Today we continue our series entitled, “Back to the Bible,” with Part 26. We have been looking at Psalm 119. Let’s continue to walk through this amazing psalm.
David said:
(v.66) Teach me how to make good decisions, and give me revelation-light, for I believe in your commands.
(v.71) The challenges you brought me through was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me your ways.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The Word helps you to think like God. David said, “Teach me how to make good decisions, and give me revelation-light, for I believe in your commands.” (Psalm 119:66)
a) There are three parts of you, just like there are three parts of God. God is Father, Son and Spirit. You are spirit, soul and body. The day you gave your life to Jesus your spirit was made new, but your soul and body were not. One day you are going to get a glorified body. Your spirit WAS changed instantly the moment of your conversion/salvation, your soul IS BEING changed progressively as you read and apply the Word of God, and your body WILL BE change eventually. That being the case, you don’t have to work on your spirit, because it is already new. You can work on your body, but in the end, you are going to get a new one. So the singular focus of the Born-Again believer, from the moment of conversion to his/her eventual death, should be the transformation of his/her soul. Your soul is comprised of your mind, emotions and will. Your soul contains the way you think, the way you feel and the way you make decisions. The more you study and apply the Word of God, the more your soul is transformed (see Romans 12:2) to look like God.
b) The moment you are Born-Again you are new, instantly. However, this transformation occurred in your spirit and NOT in your mind. So while it is true that you are completely NEW, you don’t know how to live like WHO you already are. This is where the Word of God comes in. The Word of God contains the character, attributes and nature of God. The more you learn the Word, the better you get to know God and His ways. Further, the more you learn the Word and you are transformed by it, the more your mind (the way you think), emotions (the way you feel) and will (the way you make decisions) align with God. Simply put, the more you become like the Word of God, the more you become like the God of the Word.
c) David asked God to teach him to make good decisions. This tutelage is received by accepting God’s Word/Will above your own and by being led of God’s Spirit in all things. The more you do this, the more your decisions will be Godly decisions. In John 15:7 Jesus explained that if you ever get to the point where God’s Word abides IN you and you abide IN God, you can ask for whatever you want. Because at that point what you want IS what God wants. That is the goal!
2. Looking back you often appreciate challenges and adversity. David said, “The challenges you brought me through was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me your ways.” (Psalm 119:71). The traditional King James Version reads, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”
a) Adversity is a great teacher. David endured tremendous challenges in his life and looking back, he was glad he did. He learned things through adversity that he did not believe he could have learned any other way. Applying this, think of your own life. While overcoming challenges and enduring adverse situations are not always pleasant, we can most certainly come out the other side of the challenge a better person. So keep the proper perspective, never give up, and learn all you can from every challenge.
b) My wife (Isabella) and I grew up in adverse situations. We both endured many challenges before meeting each other and we have endured countless challenges together. A great parenting conundrum we often discuss is that fact that while we do not want our children to endure what we endured, we also know that the challenges we faced helped make us who we are. Without those challenges we would not have the resolve and resilience we have today. So like most parents who are in position to give their children a life better than the one they had, we are also posed with instilling in our children the fire, passion and resolve required to overcome the challenges every human must face on the road to their destiny. Looking back Isabella and I can say like David said, “I am glad I went through what I went through. I would not have it any other way.” So no matter what you are facing this morning, keep going, never give up, never quit. It may not be pleasant now, but in the end, you will appreciate what you learned in the process. Great people are not people who did not face challenges. Great people are normal people who simply refused to quit!
Closing Confession:
Father, this is a season of expectation for me. I read and apply Your Word daily. I learn to think and act like You. I am transformed by Your Word to the point where my will IS Your will, my desires ARE Your desires, and my actions ARE Your actions through me. Living this way, I am ready for anything I face. For it is You Father, living in me… You give me the words and You perform the work. Come what may, I will never give up, never cave in and never quit. And through it all, I will learn from every challenge and appreciate all adversity. For I get to experience a side of You in adversity that I do not experience any other way. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
