Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 31

Finishing up the #write31day challenge today! You can find the entire series here.

Today's Reading:

Psalm 119

Today's Offering:

Day 31 - we made it! Thank you for your faithful following! I know you were blessed in your reading of the Psalms this month and I pray you were also blessed by the offerings here.

We're tackling Psalm 119 today. I hope you have time to sit with these verses. There are many hidden gems of comfort and pearls of wisdom to be uncovered!

In my Bible, Psalm 119 covers four full pages and part of two others. At the top of the first full page, I have written:  Da hodie perfecte incipere, which, translated is: Give this a perfect start, or, as C.S. Lewis would say, "Grant me to make an unflawed beginning today, for I have done nothing yet."

Psalm 119 sets forth for us that 'perfect start.' More than that, it sets forth our perfect life-path.

Your word is a lamp to my feet, a light on my path; (vs 105)

The psalm begins by telling us that "Happy are those who obey His instruction, who set their heart on finding Him."

It continues on, verse after verse, extolling the joys of following God's instruction and comforting us with the truth about Him and His promises.

Teach me, show me, grant me are the prayers of the Psalmist. May they be our prayer as well.

May you be moved by the Spirit to seek Him through the daily reading of His word and prayer. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Shalom,

#write31days


PS For those of you who have missed it, Life thru My Lens resumes later this week!

Inspired by . . . law and peace

I've had this scripture from Psalm 119 come up several times in my reading this past week. When God does that, I try to pay attention.

We all want peace. We all want to walk through this life without stumbling. [click to tweet]

This promise from God's word tells us how to achieve peace and how to be protected from those things that will cause us to stumble.

But do we really love God's law?  We want to. But it's not easy, is it?
Following His law can be inconvenient and downright painful at times.

We fail repeatedly and we forget about His grace.

The key for me in this verse is in what it instructs us to do: love God's law

Following, and obeying His law will come.

It has to begin with love.

So how do we get there? Loving a set of rules has never come naturally for me. You?

It starts with knowing His law.

We have to know what God's law says. Reading the totality of His word, not just the ten commandments, and letting it speak to your life. God's word is filled with His precepts, direction on how to live.

Psalm 119:45 says, "I walk in freedom wherever I will, because I have studied your precepts."  

Then we have to begin living His law.

Again, this doesn't come naturally. We should daily preach to ourselves the Gospel of grace, for we will fail. But eventually, His law will become ingrained in the habits and responses of our everyday life. Psalm 119:54 says, "Your statutes are the theme of my song throughout my earthly life."

Finally, the path to loving God's law is paved with trust.

Much of the time our lives don't resemble the reality of His promises. We must trust, by faith - - believing that He will do what He says He will do. [click to tweet]

Psalm 145:9 says, "The LORD is good to all, and His mercy is over all that He has made." And Romans 8:32, "He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?"

Knowing, living and trusting will lead to truly loving God's law because these things will lead you to love HIM. Then you will be able to lift your voice with the psalmist and declare:

"Come, listen, all who fear God,

and I shall tell you what He has done

for me;

I lifted up my voice in prayer,

His praise was on my tongue.

If I had cherished evil thoughts,

the Lord would not have listened;

but in truth, God did listen

and paid heed to my plea.

Blessed is God

Who has not withdrawn from me His

love and care." Psalm 66:16-20

Shalom,

Sharing inspiration here:
Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,
Faith On Fire, Grace & Truth,
Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,
#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,
Encourage Me Monday, Wholehearted Wednesday,
Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,
#GiveMeGrace, Sitting Among Friends, #Glimpsesofhisbeauty
Counting My Blessings, Grace Moments, Heart Encouragement
#DanceWithJesus