Psalm 119:59-107-11.21.22
Scripture
Psalms 119:105
“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
Observation-What does it say?
The overall message of Psalm 119 focuses on the truth of God’s Word. It encourages us through every generation to stay close and focused on His Word no matter what swirls around us in this world. Living in the freedom and knowledge of God’s ways, obeying His law above all else, and keeping in step with His commandments is the only way to truly live wise, strong lives.
Understanding-What does it mean?
A good acronym for BIBLE: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
God’s Word is powerful, living, and active. It never changes because He never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His words are breathed straight from His heart to us, a love letter for life; not simply an old-fashioned, outdated book with no relevance for today. His Word is sharper than any two-edged sword.
Psalm 119 reminds us that God's very character is reflected through His Word, He is Righteous, He is Faithful, He is Unchanging, He is True. The opening 2 verses remind us that we are "blessed" as we walk in His Truth and seek Him with our whole heart.
"Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.-"Psalms 119:v. 1-2
Life Application
Read God’s Word daily! It is life’s instruction manual.
When I was a kid, my dad would always encourage me to read my Bible. He would always say, “A chapter a day, keeps the devil away.” I always thought he liked saying that because it rhymes. But there is truth behind it. Staying in God’s Word daily helps keep me focused on how I should be living my life. It is a light to our path (like the verse I chose today)! So, I just want take this time to encourage you all to try some PB&J (Prayer, Bible reading, and Journaling). It is food for your SOUL! 😋
-Moses Gaddi
Psalm 119 - 11.18.22
Scripture
Psalm 119:37, 57
Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.
Observation – What does it say?
King David pens not only the longest Psalm, but the longest chapter in the entire Bible. And the subject? God’s word. Love for God’s words, a longing to better understand God’s words, a passionate pursuit to immerse himself in God’s words, a commitment to mediating on and memorizing God’s words, a hope and trust in God’s words, a vow to obey God’s words.
Despite David’s passion for God’s words, verse 37 reflects his honest need for God’s help in avoiding empty and worthless things.
Understanding – What does it mean?
David longed to focus on knowing and obeying God’s words, but like all of us, he wrestled with worthless things that attempted to distract him. I’m not sure what it was for him, but for me it can be a number of things – tv, social media, games on my phone, online shopping for things I don’t really need. Like we talked about last Sunday, the struggle is real to keep our focus off treasures on earth that are in the end worthless, so we can instead invest everything to store up treasures in heaven.
I resonate with David’s prayer.
It reminds me of the plea in the old hymn, Come Thou Fount, “Bind my wandering heart to Thee.”
Life Application
David reminded himself a few verses later,
Psalm 119:57
You are my portion, Lord;
I have promised to obey your words.
God, today I remind myself that you are my portion! Whom have I in heaven but you, and earth has nothing I desire besides you (Psalm 73:25). I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ (Phil 3:8). I am my beloveds and he is mine (Song of Songs 6:3)! Nothing compares to you. You are all I need. You are all that satisfies. May I be consumed with you alone!
Lord, I remind myself of the commitment I’ve made to make you not only my Savior but my Lord. Every moment, every breath, every penny belongs to you. Please help me, and help us, to live out the commitment we made to follow Jesus, forsaking all others. I give you my life once again today. All that I am is yours. Please turn my eyes away from worthless things and toward you. Amen.
-Levi Thompson
Revelation 22 -11.17.22
SCRIPTURE: Revelation 22:4 TPT
“they will always SEE His face, and HIS name will be on their foreheads.”
OBSERVATION:
God’s dwelling place is now WITH His people. He, HIMSELF—dwells among us! The original order has been restored and Nothing separates us from God-our Creator. We will SEE Him—face-to-face.
UNDERSTANDING:
This is unfathomable for me. I’m trying to take this in—and I don’t even know HOW to journal on it. But, it’s worth it to me to simply ponder on this verse today. A time IS coming when I will Live eternally WITH the ONE who KNOWS everything about me. HE created me-designed me—gave gifts to me—purposed my destiny—that this is the time and place I would live—and there are Good things I will do BECAUSE He decided even before the earth was created that I would do them—this is how well HE Knows me. AND—HE has sealed me with His Holy Spirit as a guarantee—that Heaven awaits…
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV)
“So, while living in this “tent,” we groan under its burden, not because we want to die but because we want these NEW bodies. We crave for all that is mortal to be swallowed up by eternal life. And this is no empty hope, for GOD Himself is the ONE who has prepared us for this wonderful destiny. And to confirm this promise, he has given us the Holy Spirit, like an engagement ring, as a guarantee.” (2 Corinthians 5:4-5 TPT)
LIFE APPLICATION:
I AM a Citizen of Heaven!
Once you are Born Again—even though you are still living on earth—you have IMMEDIATE Citizenship IN Heaven! A type of permanent passport that is stamped and SEALED. We ALL have the exact same FATHER!
“You have all become true children of God by faith in Jesus Christ! Faith immersed you into Christ, and now you are covered and clothed with HIS life. And we no longer see each other in our former state—Jew or non-Jew, rich or poor, male or female—because we’re all ONE through our union with Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-28)
“Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and FILL your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of this (earthly) natural realm.” (Colossians 3:2 TPT)
I LOVE what Pastor Levi shared last Sunday in his teaching “Treasure in Heaven”—something SO extraordinary when you think about it. Gold which is so HIGHLY valued will be Heaven’s pavement! And as you know—Gold has many forms. This Gold is Top Grade—The Purest of Pure Gold-that glistens SO Bright it’s translucent! The truth is we cannot even Imagine what Heaven has in store for us—because that’s what God’s word tell us.
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him— (1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV)
Heavenly Father,
Help me to Keep my eyes Focused on YOU and to FILL my thoughts with Heaven. Though my eyes have seen your beautiful handiwork of mountains and trees and oceans and flowers and stars set up upon a clear cool night—You say my eyes have NEVER seen anything like I will SEE in Heaven. Though I’ve heard baby’s laughter and the sound of waves crashing and oooh’s and aah’s when I’ve made a special dinner (one of my favorite sounds, and I’ve heard beautiful instruments play music that touches deep in my soul—you say that I’ve Heard NOTHING that compares to what I will HEAR in Heaven. AND…You have Prepared things for us that our human minds cannot even conceive—even with all our creativity and scientific innovation—we cannot IMAGINE what GOD has WAITING for us in HEAVEN!
Thank you for my citizenship. LORD—Help me to remember that this citizenship has costs as well as privilege.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore GO and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:18-19a NIV)
Tina L Kudelka