.jpg) |
| Photo Credit: Flickr/jalbertganier |
פ Pe
129 Your testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
131 I opened my mouth and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.
132 Look upon me and be merciful to me,
As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
133 Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.
135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.
136 Rivers of water run down from my eyes,
Because men do not keep Your law.
Therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
131 I opened my mouth and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.
132 Look upon me and be merciful to me,
As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
133 Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.
135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.
136 Rivers of water run down from my eyes,
Because men do not keep Your law.
(Psalm 119:129-136 NKJV)
This morning I woke up with my mind totally upon what I had planned for the day. As part of my normal daily routine, I come before the Lord in prayer and Bible reading. However, this morning my mind was too engulfed with the things I had on my agenda. I started praying, but could not concentrate. I opened the Word, it was far from my mind. So I decide to lay down my Bible and go ahead trying to accomplish what I had planned. Everything was just amiss. Frustration was sitting in. Do you ever feel like that when you do not put God's Word first? Then I said to myself, "I must go before the Lord in prayer, then spend some precious time in His Word. That was like night and day in the difference it made.
Recently I committed to memorizing the wonderful verses from Psalm 119, which I started this post off with. I want so much to have the attitude and love for God's Word as this Psalmist had. Such wonderful words here to let sink deep down into our souls; then let this truth be lived out in our lives. Today, I would just like to encourage you to spend some time meditating on these verses above and then answer these two questions below.
1. Are there any areas in my life which are off limits to God's Word?
2. Am I heartbroken over the sin I see everyday in the world? (See verse 136)
As always, Ken, a thought-provoking post.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your questions:
1. Are there any areas in my life which are off limits to God's Word?
No, there aren't. I also want the Word of God to seep deep into my heart and soul. But, I'm like you, all too human sometimes. I let the world crowd in, I let *me* crowd in. Oh, that the Lord would continue to speak to me, to transform me.
"The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple."
Amen.
2. Am I heartbroken over the sin I see everyday in the world? (See verse 136)
Yes, indeed. Sometimes when I'm out and about, I just look at the people all around me. And sometimes I just feel so sad - there are so many broken lives. I want God to give me a heart like His - I want to reach out to this fallen world that so desperately needs the Savior.
Thanks for this tonight, Ken. I enjoyed it.
GOD BLESS!
Thank you Sharon for your comment and sharing your answers to my questions. I was blessed in reading your answers. I think you hit the nail right on the head when you said, "But, I'm like you, all too human sometimes. I let the world crowd in, I let *me* crowd in. Oh, that the Lord would continue to speak to me, to transform me." Also, it sure is heart breaking to see people loving their sin and reject the Word of God.
DeleteMay God bless you also,
Hi Ken, Yes I will meditate on those verses, but one of the things that kept coming up in my mind was the memory of a fellow Christian whom I worked with at a factory about 15 years ago: I was not there for long as we moved, but I will never forget how that man sat and read his Bible everyday in the break room!
DeleteI have never been that bold in my faith...At the same factory I was (by a coworker) warned about a t shirt with Noah on it being offensive to a witch who worked on the line next to us...I should have gone over there and introduced myself, instead I became indignant!
I admire those who, like the man in the break room do not close God out from anywhere that they go! Good post. ~God bless~
Never Forsaken, Thank you for sharing this with me. I have my retreats too, I should have... That is awesome how your co-worker never closed God out from anywhere he went. May we all be more like that. God bless.
DeleteHi Ken - I'm glad you shared about the challenge of not being able to focus when trying to pray or read the scriptures. Like you, it is always the things that need to be done that pose the biggest distraction for me.I had a similar experience today so I'm glad you shared this. It's a good reminder to stay vigilant and guard our quiet times with the Lord because that is the secret of our strength in him. God bless. :)
ReplyDeleteVilisi, I am glad you stopped by my blog and read this. We must never forget that the Lord is our strength. Thank you for your comment and may God bless
DeleteHi Ken,
ReplyDeleteI am a bit of a daydreamer and have always struggled with keeping my mind focused to the task at hand. I have learned that sometimes I just cannot make myself focus so I encorprate what I want to focus on into my daydreaming. :) This helps me bring my mind back on track and soon enough I am fousing on what I originally wanted to in the first place.
I have no spots in my life that is off limits to God or His Word. He knows all of me anyway so it is just silly foolisness to think one can hide anything from Him or not be able to apply all of Scripture to my life.
I am broken to pieces over sin that happens everyday, especially in the Christian. Yes we make mistakes and yes we are forgiven but there are so many Christians that don't repent fully or sin because they believe they are free to do so. This tears me up inside but at the same time it is good for my soul and walk with Father as it helps me to keep checking myself to make sure my heart is right with Father.
Blessings brother,
<><
Thank you Child of God for your comment and answering my questions. Oh yes, the sin in the church bothers me the most, without question. I expect it form those who do not know Jesus, but us Christians do know better. I think of the good we could accomplish and how this hides the light of Jesus to the world. It is sad.
DeleteBTW, I can be a daydreamer too. I especially hate it when in worship at church and my mind wonders.
May God bless you.
Nothing is off limits to God and yes...I am heart broken and very sad to the sin that I see around me and in the news. I can relate to your prayer and bible study time being interrupted with a busy mind...it has been happening to me a lot this past month. :(
ReplyDeleteDee, thank you for your comment. I know sometimes I get wrapped up into different things, but we must always remember noting is more important than that quality time with God. May God bless you.
DeleteDistractions are our enemy, and busyness is one of them, that draw our attention away. I wish that we were not hard-wired to stray so easily by the flesh desires and the world. But we are not given the cure, as we are told to walk in the Spirit. No excuses, because its taking our eyes off Jesus that causes the problem. Though you were detracted, you disciplined yourself to stay focused and return to the Word. Best advice i've heard in a long time. Thank you for the great post!
ReplyDeleteThank you Todd for sharing your insights. I love what you said, "But we are not given the cure, as we are told to walk in the Spirit." This is key and also when we lose focus, return! May God bless you.
DeleteLike you said, I have to spend time every day in the Word and also taking time to just soak in Jesus' presence. If I don't, I'm a mess. And if I neglect it a few days! Then I'm totally off center.
ReplyDeletePeggy, It is so vital to stay plugged into God's Word. We must watch ourselves, I know, way too easy to let the things of this world distract us from what is truly important. Thank you for your comment an may God bless you.
DeleteFocus is hard for me as well..... I find I am better in the morning hours though. Blessings to you Ken and thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteJBR, Me too, I get my best study time first thing in the morning and starting the day in the Word first sets the tone for the day. Thank you for your comment and God bless you.
DeleteHi Ken,
ReplyDeleteStarting my day with God's Word makes all the difference in the world as does prayer. I too have those days when I'm reading but having trouble focusing. But I still need to persevere. For me writing has helped me to focus because I can write out those things that are a distraction and refocus on the Word.
Nothing in my life is off limits from the Word and the more I'm in God's Word the more I'm broken over the sin that breaks His heart.
Blessings in Christ...Susan
Susan, You are so correct in saying that we need to preserver, it is vital. And the more someone is in the Word, the more Christlike they become, but the reverse is also true. The more we are in the world, the more we tend to become more like the world. Thank you for your comment and may God bless you.
DeleteHi Ken,
ReplyDeletethe lovely thing is that when we read, and try to heed, God's words to us there is a promise that we can claim in verse 49 of Psalm 119. 'Remember your word to your servant for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.' It reminds me that all of God's promises are 'yes' in Jesus. God bless you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful verse and for your comment. How awesome it is that God gives us hope. May God bless you.
DeleteI too have a hard time focusing. God brings me into a room by myself, close the door, open up my bible, play some worship, and sit in His presence. At night time when I am relaxed I read it better. But when things are too quiet or on my mind too much I cannot concentrate! I always try to start the day telling God good morning and thanking Him for making me well! I need to talk to God and feel Him constantly or I'll flip!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, blessings!
Ashley, thank you for sharing what you do when you cannot concentrate. Thanking Him for making us well is a must needed reminder as to how much we need God. That quiet time with the Lord is vital! I appreciate your comment and may God bless,
DeleteHi Ken,
ReplyDeleteI love Psalm 119 too. First answer 'No', second answer 'Yes'.
God bless
Thank you Brenda for answering my questions. May God bless you
Delete