Today we continue our series entitled, “Back to the Bible,” with Part 25. We have been looking at Psalm 119. Let’s continue to walk through this amazing psalm.
David said:
(v.59) When I realize that I’m going astray, I turn back to obey your instructions.
(v.61) Even when temptations encircle me with evil, I won’t forget for a moment to follow your commands.
(v.62) In the middle of the night I awake to give thanks to you because of all your revelation-light; so right and true!
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Be quick to repent. David said, “When I realize that I’m going astray, I turn back to obey your instructions.” (Psalm 119:59 TPT)
a) When you fill your heart with God’s Word you know His standard. When you know His standard, you will also know when you are not complying with it. David said that as soon as he realized that he was going astray, he would turn back and obey God’s instructions. As a believer, we should be quick to repent as soon as we realize we are doing wrong. Delayed obedience is disobedience.
b) Everyone sins. Everyone misses the mark at times. No human (outside of Jesus) is perfect. But as a believer who loves God, who has God’s Word in our heart, and who is filled with the Holy Spirit, we must be quick to repent and get back on the right path AS SOON AS we realize what we are doing wrong. Once we realize it, if we stay there, we are setting ourselves up for failure. Once you are Born-Again, sin may not unravel your righteousness, but it will unravel your life. If you sow bad seed you will reap a bad harvest… period!
2. Having the Word of God in your heart will keep you from succumbing to the temptations to do wrong. David said, “Even when temptations encircle me with evil, I won’t forget for a moment to follow your commands.” (Psalm 119:61 TPT)
a) David gives us a picture of a believer who is encircled with the temptations of this world. The believer is in the middle and the temptations to do wrong are all around him/her. However, since the believer has the Word of God in their heart, they won’t forget (not even for a moment) to follow God’s commands. This is why it is critical to get God’s Word down in your heart. The more Word you know the more Word you will remember and the better equipped you will be to resist temptation.
b) Jesus delivered you from the power of sin, but until you get God’s Word down in your heart, and you renew Your mind with the Word, you will still be entangled with ungodly habits that make you susceptible to sinning. Said another way, the day you accepted Jesus as Lord you were delivered from sin. However, until you change the way you think, you will keep sinning. This is why it is important to get God’s Word down in your heart.
3. When you make it a practice to meditate God’s Word, you will even give God praise in your sleep!. David said, “In the middle of the night I awake to give thanks to you because of all your revelation-light; so right and true!” (Psalm 119:62 TPT)
a) In yesterday’s message we talked about going to sleep thinking about God’s goodness and His promises towards us. In verse 55 David said, “Throughout the night I think of you, dear God; I treasure your every word to me” (Psalm 119:55). If you think about God’s goodness as you go to sleep and throughout the night, you will get up in the middle of the night, as David said in verse 62, giving God praise!
b) What you think about is extremely important. If you make it a habit to think about God and His plans for your life, and you keep Him on your mind all the time, you will even wake up in the middle of the night giving God praise for what He is going to do in your life!
Closing Confession:
Father, this is a season of expectation for me. I expect to experience Your best this year like never before. I am meditating and medicating on Your Word all the time. Your Word is my standard for living. As soon as I realize I am doing wrong, I repent. I do not delay. I am quick to get back on Your path. Living this way I am able to resist temptation, walk in ways that please You, and meditate on Your goodness all the time. I think about You and Your plans for my life so much that I literally get up in the middle of the night giving You praise! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
