Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 119:33-40
Psalms 119:33-40
He
33 Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. 35 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. 36 Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. 37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. 38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared. 39 Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good. 40 How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness.
The Psalmist wanted more than anything else in his life to please God. He was not living for himself, for his own pleasures or for gaining his own wealth. He was content to live with what God provided and accept whatever God allowed to come into his life. He did not consider doing the will of God as a burden but it was a privilege to be a child of God because he wanted to be the best he could possibly be in serving and pleasing his God.
Too often we see how difficult it is to serve God and to keep his commands. We see how hard it is to live up to God’s word. This may be because we are not as committed as we should be to pleasing God instead of ourselves. We look more at the problems than the blessings. We focus on the journey instead of our final home with God. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who has gone before us and is seated at the right hand of God.
What an honor to be a child of God! What a privilege to be loved by the creator of the entire universe! What a blessing to be able to talk with him, to hear his word and to enjoy having him live in us! It is his love that saved us and made it possible for our sins to be forgiven. It was his plan that was revealed that provided a way of salvation for everyone who is willing to come to him in faith.
When we put our trust in him as God and in Jesus as his Son and as our savior, we no longer consider obedience as a chore but a privilege. Doing his will is made easier because we are acting from a heart of love and thanksgiving. Serving him is our way of showing our respect and our love for him.
O God, Lord of heaven and earth, I thank you for your marvelous plan revealed in your word showing me how to become your child. Thank you for your love that is beyond my understanding that allows my sins to be forgiven. Give me a steadfast heart in serving you and a greater desire to be like you in every way. I know I fail and need your continued forgiveness but empower me to be stronger and to use your wisdom more in my life. Please be with those who are in places where it is so difficult to serve you. I pray in the name of Jesus my Lord.
--Robert
