Psalm 119 - 12.10.25

Scripture

Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. (Ps 119:11)

Observation

The only way to live a life without falling into sin, is to hide God’s word in our hearts (Ps 119:11). The whole of Psalms 119 is focused on the word of God, and the importance of having the word in our hearts. In the same passage we read today, we see the question, “How can a young person stay on the path of purity?” The answer is also in the same verse - “By living according to your word” (Ps 119:9). To live according to God’s word, we need to have his word in our heart. The scripture commands us that we should not conform to the pattern of this world, but should renew our minds (Rom 12:2). We renew our minds by reading and studying the word of God everyday consistently. 

Application

God does not promise us an easy life when we put our trust in Him. In fact, the opposite is true. Jesus said “in this world, you will have trouble” (John 16:33). When we walk through fire and through water (Is 43:2) and through the valley of the shadow of death (Ps 23:4), it is the promises in His word that strengthens us and holds us up. We need the word hidden in our hearts to draw out of during those times.

All of us want to live a life that pleases God. We can do that only by living a life that is based on God’s word. For that, we need to know the word. We need to have the daily discipline of reading God’s word every single day. Jesus is God’s word who became flesh (John 1:14). Jesus and his word are the same. We can’t have Jesus apart from His written word. When we consistently read the word every day and continuously recall what we read in the Bible, meditating on his word, we internalize it and it becomes hidden in our hearts. 

We are approaching the new year and it is time for some resolutions. Let me give you some ideas. If you don’t have a daily habit of reading the word everyday, that could be a good resolution. If you have cultivated the daily discipline of getting into the word, why don’t you increase it or double it? If you read one chapter, make it two in 2026. If you spend one hour with God everyday, consider doubling it to two hours.

Prayer

Father, I thank you for your Word. Please help me to delight in your law, and to meditate on your word day and night, so that I will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water (Ps 1:2). I pray that your word will be a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path (Ps 119:105). I pray that the word of Christ will dwell in me richly in all wisdom (Col 3:16). I pray that I will not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind by feeding on your word, so that I may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom 12:2). Make my life be a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to you (Rom 12:1). In Jesus’s name. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George