Meditating On God’s Word

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.

Psalm 119:33-37

Psalm 119 is one long, poetic prayer that praises and extols God’s law. What a privilege to know what God says and to be able to walk on the path that leads to eternal life! The poet who penned this prayer knew he couldn’t always follow God’s law. He knew he needed someone to teach him God’s law and help him understand the Lord’s decrees. But more importantly, he needed a heart that eagerly sought out the Lord’s will instead of his own will. He had experienced the lure of possessions, so he prayed to God, asking for the eagerness to follow God’s ways.

One of the disciplines of the spiritual life is reading and studying God’s Word. Ask the Lord today to increase your hunger for his Word and to enable you to to obey his commands, for in them you will find life.

• Dear Lord, give me life through your Word . . .