“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.”
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.”
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