Even At Midnight - The One Year Devotions for Women with Jill Briscoe

TO READ: Psalm 119:1-24

Your laws please me; they give me wise advice.

Psalm 119:24

“I don’t have anyone to talk to,” complained a middle-aged woman. “My husband watches football all the time, and my daughter has earphones so she can listen to her music without disturbing us all the time. I have many problems. I need to talk to somebody. That’s why I came to you.”

I asked her if she had ever turned to the Bible and let it be her counselor.

“Oh, I’m not good at understanding the Bible,” she said. “I tried reading it once, but I didn’t like it, so I gave up.”

Opening the Word of God, I began to show her verses that matched her need. I turned to Psalm 119:103 and showed her the words: “How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.”

“That was a sweet time,” she said after an hour’s “discovery” session. She smiled and left with a small pamphlet to help her get started reading her Bible for herself.

After she had left, I found myself reflecting on all the times his Word has been my counselor and friend. Reading through Psalm 119 again, I borrowed the words and rejoiced: “I will quietly keep my mind on your laws” (Psalm 119:95); “Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight” (Psalm 119:111); “I am always overwhelmed with a desire for your regulations” (Psalm 119:20); “I rise at midnight to thank you for your just regulations” (Psalm 119:62).