Consider God's Ways ~ Psalm 119:57-64

I considered my ways and turned my feet to Your testimonies.

Psalm 119:59

How often do we watch where we are going? We are careful to watch our steps when we hike, walk through a parking lot, dodge people at the mall or when we march up the stadium on a Friday night. The question is are we watching our steps when it comes to our morality?

How we live, act and respond to life affects the people around us. But more so, are you considering how your lifestyle is affecting your relationship with God? That is the ultimate question. We are created to be God worshippers...but how can we truly worship God while living contrary to His word? The answer is we can't.

Consider what you are doing and adjust your ways to God's Word.

HIS life, HIS glory!

~Jason

Be Revived ~ Psalm 119:49-56

This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me.

Psalm 119:50

There are many things in life that bring me comfort. My family, friends, pillows, food and so much more. But what brings me comfort when I am faced with affliction (a.k.a.: trouble, hardship, difficulty)?

As I was growing up I experienced a few accidents along the way. I have had stitches, broken bones and bruises. I found comfort from my pain with medicines and bandages. But those medicines and bandages could not relief emotional or spiritual troubles/pains/hardships.

When David says "Your word has revived me", it is a remembrance of God's promises. God's word is always true and can always be trusted. The reason we can be revived by Scripture is because it is the promise of God to us. He will give us peace, comfort, love, endurance and so much more as we need.

Knowing Scripture, is knowing the promises of God. Know them, trust them & live by them.

HIS life, HIS glory!
~Jason

Not Ashamed ~ Psalm 119:41-48

I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings and shall not be ashamed.

Psalm 119:46

There are many things in life that scare us; heights, darkness, tight places, snakes, etc. Esp. in the USA, what scares us about being bold for Christ? Why do we allow people's opinions about us dictate so much of what we do or don't do? How often do we encounter a majestic God and keep that experience hidden from family and friends? I think sharing the gospel (and experience of God) with others is similar to swimming. My oldest son is learning to swim without water wings. The more he practices the better he gets. I wonder if the same is true with sharing Christ with others...the more we shared the easier it would become? After reading the book of Acts, I believe this is true. In Acts we see the faith of the Christians grow with each chapter. Their fear of death, pain and persecution melts away.

If we spend our days waiting to "magically" become bold for Christ...we'll be waiting for a long time. Our boldness will come from living out Christ's command to share Him with the nations. As we seek to live out God's Word, He'll empower us with boldness by the Holy Spirit. Let us trust Him as we proclaim Him.

HIS life, HIS glory!

~Jason

Products of Lifestyle ~ Psalm 119:33-40

Establish Your word to Your servant, as that which produces reverence for You.

Psalm 119:38

Everything produces a result. The activities we choose to participate in will produce a specific outcome in our lives. If we desire to have reverence/respect/love towards God, then His Word needs to be established in our hearts. What are the activities/focuses of your life producing? What outcome do you desire for your life? If you desire a life that is pleasing to God, it must be established (rooted) in God's Word.

Notice that David refered to himself as "Your servant". How do you view yourself? A servant was the lowest of positions in the times of King David. Are you humble enough to be considered a servant? Are you willing to do the work of a servant? A servant belongs to his/her master and responses to their every command. Are you a faithful servant of Christ?

HIS life, HIS glory!

~Jason

The Choice ~ Psalm 119:25-32

I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances before me.

Psalm 119:30

Life is full of choices. Today we'll choose what to wear, where to go, who to hang out with, what to eat, etc. Unless we wake up and decide to follow Christ with all our hearts, then the day is meaningless. All of life is an opportunity to worship Christ. The question is: "what way of life have we chosen today?"

David states here that he has "chosen the faithful way." It could also read, "chosen the way of truth." John 14:6 reminds us that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. God's "ordinances" lead us to Jesus. If we want to be walking down the "faithful way", we must be walking to Jesus. Jesus is reveal to us in all of Scripture, therefore, we need to place the ordinances (words) of God before us.

Choose to be faithful...it's a choice we must make every morning when we wake.

HIS life, HIS glory!

~Jason

Godly Encourager ~ Psalm 119:17-24

Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.

Psalm 119:18

God's word is a treasure of wisdom. But how often do we really thing of God's "law" as wonderful? In our culture it seems that "laws" are viewed in a negative sense. Example: they focus on what we can't do rather than what we can do with our freedoms. The question is how do we view God's "law"? Is it a list of don'ts or words of life? Are they given to keep us from having fun or given that we may have an abundant life? God's word is not ment to hinder us but the set us FREE! We were created to be worshippers. God's word sets us free to worship Him in truth and in spirit. So simply put, the Scripture helps us become who we were ment to be.

Your testimonies also are my delight; they are my counselors.

Psalm 119:24

Where do we go for wisdom, advice and insight? Typically we turn to friends, family, pastors, prayer, talk shows and the like. All these things can be good and very helpful. Godly advice is needed from our friends and family. But our greatest counselor is God's word. I often find myself praying about issues and forgetting to search the Scripture. Prayer and Bible study should go hand and hand as we seek to navigate through life. When we have a hard time understanding even after prayer and Bible study, God has blessed us with the Body of Christ to help encourage and guide us. God's word is our greatest counselor...therefore, surround yourself with people that will guide you according to God's word. Are you delighting in His word, so that you can be a godly encourager?

HIS life, HIS glory!

Jason

Treasure the Word ~ Psalm 119:9-16

Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.

Psalm 119:11

God's word is so much more than a list of dos and don'ts. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). By living our lives according to God's design (Word) we experience the fullness of His love, peace, joy, endurance and so much more. Just as guard rails protect us as we drive next to the egdes of mountains and clifts, so does God's word protect us from the dangers of life (sin).

For where your treasure is, their your heart will be also.

Luke 12:34

In order to say as David, "Your word I have treasured in my heart..." we must love God's word. The things of life we value and put the most time into will be the things we treasure most. If you desire for God's word to be your treasure...it must be most valued in your life. Time must be spent reading God's word and as you do, you'll begin to develop a love for His word.

Pleasing Christ is our highest priority...we've learned in Psalm 119:11 it begins with hiding God's word in our hearts.

HIS life, HIS glory!

~Jason

Seeking Christ ~ Psalm 119:1-8

How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart.

Psalm 119:2

How can we seek HIM will all our heart without going before HIS throne and learning HIS ways?

Good communication is key to any relationship. Therefore, prayer (talking with God) and Bible study (listening to God) are essential to a follow of the LORD. But we just can't stop at talking and listening...we must put into practice those things the Holy Spirit reveals to us (see James 1:22).

If you are truly "seeking" Christ with "all" your heart...you'll desire to make HIS name great among the nations. Walk with HIM, talk with HIM and proclaim HIS glory with they way you live your life.

HIS life, HIS glory!!!
~Jason