Numbering My Days

Tag: psalms

  • 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 119:73-80

    May your compassion come to me
    so that I may live,
    for your instruction is my delight.

    Life: existence with meaning. Enjoying your creation, Lord. Purposeful days. This all a gift of your grace and compassion.

    Open my eyes to your Word that I may find in your instruction the life you intend for your servant.

    I don’t deserve all your glorious blessings. But, Lord, I will revel in what you show me – what you provide.

    Grant me life today that I may live for you, knowing you, making you known.

    Through Jesus Christ my Lord!

  • Psalm 119:65-72

    Instruction from your lips is better
    for me
    than thousands of gold
    and silver pieces.

    Here is a significant moment of faith – of truth for me. One I must learn. Commitment to God’s Word, its value to me, is priceless. Worth more to me than my back account, than my retirement savings.

    This requires faith, and I must embrace it.

    I’ve tried to always live this way, though I love the comfort that is mine because of money.

    Lord, I will rely on you not on my money. You’ve given me whatever I have so that I might serve you, live for you.

    Lord, use me up – I will live by you, for you.

    Dependent on you!

  • Psalm 119:57-64

    The LORD is my portion; . . .
    I though about my ways
    and turned my steps back
    to your decrees.

    I wrote this on Nov. 9th. My 68th birthday:

    Today: Birthday – a good day for reflection and looking forward.

    Lord, forgive once again, for all the times I’ve not remained committed to you and your Word. I trust, rely, depend, am overwhelmed by your forgiving love – according to your promise!

    I don’t deserve it, but I am reminded again today – I need it, long for it, love it – love You.

    And, Lord almighty, than you for your grace, love, and forgiveness.

    Looking ahead: who knows what even today holds, much less the year before me.

    Here’s what I count on: You, Lord, and your Word.

    The earth is filled with your faithful love . . .

    Lord, this day, year: show me your love again.

    I choose you and your Word!

  • Psalm 119:49-56

    Your statutes are the theme of
    my song
    during my earthly life.

    Most of us, perhaps all, choose something or someone that generally defines our lives.

    Some people model their lives after the wealthy, the powerful, the attractive; we see (especially young people) choose to emulate rebels, or pattern their behavior and their looks after the “anti-” anti-whatever they’ve been. So, the rise of the emo for example. This continues throughout life – it’s what fuels the self-help category in bookstores and gives rise to new influencers in social media every day.

    The Psalmist chose the Lord’s precepts. That seems wise – wisest – to me.

    I will pattern my life on the Word of God, finding in it the wisdom of the Lord, His care, His protection, His purpose, His plan – for my life.

    His ways will be the theme of my life.

    This image, I don’t know why, turned out better than I thought it would. And I struggled to move on from this early step. It sat unfinished for a couple of weeks – but it is the good start on the Word of God represented by a Bible. More later-though, you’ll see this image too much for the next week!

  • Psalm 119:41-48

    Let your faithful love come to me, LORD,
    Your salvation as you promised.
    Then I can answer the one
    who taunts me,
    for I trust in your word.

    I think it is not unusual to face taunts from people who ridicule people of faith simply because of their faith in God. I’m not sure why that brings them pleasure – surely it is born out of the out of the hatred of the deceiver who has led them in to the darkness of doubt, despair, anger, hatred, faithlessness.

    So, Lord, remind me of your faithful love. Your kindness and mercy has always been my source of joy and security. My answer to those who taunt because of my faith – I trust in you.

    Where else would I turn?

    You are my faithful, loving, merciful 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 119:25-32

    My life is down in the dust; . . .
    I am weary from grief;
    Strengthen me through your Word.

    Yes, Lord, this Psalm speaks right to me today. It’s been a tough time lately. I am weary – and there is grief rather than joy in the days. They are hard.

    So, Lord – strengthen me.

    Help me stand up to this temporary time of grief and sorrow, and in my heart strike a flame of joy and certainty.

    There is a way: it is your Word, your precepts. I find it as I meditate on your wonders. So give me eyes to see your glorious hands at work around me. Help me experience the beauty in the midst of pain and sorrow.

    Lord, I have chosen the way of truth – I choose it again today. For in you, and you alone, there is life, joy, purpose, eternity.

    Praise God!

  • Psalm 119:17-24

    Open my eyes so that I may contemplate
    wondrous things
    from your instructions.

    Lord, I need a heart like the Psalmist that longs for your Word and cries out for vision – vision that will make me see the wondrous things that flow from your instruction.

    I am tempted to see your Word as a collection of mysteries to be known, questions and riddles to to be solved. I fall prey to discussing, arguing, getting caught up in petty disagreements over your Word.

    What I must recall, receive, is the joy of finding the wondrous in your Word. There’s so much more than the parts I do not perceive.

    I long for you, Lord, and for your Word that moves with purpose and power to bring me wonder and delight.

    Today, Lord, help me recall the wondrous with delight.

    Your Word.

    On to a different treatment, a different focus on the same idea of staying on the Lord’s path. Just started here.