us His Word, which is filled with untold examples of praying. To pray God’s Word back to Him is both freeing and refreshing, and I believe brings God great delight. 4

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Finding Hope In God’s Word

Posted on by

Scripture: Psalm 119:145-148

I am becoming more and more forgetful, but I have not forgotten how and when I met God – or the years that followed. I remember the ebb and flow of growing in Him throughout my childhood and into my teens and throughout my adult life. I have not forgotten the waxing and the waning of my faithfulness to Him nor the pits of muck and mire that He pulled me from along the way! I remember the sin and the shame but those memories are always followed by the beautiful revelation of God’s grace that is greater than all of my sin. I remember not just His grace but His great love, a love that brings me hope, for it is because of His great love that I wasn’t and am not consumed. It is because of this great love and hope that I learned to call out to Him in prayer, not just in the morning but throughout the day and into the night.

I remember my affliction and my wandering,
    the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them,
    and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore, I have hope:

Lamentations 3:19-21

I cannot recall these memories without also recalling the prophet Jeremiah and the words of his sorrowful lament in Lamentations chapter three – when he remembered his affliction in the days following the destruction of Jerusalem. However, like Jeremiah, I find hope when I also recall the Lord’s great love. Jeremiah described this as God’s compassions that never fail – and I can testify to this truth. For it is because of His great love that I wasn’t consumed. Instead, I was pursued and delivered by His grace from the entrapments of the world into a relationship with Him – and a desire to keep His rules. I no longer found hope in my works or doing/being good but in talking to God and reading His Word. I fell in love with Him through His Word. I also had a baby in these early days of renewal, so like the Psalmist in our journey today – I looked to God in the early morning and looked forward to the naps and nighttime hours when I knew I could pray and meditate on His Word.

22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

Lamentations 3:22-24

Oh, the beauty of these memories and of His faithful mercies, which are still new every morning! As my memory fades, this one prayer increases: May I always remember His Word and never forget that God, in His great love, pursued me, delivered me, and changed the desire of my heart.

25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:25-26
Encouragement for the Journey

Let’s never allow God and His Word or time in prayer to be just a “To Do” on the agenda of our day. Instead, let’s purposefully set aside or find time to spend with Him in His Word and in prayer. Let’s seek to know Him – His desires…the things He loves and delights in, and the things He detests… Let’s learn His rules… observe His character…put Him first in our lives – loving His ways over the ways of the world. Let’s look for His fingerprints every day, listening for His ‘still small voice,’ and learning to trust Him with every need and thank Him for all He has done.

The More We Know

You won’t want to miss this beautiful devotion from the Love God Greatly Team

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Psalm 119

 HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS FOREVER…

Posted on by

Today’s post borrowed from the LGG Post by missionary Joy Forney | Jul 23, 2015 | LGG Psalm 119 Study/w6d5

A recap/response to this week’s journey through Psalm 119:121-144

I spent a few days earlier this week having a little pity party for myself. Yes, I know what you are thinking. I’m not under ten years old, and this is not appropriate behavior for a grown woman, let alone a missionary. But there it is.

The story is this: I was invited to a fun gathering of women that met last week in the States, but as I live in Uganda, I couldn’t make it. Seeing the photos of everyone attending and wishing I could be there… well, a little pity party started. Then I started thinking about my sister having her baby in the next few weeks. It’s her fourth, and I’ve not been there for even one of the births. Sigh. Don’t forget, of course, we’ll be missing out on yet another Thanksgiving and Christmas with family this year (yes, I’m aware it’s only July, but pity parties aren’t limited by the calendar).

And because misery loves company, I wrote a little snippet on Facebook about how I was sad about all of this, thereby extending said pity party not only in my head and heart, but around the world.

And one comment on that post really brought me back to reality. Randy Alcorn, author of  the book Heaven, wrote this on my sorry little post:

“You sound like Paul: “Remembering your tears, I long to see you that I may be full of joy” (2 Tim 1:4). You are in good company missing loved ones! The great reunion awaits, all together with the Lord:

“Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thes 4:17-18.

Thanks for joining Paul in bringing the gospel to the nations on our behalf. Some reward comes now, much will come later. Meanwhile He feels your pain.”

Ah yes, sweet perspective.

It brought me back to truth that my heart needed to hear and reminded me of two things:

1. Our memory verse for this week: 

Love God Greatly Week 6 Memory Verse

This. His righteousness is FOREVER. Forever. The part I was sorely missing in my self-imposed sadness. His righteousness really is forever, and we will be with Him forever. What a promise!

And His law is TRUE. His words are the words of a gentleman, and they are true. I can cling to His word, his promises, and his faithfulness when I am feeling down, lonely, and sad.

2. He has given us each other to remind us of this. 

Clearly, I needed Randy and others to bring me back to the truth, and that is why I love this community here at Love God Greatly so much. We are here to encourage one another in our walks with the Lord. We are here to spur one another on, and to remind each other of His righteousness and His Word.

So, thank you.

Thank you for being my community; for walking this road with me. Let’s commit to pick each other up when we stumble and fall, and point each other back to Forever and Truth.

Let’s continue to encourage each other in the comments. Share your struggles and find someone else to remind of both forever and truth!!

With Love From Uganda,

joy signature
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Joy in His Commands

Posted on by
Scripture: Psalm 119:137-144

I grew up in a home where going to church was a Wednesday and Sunday habit, prayers were prayed, and God’s Word was taught and instilled in us. I am forever grateful for this part of my childhood. The foundations that were laid are priceless and counted as a treasured gift from the Lord. However, as I was reading this passage today – the thought hit me again of how easy it is to become so familiar with the Word and even with God through the eyes of others that we can find ourselves caught up in a religion rather than a relationship with God. We wake up one day to find ourselves living off of the beliefs and the truths we’ve heard preached, only to realize that they lack the joy and substance that come from a life spent with God.

Don’t get me wrong, it is a great gift to grow up in a godly home and to be familiar with God and His Word from infancy, and to place your faith in Him at a young age – but at some point, we must make it our own faith and build on the knowledge we have been given by searching out the Scriptures as the Bereans1 did and by building a relationship with God through Christ that leaves us able to say of our God the same beautiful truths that the Psalmist declared – by belief and experience – he knew and trusted God and found his joy in God’s commands – so much so that he became filled with indignation when others, namely his enemies, disregarded God’s Word.

Read the passage again, noting all of the declarations the Psalmist makes about the Lord. He sees God as righteous and His regulations as fair. He proclaims God’s laws to be perfect and completely trustworthy. He reveals that his love for God’s promises is based on the fact that they have been thoroughly tested, most likely throughout the course of his own life. He doesn’t just assess the Word of God but makes particular note of the indignation he feels because his enemies have disregarded God’s Word. My favorite acknowledgment and assessment comes in verse 143, when he talks of the joy he finds in God’s commands – even when the stresses and pressures of his life weigh him down.

O Lord, you are righteous,
    and your regulations are fair.
138 Your laws are perfect
    and completely trustworthy.
139 I am overwhelmed with indignation,
    for my enemies have disregarded your words.
140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested;
    that is why I love them so much.
141 I am insignificant and despised,
    but I don’t forget your commandments.
142 Your justice is eternal,
    and your instructions are perfectly true.
143 As pressure and stress bear down on me,
    I find joy in your commands.
144 Your laws are always right;
    help me to understand them so I may live.

Psalm 119:1137-144 NLT
Living Out the Journey (personal application)

How about you? How would you describe God and His Word (laws, commands, instructions, regulations)? Do you see them as fallible, fair, righteous, perfect, and trustworthy? Or do you doubt and question them? Are they so precious to you that you are offended or riled up when others disregard them? Do you strive to understand them, remember them, and live them out – or are they just in one ear and out the other until the next time? Have you experienced God’s peace and the joy that comes from His commands, even when life is pressing in on you? – I’m not trying to weigh you down with questions, but rather just simply hoping to share with you the encouragement that God pressed on me as I read the words of the Psalmist. – Know who God is, find delight in His Word, and if you don’t know or see God as the Psalmist described Him – search the Word – ask God for the understanding of who He is and the truths of His Word. Seek Him with all of your heart, and I promise you – He will be found –

The More We Know

You will find me when you seek me … While these prophecies and promises are specifically related to the people of Judah and Israel, the principle that God will draw near to those who draw near to Him is a universal truth (James 4:8a). But we have to draw near to God on His own terms—with clean hands and purified hearts (James 4:8b) that only God can provide by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9). While Jeremiah’s letter recorded the words of God for the exiled people of Judah, readers today can benefit from recognizing that the same God who said, “You will find me when you seek me with all your heart,” has also told us that we can draw near to Him and He will draw near to us (James 4:8) and that He will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

gotquestions.org/Jer 29:13

Seek and you will find… The heart of Jesus’ point is that God is listening, paying attention to His people, and ready to give them good gifts. What a remarkable truth! The God of all creation cares so deeply about His children that He hears them when they pray. Even better: He answers. This also speaks to those with doubts and questions about faith. Those who lack faith, but pursue truth, will find it in Christ (Mark 9:24; John 14:6).

Bibleref.com/Matthew 7:7
https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

FLEEING FAST FOOD SPIRITUALITY…

Posted on by
Scripture: Psalm 119:133-136

Today’s post is borrowed and shared from LoveGodGreatly.com’s study of Psalm 119

by WhitneyD | Jul 22, 2015 | Week6/Day3

Wanna know a terrible secret of mine?

I like french fries. What’s worse? The more salt on them, the better.

When I was pregnant with my first baby, they were my quick go-to snack when I could no longer ignore those impatient hunger cravings that came on without notice. I know, I know… super unhealthy choice. But fast food is convenient, man. Preparing healthier options took time, preparation, and intentionality, and it was honestly just easier to indulge in a moment of weakness than to plan ahead.

I got away with it for awhile. At least it seemed that way. But over the course of my pregnancy, all of those moments of weakness eventually went straight to my hips. Of course, they did. Postpartum, I found myself uncomfortably weighed down by my unhealthy choices – both literally and figuratively.

I was miserable, and something had to change.

As I began to pay attention to my eating habits, I noticed that it wasn’t one huge bad decision that put me over the edge each day. Rather, it was a combination of small compromises that added up over time. A bite here. A lick there. A desensitization to the long term effects that the sum of my choices would produce over time, because I could justify my desire just this once.

In my desperation I started implementing small changes. Trust me, my body wouldn’t be transformed overnight. But as I made physical exercise and healthy eating greater priorities in my life, day by day and bite by healthy bite, I noticed that I craved those french fries less and less over time.

As I fed my body the good stuff, it got easier to leave the bad habits behind.

Love God Greatly

Taking the undisciplined, compromised road physically has its consequences. Sort of like our spiritual lives.

Sin is all around us, screaming for us to indulge.

It creeps up on us in our weakest moments.

Over time, it weighs us down and makes us all kinds of uncomfortable.

Sometimes it’s one big flop, but often it’s the seemingly small stuff that we justify because we think we can pull it off with minimal damage.

It desensitizes our convictions and tempts us to give in just this once.

It convinces us that it’s more fun to indulge in the moment than it is to invest wisely in the future.

And unfortunately for most of us, sin usually isn’t defeated overnight. 

But as we make God’s Word a priority in our lives, our hearts are redirected. By God’s transforming power we crave His law more and more, and by His grace we begin to crave the things of this world less and less.

“Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.” ~ Psalm 119:133

Reading God’s Word won’t always be convenient. It takes time, preparation, and intentionality, and is a task that will require planning and commitment every day for the rest of our lives.

But the results are oh, so satisfying.

Are you tired of settling for fast food spirituality?

Let’s fight against sin by feasting on the good stuff… together.

*Let’s Talk: What do YOU need to flee from in order to pursue more intimacy with God through His Word?

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Your View of God’s Rules…

Posted on by
Scripture: Psalm 119:129-132

How do you view God’s rules (laws, commands, instructions)? –This was the question that came to mind as I read the words of the Psalmist in verse 125: “Your laws are wonderful. No wonder I obey them!” Keep in mind what we learned earlier in our study concerning the variation of Moses’ “use of the word laws (commands, commandments, decrees, and statutes…), how they refer to the overall principle of obedience to all that the Lord commands, whether it is a general command, a prescribed law, a legal verdict, or a religious festival or ritual.”1

Having established this, let me ask you the question that I asked myself, ‘How do you view God’s rules?’ Do you consider them burdensome or wonderful? Do you believe they need to be faithfully followed or do you find yourself thinking, or at least wondering if, they are archaic and no longer of importance? Or do you possibly see them as burdensome, too hard to understand or to obey/follow?

This Psalm (and the Holy Spirit) have reminded me that how we view the rules and regulations of God matters greatly. When we see them as wonderful rather than burdensome or discount them as archaic – we will, like the Psalmist, count them worthy of obedience. We will use them as light for our paths and seek them as necessary insight for our understanding not only of the Word but of God Himself. When this is our view, we will long both for God and His commands – and we will be found as faithful followers of the One whose mercies are new every morning.

Friend, if God’s commands seem burdensome or archaic and dismissable, ask Him to change your view. Ask Him to help you see them as beautiful, helpful, good, and needful instructions. Ask Him to help you long for them, to pant for them as the deer pants for the water, and to follow them faithfully. When this happens, Your relationship with God will deepen, and You will see the faithful goodness and mercies of Your God – and your view of His commands will change from dread to delight. I know this – because this is the story of my life!

Me-from the inside-out🦋