God – Page 27 – Me From the Inside Out

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

FLEEING FAST FOOD SPIRITUALITY…

Posted on July 2, 2024June 30, 2024 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.

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?

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 July 1, 2024July 1, 2024 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🦋

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

I AM THE PSALMIST…

Posted on June 30, 2024June 29, 2024 by

Scripture: Psalm 119:121-128

Guest post today: by Angela Perritt | Jul 20, 2015 | Week 6/Day 1 of the LGG Psalm 119 Study

I am the Psalmist.

I, too, have a history of crying out to God, reminding Him of all that I do for Him, and asking Him the “whens” and the “whys”…

When Lord? When will you avenge?

Why Lord? Why have you allowed this?

And I, too, have a history of telling Him when He needs to act…

“It is time for you to act, O Lord…” ~ Psalm 119:126

Because of my limited sight and understanding, I struggle to comprehend the ways of our Lord at times.

I don’t have His perspective.

I don’t have His knowledge.

I am not God.

And so I become the Psalmist and cry out to Him with questions that are beyond my understanding… and I realize I am just a child.

Age is funny, you know. The older I get the more I realize how much there is to learn in life, and how very patient God is with my growth.

God is good and patient (Psalm 136:1 & 2 Peter 3:9).

I like that God is good. But patient? That can be a little harder when I’m waiting on Jesus to act.

The Jews in Jesus’ day wanted a Savior who would concur and overthrow the Roman oppressors. They wanted action. They wanted revenge. They wanted all those who had hurt them to finally have their day.

And in many ways, I am no different. And neither is our buddy the Psalmist.

He has highs and lows as he pursues knowing God better and gaining greater wisdom… just like me.

I’m taking comfort that here is a man who is completely sold out to God – a man who treasures God’s Word more than gold or gems – and yet I see this man struggle with waiting on the Lord to move. I hear him remind God of the righteous life he has led, just in case God may have missed it. I see him plead with God as he continues to be oppressed.

And in a strange way, it encourages me. It strengthens me.

Maybe it’s the progression of moving from “baby food” to “solids” in terms of spiritual growth, but it comforts me to know that other people who are 100% sold out for God – those who desperately want to live their lives for Him – struggle in their understanding of why He chooses to act sometimes, and at other times remains patient and does not step in and fix the situation like we want Him to.

But I’m starting to notice that in the waiting…there is precious growth.

In the waiting there is purpose.

“Deal with your servant according to your love and teach me your decrees. I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.”

The Psalmist does cry out to the Lord, but he also accompanies it with a sincere desire to know God and learn His ways:

“… teach me your decrees.”~ Psalm 119:124

“… give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.”~ Psalm 119:125

His heart is humble and teachable. He wants God’s ways over his own.

And maybe that’s the purpose of the waiting: the precious growth it produces.

“God’s delays are not God’s denials.”- Warren W. Wiersbe

So, like the Psalmist, I cry out to God and say:

“It is time for you to act, O Lord; your law is being broken.” ~ Psalm 119:126

But in these days of waiting, I’m learning to dig a little bit deeper into God’s Word and pray a little more earnestly. And that’s always a good thing.

“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done…” ~ Matthew 6:10

“The day will come when the truth will be revealed and sin will be judged; meanwhile, instead of complaining about what we have paid or lost, let us rejoice in the wealth that we have in God’s Word; wealth that can never be taken from us.”- Warren W. Wiersbe

Let’s Talk:

Don’t doubt for a second that God doesn’t see what’s going on in our world. But in the waiting, how can we be more proactive in growing in our faith and reaching out to a hurting world… being the hands and feet of Jesus?

Love God Greatly!

– I’d love for you to leave your thoughts on this question in the comment section 🦋

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

Christ, Our Hiding Place…

Posted on June 27, 2024June 27, 2024 by

by Jen Thorn | Response to Love God Greatly’s study on Psalm 119 -week 5

I have always had a fascination with castles. It is a wonder that men could build such beautiful and strong structures without our modern technological advances. Something that has always fascinated me are the secret rooms and passages common in castles. Such hidden spaces in the walls, in the roof, or behind works of art were for protection and escape when under siege. During the reign of Elizabeth I of England (1558-1603) more of these secret rooms were built in order to hide and protect priests from persecution. This is how they came to be called “priest holes.”

Over the centuries people have used secret hiding places in order to protect themselves from danger. During the Second World War in Germany, many Jews were hidden in private citizens’ homes. Al Capon (a notorious Chicago mobster) had a secret hideaway bar in the suburbs of Chicago. We even hide in our basements when there is a threat of tornadoes.

We all need safe places; that is why we live in houses. We need protection from the weather, from animals, and from people who want to steal our things or hurt our families.

But there is something even more precious than wealth and health that needs protection – our hearts and our souls.

During our lifetime we experience constant ups and downs, happy days and hard days, good news and devastating news, temptations and cruelty, evil and doubt, just like the Psalmist. All of this often puts us in the most dangerous of situations.

But have you noticed what he does in Psalm 119? No matter what comes his way, he always runs to God. Even more specifically, he runs to God’s word. This is his safe place from the tumultuous life he lives, and it must be ours as well.

5 Reasons Christ Must Be our Hiding Place

1. His Strength is Unmatched

“Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this:

that power belongs to God.” ~ Ps. 62:11

Our attackers are not just worldly, but also spiritual. We need to find safety in something that can protect us from the arrows of men and devils, from folly and error, sin and eternal death. The Lord is a shield who surrounds us on all sides (Ps. 3:3) and his strength ensures that the enemy can never defeat us because there is no weak spot in this shield.

2. His Secret Places are For Us

“The mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations,
but has now been manifested to His saints … which is Christ in you,
the hope of glory.” ~ Col 1:25,26

Ralph Robinson once explained the more secret a place the more safe we are. In Christ are all the mysteries and secrets of this world and the next. The secrets of who God is, who we are, and salvation itself are disclosed to us that we might enter the secret places for safety. The only way to keep our heart and soul safe is by knowing and treasuring these mysteries as they come to us in God’s word and are received by faith.

3. His Faithfulness Endures Forever

“For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.” ~ Ps. 100:5

In order to feel safe you have to be able to trust the one who is protecting or hiding you. Who is more trustworthy than Christ! He always does what he says. He is true to his every word at all times and because he is perfectly good he will always do what is right.

4. His Watchfulness Guards Us

“He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” ~ Ps. 121:3,4

Castles and fortresses come with guards, but human guards are not always reliable. They grow tired and fall asleep. They may miss an approaching enemy and make the castle susceptible to defeat. But we have a guard who doesn’t doze off and is therefore never caught off guard. Enemies can’t sneak up on him and nothing can take him by surprise. Meditating on this will be a huge source of comfort for us during anything we go through.

5. His Love Ensures Our Safety

The one who would watch over us the best is the one who loves us the most. Who loves us better than Jesus? He went to unimaginable lengths to keep us safe and he will continue to do all that is necessary to ensure that none will be snatched out of his hand (Jn. 10:28) and that we arrive safe and sound in his eternal Kingdom.

We have been given everything we need for life and godliness because we have been given Christ himself. He is our shield, our fortress, and our hiding place. Like the Psalmist, let’s run to our God all the time for everything we need.

Looking To Jesus,

Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Your Word is My Source of Hope

Posted on June 26, 2024June 22, 2024 by

Scripture: Psalm 119:113-120 / SOAP verses 113-115

I hate those with divided loyalties,
    but I love your instructions.
¹¹⁴You are my refuge and my shield;
    your word is my source of hope.
¹¹⁵Get out of my life, you evil-minded people,
    for I intend to obey the commands of my God.
¹¹⁶Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live!
    Do not let my hope be crushed.
¹¹⁷Sustain me, and I will be rescued;
    then I will meditate continually on your decrees.
¹¹⁸But you have rejected all who stray from your decrees.
    They are only fooling themselves.
¹¹⁹You skim off the wicked of the earth like scum;
    no wonder I love to obey your laws!
¹²⁰I tremble in fear of you;
    I stand in awe of your regulations.
Psalm 119:113-120 NLT

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
Matthew 16:23 NLT

Observations of Today’s Journey

When our loyalty is divided between God and the world/man, we are a hindrance to the Gospel and the work of God. Actually, according to Jesus, we are an instrument of the devil! For this reason, if for no other, we must search for God – seek His Word – and love His instructions. We must use His Word as a shield and refuge – a source of HOPE – ridding ourselves of evil-minded people and determining to choose obedience to God’s commands over the fear of man or the pleasures of this world.

It has become increasingly easy for Christians in the 21st century to have divided loyalties—defined by Jesus as setting our minds on the things of man rather than on the things of God, or as the New Living Translation puts it, “seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” We tend to view things as right or wrong from the standpoint of what seems fair to us or what has become acceptable in the world/culture around us – rather than what God has deemed right or wrong in His Word. This is a dangerous way for anyone to live, but certainly for the believer. – Look again at the words of the Psalmist for what awaits the wicked.

But you have rejected all who stray from your decrees. They are only fooling themselves. You skim off the wicked of the earth like scum; no wonder I love to obey your laws! I tremble in fear of you; I stand in awe of your regulations.

Just in case you find yourself thinking – yeah, but believers aren’t held to a standard of obedience – please consider the words of Christ, who said in John 14:15 –

“If you love me, obey my commandments.”

If you still find yourself wanting to make excuses and defend your choices as modern-day acceptances, then think about these words of the Apostle Paul to the believers in Rome and in Galatia:

Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! ¹⁶Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Romans 6:15-16

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Still not convinced that God’s ways are always meant to supersede the ways or cultural norms of the world’s standard? Consider these words of Paul –

Living out today’s Journey through application

Let’s face it—it isn’t easy to live counterculturally, but it is God’s call upon our lives. Jesus said that if we want to follow Him, we must turn from our wicked ways, deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him. We must join the Psalmist and guard against divided loyalties by keeping our eyes/minds on God and His Word, loving ‘it’ and Him more than the world and anything it has to offer us. We must be determined to live righteously rather than following the ways of what God sees and deems as wicked. We must remember that we are utterly dependent on Him (ps. 62:6-7). We must set His Word as our shield and refuge and look to Him to sustain us in our commitment to love Him by obeying His commands. We must heed the words of James, who said:

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. James 4:8

Responding to the Journey Through Prayer

Father,

It has become increasingly easy for Christians in the 21st century to have divided loyalties—which Jesus said was setting our minds on the things of man rather than on the things of God, or as the New Living Translation puts it, “seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” We tend to view things as right or wrong from the standpoint of what seems fair to us or what has become acceptable in the world/culture around us – rather than what You have deemed right or wrong in Your Word. This is a dangerous way for anyone to live, but certainly for the believer. – I join the Psalmist in declaring that You are my source of HOPE! Help me to draw near to You continually, not letting my mind be divided between You and the world. Sustain me in my commitment to obey Your commands, and rid me of any evil-minded companions. May You find me faithfully living according to Your Word and standing firm against the things You have deemed evil. – My hope is in You, Lord! – Amen and Amen –

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

DIGGING AND RUNNING TO THE VERY END…

Posted on June 25, 2024June 22, 2024 by

Scripture: Psalm 119:109-112 / SOAP verses 111-112

My life constantly hangs in the balance,
    but I will not stop obeying your instructions.
¹¹⁰The wicked have set their traps for me,
    but I will not turn from your commandments.
¹¹¹Your laws are my treasure;
    they are my heart’s delight.
¹¹²I am determined to keep your decrees
    to the very end.
Psalm 119:109-112 NLT

Today’s post is borrowed from Love God Greatly / written by Angela Perritt | Jul 15, 2015

“What a precious treasure is the Word of God! It is like a deep mine filled with gold, silver, and precious gems, and we must take time to ‘dig’ for these treasures. A mere surface reading of Scripture will not put spiritual treasure in our hearts. Mining treasure is hard work, but it is joyful work when we ‘mine’ the Bible, as the Spirit guides us into truth.” – Warren W. Wiersbe

I’ll be honest with you, I know NOTHING about mining… especially for treasures like precious gems. Unless that is, if you count me digging into my laundry pile of clean clothes for that one matching sock in the rush of the morning – then I totally get you. Ha. That one sock in the nick of time… a true gem!

“Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.” ~ Psalm 119:111

Searching through Scripture, taking time to dig deeper and earnestly find that “gem” of truth takes hard work and dedication.

So let’s be honest, shall we? We don’t always feel like reading God’s Word, let alone digging into it. Yet God remains faithful to us and continues to reveal little “nuggets of manna” – just like He did for the Israelites thousands of years ago – as we choose to read His Word, giving us just what we are needing for the day.

Small “gems” of truth one at a time – morning after morning – yield a treasure chest of wisdom collected over a lifetime of digging.

The digging is worth the effort.

Friends, it’s time we get our hard hats on and shovels in hand. It’s time to start digging!

We need to choose depth over quantity.

Don’t skim Scripture. Dig into it.

Dig into Scripture verse by verse and word by word. Being committed and dedicated is key, and having that group of friends to help you do it?

Priceless.

God’s Word is alive and He speaks to us through it.

“’Living and active.’ The words of the Bible have life! Nouns with pulse rates. Muscular adjectives. Verbs darting back and forth across the page. God works through these words. The Bible is to God what a surgical glove is to the surgeon. He reaches through them to touch deep within you.”- Max Lucado

Make this your lifetime commitment:

Read the full post

Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

A Guiding Light

Posted on June 24, 2024June 16, 2024 by

based on the LGG Study, Psalm 119, Seeking Him with ALL our Hearts … / w5d2

Scripture For the Journey

Psalm 119:105-108 / SOAP verses 105-106

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
    and a light for my path.
¹⁰⁶I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again:
    I will obey your righteous regulations.
¹⁰⁷I have suffered much, O Lord;
    restore my life again as you promised.
¹⁰⁸Lord, accept my offering of praise,
    and teach me your regulations.
Psalm 119:105-108 NLT

Observation and Application for the Journey

Friends, God’s Word has a purpose, and for me, realizing this truth made the Word not just something read on Sunday morning or carried to Sunday school but something of value and desire. It became a resource of wisdom and light that guided my decisions and tempered my thoughts. For example, if I became angry, the Word’s light was a reminder that my anger wasn’t pleasing to God,(James 1:20-22). Or, when I ran across people that I just really didn’t like – perhaps because they had hurt me or someone I knew – the light of the Word illuminated Jesus’ words: “But I say, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”(Matt 5:44) – and when I tried to redefine what that love would look like, there was the light of the Savior’s love surrounding me and reminding me to love just as He had loved me, John 13:34. You see, when we live by the light of God’s Word we will find these reminders, and others like them, lighting up our path and guiding our decisions.

God’s Word doesn’t just have a purpose; it has power. Biblehub commentary explains that “The Word of God is a lamp or lantern to the feet by night; it is a light, as that of the sun, by day. It makes provision for the whole of life; it is the secret of life’s true sunshine; it is the guide when all around is dark.” We live in a dark and often foreboding world. We live and work among people who belong to the darkness – but we serve a God of love who sent His ONLY Son, a Savior, into the world – the Savior who has declared Himself to be the “Light of the World.” Or, as one source writes, “Jesus asserts his divine nature and his role in guiding humanity out of spiritual darkness and into the light of truth and eternal life.”

Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12 ESV

We are wise when we choose to follow the light that He sheds on our way. When we turn to His Word and follow its light to navigate our paths and the dark world we live in, we will not only please God but also reflect His light to the world around us—which is, after all, God’s call on our lives. For did Jesus not tell His disciples, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”? (Matthew 5:14-16)

The way is not always obvious, and the path is not always clear, but God’s Word is our guide, meant to shed light so that we can see in the darkness and live obediently by it. Why? All for the glory of God.
ME 🦋

Prayer for the Journey

Thank You, God, for shedding light on our path and for guiding our feet. Help us to walk faithfully and obediently by it. “Light of the world, You stepped down into darkness. You opened our eyes and let us see;” now, I pray, shine through us that others may see Your beauty, adore You, and share in the hope and light of a life lived with You. – In the One who is the LIGHT – I pray – AMEN!

The More We Know

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths

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

Thinking on God’s Word …

Posted on June 23, 2024June 16, 2024 by

based on the LGG Study: Psalm 119, Seeking God With ALL Your Heart / w5d1

Scripture; Psalm 119:97-104

Oh, how I love your instructions!
    I think about them all day long.
⁹⁸Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
    for they are my constant guide.
⁹⁹Yes, I have more insight than my teachers,
    for I am always thinking of your laws.
¹⁰⁰I am even wiser than my elders,
    for I have kept your commandments.
¹⁰¹I have refused to walk on any evil path,
    so that I may remain obedient to your word.
¹⁰²I haven’t turned away from your regulations,
    for you have taught me well.
¹⁰³How sweet your words taste to me;
    they are sweeter than honey.
¹⁰⁴Your commandments give me understanding;
    no wonder I hate every false way of life.
Psalm 119:97-104 NLT

Today’s post is borrowed and shared from the LGG Post

by WhitneyD | Jul 12, 2015 | 25 comments

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” ~ Psalm 119:103

My kids asked me a serious question: “How do you know that guy in the drive-thru?”

Ha. “I don’t really,” I said. Except for I do – sort of.

He’s eighteen, and he’s working almost every time I pull up to the window to get my dollar drink at the fast food joint three minutes from my house – which is on a pretty regular basis during the hot summer months.

I know that he was a senior in high school last year – except for he didn’t quite graduate, so now he’s working hard to get his GED. He’s working really hard, but it’s not always easy.

I know that he’s a dedicated worker, and that someday he’d like to do more with his life. He told me so once out of the blue as he smiled and handed me my drink.

He’s outgoing and friendly and always gives my daughter a hearty hello when she rolls down the back window of the van to make silly faces and say “hi” to him. And he lights up when we greet him by his first name. I really never thought much of it, but it sure seems to mean a lot to him… even if we shallowly learned it from his work name tag.

But as we pulled up to the drive-thru window last week, he wasn’t his usual smiley self. Before I could even ask, he offered that it had been a hard week. Something about relationship problems with a girl, and that he felt like his life had no purpose.

“I’ve been there,” I said. “Hey man, do you know God?” I quickly glanced in my rearview mirror and spotted my middle schoolers discreetly sinking down into their seats in the back of the ol’ minivan. Heh.

I shared Proverbs 3:5-6 with him and talked about how my life would be a mess without God and His Word. And instead of looking at me like I was some crazy middle-aged mom who doesn’t get out much (listen, my teenagers already had that look covered), tears filled his eyes and he whispered, “I think God is trying to tell me something. You’re the third person in line today who has talked about the Bible with me.” A small smile returned as his eyes drifted away and he slowly shook his head in disbelief.

“Wanna come to church with us on Sunday?” my spunky girlie yelled through her rolled-down back window without missing a beat. Aaahhh… that-a-girl. I felt a little bad for the poor people waiting in line behind us, but not that bad. “Hey lady, I know your burger’s important, but we’re talking about Jesus up here.”

Ok, so I didn’t really say that.

But I might have thought it. Because let’s face it: too often we save God’s Word for church services and weddings and funerals and for when we want to disagree with something the world just offended us with.

But God’s Word is also for the mundane. In fact, it’s especially for the mundane.

It’s hope in the workplace and at the kitchen sink. It’s encouragement over morning coffee and in late night phone conversations. It’s peace during toddler tantrums and in adult relationship struggles. It’s life during dry seasons and purpose in the laundry pile that never ends. It’s joy in the midst of teenage break-ups and in unpredictable vehicle break-downs. It’s confidence in the unseen moments and in life’s final days.

And it’s totally God revealing himself in the middle of the drive-thru line on some random Tuesday afternoon.

“If God doesn’t rule your mundane, then he doesn’t rule you. Because that’s where you live.” ~ Paul Tripp

God has given us this incredible Book packed full of hope, encouragement, peace, life, purpose, joy and confidence, and I cringe to think of the times that I have pulled my Bible out as a last resort – in life’s big moments and in my every day mundane. And I cringe when I think about the times that I knew I should have shared it with others and I didn’t. Why do we so often go to God’s Word as a last resort when it has been gifted to us as a priceless window in to the heart of our Savior?

A gift far too precious to keep to ourselves.

God, let it be your words that we run to in the mundane. Let it be your words that flow from our lips, ready and willing to bring life and hope to those around us.

“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.” ~ Psalm 119:97-98

At His feet,

*LET’S TALK: How do YOU weave God’s Word into the mundane moments of your day?

{Week 5} Challenge: In addition to your regular Bible study, incorporate God’s Word into at least ONE “mundane” moment each day this week. For example: while you’re doing dishes, listen to one chapter of the Bible from an online audio Bible source, or include encouraging Scripture in a note to a friend.

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

GOD’S WORD – OUR LIGHT WHEN LIFE IS DARK…

Posted on June 21, 2024June 21, 2024 by

A Response to Week Four’s Reading of Psalm 119-73-96 / from the LGG Study or Psalm 119

God’s word truly is a treasure that is more valuable than the most outrageous amount of earthly riches (vs. 72). I pray that, like the Psalmist, God’s word would also become our most prized possession… something we could never live without.
Jen Thorn/from the LGG Team

Today’s devotional is borrowed from the LGG online devo by Jen Thorn – may it richly bless you as she points us to the treasure we have been given in God’s Word –

I know all of us have had days, weeks, and months of hardship. I am talking about days when it is hard to focus on a task because of worry, and nights that rob us of sleep. Sometimes, these hard times seem to drag on and on. After some weeks we feel emotionally worn out, like we can’t possibly handle one more thing.

We read about such a time in the life of our Psalmist in verses 81-88. Spurgeon calls this section the midnight of the Psalm. It is dark and bleak, and yet “stars shine out.”

This poor Psalmist is in a bad way. There are people after him who want to ruin him (vs. 61), others mock him (vs. 51), and they are speaking lies about him (vs. 69). He even feels like his physical life is very much in danger (vs. 87).

We all have a breaking point and the Psalmist feels that he is reaching his. He comes to a point in his trials and sufferings where he is not sure he can handle one more thing (vs.83).

“For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke…”

When wineskins were left in a smoky area, they turned dark with soot and became dry and wrinkled. This is how the Psalmist felt. He was worn out, lined with worry, marked with sadness, frustration, and probably fear.

But as Spurgeon said, this dark and bleak time also had stars. His faith continued on. He continued to cling with all his might to the word of God, knowing that at some point, night would turn to day.

This is what trials should to do us. They should push us more deeply into God’s word and therefore more tightly into the arms of God. The hardest days can’t tear true believers away from their God.

Verse 89 begins the dawning of a new day and renewed hope for the author:

“Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.”

When the Psalmist is thrown around by all of his troubles, he makes sure to find his footing on the solid rock of God’s word. It is unmovable, secure and steady. This must be our footing as well. When we stand on this rock, we will find strength to fight temptation and bear affliction, power to obey, and resolve to stand firm.

How is it possible for God’s word to do all of this for us? This word is the same word which spoke everything into existence (vs.91) and which sustains the earth today (Heb 1:3). And not just the earth, but us as well. This word is filled with power because it took on flesh and became a man (John 1).

The reason we can live through the toughest days is because we have been given new life through Christ and the Spirit has taken up residence in our hearts. We do not fight alone. We do not walk through hard days alone. We do not cry alone.

Can you imagine what it would be like if we did not have God’s word? We would not know true wisdom, we would not have a place to find real comfort or joy, we would not know God, and we would not have salvation.

God’s word truly is a treasure that is more valuable than the most outrageous amount of earthly riches (vs. 72). I pray that, like the Psalmist, God’s word would also become our most prized possession… something we could never live without.

Looking To Jesus,

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

The Delight of His Word

Posted on June 19, 2024June 21, 2024 by

based on the LGG Study, Psalm 119 – Seek Him With ALL Your Heart / w4d4

Scripture: Psalm 119:89-96 / SOAP verses 89-90, 92

Your eternal word, O Lord,
    stands firm in heaven.
⁹⁰Your faithfulness extends to every generation,
    as enduring as the earth you created.
⁹¹Your regulations remain true to this day,
    for everything serves your plans.
⁹²If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy,
    I would have died in my misery.
⁹³I will never forget your commandments,
    for by them you give me life.
⁹⁴I am yours; rescue me!
    For I have worked hard at obeying your commandments.
⁹⁵Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me,
    I will quietly keep my mind on your laws.
⁹⁶Even perfection has its limits,
    but your commands have no limit.
Psalm 119:89-96 NLT

Throughout his affliction, the author clings to the truths he learns from the Scriptures, which are eternal and “stand firm in the heavens”
Gotquestions.org / Psalm 119:89-91

Throughout this Psalm, we have seen the psalmist suffer various afflictions; we have heard him cry out to God for help in one breath and declare his faithfulness to God with the next breath – even in the hard and frightening times of his life. Again today, he cries out for God to rescue him – but not before declaring the faithfulness of God’s Word and how it has sustained him with joy. By his own account, he would have died in his misery had it not been for God’s commandments. For by them, he boldly proclaims God has given him life.

I am awestruck and inspired by the psalmist’s boldness in crying out to God for help, reminding God of how hard he has worked to remember and obey His Word. Even as his life is threatened by the murderous plots of others, the psalmist vows to keep his mind on God’s law. Surely, he has learned what we must learn and put into practice – when our minds are fixed on God and His Word – we will know His peace that transcends all troubles and concerns. His Word has the power that we need for any and every situation. Be it fear or strife, heartache or need, forgiveness or wisdom… His Word stands firm and able to rescue us and guide us to safe pastures.

The More We Know

This is some wonderful commentary I found on some of today’s verses – I hope it is a helpful blessing to take you deeper into our journey. You can find even more commentary on Psalm 119 by following this link https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-119/

(92-93) The sustaining power of God’s word.

Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.
I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have given me life.

a. Unless Your law had been my delight: The psalmist rejoiced that the word of God had been his delight. Reading and studying and meditating on God’s word were not burdensome; they were a delight.

i. We can speculate that one reason this was so was because God met him in His word. When we have fellowship with God in and through His word, it makes our time in His law delightful.

b. I would then have perished in my affliction: The psalmist knew that without his relationship with God and His word, he would not have been sustained in his season of affliction.

i. Again, it should be stressed that this delight goes beyond mere Bible knowledge. It is the relationship with God in and through His word that gives strength and spiritual nourishment.

ii. “What got him through his afflictions was his lifelong habit of reading, marking, learning, meditating upon, spiritually digesting, and above all obeying God’s Law.” (Boice)

iii. “‘Thy law…my delights…in mine affliction.’ I happened to be standing in a grocer’s shop one day in a large manufacturing town in the west of Scotland, when a poor, old, frail widow came in to make a few purchases. There never was, perhaps, in that town a more severe time of distress. Nearly every loom was stopped. Decent and respectable tradesmen who had seen better days, were obliged to subsist on public charity. So much money per day (but a trifle at most) was allowed to the really poor and deserving. The poor widow had received her daily pittance, and she had now come into the shop of the grocer to lay it out to the best advantage. She had but a few coppers in her withered hands. Carefully did she expend her little stock – a pennyworth of this and the other necessary of life nearly exhausted all she had. She came to the last penny, and with a singular expression of heroic contentment and cheerful resignation on her wrinkled face, she said, ‘Now I must buy oil with this, that I may see to read my Bible during these long dark nights, for it is my only comfort now when every other comfort has gone away.’” (Alexander Wallace, cited in Spurgeon)

c. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life: The psalmist remembered the life-giving power and character of God’s word. It was this life that strengthened him in the season of affliction.

i. God’s word brings life because it is alive. “The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me. The Bible is not antique or modern. It is eternal.” (Luther, cited in Boice)