Numbering My Days

Tag: jesus

  • Psalm 119:153-160

    Consider how I love your precepts;
    LORD, give me life according to
    your faithful love.

    I have previously observed this truth: Life- eternal life – is always given us according to His faithful love.

    A part of me wants to be lovable. To have earned even a speck of the joy and reward that the Lord grants His children. For if I earned it, I would be proud! “See what I did!”

    But there is nothing I have done, do today, or will ever do that earns even the shadow cast by His long-suffering, perfect, faithful love. My eternal reward is a gift from Him, according to His faithful love.

    Thank you, Lord, for your faithful love that provided Jesus Christ who died for me, that I might receive your gift of grace.

    Amen.

  • Psalm 119:137-144

    Your righteousness is
    an everlasting righteousness,
    and your instruction is true.

    God’s righteousness is different.

    I sometimes, may possibly experience a temporary moment of what I think is righteousness. It’s probably false: self-righteousness. It may be just a sense of righteousness, just after receiving forgiveness, a knowing of God’s kindness: Jesus’ sacrifice has reconciled me to God.

    But it doesn’t last.

    Why would it?

    My sin is ever with me. And I must beg for mercy, repent, seek God once again.

    But God. His righteousness is everlasting. he is always right, always just, always true, always pure.

    And His Word reveals His everlasting righteousness to me.

    Hey! That’s how I know I’m not righteous.

    Praise the Lord.

    Even in His righteousness He provides for my unrighteousness.

    Forgiveness forever!

    Through Jesus Christ my Lord.

  • Psalm 119:129-136

    The revelation of your words
    brings light
    and gives understanding
    to the inexperienced.

    Here is the pure blessing of the Word of God.

    Light – the gift of seeing all that is pure, holy, right, just – the enlightenment of God that His way may be followed with confidence and security.

    Understanding – the wisdom of God made available to “the inexperienced,” – the young, foolish, sinful, but now, enlightened soul who loves God, desires His Word, and strives to live in its light. Pure joy and wisdom, available in the word and presence of God almighty.

    In this wisdom, we – I – am reminded that sin may entrap, ensnare, and dominate me. Lord, redeem me. Set me on your path. Teach me that I may live in your light, gaining understanding through your precious Word.

  • Psalm 119:121-128

    Deal with your servant based on
    your faithful love.

    Lord, indeed!

    Don’t deal with me as I deserve. I am destroyed if you do.

    Please, God, extend your mercy. Deal with me according to your faithful love.

    You are faithful – the One who never fails, always is, always will be the creator, sustainer, redeemer.

    You love – indeed you are love.

    Forever patient, kind, forgiving, caring.

    Forever faithful.

    In your faithful love, Lord, please deal with me. I come to you as a sinner in need of your mercy through Jesus Christ my Lord. Not in any way deserving, but somehow, through Him, because of your love, forgive.

    Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Amen

    Near the beginning.

  • Psalm 119:105-112

    You word is a lamp for my feet
    and a light on my path . . .
    I love your decrees as a heritage forever,
    indeed, they are the joy of my heart.

    Lord, I’ve known this verse since young childhood. Thank you for the faithful servants who taught me in Sunday School, VBS, and at home.

    I now see this verse in much clearer context. The path I’m on, want to stay on, your path – is narrow and bordered with dangerous cliffs, enticements, traps, snares, enemies, and dangerous elements that are looking for me to take one mis-step off your path.

    O course, I have stepped off. But, by your grace and mercy, I’ve found a way back to your path, through your Word, the joy of my heart.

    Now, Lord, I will look to you and your Word to light the path ahead. Save me from the dangers all about and be the lamp by which I walk – through Jesus Christ, my Lord!

  • Psalm 119:97-104

    How sweet your word is to my taste –
    sweeter than honey in the mouth.
    I gain understanding
    from your precepts;
    therefore, I hate every false way.

    David makes some extraordinary claims:

    • that he is wiser than all his enemies;
    • more insightful than all his teachers;
    • understands more than the elders;
    • he has kept his feet from every evil path.

    I don’t know about all that!

    I’m certainly not wiser, more insightful than others. But this I do know, and agree with the Psalmist:

    The Word of God –

    His precepts –

    are the source of all wisdom, understanding, joy, and pleasure.

    Sweeter than honey! Yes, indeed.

    As I taste the Word I find it is the sweetest fare of all.

    Praise God!

  • Psalm 119:89-96

    I have seen a limit to all perfection,
    but your command is without limit.

    A lot of the time we look for, work for, perfection. The perfect day. The perfect relationship. The perfect job. The perfect investment. The perfect family – vacation – clothes – whatever!

    Almost nothing is perfect.

    No perfect:

    • days
    • people
    • places
    • jobs
    • work
    • art
    • pets

    But you, Lord, have given us a glimpse of what is perfect.

    You are perfect and your Word is perfect.

    I can’t live perfectly, but I can place my hope and trust in the Only One who is perfect, and commit myself to Him and His Way and Word.

    Amen!

  • Psalm 119:81-88

    I long for your salvation;
    I put my hope in your word.

    Lord, your salvation is the desire of my heart.

    It is:

    • Eternal security
    • Meaningful life now
    • Abundant life, filled with your joy, Your goodness
    • Provision for today and hope for tomorrow
    • Relationship with you, Creator, Sustainer of life
    • Rescue from the sin that besets me – pulls me under

    In your Word I find hope for the salvation you offer and provide.

    In your Word there is

    • forgiveness
    • peace
    • joy
    • a sure foundation for the life I long for

    Lord, save me, by the power of the Gospel through Jesus Christ my Lord.

  • Psalm 119:33-40

    Turn my heart to your decrees . . .
    Turn my eyes
    from looking at what is worthless;
    give me life in your ways    .

    There are endless distractions, and countless images that seek to pull my attention away from the Lord. They multiply daily and are so often mesmerizing – falsely attractive. Our world is filled with it – and overstuffed, growing more so every day. (So much – it’s rancid if I choose to dig around in it.)

    But there is salvation. A way to meaningful life. By turning my eyes to the Lord’s decrees. To His Word. To His precepts. To focus on Him and His glory, His truth, His beauty.

    It takes discipline to do this – but there is such reward. Great beauty, majesty, peace, wonder, joy: available today and forevermore.

    Turn my eyes upon Jesus!

    Amen.

  • Psalm 119:1-8

    How happy are those whose way
    is blameless,
    who walk according
    to the LORD’S instructions!

    So begins this wonderful Psalm – a Psalm that celebrates the Word of the Lord.

    Thank you, Lord, even for the faithful witness of the Psalmist who used his own gifts and talents to lead us in celebration of your Word, your wisdom, your commands, your revelation.

    I enter into the next many days with this Psalm with my heart open to your Word.

    May I enjoy the wisdom and enlightenment here. Lord, shine on me the light of your Word that shows me when I am not following your way, your Word, your precepts.

    I will seek you with all my heart.

    Lord, bring me the joy and gladness of your salvation through your Word and through your servant, Jesus Christ.

    In Him, we abide.

    I tried several ideas for the illustration of Ps 119:35 – I painted through on this one, just started here (more of it later) – but didn’t settle here. The idea, of course, a choice: the Lord’s path or a different direction.