Category: Scripture

Fairness, Justice, and Reliability

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You are just, O Lord,
and Your judgments are fair.
The rules You impose are just,
and absolutely reliable. 

Psalm 119:137-138 NET

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that your rules are like You: fair, just, and reliable.  This fills my heart with joy.

My zeal consumes me,
for my enemies forget Your instructions.
Your word is absolutely pure,
and Your servant loves it! 

Psalm 119:139-140 NET

I am excited to follow Your rules.  Why do some forget them?

I am insignificant and despised,
yet I do not forget Your precepts.
Your justice endures,
and Your law is reliable.
Distress and hardship confront me,
yet I find delight in Your commands.
Your rules remain just.
Give me insight so that I can live.

Psalm 119:141-144 NET

I am no one special, but I will follow Your ways. They are consistent and they last. When hard times come, Your ways are a comfort to me and bring joy.  I love You, Lord.

I pray this in Jesus’ Name.

God is so good.

Understanding, Direction, and Light

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Your rules are marvelous.
Therefore I observe them.
Your instructions are a doorway through which light shines.
They give insight to the untrained.
I open my mouth and pant,
because I long for Your commands.

Psalm 119:129-131

Dear Heavenly Father, Your rules, Your ways are worth longing after.  They give us understanding, direction, and light.

Turn toward me and extend mercy to me,
as you typically do to Your loyal followers.
Direct my steps by Your word!
Do not let any sin dominate me!
Deliver me from oppressive men,
so that I can keep Your precepts.

Psalm 119:132-134

I seek the mercy that You give to Your loyal followers.  Guide me with Your word.  Do not let those who oppose You stop me from obeying Your rules.

Smile on Your servant!
Teach me Your statutes!
Tears stream down from my eyes,
because people do not keep Your law.

Psalm 119:135-136

Teach me the joy of Your ways.  I cry when I see those who do not obey You. 

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

The Strength to be Thankful

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I have spent this week talking about areas of life where I have a hard time being thankful. When I struggle, I often go to Scripture – the Bible – to find real events that happened in the lives of men and women. These people had hard times, but still shouted praise to God.  When others are able to do that, I find more strength to do the same.  I hope this helps you.

Give thanks to the Lord! Call on His name! Make known His accomplishments among the nations.

1 Chronicles 16:8 NET

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good
and His loyal love endures.

1 Chronicles 16:34 NET

Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
and His courts with praise.
Give Him thanks.
Praise His name.

Psalm 100:4 NET

I will thank the Lord with all my heart!
I will tell about all Your amazing deeds.
I will be happy and rejoice in You.
I will sing praises to You, O Most High.

Psalm 9:1-2 NET

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His loyal love endures. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His loyal love endures!

Psalm 136:1,26 NET

Praise the Lord, O my soul.
With all that is within me, praise His holy name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul.
Do not forget all His kind deeds.
He is the One who forgives all your sins,
who heals all your diseases,
who delivers your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with His loyal love and compassion,

Psalm 103:1-4 NET

God is so good.

Insight into Following God’s Way

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I do what is fair and right.
Do not abandon me to my oppressors!
Guarantee the welfare of Your servant!
Do not let the arrogant oppress me!
My eyes grow tired as I wait for Your deliverance,
for Your reliable promise to be fulfilled.

Psalm 119:121-123 NET

Dear Heavenly Father, there is such a fight between Your right way of living and those who oppose it.  Please keep me on the right path and protect me from those who would lead me astray.  I long for the fulfillment of Your promise.

Show your servant Your loyal love!
Teach me your statutes!
I am Your servant. Give me insight,
so that I can understand Your rules.
It is time for the Lord to act—
they break Your law!
For this reason I love Your commands
more than gold, even purest gold.
For this reason I carefully follow all Your precepts.
I hate all deceitful actions. 

Psalm 119:124-128 NET

Give me insight into the truth of Your word.  Teach me what I need to know.  Show me Your loyal love.  I love Your commands; they are more valuable than the purest gold.  I despise actions that go against Your way.  I will carefully obey what You command.

I pray this in Jesus’ Name.

God is so good.

Proper Loyalty

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I hate people with divided loyalties,
but I love Your law.
You are my hiding place and my shield.
I find hope in Your word.
Turn away from me, you evil men,
so that I can observe the commands of my God.
Sustain me as You promised, so that I will live.
Do not disappoint me!
Support me, so that I will be delivered.
Then I will focus on Your statutes continually.
You despise all who stray from Your statutes,
for they are deceptive and unreliable.
You remove all the wicked of the earth like slag.
Therefore I love Your rules.
My body trembles because I fear You;
I am afraid of Your judgments. 

Psalm 119:113-120

Dear Heavenly Father, why do some think Your law is not good enough?  Why do they place their loyalty elsewhere?  I want my loyalty to be only for You.  Your law is wonderful.  You are my protector and hope.  I want those who practice evil to stay away from me so I can live Your commands. Give me the strength You have promised, so I can live!  Help me so that I will be free.  Then I can give my thoughts to Your word continually.  You hate those who go away from Your law.  They are not trustworthy.  You will justly remove them.  Your justice increases my love for Your way.  I fear Your judgements; I fear You.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

The Light

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Your word is a lamp to walk by,
and a light to illumine my path.
I have vowed and solemnly sworn
to keep Your just regulations.

Psalm 119:105-106

Dear Heavenly Father, I love the light Your word provides.  I commit to following Your ways.

I am suffering terribly.
O Lord, revive me with Your word!
O Lord, please accept the freewill offerings of my praise!
Teach me your regulations!
My life is in continual danger,
but I do not forget Your law.
The wicked lay a trap for me,
but I do not wander from Your precepts.

Psalm 119:107-110

There are hardships and dangers throughout life, but You are still worthy of praise.  Please accept the praise I give to You.  Please continue to teach me Your ways.  There are problems, but I will cling to Your word.

I claim your rules as my permanent possession,
for they give me joy.
I am determined to obey Your statutes
at all times, to the very end.

Psalm 119:111-112

Your rules endure – I will own them with joy for all times.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

The Ultimate Wisdom

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O how I love Your law!
All day long I meditate on it. 

Psalm 119:97

Dear Heavenly Father, Your law is wonderful; I can’t get enough of it!

Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
for I am always aware of them.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on Your rules.
I am more discerning than those older than I, for I observe Your precepts. 

Psalm 119:98-100

Learning, thinking on and living Your ways gives me more wisdom than people can offer.  Thank you for giving so freely.

I stay away from the evil path,
so that I might keep Your instructions.
I do not turn aside from Your regulations,
for you teach me.
Your words are sweeter
in my mouth than honey!
Your precepts give me discernment.
Therefore I hate all deceitful actions.

Psalm 119:101-104

I want to stay away from sin and those who would pull me away from You.  I want to keep Your ways.  I will not go away from them.  Your words are a great blessing.  Your ways teach me how to live and show me what to stay away from.  Thank You for all You’ve done.

I pray this in Jesus’ Name.

God is so good.

Faithfulness Forever

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O Lord, Your instructions endure;
they stand secure in heaven.
You demonstrate Your faithfulness to all generations.
You established the earth and it stood firm.
Today they stand firm by Your decrees,
for all things are Your servants.

(Psalm 119:89-91 NET)

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the endurance of Your faithful words. You never fail. All things serve and praise You!  Your wonderful creation is a testimony of how great You are.

If I had not found encouragement in Your law,
I would have died in my sorrow.
I will never forget Your precepts,
for by them You have revived me.
I belong to You. Deliver me!
For I seek Your precepts.

(Psalm 119:92-94 NET)

I would not survive without the blessing Your law gives.  By Your power I will continue in Your ways; they give me strength.  I am Yours, please help me by Your word.

The wicked prepare to kill me,
yet I concentrate on Your rules.
I realize that everything has its limits,
but Your commands are beyond full comprehension. 

(Psalm 119:95-96 NET)

There are those who are against me, yet I will cling to Your law.  In this life there are limitations, but Your commands are beyond those limits. 

I pray this in Jesus’ Name.

God is so good.

Pleading for Help

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I desperately long for Your deliverance.
I find hope in Your word.
My eyes grow tired as I wait for Your promise to be fulfilled.
I say, “When will You comfort me?”
For I am like a wineskin dried up in smoke.
I do not forget Your statutes.
How long must Your servant endure this?
When will You judge those who pursue me?
The arrogant dig pits to trap me,
which violates Your law.
All Your commands are reliable.
I am pursued without reason. Help me!
They have almost destroyed me here on the earth,
but I do not reject your precepts.
Revive me with your loyal love,
that I might keep the rules you have revealed.

Psalm 119:81-88 (NET)

Dear Heavenly Father, I need You.  Waiting on the fulfillment of Your promises is hard.  I feel the pain of the psalmist in dealing with the arrogant.  Please hold me fast with Your law so I don’t fall into the trap of the prideful.  I am weak. I ask for strength and revival from Your loyal love which you share with me through Your Holy Word.

I pray this in Jesus’ Name.

God is so good.

Loyal Followers

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Your hands made me and formed me.
Give me understanding so that I might learn Your commands.
Your loyal followers will be glad when they see me,
for I find hope in Your word.

Psalm 119:73-74 NET

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for making me in Your image.  Please help me to learn understanding of Your commands.  I want to say with the Psalmist that Your loyal followers are glad when they see me.  Your Word brings hope.

I know, Lord, that Your regulations are just.
You disciplined me because of Your faithful devotion to me.
May Your loyal love console me,
as you promised Your servant.
May I experience Your compassion, so I might live!
For I find delight in your law.

Psalm 119:75-77 NET

Your regulations and discipline are evidence of Your love.  Please remind me of the safety and comfort of Your love.  Your law brings joy!

May the arrogant be humiliated, for they have slandered me!
But I meditate on Your precepts.
May Your loyal followers turn to me,
those who know Your rules.
May I be fully committed to Your statutes,
so that I might not be ashamed.

Psalm 119:78-80 NET

Please hold the arrogant accountable.  They harm Your loyal followers.  I will continue to turn to Your law.  Please help me to give my full commitment to Your Word.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.