Jesus – Page 28 – Me From the Inside Out

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

I WILL RISE UP AND GIVE YOU THANKS…

Posted on June 11, 2024November 11, 2025 by

Scripture: Psalm 119:61-64 / SOAP verses 62-64

Evil people try to drag me into sin,
    but I am firmly anchored to your instructions.
⁶²I rise at midnight to thank you
    for your just regulations.
⁶³I am a friend to anyone who fears you—
    anyone who obeys your commandments.
⁶⁴O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth;
    teach me your decrees.
Psalm 119:61-64 NLT

by WhitneyD | Jul 1, 2015 | 87 comments

The generator had been shut down hours before. Funny how many things you can hear in the middle of the night without the hum of electricity drowning out the sounds of the earth. I was twenty-one and wide awake in a foreign land, and God had met me there.

Of course he was there. He’s everywhere.

But somehow less noise, less stuff, less of me had helped me see him more clearly than I had in a very long time.

To my shame, I had uttered a lot of telling words in the weeks leading up to the trip…

Words of doubt as I struggled to make solid plans for my future.

Words of envy as I saw others prospering around me while I floundered.

Words of strife as I worked hard to take one step forward, only to end up two steps back.

Words of emptiness as I secretly chased worldly acceptance over God’s ways.

Words of frustration as I questioned the lack of peace my life.

My heart had been so consumed with all that was going wrong that – sadly – I was stuck wallowing in the negative instead of joyfully pursuing God and his Word.

“I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.” ~ Psalm 119:59

But in the quiet of that night, when everything else had been stripped away, God’s Word came alive.

I was reminded that my future is in God’s hands (Jeremiah 29:11).

I rejoiced over the fact that God is for me, and that his ways are intended for my good (Romans 8:31-32).

Peace flooded my soul as I once again found delight in God’s commands (Psalm 119:35).

And instead of sleep evading me due to the usual stress and overthinking, I was kept awake by a profound gratefulness for God’s unmerited grace in my life.

It was high time that I uttered new words…

I used to resent how often my desperation drives me to the feet of Jesus, but now I know that very place is often where I find even more reasons to celebrate the goodness of God.

Why?

Because his grace is simply more beautiful in my need.

When little ones won’t settle down for the night, I will rise up and give you thanks.

When relationships are strained, I will rise up and give you thanks.

When my health is compromised, I will rise up and give you thanks.

When my future is unknown, I will rise up and give you thanks.

When I am persecuted for my faith, I will rise up and give you thanks.

When nations turn their backs on you God, I will still rise up and give you thanks.

“Whatever else may happen in this world, whoever else may turn their back on you when the chips are down, of this you may be sure: he whose trust and hope and confidence is in the unfailing love of God will never be put to shame.” ~ Sam Storms

Father, because of your righteous laws and your steadfast love – no matter what trials come our way – we can rise up and give you thanks.

And just like that, thanksgiving turns night into day…

At His feet,

*LET’S TALK: What kinds of words are you uttering in your trials? Whatever is going on in your life right now, together, let’s flood heaven with prayers of thankfulness to God for his righteous laws and steadfast love. Would you share your prayer in the comments today?

Bible study

GOD’S WORD, OUR COMFORT…

Posted on June 10, 2024June 10, 2024 by

by Jen Thorn | LGG Post of Jun 28, 2015 |

Welcome to week 3 of our Psalm 119 study!

What do you run to for comfort?

For me it is people. If I am sad or scared or worried or discouraged I go to my husband or friends.

But people are not the only source of comfort, right? Some seek comfort in their money, retail therapy, food, work, or sleep. Others try to escape through fiction books or movies. And sadly, some pick really dangerous ways of coping by using drugs and alcohol.

There is nothing wrong with seeking comfort from others. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us that we are to encourage each other. It is also fine to watch a funny movie to make us laugh when we are feeling a bit down. But we can’t rely on earthly things to bring real lasting comfort.

Once the friends leave or the movie is over we are right back in the midst of our suffering. Earthly things can only comfort us in part, but the Psalmist tells us that there is a place we can go to find real lasting comfort.

Each eight verse section in Psalm 119 has a theme, and today Psalm 119:49-56 deals with God’s word as our comforter. Verse 50, in particular, is a key verse for us:

This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me.

If we accept them by faith then these words become personal. These words are not from some God, but from our God. They are words to us from our Father and from our Redeemer. We belong to him, and he cares for us.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction ~ 2 Cor. 1:3-4

God’s word can give us peace while we are in the midst of a wild storm. It can bring comfort while we are afraid, tired, and worn out. We can have hope that he will see us through to the other side.

Romans 15 tells us that “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

The best comfort we find in Scripture is that Christ died for us. It puts everything else into perspective. We have something far better waiting for us. These hard times – while they are difficult – will only last for awhile.

God’s word has the ability to give us life in the midst of any circumstance… life that is made up of hope, joy, praise and strength.

Looking To Jesus,

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

WHEN FEAR GRIPS US…

Posted on June 6, 2024June 6, 2024 by

based on the Love God Greatly Study, Psalm 119

This week’s response to : Psalm 119:25-48

Today’s post is shared from the LGG archives / written by Angela Perritt | as posted Jul 2, 2015

“Mama… I can’t sleep. I’m so afraid. So afraid something bad is going to happen to all of us,” she says with tears streaming down her beautiful face.

Fear.

This sweet girl of mine has recently been struggling with a crippling fear that something bad is going to happen to her family. And like all of us with fears, it’s been keeping her up at night.

I walk her back to her room, tuck her in bed, and lay down next to her. With foreheads pressed in, I pray over her as I stroke her hair, quote Scripture, and recite God’s promise to never leave or forsake us. I remind her that this type of fear is not of God.

And so we talk about God – how powerful He is, how much He loves us, and how very GOOD He is.

God is good all the time.

Despite the nightly news reports… God is good.

Despite the diagnosis… God is good.

Despite the pain and heartbreak in this life… God is good.

The two of us cling a little closer to Jesus those nights as I pray my heart out over my girl – fighting this unseen battle as powerfully as any mama can – in the name above all names…

Jesus.

Eventually after prayers, kisses on the forehead, and a back rubbed, she drifts off to sleep. Peaceful and no longer battling fear, my girl knows that she is loved. She has been reminded that God loves her and will never leave her, and she rests in that truth.

God is good.

When bad things happen in our lives, we must remember this truth. “You are good and what you do is good…”– Psalm 119:68

Sweet friends, this world is not our home. We have to stop wishing that it is and start looking forward to the one that is to come.

We are not home yet, but let’s not give in to the fears in this life. Our God is good and what He does is good, in spite of what people say.

Yes, we live in an evil, evil world….and I am heartbroken over what I see. But we must remember that we are here for a purpose. YOU are here for a purpose, so let us NOT lose hope!

∼ May we fight back the fears that keep us up at night with God’s Word and His truth.

∼ May we use these battles for good, allowing them to make us cling even closer to Jesus as we press our foreheads in next to Him and cry “Abba, Father.”

∼ May we fall more in love with Him and His Word, truly treasuring it like pieces of silver and gold (Psalm 119:72).

God has the power to bring good from what Satan plans for evil.

“It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.” Psalm 119:71

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,
Thank you for the amazing work YOU are doing in our lives. Thank you for the hope that is found in YOU! Thank you that you never leave us or forsake us. Thank you that you have equipped us for every good work You have planned for our lives. Help us to see you. Open our eyes to your presence and help us to be women whose faith is deepened and stronger due to affliction. Help us to treasure You as our King…..more than any precious stone. And help us to fall more and more in love with You each day. Thank you for your love, and thank you that you are good.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

May we all cling a little closer to Jesus…

Love God Greatly!

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

Trust His Heart

Posted on June 5, 2024June 6, 2024 by

based on Love God Greatly’s study of Psalm 119 / w2d4

Today’s Scripture: Psalm 119:41-48 / SOAP: 41-42, 45

May I experience your loyal love, O Lord,
and your deliverance, as you promised.
⁴²Then I will have a reply for the one who insults me,
for I trust in your word.
⁴³Do not completely deprive me of a truthful testimony,
for I await your justice.
⁴⁴Then I will keep your law continually
now and for all time.
⁴⁵I will be secure,
for I seek your precepts.
⁴⁶I will speak about your regulations before kings
and not be ashamed.
⁴⁷I will find delight in your commands,
which I love.
⁴⁸I will lift my hands to your commands,
which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.
Psalm 119:41-48 NET

The psalmist longed for expressions of God’s chesed (Hebrew for “covenant loyalty, faithful love”) in light of the persecution and hostility against him. He sought God’s salvation from oppression. The freedom offered to the person who walks according to God’s word enables him to remain strong through adversity and to maintain his focus on God’s decrees. The righteous person is courageous enough to speak of the Lord, and he will not be ashamed.
HCSB Commentary on Psalm 119:41-48

Have you ever experienced a time or even a season when it felt like God was absent? In your struggles, you search for signs of Him, a fingerprint or a whisper, something that lets you know He is near and hasn’t forgotten you. You know that God loves you and has promised deliverance. Like the psalmist, you long to feel that He is near – you want to experience His promise of deliverance; you want to feel His love and know He hasn’t forgotten you. While we don’t know for sure who wrote this Psalm and find few commentaries on the ‘story behind the scenes’, it seems to me the psalmist was dealing with these emotions. Yet, in the absence of experiencing or feeling God’s presence near, he proclaims his trust in God’s Word and announces he will find security by seeking God’s Word, or as the Holman Christian Standard Bible translates it – “focusing on God’s decrees.”

As I read through this passage and began making my observations, an old hymn flooded my mind and seemed to sum it up nicely for me. You may remember the hymn, “Trust and Obey.” Like our passage today, the song is a reminder that while troubles will come and doubts and fears will arise, and while we will undoubtedly experience sorrows and burdens from grief and loss – when we faithfully “do His good will, He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.” Friends, you may not be experiencing God’s love right now, you may not be seeing His fingerprints or hearing even a whisper from Him – but to borrow from a quote I once read and from teachings throughout the Scriptures- “when you can’t see God’s hand, trust His heart.”

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
will trust and obey.

Living Out the Journey (Application)

When we TRUST in the LORD – when we know His love and salvation – we will be able to answer those who taunt or insult us … we will walk in freedom when we are devoted to His commandments because we will not be weighed down with the sway and guilt of sin… In other words, we will be controlled by His Spirit in word and deed from the inside out, and we will know life and peace rather than a life that leads to death (Romans 8:6).

So, letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
Romans 8:6 NLT

In searching out the commentaries for clarity on this portion of our journey, I ran across the following treasure from the Blue Letter Bible. I’ve shared just the portion on our soap passage – however, you can find the entire Psalm explained in “The More We Know” section at the end of this post.¹

a. Let Your mercies come…Your salvation according to Your word: Here the psalmist acknowledged that mercy and salvation come from God to man through the word of God. The word of God doesn’t merely point us toward mercy and salvation, as if it were a self-help book. It actually brings mercy and salvation to us.

i. The psalmist rightly said mercies, in the plural. God’s gracious mercy to us is so great that it can only be described in the plural, with mercy piled on top of mercy.

ii. “He desires mercy as well as teaching, for he was guilty as well as ignorant.” (Spurgeon)

He needed mercy, not only teaching.

He needed many mercies, so the request is in the plural.

He needed mercy from God more than from man, so the request is made to God.

b. So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word: Trust in God’s word provides an answer to those who reproach us. The disapproving voices we often hear can be answered by our abiding trust in the approval that we believers find in God.

i. When we believe who God is and what He has done for us in Jesus Christ, the disapproval of this world is answered.

Study Guide for Psalm 119 / BlueLetterBible.org (41-42)

And I will walk at liberty: Having just spoken of the obedience that comes from having God’s word within, the psalmist now testifies that this obedience brings a life of liberty. Freedom comes through obedience and submission to God.

i. It is proven in many lives, in both the positive and the negative: Obedience and the pursuit of God’s word and wisdom lead to liberty. Disobedience, rejection of God’s word, and reliance upon one’s own wisdom lead to bondage.

ii. “Saints find no bondage in sanctity. The Spirit of holiness is a free spirit; he sets men at liberty and enables them to resist every effort to bring them under subjection. The way of holiness is not a track for slaves, but the King’s highway for freemen.” (Spurgeon)

Study Guide for Psalm 119 / BlueLetterBible.org (45)

Prayer for the Journey

Father, Your Word is full of instruction and examples from those who have walked before us. The teachings and examples both warn us and encourage us, and they fill us with wisdom – that if we are wise, we will heed. We have been gifted Your Holy Spirit, and we have been promised that You will never leave or forsake us, but like the Psalmist, we find ourselves at times in places where we can not sense Your presence – help us – in these times to pray the prayer of this Psalmist: May I experience your loyal love, O Lord, and your deliverance, as you promised. Help us to know the security that comes from seeking Your Word diligently, with all our hearts – that we might not be controlled by the sinful nature but by Your Spirit. – Amen and amen!

Music for the Journey

The More We Know

F. Waw ו: Liberty comes from loving God’s word.

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

Looking For Contentment in all the Wrong Places

Posted on June 4, 2024June 2, 2024 by

Today’s post is borrowed from the Love God Greatly blog posts for Psalm 119, w2d3

by Whitney | Jun 24, 2015 |

Perhaps one of the most challenging yet rewarding roads to spiritual health is the discipline of single-minded satisfaction on what has come from God’s hand. And the best way to safeguard your contentment in Christ is to ask the Holy Spirit to whisper Psalm 119 into your ear every now and then: “Turn my eyes away from worthless things.” ~ Joni Eareckson-Tada

I’m usually pretty content with my life.

That is until I see that skinny girl on the cover of a magazine.

Or I hear of someone taking a trip to the beach in the dead of winter.

Or I flip through a furniture store catalog while sitting on my scratched-up sofa.

Or it’s swimsuit season.

Heh.

It’s crazy how easily we can talk ourselves into wanting to be more, have more, and do more. And for me, it happens the most when I let the world creep in where Jesus should reside instead.

We’re a Distracted People

The world is shiny and glittery-full of all kinds of stuff that competes for our attention on a daily basis. Without even thinking, we often pursue contentment through the number on the scales, the size of our homes, and the success of our earthly relationships. We turn our eyes to the world and let magazines and media alter our expectations and dictate our moods.

And often, we are let down.

“Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to selfish gain!
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.”

~ Psalm 119:36-37

Things don’t necessarily start out as worthless. They become worthless when we elevate them above Christ.

Worthless things create unnecessary competition.

Worthless things promote unattainable perfection.

Worthless things produce selfish discontentment.

Worthless things lead us down destructive paths.

Worthless things take our worship away from Jesus.

Do you feel like something’s missing in your life? Maybe you’re looking for contentment in all the wrong places…

The Turning

I’ve heard it said that what you behold is what you become.

If we’re going to turn from worshipping worthless things, we must discipline ourselves instead to treasure Christ.

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” ~ Philippians 3:8

Practically…

1. We learn to treasure Christ through His Word. The Bible is an incredible love story filled with redemptive truth and reminders of God’s grace and faithfulness in our lives. Spending time in God’s Word deepens our understanding of who God is, who we are, and why lasting contentment can only be found in Him.

2. We learn to treasure Christ by cultivating a heart of gratitude. When we spend time recognizing God’s compassionate hand of provision in our lives, we’re less likely to focus on the worthless things of the world. True contentment is never far from someone who rejoices always, prays continually, and gives thanks in all circumstances (1 Thess. 5:17-18).

Have you been looking for contentment in all the wrong places? There is LIFE in God’s ways.

Turn and pursue Christ today…

At his feet,

LET’S TALK: Do you have a tendency to look for contentment from the world, or through Jesus?

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

Delighting in the Word

Posted on June 3, 2024June 3, 2024 by

based on the Love God Greatly Study, Psalm 119, Seeking Him With All Our Heart/ w2d2

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: Psalm 119:33-35/ SOAP 33-35

Teach me, O Lord, the lifestyle prescribed by your statutes,
so that I might observe it continually.
³⁴Give me understanding so that I might observe your law,
and keep it with all my heart.
³⁵Guide me in the path of your commands,
for I delight to walk in it.
Psalm 119:33-35

We are dependent on God to teach us His Word and give us an understanding of it. When He does, and He will, we are to respond accordingly. Like the Psalmist, we are to put into practice what God teaches us with all of our being. To do any less will rob us of the promised joy that comes from following God’s instructions,

If we are to experience the happiness found in following God’s commands, we must depend on His guidance and discipline.

Living the Journey(Application)

Don’t be afraid to ask God for help. Be bold and specific with your needs and requests. This is not only what He desires from us but it is also cathartic for us.

Learn God’s decrees
- don’t just read them – seek to learn them
- don’t just seek to understand them – put them into practice
- depend on God for everything –

Prayer for the Journey

Father, we pray as the Psalmist did – that you will teach us, O Lord, the lifestyle prescribed by your statutes so that we might observe it continually.Give us understanding so that we might observe your law, and keep it with all our hearts.Guide us in the path of your commands, for we delight to walk in it. 0h Yes – Father, and amen-

Question FOR THE JOURNEY

How do we delight in God’s Word?

THE MORE WE KNOW

Delighting in the Law of the Lord

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

Determined

Posted on June 2, 2024June 2, 2024 by

based on the Love God Greatly Study, Psalm 119, Seeking Him With All Our Heart/ w2d1

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: Psalm 119:25-32/ SOAP 27-28, 30

I lie in the dust;
    revive me by your word.
²⁶I told you my plans, and you answered.
    Now teach me your decrees.
²⁷Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,
    and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.
²⁸I weep with sorrow;
    encourage me by your word.
²⁹Keep me from lying to myself;
    give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.
³⁰I have chosen to be faithful;
    I have determined to live by your regulations.
³¹I cling to your laws.
    Lord, don’t let me be put to shame!
³²I will pursue your commands,
    for you expand my understanding.
Psalm 119:25-32 NLT

Regardless of the condition and plight of the Psalmist, he returns again and again to the importance of God’s Word. He realizes it isn’t enough to simply read it but that he needs to meditate (dwell/think) on it. The Psalmist knows that God’s Word will bring encouragement, and he is determined to faithfully live by the “regulations”¹ of God.

Don’t miss that the Psalmist didn’t just dwell in or search the Word of God; he sought God Himself. The Psalmist had a relationship with God and called out to God when he needed help understanding the Word or when he needed encouragement. When he was in great sorrow, the Psalmist cried (literally wept) and reached out to God

Living the Journey (Application)

Have you ever found yourself just going through the motions of a relationship with God? I confess that for many years of my life, my relationship with God simply included attending church. Then there were seasons when a daily verse—found in a book or on a calendar or app—that took 5 minutes to read sufficed as a relationship builder. Other times, it was a devotion that took five minutes to read. All were great at the moment but left me floundering in the relationship department.

Just like our earthly relationships aren’t built or strengthened by five minutes a day, neither is a relationship with God. – Please understand, that I believe these methods are all beneficial stepping stones, but in and of themselves, they will not build a relationship, cause our light to burn brightly, or offer us protection from the fiery darts of our enemy, the devil.

The Word of God is meant to be read, meditated on, used as a road map, shared with others, and talked about morning, noon, and night – daily.

Consider the importance of God’s Word. According to Paul, it has the power to save (Rom 1:16-17),, and Solomon wrote that it offers life and health and peace (Prov 4:20-22; Jn 16:33). It is a light to guide our feet and a lamp for our path (Ps 119:105), and we would be wise to faithfully follow after It. Let’s –

choose to be faithful to the Word of God
be determined to live by it in all our ways

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. ¹⁷This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
Romans 1:16-17 NLT

Prayer for the Journey

Yes, Father – Yes! Help us to follow faithfully after Your Word. Help us to be committed to keeping it, determined to live by it – so that You might be honored and glorified as we become healthy and strong in our faith, who walk by the light and power of Your Word! Cause us to shed light on the world around us – reaching others with the Gospel that has the power to save! – Hallelujah and amen!

Question FOR THE JOURNEY

Have you committed to living by the Word or to simply reading a daily verse and going about your day?

THE MORE WE KNOW

You’ll want to check out the LGG post for today’s passage – but before you go – take a minute to read the following.

Another prominent theme in Psalm 119 is the profound truth that the Word of God is all-sufficient. Psalm 119 is an expansion of Psalm 19:7–9: “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.” There are eight different terms referring to the Word of God throughout the psalm: law, testimonies, precepts, statues, commandments, judgments, word, and ordinances. In almost every verse, the Word of God is mentioned.
gotquestions.org

Note the many ways the Psalmist refers to God’s Word in today’s passage: decrees … commandments … Word … instructions … regulations … law … commands ↩︎

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

Found In God’s Word

Posted on May 31, 2024May 31, 2024 by

Today’s devo is borrowed from the Love God Greatly downloaded journal for Psalm 119.¹

All people have a natural desire to be happy. This is built into us by our Maker himself. The desire to be happy is not a problem. The problem is that we tend to search for this happiness in the wrong places. We think, “If only I could be married, then I would be happy.” “If only I could have children, then I would feel fulfilled.” “If only I had money, then I would be content.” “If only I was skinny, or organized, or my own boss or well rested, THEN I would be happy.”

When searching for happiness, where should we look, and what should we pursue? The writer of Psalm 119 tells us that blessing and joy are found in God’s word. Here are 3 reasons.

1. God is found in the Word

The words found in our Bibles are not just the ramblings of a bunch of men who decided to write down some of their history, experiences, sayings, or sermons. Our Bible is the very word of God. He chose to speak through people, causing them to write down exactly what he wanted his people to read and know.

The Scripture goes by many names in this Psalm. It is called his law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, and rules. And for the Psalmist the law and precepts were not heavy burdens to bear, they were a delight to him for in them he sees God.

Your testimonies are my delight;
they are my counselors.
Ps. 119:24

In all of his word God has chosen to reveal who he is, how he operates, and how we are to live so that we can find the deepest kind of joy.

2. The right way of living is found in God’s word

We know that living a life pleasing to God brings blessing and joy. But sometimes it is hard to know what the right way is. How should I handle the various relationships in my life, what should my conduct be as a child of God, how should I handle my finances?

It is often said that God’s word is like a road map that shows us the way to go, the way of happy holiness.

There he will find every turn of the road, marked down, every slough and miry place pointed out, with the way to go through unsoiled; and there too, he will find light for his darkness, comfort for his weariness, and company for his loneliness.
-Spurgeon

3. Salvation is found in God’s Word

Salvation is our biggest need. We all fall short in every way because God’s standard is perfection, and we are not perfect. We don’t know God the way we should, we don’t love God’s word the way we should, and we don’t live godly lives the way we should. We need to be rescued from our sins and help to walk with God.

Jesus, who is himself called The Word of God, has known the Father perfectly, loved the ways of God perfectly, and lives in perfect submission to the will of God. He has done what we have not. And in his death on the cross, he paid for all our failings. We can only delight in God’s word after we have been rescued by The Word.

Ultimately, the pages of our Bibles are about Christ. He is the answer to all the longings in our souls. He is the one who saves, comforts, guides, prays over us, causes us to grow, corrects us when needed, and is our ultimate source of delight and joy.

Therefore, our Bible should be our most prized earthly possession. Like the Psalmist, we need to know it, read it, meditate on it (vs. 15), and call it our delight, for that is where we find Jesus. Then joy will grow whether our lives are filled with sunshine, rain, or storms.

Looking To Jesus,

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

PURE AND HOLY

Posted on May 27, 2024May 28, 2024 by

based on the Love God Greatly Study, Psalm 119, Seeking Him With All Our Heart/ w1d2

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: Psalm 119:9-11/ SOAP 9-11

How can a young person stay pure?
    By obeying your word.
¹⁰I have tried hard to find you—
    don’t let me wander from your commands.
¹¹I have hidden your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:1-8 NLT

I love the question-and-answer passages of Scripture like this one. The Psalmist follows up his declaration that those who obey God’s laws and seek Him with all of their hearts will be blessed – or joyful people, as some translations say. He had boldly declared that those who do not compromise with evil and only walk in the path of God, carefully keeping His commandments, so that their actions would consistently reflect the way of the Lord, would not have anything to be ashamed of when they compared their life with God’s commands – and then he ended verse eight with the pledge to not only learn God’s righteous regulation but to live by them, obeying His decrees. His pledge was accompanied by a request that God not give up on him – in other words, the Psalmist knew what he had declared wasn’t going to be easy and that He would need God’s patience, or a learning curve, so to speak.

I love the beauty of the Psalmist’s open candor with God and have learned much from him. I also love the follow-up question and answer portion that follows in the second part of the Psalm, which is our focus today.

Have you ever made a pledge to God that you were going to do something – tithe a certain amount, commit to a certain calling, give up a sinful habit, or live a certain way – only to realize the next morning or perhaps even the next minute – that you have no idea if or how you can follow-through on what you said? I certainly have – and by the words of the Psalmist, I believe this is exactly what he had done. Having just committed to living according to God’s decrees, he now is asking God how in the world he’s going to do it – how is he, or how can any of us “stay pure”? Though it seems to be a rhetorical question of sorts, as he immediately responds – “by living according to God’s Word,” This is equally a challenging and good question for us to consider.

How can we stay true to God, living a holy life? We can search for Him with all of our hearts, learning what is good and right in His sight and living according to those precepts. However, we must also realize that in and of ourselves, we cannot accomplish a pure and holy life. We must, like the Psalmist, call out to God to help us not sin, or ‘stray from His commands.’, which, as the Psalmist points out, requires that we have God’s Word “hidden in our hearts.” Simply put, we are to dwell in God’s Word enough to know it – perhaps not word for word – but enough to remember the teaching and expectations that He has laid out in it and made known to us. In this world full of distractions, wickedness, and opposition to our faith, we must be filled with the Word – we must never lose sight of it – nor turn from it.

It is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
James 4:17 ESV

Living the Journey (Application)

Follow the Psalmist’s example –

Have the desire and set the goal to “stay pure,” (live a holy life).
Seek God with ALL of you HEART
- learn what He likes and doesn’t like, and strive for what He likes
hide as much of His Word in Your heart/mind as you can
- read
- listen
- write
- talk about
- study
- meditate
Ask God for help
- I love the way the Psalmist asked: “Do not let me wander from Your commands.

Prayer for the Journey

Father, You have called Your children, through the words of Peter and others in Your Word, to live perfect lives, and You have made known to us how we can do this- even in a less-than-wholesome world. You have blessed us with the freedom to have and use Your Word freely – You have given us Your Spirit, who not only empowers us to live godly lives but also teaches and reminds us of Your Words. We are without excuse and beyond grateful for Your gifts of grace and Your promise that we can do all things through Christ, who gives us strength. – Hallelujah and Amen!

Question FOR THE JOURNEY

Do you have a plan in place for living pure and holy before God?

THE MORE WE KNOW

How can you have God’s Word hidden in your heart?

God’s Word is the agent of His Spirit used to cleanse the hearts of all who believe in Christ and are saved (Ephesians 5:25–27). And it is through keeping God’s Word securely planted in our hearts and living according to what it says that believers continue to walk in holiness (Psalm 37:31; 119:9).
gotquestions.org

¹⁴Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, ¹⁵but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, ¹⁶for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:14-16

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

Joyful People

Posted on May 26, 2024May 26, 2024 by

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,
    who follow the instructions of the Lord.
²Joyful are those who obey his laws
    and search for him with all their hearts.
³They do not compromise with evil,
    and they walk only in his paths.
⁴You have charged us
    to keep your commandments carefully.
⁵Oh, that my actions would consistently
    reflect your decrees!
⁶Then I will not be ashamed
    when I compare my life with your commands.
⁷As I learn your righteous regulations,
    I will thank you by living as I should!
⁸I will obey your decrees.
    Please don’t give up on me!
Psalm 119:1-8 NLT

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!

THE MORE WE KNOW

What should we learn from Psalm 119?