Day 1
January 3
Today starts our annual 21 days of Prayer and Fasting where “we tell our body ‘NO’ so our spirit can grow.” During this time we will be looking at Psalm 119, which is the longest chapter in the whole Bible (176 verses). This Psalm expresses appreciation for, celebration of, and dependence on the Word of God. It is a Hebrew acrostic poem organized in 22 sections, one for each successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, of 8 verses each. In today’s first devotional, we will look at verses 1-8.
Psalm 119:1-8 (NLT)
“Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. 2 Joyful are those who obey His laws and search for Him with all their hearts. 3 They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in His paths. 4 You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. 5 Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! 6 Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. 7 As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! 8 I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me!”
We don’t have time to examine each verse, but look at the first 2 verses and the last two. So many people are searching for happiness as we start 2024, or ANY year. JOY is way better than happiness as JOY does NOT depend on happenings. The Psalmist says in verses 1-2, that we will experience JOY when we learn His WORD and OBEY His Word. In verse 7, He exclaims that AS he learns God’s Word, he will express gratitude to God BY living rightly. Then in verse 8, the Psalmist reminds me of the dad who brought his son to Jesus for healing and said, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” The Psalmist says it this way, “I will obey…PLEASE don’t give up on me!”
Let’s strive to obey Him, but don’t stop when you stumble. He WON’T give up on you!
Pastor Todd Pope
Psalm 119:1-8 (NLT)
“Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. 2 Joyful are those who obey His laws and search for Him with all their hearts. 3 They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in His paths. 4 You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. 5 Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! 6 Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. 7 As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! 8 I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me!”
We don’t have time to examine each verse, but look at the first 2 verses and the last two. So many people are searching for happiness as we start 2024, or ANY year. JOY is way better than happiness as JOY does NOT depend on happenings. The Psalmist says in verses 1-2, that we will experience JOY when we learn His WORD and OBEY His Word. In verse 7, He exclaims that AS he learns God’s Word, he will express gratitude to God BY living rightly. Then in verse 8, the Psalmist reminds me of the dad who brought his son to Jesus for healing and said, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” The Psalmist says it this way, “I will obey…PLEASE don’t give up on me!”
Let’s strive to obey Him, but don’t stop when you stumble. He WON’T give up on you!
Pastor Todd Pope