Power of the Word

“Remember your promise to me; it is my only hope. Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles. The proud hold me in utter contempt, but I do not turn away from your instructions. I meditate on your age-old regulations; O Lord, they comfort me. I become furious with the wicked, because they reject your instructions. Your decrees have been the theme of my songs wherever I have lived. I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord; therefore, I obey your instructions. This is how I spend my life: obeying your commandments.” (Psalm 119:49-56)

Almost four years ago, I lost my job. Not due to the economy, but instead due to my own irresponsibility. One minute I was ready to work and the next minute I was being asked to grab my things and leave. It was devastating and I was angry, not initially with myself, but with God. During the nearly 6 month time period that I was without a full time job, I had a lot of time to think about the events that transpired. It was during this time and the years of financial stress that would follow, that I learned to lean hard on Jesus. It didn’t happen immediately, but instead, it was a process. I was slowly learning that God was in control no matter what my circumstances. I also learned to take responsibility for my part in losing my job. Let me tell you, that was hard. I also learned that God in all his infinite wisdom and sovereignty had a plan in the midst of the difficulty I was going through. My work environment prior to me losing my job was extremely toxic. I never had a job before at which I would cry just about every time I worked, at the hands of my boss who didn’t like me and who made it obvious to everyone in the department. While I don’t know this for sure, and I probably never will, perhaps, it was God rescuing me from that situation when I was removed from that toxic environment. One of the things that helped me get through the last four years, which have in no way been easy, was His Word. The promises that I knew God had made and were true gave me hope in my desperation, discouragement, and my depression. I found myself drawn to the book of Psalms and as I read and discovered what was in there, I found encouragement for my weary soul. I found truth and I found life. In the middle of difficult circumstances, it can be extremely hard to turn our focus on the one who is Sovereign and in control of everything, but God has provided His Word for us to offer us encouragement, and to expose us in the light of his love and wisdom. When I had his Word to focus on I could get away from the lies that Satan was telling me about myself, about others, about God, and about my circumstances. I had a powerful weapon at my disposal! This is why it is extremely important to arm yourself with the Word of God. When you don’t, you risk your life. That might sound odd, but you do! Without the Word of God to encourage me, I could have spiraled out of control even more so than I felt like I already had. I could have been lead so far away from God by my anger and bitterness that it would have been difficult to come back. Now, I will tell you that I did lose part of my life in this process. God used this time to open my eyes to the fact that I wasn’t really dependent on him and that I didn’t really have a true relationship with him. Sure I had salvation, but that was about all I acknowledged. I have grown immensely in my relationship with the Lord over the last four years. I also know Him much better than I did way back in December of 2007, when my world was flipped upside down. I am so thankful for the fact that I am not who I was back then. My life has been changed by the power of a loving God and the power of His Word. What about yours?

“Father God, I praise your holy name and I thank you greatly for your Word. I thank you for its power to encourage, enlighten, and lead me on the path that you have set out for me. Father God, help me to have an unquenchable desire for your Word, so that I may know you and live my life in the light of your truth and love and out of the darkness. In Jesus most precious name I pray, Amen.”

Walking in Freedom

“Lord, give me your unfailing love, the salvation that you promised me. Then I can answer those who taunt me, for I trust in your word. Do not snatch your word of truth from me, for your regulations are my only hope. I will keep on obeying your instructions forever and ever. I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments. I will speak to kings about your laws, and I will not be ashamed. How I delight in your commands! How I love them! I honor and love your commands. I meditate on your decrees.” (Psalm 119:41-48)

The Bible is full of promises that God has made to those who believe in him. Those promises allow for hope in even the darkest circumstances. Throughout scripture, we are shown time and time again that God’s promises always prove true. The Word of God also provides hope in even the darkest circumstances. It is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths, showing us the way to walk in freedom. Hope is built on the grace of God and on the promises that He has made in scripture. The truth and freedom that is found in the Word of God should be a major part of our lives as believers. It should be written on our hearts, running through our thoughts, and ready on our lips. We should be armed with the Word, ready to denounce any lie or discouragement that comes our way. This is how we can walk in freedom. What an awesome thing it is to walk in freedom! Knowing that if God is for you, then no one can ever be against you and knowing that God is a God of truth, if he said it, he meant it, are just two ways to walk in freedom. Keeping the Word of God close to you is not only beneficial to you, but also to those around you. Have you ever had someone come to you who needed some encouragement? Well, how can you encourage someone without the Word of God ready on your lips, and in your thoughts, and in your heart? The Word of God is a light that penetrates the darkness and allows truth to shine through. The psalmist loved the Word of God and was always ready to use it not only for the purposes of God. Dispelling lies in his own life, so that he can walk in freedom and encouraging others with the Word, so that they could do the same. He was armed with the Word of God. Are you?

“Father God, how I love your Word! Help me to arm myself with it so that I will be able to walk in your freedom and walk in your truth. Father God I want your Word to be written on my heart, running through my thoughts, and ready on my lips so that I can denounce lies, encourage others, and bring Your hope to a world that truly needs it. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen.”

Walking in Joyfulness

“Teach me your decrees, O Lord; I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money! Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word. Reassure me of your promise, made to those who fear you. Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good. I long to obey your commandments! Renew my life with your goodness.” (Psalm 119:33-40)

Happiness is something that everyone on the face of the earth is in constant pursuit of. People go after everything they think will make them happy – money, possessions, fame, a boyfriend / girlfriend / husband / wife, children, food, drugs, alcohol, and much more. The truth is none of those things will make you happy all the time. The more I think about it, the more I see that for most people, happiness is contingent on something else. It rarely has anything to do with an internal well-being, but rather external pursuits. The word joy, to me, is totally an internal state of being. It is not really contingent on anything, but is given by God and comes as a direct result of following God and trusting Him. True joy is not shaken by circumstances, but strengthened as the path that God has laid out is walked with perseverance. That is what I believe the main verse of this section is saying, “Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.” (Psalm 119:35) Following God is never really easy, but he provides all that we need to keep our focus on him in any circumstance. His Word provides wisdom, encouragement, and revelation as we walk along in this journey of life. It is up to us to first of all seek that wisdom, encouragement, and revelation found in his Word, and second of all, do something with it. The psalmist had an unshakeable trust in God and a deep love of His Word. God has provided all that we need to make it through life. It is our choice to use it or not. What will you chose to do?

“Father God, Your Word gives me wisdom and insight. Help me to turn my eyes away from of all those worthless things that distract me from you and help me keep my focus on You and your Word. Help me to stay on the path that you have laid out for me and help me to walk joyfully each day of my life, trusting in You, and growing in You each and every step of the way. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.”

Choosing Light and Truth

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

Can you think of something you can’t live without? When I think about that, the first things that come to mind are breath, water, and food. Without those things, we literally cannot live. God’s Word is very much like those things. It is both life giving and life sustaining. It can revive and restore life had been previously dead because of sin. It provides encouragement and wisdom to help us along in life. Without it, we will stumble and fall, floundering our way through life and only partially living our lives. The Word of God allows us to live life well and because of the Word, we have the ability to shine the light on the darkness. We can walk in light of the truth that is found within the Word. The Word of God is truth and that truth is revealed through reading and meditating on the Word. God reveals things about himself, about our circumstances and about us through his Word. If we are not reading and meditating on the Word, we are allowing ourselves to live in bondage and we are allowing ourselves to walk in darkness, when we have the truth and the light right in front of us. What a privilege it is to have it! Just like following God is a choice that no one can make for you but yourself, reading the Word is very much the same. No one can make you read the Word and I mean really read it and meditate on it. This is a choice that you have to make on your own. No one is going to do it for you. You have to decide whether or not you want to continue to walk in darkness and stay in bondage to all the lies you have heard, or if you want to walk in the light and the truth that is revealed only in the Word of God through reading, studying, and meditating on it. Which do you choose?

“Father God, thank you for the blessing that is your Word. Today I am choosing to walk in the light and in the truth of your word, laying aside the path of darkness and lies I am accustomed to. I choose to read and meditate on your Word, so that your will and your path for my life will be revealed and so I will be encouraged and gain wisdom to follow You and live my life for Your glory. Help me to hide your Word in my heart so that I may not sin against You and so that I may follow you in victory all my days. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.”

Shedding Light on Darkness and Lies

“Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word. Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. I am only a foreigner in the land. Don’t hide your commands from me! I am always overwhelmed with a desire for your regulations. You rebuke the arrogant; those who wander from your commands are cursed. Don’t let them scorn and insult me, for I have obeyed your laws. Even princes sit and speak against me, but I will meditate on your decrees. Your laws please me; they give me wise advice.” (Psalm 119:17-24)

My bedroom is in the basement, and there are no windows, so when the lights are off, it is really dark. If I have to get up in the middle of the night, I find myself stumbling to get where I am going because of how dark it is. If you think about it, when you are blinded by the darkness in your life, you will find yourself stumbling around in life, trying to get where you are going and often tripping and falling in the process. God is light so, the Word of God is also light. The Word can shed light in the darkness allowing you to see clearly the truth. Like I mentioned before, the Word of God is a weapon against the lies of the enemy. When you find yourself stumbling around in the darkness, the Word of God can open your eyes to the truth and enable you to have firm footing. James 4:7 says, “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” If you have the Word of God as your weapon and you have hidden it in your heart, meditated on it, and memorized it, you have the truth as a weapon against the lies of Satan. You can then resist him when he tries to tell you something that isn’t true about you, your circumstances, other people, and God himself. Satan will try every way possible to trip you up and make you fall flat on your face. By arming yourself with the Word, you are giving yourself the upper hand. The Word of God sustains life and brings obedience (17), it is truth (18), it offers guidance (19), it blesses us (21) and it grants us wisdom (24). Have you armed yourself with the Word of God lately?

“Lord God surely you desire truth in my innermost parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost places Please expose to me the deeply embedded lies I’ve believed and help me replace them with the permanently engraved truth. O God, send forth your light and your truth to my life. Let them guide me. Let them bring me to Your Holy Mountain, to the place where you dwell Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind for your love is ever before me and I desire to walk continually in your truth. In Jesus name I pray. Amen” (see Psalm 26:2-3; Psalm 43:3; and Psalm 51:6)

Arm Yourself with the Word

“How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees. I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us. I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.” (Psalm 119:9-16)

The Word of God is powerful, I’ve said it before, but it is the truth. Knowing the word of God and having it available to combat the lies that Satan tries to trip us up with, enables us to be victorious. When you know the truth, it is much easier to recognize the lies when they come up. I have learned over the last few years that when a lie rears its ugly head, I have to renounce it right away and replace it with the truth found in the Word of God. Psalm 119:9-16 is about the importance of memorizing and meditating on God’s Word. In order to remain pure, it requires obedience to God and His Word. (vs 9) Obedience to God and His Word will be easier if you are continually seeking Him (vs 10), through reading His Word and hiding it in your hearts. (vs 11) It is also important to praise God for helping you to learn and grow in His Word. (vs 12) By continually repeating the Word of God out loud, you are not only helping yourself put it in your memory, but you are giving it more power than it would have if you were just reading it to yourself. (vs 13) Repeating the truth found in the Word and reflecting on it allows for you to arm yourself against the lies of the enemy. If you rejoice in the Word of God, study the Word of God, and delight in the Word of God, you will be victorious over the lies of the enemy. (14-16) All of these things are ways you can be obedient to God and to follow His Word. If you remember the truth, not only will it set you free, but you will be able to stand up against the lies that come your way. If you have nothing in your arsenal, when a lie comes your way, how will you stand up against it? The answer is, you can’t. It is imperitive to memorize and meditate on scripture for this very reason. Why not give yourself the upper hand? Arm yourself with the Word of God. You’ll be surprised how much easier it will be to stand up for the truth, if you know the truth.

Father God, thank you for your Word. Please help me to see all the lies I’ve been believing and help me to replace them with the truth found in your Word. Help me to hide that truth in my heart, to reflect on it, and to praise you for providing me with the truth all the days of my life. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Truth Helps Us To Be Joyful

I took some time a couple years ago, following a friend’s suggestion, to really break down Psalm 119 and apply it to my own life. What I discovered was a new appreciation for God’s Word, as well as a whole new appreciation for the truth and having it readily at my disposal. As we go through Psalm 119, you will see both old and new revelation that the scriptures have shown me. Please, don’t forget to take the time to discover what it has for you as well.

The date in my journal reads October 4th, 2009. I was really only getting started in really dealing with all that had happened in the last two years of my life prior to that. I had been through some very difficult things during those two years of my life leading up to the date I had written in my journal and I wanted the truth to illuminate my circumstances and blow them out of the water. What I found was that not only did that happen, but it is still happening almost two years later. God has shown me many lies that I have believed about myself, about others, about God, and about my circumstances. I saw that choosing to walk in truth was not something to take lightly. The bright light of truth is often difficult to look upon in the midst of our own darkness, but God has been with me (and will be with you) every step of my journey into living in the truth, the power, and the authority of God. Not to mention his love, grace, and mercy.

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

What does it mean to be joyful? What comes to your mind when you see the word joyful? I admit that I never really equated being joyful with following the instructions of the Lord, but I can see it now. To be joyful means to believe in the truth about God, about others, about your circumstances and about yourself. Once you know the truth, it is so much easier to follow it in obedience, don’t you think? Knowing the truth about all of these things makes it easier to listen to the truth and to follow it. It most certainly makes it easier to be obedient to God as well. (vs 1) To be joyful also means that you are seeking God wholeheartedly and not partially. When you seek God wholeheartedly, you are fully invested in following him, no matter the cost. This also means that you are fully surrendered to his will and his way for the life that he has given to you. (vs 2) Surrendering fully to God’s will and his way for your life means that you walk only in his ways and not in your own. It was so easy for me to get caught up in doing what I wanted to do instead of doing what God had asked me to do and when I chose my own path, instead of God’s, I found myself tripping and falling and landing on my face asking for forgiveness for being disobedient and impatient. I think we all can identify with that. (vs 3) If I am believing and walking in the truth about God, others, my circumstances, and myself and I am following in obedience and wholeheartedly seeking God and following the path that he has ordained for me, then I will be joyful, my actions will consistently reflect truth and my life will line up with God’s will. (vs 4-6) Wow, to have my actions consistently reflect truth and have my life line up with the will of God would allow others to see the power and the authority of God in my life as well. Can you imagine if all Christians lived their lives in this way? Living our lives in this way shows our thankfulness to God for all that he has done for us. If we are consistently living our lives in thankfulness, well then people won’t be able to help but to notice God’s power and authority in our lives. (vs 7) It’s not easy to do this folks, but it can be done. Now, this might shock you a bit, but I am not perfect. My actions do not always reflect truth, but the good news is that even when we think that God will and maybe even has, given up on us, he never will. God does not give up on anyone, but rather he continues to love us and cherish us right where we are at. He continues to pick us back up and place us on the path that he has ordained for us. Our God is an awesome God!

“Father God, there is so much I know about you. Please help me to believe all of it and walk in that truth. Help me to find the truth about you, about myself, about my circumstances and about others. Please reveal to me any lies that I have believed and help me to seek after you wholeheartedly and follow you in obedience – staying on your path for my life – the new life you have given me through Christ. Help me to be joyful in all circumstances and praise you through it all. Thank you for your love and your Word. Help me to believe, understand, and appreciate both. In Jesus Name, Amen”

The Truth Shall Set You Free!

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)

Psalm 119 is all about the benefits of the Word of God. Just like the verse above in Hebrews says, the Word of God is powerful. It can cut through the lies in your life, exposing them for what they are and lead you into the marvelous light and life found in God’s truth. The truth that has the power to set you free from anything in your life that has held you captive and kept you in bondage to a life that is not honoring God. It all comes down to a choice. You have to consciously decide whether or not you will continue to walk in the lies that you’ve believed or decide to embrace the truth, believe the truth and walk in it forsaking all that you have believed before that. Psalm 119 is the longest book in the Bible and it is full of reasons why embracing the Word of God, and the truth and freedom found in it, is the path that God wants us all to walk on. Just a few years ago, I sat with my Bible for really the first time in my life and I was prepared to see just what truth God had in it for me. Yes, I had read the Bible before, but I had never realized how beneficial it really was. I hadn’t realized how powerful it really was and I only read it when I had to. I was walking in many lies that I had no idea I was walking in before the Word of God and the Holy Spirit shed some light in those dark corners of my heart. I had to make a choice that I wanted to be free from the lies, no matter what they were, so I could walk on the path that God had provided for me, keeping my eyes on him in the midst of whatever would come my way. It hasn’t been easy, these last few years, but God has provided so much truth for me to walk in and I have grown immensely. Before I get into Psalm 119 itself, if you have never consciously chosen to follow the way of truth, or maybe you’ve been away from it for a while, I ask that you take a few moments to think about what it really means to choose to walk in truth, and then when you are ready here is a prayer that can help to guide you in that direction.

“Lord God, this moment, I am choosing the way of truth. I want to set my heart on your laws. Help me chose the way of truth the rest of my days”

“So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.” (Hebrews 2:1)