Journal Ps 119:121-152 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: “I am your servant; give me understanding that I may know your testimonies! It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken.
Therefore: I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.
Therefore: I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.
Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore, my soul keeps them. The unfolding of your words gives light: It imparts understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant because I long for your commandment. Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name. Keep steady my steps according to your promise and let no iniquity get dominion over me.” Ps 119:125-133
Observation: Action, reaction. Give me understanding—therefore, what happens? There is an outcome to being intentional about the Word of Life.
Analysis: The exclamation “I am your servant” might be something that is missing in our prayers on a consistent basis. I wonder why?
Psalms 119 is pretty focused. Pounding, repeating, and pounding again:
- I love your commandments, more than anything.
- Your testimonies are wonderful.
- Unfolding your word gives light, illumination.
- It imparts understanding to the simple.
- All your precepts (principles) are right.
Huh…do you think we get here overnight?
While I will not ever discount the power of the Holy Spirit to supercharge desire for the Word, most times we are consigned to the hand on the plow, farming faithfully to find what God will bring to light.
I have been writing intensely, sometimes so intense I am forgetting where the Joy of the Lord is in all of this? That thought was dropped in my heart while I was driving the other day.
There have been times in my life where the Holy Spirit opened my eyes so wide at something in the Word that I dropped what pencil I had in my hand and threw my hands up in praise and astonishment. Most of the time what happens (if anything) is that my mouth straightens up in a grin because something I just read made a tumbler in a lock click, just one click closer to having understanding unlock before me.
We study to make Learning (Doctrine) and Practice meld into one.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, please make this so in me. I don’t want to be a man of learning and not simultaneously a man of practice in godliness. Neither do I want to be a man of all “do” and not anywhere near a man of “no know.” To grow mature, I need “Know” and “Do.”
AMEN