Placing Our Hope In God’s Words

I pray with all my heart; answer me, LORD!

I will obey your decrees.

I cry out to you; rescue me,

that I may obey your laws.

I rise early, before the sun is up;

I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.

I stay awake through the night,

thinking about your promise.

Psalm 119:145-148

We tend to turn to God for help when our backs are against the wall and our world is falling apart. We might even try to strike a deal with God, making promises to obey him if he only will deliver us from our current predicament. In this prayer, turning to God was not a last resort. God was the only solution the psalmist ever tried. He even got up early in the morning to meditate on God’s promises and ask for the Lord’s help. If his nights were sleepless, he focused his thoughts on what is holy and true. It was that type of commitment to God and his words that helped him get through times of difficulty.

Determine how you can make God’s words a central part of your everyday life. Ask God to help you focus on his life-giving words this week.

• Dear Lord, I rise early to place my hope in your words. I will obey your laws . . .