Month: August 2019

Rescued by God’s Law

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I collapse in the dirt.
Revive me with your word!
I told you about my ways and you answered me.
Teach me your statutes!
Help me to understand what your precepts mean!
Then I can meditate on your marvelous teachings.
I collapse from grief.
Sustain me by your word!

Psalm 119:25-28

Dear Heavenly Father, There are so many difficulties in life.  I have struggles all around me.  Please keep my focus on Your word.  Help me to understand how wonderful Your laws are.  I cannot live without it.

Remove me from the path of deceit!
Graciously give me your law!
I choose the path of faithfulness;
I am committed to your regulations.
I hold fast to your rules.
O Lord, do not let me be ashamed!
I run along the path of your commands,
for you enable me to do so.

Psalm 119:29-32

So much deceit is around me, help me with Your law.  I want to faithfully live Your way.  Thank you for making a way to keep Your commands close.

I pray this in Jesus name.

God is so good.

God’s Way Provides Guidance

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Be kind to your servant!
Then I will live and keep your instructions.

Psalm 119:17 (NET)

Dear Heavenly Father,

I need Your kindness to keep Your law at the front of my life. I am prone to go my own way.

Open my eyes so I can truly see
the marvelous things in your law!

Psalm 119:18

Please remove the blinders that hinder me from learning how wonderful Your law is.

I am like a foreigner in this land.
Do not hide your commands from me!
I desperately long to know
your regulations at all times.

Psalm 119:19-20

I need to remember Your ways all day and night.  I do not belong here, keep Your commands close.

You reprimand arrogant people.
Those who stray from your commands are doomed.
Spare me shame and humiliation,
for I observe your rules.
Though rulers plot and slander me,
your servant meditates on your statutes.

Psalm 119:21-23

Thank you for bringing justice to those who do not care about Your ways.  Please protect me from those who want me to stray from You.  I will continue to study Your ways.

Yes, I find delight in your rules;
they give me guidance.

Psalm 119:24

I praise You for Your law!  It gives me the right direction.

I pray this in Jesus name.

God is so good.

God’s Law Brings Joy

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Psalm 119 is filled with statements about God’s commands.  I fear even in our churches that we are losing the perspective of how good God’s ways are.  We think our own ways are better, but we label our ways as though they are God’s ways. May God help us to remember His ways.

How can a young person maintain a pure life?
By guarding it according to your instructions!
With all my heart I seek you.
Do not allow me to stray from your commands!

Psalm 119:9-10 NET

Dear Heavenly Father, I want to maintain a pure, clean life.  Thank You for giving instructions to follow.  Please keep me close to them.

In my heart I store up your words,
so I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11

The only way to live right is to keep your word in my heart.

You deserve praise, O Lord!
Teach me your statutes!
With my lips I proclaim
all the regulations you have revealed.

Psalm 119:12-13

Only You are worthy!  Your laws are worthy of praise.  I want to share that with others.

I rejoice in the lifestyle prescribed by your rules
as if they were riches of all kinds.

Psalm 119:14

I take joy and pleasure in what You want for me.  You only desire the best.  Thank you for Your generous gifts.

I will meditate on your precepts
and focus on your behavior.
I find delight in your statutes;
I do not forget your instructions.

Psalm 119:15-16

I commit to focusing on what You want.  I take joy in Your way.  You keep reminding me of Your instruction.

I pray this in Jesus Name.

God is so good.

Praying Scripture-Psalm 119

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As I continue my blog posts on prayer for this year, I want to start praying a passage from the Bible. Psalm 119 is broken down into several sections. I plan on taking one section each week.

How blessed are those whose actions are blameless,
who obey the law of the Lord. 
How blessed are those who observe his rules,
and seek Him with all their heart,
who, moreover, do no wrong,
but follow in His footsteps.

Psalm 119:1-3 (NET)

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us of the joy of obeying your law.  You gave Your rules to guide and protect us.  Thank you for giving us Your footsteps to follow.

You demand that Your precepts
be carefully kept.
If only I were predisposed
to keep Your statutes!
Then I would not be ashamed,
if I were focused on all Your commands.

Psalm 119:4-6

You are worthy to demand that we follow Your precepts.  You know we are prone to choose sin and so You remind us of the shame of disobeying You.


I will give you sincere thanks,
when I learn your just regulations.
I will keep your statutes.
Do not completely abandon me!

Psalm 119:7-8

Thank You for teaching us the justice of Your law.  Your regulations are true and right.  I commit to keeping Your statues.  I echo the Psalmist plea for Your help.  I need You!

I pray this in Jesus name.

God is so good.

What Sin Problem?

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As I finish going through Jesus’ Example Prayer, I want to spend one more week on the final phrase. “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Having grown up going to church, Christian school for K-12th grade and Bible College, I know it can be easy to forget how much sin we have been saved from. I have mostly known people who have tried to live according to the Bible. We haven’t committed what most people think of as bad sins. However, Jesus’ Example Prayer includes a request for help from sin. The fact that Jesus taught us to pray this, means we need help with the battle against sin.

My prayer is that we learn to follow Jesus’ example. He had the perfect plan in mind and knew what we would need.

God is so good.