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God’s Word Speaks

A study of Psalm 119

Teri Lynne Underwood

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

[GOD’S WORD SPEAKS] A 23-session exploration of the principles in Psalm 119. Originally posted on www.pleasingtoyou.com beginning March 15, 2010 and ending July 21, 2010.

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Prescription for Bless-ability

“Blessed are…”

Two of my favorite passages in the Bible begin with these words. Familiar to many, The

Beatitudes open with this statement,

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ~ Matthew 5:3, NIV

We, in the modern church, don't fully comprehend the significance of this start but to the Jewish

audience, Christ was referencing a familiar passage ... drawing them to the words of David in

Psalm 119. This psalm is entirely focused on one thing: the overwhelming priority of God's

Word.

We're going to spend some time looking through some of Psalm 119 over the next few weeks.

There will be a short break during Holy Week as we contemplate "Preparing the Heart" and

there may be a few more intermissions of sorts as we meander through this longest psalm.

So back to "Blessed are ..."

Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed

are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart. ~ Psalm 119:1-2, NIV

In these opening verses, we find the two necessary ingredients for blessability.

1. Habits (verse 1)

Our ways are to be blameless. That word ways is transliterated "derek" which speaks to the

daily way we live, our way of life. In essence, the psalmist is saying that our lifestyle determines

to some extent our blessability. We can all recognize that at some level ... but we need to

understand that this is so much more than merely avoiding sin - we are called to proactive

lifestyles rooted in the law of the Lord. It's not enough to NOT do evil we must be actively

doing good. We must be visibly living out the precepts outlined in Scripture.

Our daily habits (how we spend our time, energy, resources) are an outward reflection of

an inner life of blamelessness. Now you might be thinking, "But, Teri Lynne, we CAN'T live

blameless lives! We are sinful from birth and no matter how we try we will not always win the

battle against sinful behaviors." To which, I would answer, "You are absolutely correct!" BUT

... We do not rely on our own righteousness or abilities, we have a righteousness through

Christ!

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

My dear children, I write this to you so you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have one

who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ~ 1 John 2:1, NIV

Our righteousness, blamelessness, is found in Christ. And through His power and the Holy

Spirit's work in our lives, we are called to have habits that evidence that transformation of

our lives in Him.

2. Heart (verse 2)

This verse is clear that the habits of our Christian life must be rooted in the attitude and

sincerity of our hearts.

These verses also reflect this principle:

Psalm 51:10, NIV ~ "Create in me a clean heart, O God ..."

Proverbs 3:1, NIV ~ "... keep My commands in your heart"

Matthew 5:8, NIV ~ "Blessed are the pure in heart ..."

Matthew 6:21, NIV ~ "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Luke 6:45, NIV ~ "... For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."

2 Timothy 2:22, NIV ~ " ... those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

Thus what we do must be motivated from what is in our hearts. If it is not, it is merely worthless

religion rather than meaningful relationship.

How do you avoid worthless religion?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Description of Bless-ability

What does bless-able look like?

Psalm 119:3-8 gives us a powerful description of bless-ability:

They do nothing wrong; they walk in His ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully

obeyed. Oh that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to

shame when I consider all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your

righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me. (NIV)

In these verses, I find three specific traits of a life that is bless-able.

1. Committed (v. 3-4)

"They walk fully in His ways." Giving up the desires of the flesh to be fully surrendered to the

Lord's call on our lives ... fully. Completely. Entirely. Wholly. Faithfulness that surpasses

our feelings ... a measured, thoughtful obedience based on the covenant of salvation through

Christ.

2. Certain (v. 5-6)

We are called to have a steadfast spirit. A deep satisfaction and sense of well-being that comes

from the certainty - absolute confidence - that our hearts steadfastly rest in the Lord.

3. Confessing (v. 7-8)

Look at some characteristics of a confessing life:

Praise: To speak out ... this involves the acknowledgement of sin, of our character, and

of God's nature and work.

Upright: Moral quality of the heart which guides us into "right paths."

Learning: Focused on learning what God expects of us and confessing our sin as He

reveals it.

Obedient: The word used here means "keep, guard" and conveys more than just "Dear

Lord, forgive me of my sins." Rather this is a true searching of our hearts resulting in

specificity in confession. I often use Psalm 139:23-24 to guide me to this type of

confessional spirit.

Clearly we find that a bless-able life is based in a sound understanding of our need for God, of

His grace and mercy in our lives.

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Which of these three areas of your life is

the greatest struggle right now:

Committed, Certain, Confessing?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Hiding Places

I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might

not sin against You.

Psalm 119:11

Perhaps, like me, you memorized this verse in your childhood. Maybe, like me, you have shared

it with others as an encouragement to memorize Scripture. And, there's a chance, that you, like

me, have memorized passages or verses and then forgotten them and wondered how much

protection you are actually getting from this sporadic discipline of memorization.

So often, we think verse 11 is a call to memorizing ... and while that is part of the discipline of

hiding God's Word in our hearts, it is not the totality of this idea. From verses 12 through 16 we

find five ways we hide God's Word.

1. Learn from the Lord - verse 12. We must have a willing heart that cries out, "Teach me

your decrees."

2. Speak what we learn - verse 13. "With my lips I recount ..." can take many forms.

From reading Scripture aloud and sharing it with our children to encouraging others by

sharing what we have read in the Word, speaking helps us hide the Word in our hearts.

3. Find joy in what we learn - verse 14. We are to find joy in obedience to the Word of the

Lord.

4. Study to learn more - verse 15. This verse tells us to meditate and consider ... we need

to be seeking greater understanding and have a longing for more time spent in the Word.

Being diligent and disciplined to grow in our spiritual lives.

5. Remember what we learn - verse 16. Perhaps the hardest part! We need to put what

we have learned, spoken, and studied into joyful action. James says it like this, "Do not

merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:22,

NIV)

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

These five keys can help us understand how to hide God's Word in our hearts. But in these

verses, we also see two results of doing so:

Purity

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word." Psalm 119:9, NIV

Steadfastness

"I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands." Psalm 119:10, NIV

Being disciplined to study, meditate, and memorize ... and then joyfully put it all into practice

takes much effort on our part. But what blessed rewards!!

How do you hide God's Word in Your

heart?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Overwhelmed

So often life gets overwhelming, doesn't it? Between the daily tasks of homemaking, marriage

and parenting and the struggle to add in work commitments, ministry expectations, and building

relationships with others ... well, to be honest, I think sometimes we all feel inadequate and

completely overwhelmed.

But what if overwhelmed isn't always a bad thing? What if overwhelmed leads us to surrender?

What if we were overwhelmed with the Lord?

I am always overwhelmed with a desire

for Your regulations.

Psalm 119:20, NLT

I love this idea ... overwhelmed with a desire for the Lord's regulations, His decrees, His Word.

Overwhelm: (v) to overcome completely in mind or feeling.

To be completely overcome by the Word of God.

The NIV and ESV use the word "consumed" in this verse. What a concept, huh? To be

consumed, overcome, overwhelmed by desire for the Word of God ...

Take time today to read Psalm 119:17-24. Allow the Lord to speak to you through this passage.

Ask yourself these three questions:

Do I long for my eyes to be open to truth?

Does desire for the Lord overwhelm me?

Do I long for the Lord in spite of those who oppose me?

And then find in these verses two results we receive from this desire:

We experience the goodness of the Lord. (verse 17)

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

We grow in the wisdom of the Lord. (verse 24)

And so I ask you ...

Does desire for the Lord overwhelm you?

Do you long for more time in His Word?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Determination.

Read these verses from Psalm 119 aloud:

25 I lie in the dust; revive me by Your word. 26 I told You my plans, and You answered. Now teach me Your decrees. 27 Help me understand the meaning of Your commandments, and I will meditate on Your wonderful deeds. 28 I weep with sorrow; encourage me by Your word. 29 Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing Your instructions. 30 I have chosen to be faithful;I have determined to live by Your regulations. 31 I cling to Your laws. LORD, don’t let me be put to shame! 32

I will pursue Your commands, for You expand my understanding. Psalm 119:25-32, NLT (emphasis added)

In these verses we gain a vital truth to understanding spiritual growth ... it is a choice! We must make a determination to be obedient. It won't "just happen." We can't grow by osmosis or by surrounding ourselves with others who are growing. We only mature as believers by a choice we make to do so.

These verses give us some foundation for spiritual growth ... some specific choices we make in order to mature as believers.

When we are discouraged, we must turn to the Word. (v. 25) We will ALL experience times of discouragement. A maturing believer will, in those times, seek the truth of God's Word for direction and support.

We must entrust our plans to the Lord. (v. 26) As we grow spiritually, we recognize the importance of turning over our desires and ambitions, thoughts and plans, to the Lord's able care. We begin to seek His principles and their application in our lives.

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

We long for understanding of His Word and we spend time in Scripture. (v. 27, 31) One of the identifiable traits of a maturing Christian is a longing for the Word of God ... not for use to beat down others or justify our own lifestyle, but a longing to know the Lord through His revealed Word to us.

When we weep, we are encouraged by the Word. (v. 28) Heartache and sadness are a part of this fallen world. Learning to face them with joy and peace is the result of time spent building a relationship with the Lord and growing in His Word.

We pursue truth, even when it's painful. (v. 29) So often, the lies that are most destructive in our lives are the ones we tell ourselves. Learning to be focused on truth ... even about ourselves, even when it's hard ... is a sign of spiritual maturity.

We recognize our biggest need is Christ. (v. 32) Far too often we miss the boat on this one! We begin to mistake our biggest want for our biggest need. Spurgeon said, "My greatest need is grace, for my greatest issue is sin." We need Christ ... all of us, all the time.

I'm determined to refocus my heart and passion and longing on the One who died for me.

I'm determined to give Him all of me ... the hurts and anger, the bitterness and frustration; but also, the laughter and the abilities, the people I love and those to whom I minister. I'm laying down my desires, my goals, my ambitions.

I'm determined ...

Are you?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Teachable Hearts

Teach me, O Lord, the way of Thy statutes, and I shall observe it to the end.

Give me understanding, that I may observe Thy law, and keep it with all my

heart. ~ Psalm 119:33-34, NASB

Over the past three weeks, the Lord has been doing a work in my heart. Showing me the yucky

stuff, the mean stuff, the sin. And, to be totally honest, my initial response was to say, "But

Lord, look at all I'm doing for you."

Then I read this during Passion Week:

"But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men ..." Matthew 23:5

Oh how the Lord has pierced me. Showing me the vanity and selfishness of my heart. My

earnest prayer has been for a teachable spirit ... a heart that longs for understanding of

the Lord's desires and plans for me and my life.

In Psalm 119:33-40 I find a description a teachable heart.

Delight in obedience (v. 35)

Disdain for evil (v. 36-37)

Desperation for the Lord (v. 38-39)

Determination for righteousness (v.40)

What is your earnest prayer right now?

How is the Lord piercing your heart?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Freedom

I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted

myself to your commandments. ~ Psalm 119:45 NLT

Living in the United States, I find myself often aware of how much I take my freedoms for

granted. For example, yesterday I went to the church of my choice to worship the God I believe

in with no concern about my safety or that I would be arrested for attending.

However, I am not naive to the reality that the day is coming when our actions as believers in the

Risen Lord, Jesus Christ, may well be considered subversive activities punishable by

imprisonment ... nor am I oblivious to the vastness of the persecuted Church around the world.

Freedom to worship is a precious treasure ... and one I do not take lightly. BUT ... let us never

lose sight of the far more precious freedom we have in Christ. From these verses in Psalm 119, I

notice three ways we live in freedom.

Freedom through salvation {verse 41} I am reminded of Paul's words to the church at

Ephesus about the kindness of God, "He is so rich in kindness that He purchased our freedom

through the blood of His Son, and our sins are forgiven" (1:7, NLT) Is there any more valuable

freedom than that we gain through salvation?

Freedom through truth {verse 43} One of the first verses I memorized as an adult was

this one: "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32, NLT). I

LOVE this verse! There is freedom in truth ... and that freedom leads to confidence in living a

life that pleases the Lord.

Freedom through obedience {verses 46 - 48} So often I hear unbelievers and new

believers bemoaning the loss of freedoms they will have if they are obedient. I wonder what

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

"freedoms" they feel they will miss ... freedom to think selfishly instead of selflessly?

freedom to be prideful instead of humble? freedom to be judgmental instead of gracious?

freedom to be unconcerned instead of compassionate? Doesn't seem like a very good trade to

me. I find much more hope in this verse: "Sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer

subject to the law, which enslaves you to sin. Instead, you are free by God's grace" (Romans

6:14, NLT).

How do you live in freedom? What

struggles have you faced in this area?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Eternal

I've heard it said that it's only the dash that really matters.

That tiny line on our headstones between the date of birth and date of death. One tiny little line

- ... in that space is the story. Inside that small typographical character is the

whole of our lives. I've been thinking about my dash lately ... what will it hold inside?

Holding hands with my husband when we're 80? Tucking my grandchildren into bed? Seeing a

Bible study written by me on the shelves of a book store? Maybe it will represent 40 years of

ministry in a crisis pregnancy center? Or mission trips around the world? What will the unwritten epitaph of my life be?

My prayer is that my dash says this: She loved the Lord with all her heart, with all her soul,

with all her mind and with all her strength. And she loved others as much as she loved

herself. (Mark 12:30-31)

My life here is temporary. The trials I face, the struggles I have, the sorrows in my heart

... my joys, my victories, my laughter ... all temporary. Therefore I choose to make something

eternal into the foundation of my life. Something that never changes ... never goes away ...

never ends.

I meditate on your age-old laws; O Lord, they comfort me. ~

Psalm 119:52, NLT

In the midst of daily life, in the quiet of the morning, in the chaos of the day, in the darkness of

the night - no matter the time, I find comfort in the Word of God.

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

The Psalmist also recognized the need for an eternal foundation. In Psalm 119:49-56, we find

three guidelines for living for the dash.

1. Find hope and comfort in God's promises. (v. 49-50, 52)

2. Focus on Him even when others don't. (v. 51, 53)

3. Find joy in obedient living. (v. 54-56)

I cherish the eternal truths in God's Word ... and I desperately want to live by them. I want my

dash to count.

How are you focusing on things eternal?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Mine

Mine: something that belongs to me. (Dictionary.com)

Lord, you are mine! ~ Psalm 119:57a, NLT

Our pastor asked us in his sermon this week, "Who is God to you?"

Immediately, I jotted down the following ...

Refuge

Strength

Faithful and True

Salvation

Redeemer

Healer

Provider

Protector

Righteousness

Light

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Way

Friend

Father

Counselor

Keeper

Noticer ... the God who SEES me! (I love this one!)

HERE!!

I'm thankful to serve a God who is MINE. The Psalmist shares in these next few verses of Psalm

119 a few evidences that a relationship with the Lord is mine.

Determination for obedience ... a longing to follow the Lord's direction and guidance.

(v. 57, 60-61)

Desire for relationship ... a passion for experiencing the fullness of God's presence. (v.

58-59)

Dedication to thanksgiving ... a faithfulness to acknowledging the provision and power

of the Lord. (v. 62-64)

The recognition that the Lord is mine gives me such comfort ... He knows me, He loves me,

and He gave up the glories of Heaven for relationship with me. Perhaps you don't that same

security. If that's the case, I'd love to share with you how to begin a relationship with Christ.

Please email me and allow me the honor of introducing you to the One who has changed my

life!

For others, maybe you have not slowed down lately to consider the question our pastor asked us.

So I ask you, "Who is God to you?"

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Discipline, Part 1

I used to wander off until You disciplined me; but now I closely

follow Your Word. ~ Psalm 119:67, NLT

"This is going to hurt you more than it hurts me."

Ever heard that? Ever said it? Yeah, me too.

As a child I thought it was just my parents' sad attempt to make themselves feel less guilty for

spanking me. Now, though, I realize how true it is. I really, really hate having to discipline

Casiday. In fact, I hate it so much that sometimes I fail to do it. I let things go and call it a

"phase" ... sure, I have my Ten Year Rule and it is a guiding principle in our home discipline, but

much of the time, I find myself taking the easy way out.

As I was reading in Psalm 119, I was reminded of the need for discipline in all of our lives. I

thought back through some of the loving discipline I had received from both my parents and

from my Heavenly Father and realized there is a purpose in disciplining ... and a reward in my

life from being well-disciplined.

Before we get to the verses in Psalm 119, consider this from Hebrews:

For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes those He accepts as His children. (12:6, NLT)

Originally stated in Proverbs in this manner:

For the Lord corrects those He loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. (3:12, NLT)

God disciplines those He loves!

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

In Psalm 119:65-72 we find three distinct purposes of discipline.

1. Change our focus. In modern parenting vernacular, this is called "redirection."

Often, we are unaware that we have even been disciplined until much later ... and yet we

can look back and clearly see how the Lord purposefully redirected our attention toward

Him in effort to discipline us. (v.67, 71)

2. Correct our failings. As we are disciplined, we understand the need for growth. By

correcting us, the Lord guides us to a proper understanding of Him, of His plan, and of

His law. (v. 66, 68)

3. Challenge our faith. Chastening by the Lord spurs our faith to new levels. As we

grow in knowledge, we find great joy and delight in our obedience and deeper longing for

relationship with Him. (v. 72)

Discipline, though most assuredly unpleasant at the time, has a necessary role

in the life of a believer. We do well to remember that ... and to remind ourselves that God

disciplines those He loves, those who are His children. When we experience God's correction in

our lives, we must remind ourselves of His great love for us, His protection of us, and His watch

over us.

How have you experienced the discipline

of God in your life?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Discipline, Part 2

Remembering that discipline from the Lord is based on His love and concern

for us is the foundation of developing a proper response toward correction.

I am not always consistent in my discipline with my daughter - allowing my mood or

schedule to influence how we respond to misbehavior or inappropriate attitudes. Based on my

very imperfect ten years of parenting, I have reached the following conclusions about discipline:

It's easier to give grace when I've had enough sleep.

Developing standards of behavior is better done sooner than later.

There is much wisdom in the saying, "Choose your battles."

and the biggie...

My child’s response to discipline makes all the difference in what

happens next!

That last one is huge! Have you noticed that when your child is repentant and humble, your

perspective on disciplining them is different than when he or she has a haughty attitude or a

smart mouth?

I believe the same is true for us in regard to being disciplined by God. Our response to the

Lord's correction matters!!

I know, O Lord, that your decisions are fair; you disciplined me

because I needed it. ~ Psalm 119:75, NLT

Oh, that our response to the Lord's discipline would always be grounded in that sort of

understanding!

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

I find in Psalm 119:73 - 80 guidelines for a proper response to the Lord's

discipline in our lives.

First, we need to ACCEPT responsibility for our choices. This one is huge! We live

in a victim's world ... everyone has someone to blame. But we must remember that life is a

series of choices ... and we must take ownership of the decisions we have made. The bottom

line is - we are sinful. We choose disobedience. Admitting that and accepting responsibility for

that is the beginning of a proper response to discipline by God.

Second, we must ACKNOWLEDGE God's right to correct us. Herein lies the

problem for many believers. We have accepted Christ as our Savior but never recognized His

position as Lord. In order to respond appropriately to the Lord's correction in our lives, we must

humble ourselves and acknowledge His right to correct and discipline us.

And finally, we must ACT! I am reminded of James' admonition, "And remember, it is a

message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don't obey, you are only fooling yourself"

(1:22, NLT). Our pastor often explains that repentance is just a big word for U-turn. When we

are confronted with sin in our lives, when we are disciplined by the Lord, we must ACT ...

change directions.

Discipline can be very painful ... even in the best of circumstances. But we can have

confidence that God is at work in us, molding us into the image of Christ, as

He corrects us. Our response to His chastening must be based in awareness of our sin,

ownership of our choices, humility toward His Lordship, and result in changing our patterns and

behaviors.

Have you ever responded poorly to the

Lord's discipline in your life? What were

the results?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Weary I faint with longing for Your salvation; but I have put my

hope in Your Word. ~ Psalm 119:81, NLT

Sometimes I find myself in this place of weariness ...

Bone-weary.

Mind-weary.

Heart-weary.

Soul-weary.

All around I see suffering, sorrow, shame.

Sin.

Not just my sin.

Not just the obvious sin.

More than that ... the devastation of all sin.

Broken.

Homes. Hearts. Families. Lives.

Promises. Dreams. Relationships.

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Poverty.

Hunger.

Fear.

My heart hurts. My head hurts.

Overwhelmed.

Weary.

But ...

Hope calls to me.

Hope in His Word.

Hope in His promise.

Hope in Him.

Assurance that one day all will be made right.

All will be made whole.

Oh for that day!

Take a moment and cherish the beautiful promise of hope in this old hymn, "Come Ye Sinners."

Click here for You Tube video.

What songs bring you comfort in times of weariness?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Faithfulness Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father

There is no shadow of turning with Thee

Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not

As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest

Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above.

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside.

Words: Thomas O. Chisholm Music: William M. Runyan

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

I love this old hymn. (Seems to be a theme for me this week, huh?) Often I find myself

humming the familiar melody as I clean the house.

God's faithfulness. What an amazing gift to us!

"Forever, O Lord, Your Word stands firm in heaven. Your

faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth

You created." ~ Psalm 119:89-90, NLT

That His faithfulness extends to every generation ... enduring as the earth He created.

What a promise!

And what gives me the greatest comfort is that His faithfulness is not based on my

faithfulness. He is always faithful ... even when I am unfaithful. His Word is true ... even when

I am disobedient. His love is certain ... even though I am most undeserving.

He is in control of all things.

He is gives joy and restoration.

He saves me ... I am His.

Great is His faithfulness!

In what ways has God been faithful to

you in spite of your unfaithfulness to

Him?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Rejection

From Thy precepts I get understanding;

Therefore I hate every false way. ~ Psalm 119:40, NASB

Intrinsic in the disciple's life is a call to refusal, to rejecting ...

Rejecting Self: Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. ~ Matthew 16:24, NASB

Rejecting Practices and Activities: [Let your] love be sincere (a real

thing); hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from

wickedness] but hold fast to that which is good. ~ Romans 12:9, AMP

Rejecting Attitudes: Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ~ 2 Timothy 2:22, NASB

Consistently in Scripture we are called to refuse the offerings of this world in order to experience

the blessings of the eternal ... those thing that moth and rust cannot destroy (Matthew 6:19-20).

Psalm 119:97-104 outlines how we learn to reject the wisdom and pleasures of this

world:

Develop a passionate love for the Word of God. (v. 97)

Implement the wisdom, insight, and understanding we gain into our daily lives. (v. 98-

100)

Exercise self-control in order to be obedient. (v. 101)

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Trust the Holy Spirit to teach us. (v. 102)

Savor the Word of God, delight in what He shows you. (v. 103)

Reject all manner of false way. (v. 104)

Rejecting the wisdom and things of the world can be IS difficult ... we must pray for

faithfulness to time in the Word and a passionate longing for obedient hearts. And, remember

this - just because it's said or written by a person who claims the name of Christ, we are called to

test all things according to His Word. Opinion and feeling can never replace

the eternal, unchanging truth in Scripture.

How has God been working out rejection

in your life? How have you been

strengthened through obedient rejection

of the things of this world?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Light

In U.S. Navel Institute Proceedings, the magazine of the Naval Institute, Frank Koch illustrates

the importance of obeying the Laws of the Lighthouse.

Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy

weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the

bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on

the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.

Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, "Light, bearing on the starboard

bow."

"Is it steady or moving astern?" the captain called out.

The lookout replied, "Steady, Captain," which meant we were on a dangerous collision

course with that ship.

The captain then called to the signalman, "Signal that ship: 'We are on a collision

course, advise you change course twenty degrees.'"

Back came the signal, "Advisable for you to change course twenty degrees."

The captain said, "Send: "I'm a captain, change course twenty degrees.'"

"I'm a seaman second-class," came the reply. "You had better change course twenty

degrees."

By that time the captain was furious. He spat out, "Send: 'I'm a battleship. Change course

twenty degrees.'"

Back came the flashing light, "I'm a lighthouse."

We changed course.

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Undoubtedly you have heard or read that story before ... Max Lucado included it in his book, In

The Eye Of The Storm, and it's been used in countless sermons. I love this account because it

illustrates a vital truth for believers ... the unchanging nature of God and His Word. Kristi

Stephens explained it aid this way on Scripture Dig, "The Bible is not about me. The

Bible is about God."

The lighthouse doesn't move according to the storm or the boat or even those who *think* they

know the situation. Likewise, the Bible tells us that the Word of God never changes.

The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever. ~ Isaiah 40:8,

NLT

God's Word is eternal ... unmoving ... unaltered ... forever. Therefore

we can trust in Scripture to guide us. The Psalmist writes, "Thy Word is a lamp to my feet, And

a light to my path." {Psalm 119:105, NASB}

I urge you today ... take time to read Psalm 119:105 - 112. Cherish the beauty of these words

and commit to the same mindset as the Psalmist:

Be guided by the Word. (v. 105)

Be obedient to the Word. (v.106)

Be revived by the Word. (v.107)

Be taught by the Word. (v.108)

Be mindful of the Word. (v. 109)

Be focused on the Word. (v. 110)

Be joyful in the Word. (v. 111)

Be inclined toward the Word. (v. 112)

How has the Word of God been a light to

your path?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Choices Daily. Moment by moment. An ongoing reality in each of our lives.

Making choices.

Loving the Word or loving the world.

Seeking His kingdom or building my own.

Delighting in truth or devouring lies.

It all boils down to this:

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in

Your Word. Psalm 119:114, NIV

The choice? Putting our hope in God and His Word. Resting in confident expectation rooted in

Him. It's hard, though, isn't it? To choose to lay down our own dreams and desires, our own

wants and longings ... to let go of good things when best doesn't seem to make sense ... to live

out the faith we so easily speak and write about ... to seek Him above all else, even family and

ministry.

I'm in the midst of some big choices right now ... looking at all sorts of great opportunities and

praying for wisdom and direction. It's hard to say "No" to ways to minister, difficult to turn

down places to encourage others. But the choice isn't to do ministry or not to do it ... it's bigger

than that. The choice isn't even to trust God with whatever ministry He has given or will give ...

it's even bigger than that. The choice is this ... to love Him more or to

love me more.

If I love Him more, I'll lay down all of those things, those dreams, those

opportunities, those desires ... believing that He is sufficient. Trusting in His

refuge, His strength, His plan. That's what my heart longs for - to love Him more. But far more

often than I care to admit, I love me more. I choose me ... in a thousand little ways and many big

ones.

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

So today, I'm crying out as I lay down me and I'm uttering the words of

the Psalmist:

Sustain me according to Your promise, and I will live; do not let my

hopes be dashed. Psalm 119:116, NIV

What choices lay before you?

Do you love Him more?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Belonging Belonging.

Connectedness.

Security.

Acceptance.

We long for these things. We were created with a need for belonging. A need for

connectedness. A desire for security and acceptance. And God intended that we find

those things in relationship with Him.

Sadly, though, we tend to rush after other forms of fulfillment, other ways to connect, other paths

to acceptance ... and end up lacking the very security we most desire.

The Psalmist seemed to grab hold of something we miss ...

I’m your servant—help me understand what that means, the inner

meaning of your instructions. Psalm 119:25, MSG

In The Treasury of David: Spurgeon's Classic Work on the Psalms, we find this thought,

I am thy servant. That thou art the servant of God, thou shouldest

regard as thy chiefest glory and blessedness. --Martin Geier

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Do we regard being the servant of God as our greatest glory? Belonging to Him

as His servant as our greatest blessing?

Is there a sweeter promise in Scripture than this word from our Lord,

“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me."

John 10:14, MSG

Today, I challenge you, take time to thank

God for the blessing of belonging to Him.

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Understanding

Thy testimonies are righteous forever;

Give me understanding that I may live.

Psalm 119:144, NASB

Don't we all want to understand something?

In some ways, I think we remain like a three-year-old whose main question in life is, "Why?"

Certainly the "Why?" changes ...

We no longer question why the sky is blue;

instead, we wonder why children die from cancer.

We no longer ask why we can't have ice cream for dinner;

instead, we ponder why men fly jets into buildings.

We no longer question why thunder is so loud;

instead, we ask why earthquakes and tsunamis devastate and take so many lives.

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Yes, "Why?" is a part of our make-up ... the ongoing quest for

knowledge, for insight, for understanding. It moves us to ask bigger

questions:

Why did God give us so great a gift, knowing we would treat our salvation

so carelessly?

Why are we unwilling to take this Word of Truth and Life to those we know

are bound for hell?

Why are we so quick to judge those are living out their genuine faith in

Christ in a manner different from our own?

But the bottom line is ... the understanding we long for, the discernment we seek -

and need - is found in the diligent study of God's Word. And in that understanding,

we find that we are quick to give grace and show mercy and slow to judge others' choices and

decisions. In that discernment, we find that we are far more likely to offer encouragement and

support than to use our words as weapons to divide and demean.

God's Word is a sharp sword and we must wield it carefully. Our longing, our

desperate desire, should be understanding of who God is. I love how Kristi said it, "The Bible is

not about us. The Bible is about God." Our investment of time in Scripture will lead to

understanding of God's character and God's plan. That understanding should point us to look at

ourselves.

Psalm 119:137- 144 offers us five ways to Scripture reveals to us

truths about God's character.

1. The Bible causes us to recognize the sovereignty of God. (v. 137)

2. The Bible leads us to acknowledge the faithfulness of God. (v. 138)

3. The Bible reveals to us the purity of God's Word to us. (v. 140)

4. The Bible helps us to remember our relationship to God. (v. 141)

5. The Bible reminds us to delight in the righteousness of God. (v. 142-143)

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

I encourage you to read the Word of God and seek understanding that will lead to life - full, rich,

abundant life.

How has spending time in the Word and

growing in understanding of God's

character changed you?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Continually Take a moment to read Psalm 119:145-152 (NIV, emphasis added).

I call with all my heart; answer me, O Lord,

and I will obey your decrees.

I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes.

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.

My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.

Hear my voice in accordance with your love;

preserve my life, O Lord, according to your laws.

Those who devise wicked schemes are near,

but they are far from your law.

Yet you are near, O Lord, and all your commands are true.

Long ago I learned from your statutes

that you established them to last forever.

I love the petitioning nature of the Psalmist.

We see in this passage that he called with all his heart (v. 145). This word

heart reflects the heart and soul, our emotional center. When he called out to the Lord is was

from his depths. How often do we give short attention to our prayers life just

mixing it into the frantic "To Do" list of the day? Prayer was a priority to the

Psalmist and so should it be in our own lives as well.

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Further, we find that he called out (v.146). It seems David was always in danger,

always being chased by someone ... many of the Psalms contain his urgent cry for the Lord to

protect Him. I love that this word for call is transliterated from "qara." Qara "denotes the

enunciation of a specific message which is addressed to a specific recipient and intended to elicit

a specific response." What an awesome privilege! We too can call out to a specific

Recipient with our specific message and desire a specific response.

Next, to the chagrin of many, we find that the Psalmist rose early (v.

147). Repeatedly in Scripture we find individuals offering that quiet, early darkness to the Lord

in prayer. When I have mentored I have always encouraged the ladies in my groups to at least

try giving God those early morning moments. Beginning our day with moments devoted

to the Lord is a precious gift - for many a sacrificial one - that we lay before our

heavenly Father.

Finally, we see prayers offered through the night (v. 148). I've been there,

have you? Restless nights where sleep evades ... quietly exiting the warmth of the bed

and experiencing the intimacy of a sacred encounter with God. On several

occasions the Lord has awakened me for a season of prayer during times of great stress and

sorrow. Precious moments with my Savior.

And the promise of God, the sweet assurance that we find in verse

151 - "Yet you are near." I love that!

When we come to the Lord offering up our very selves, crying out to Him for specific needs and

desires, devoting early moments to Him each day and allowing Him to wake us from slumber to

speak His truth into us - oh the blessing we find! He is near!!

How have you experienced the nearness

of God?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Preserve Me

I love this passage in Psalm 119. So many are facing challenges right now ...

Family members with illnesses.

Chronic health issues.

Difficult relationships.

Conflict in churches.

Financial pressures.

Uncertainty about the future.

And so much more.

Today, I offer you the words of David and encourage you to pray through these

verses ... laying down your burdens at the feet of the Savior who is willing to carry

you.

Look upon my suffering and deliver me,

for I have not forgotten your law.

Defend my cause and redeem me;

preserve my life according to your promise.

Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek out your decrees.

Your compassion is great, O Lord;

preserve my life according to your laws.

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Many are the foes who persecute me,

but I have not turned from your statues.

I look on the faithless with loathing, for they do not obey your word.

See how I love your precepts;

preserve my life, O Lord, according to your love.

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.

Psalm 119:153-160 NIV emphasis added

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Seven Times

Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.

Psalm 119:164, NIV

Setting aside specific times of prayer.

Intentional. Purposeful. Determined.

This is a practice long-followed by followers of Christ. The specific times and prayers

traditionally used are as follows:

6:00 am (Lauds) ~ Psalm 5

9:00 am (Trece) ~ The Lord's Prayer

Noon prayer (Sext) ~ The 23rd Psalm

3:00 pm (None) ~ Psalm 117

6:00 pm (Vespers) ~ Psalm 150

9:00 pm (Compline) ~ Psalm 4

Midnight prayer ~ Psalm 119:162, Psalm 134

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Engaging in specific times dedicated to prayer throughout the day can be a wonderful tool for

refocusing ourselves on the Lord. My husband often "Prays the Hours" ~ offering a short prayer

committing the next sixty minutes to the Lord at the top of each hour.

Have you ever used a tool like this to keep

yourself focused on prayer? What benefit

can you see to doing so?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Praise

May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees.

May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are

righteous.

Psalm 119:171-172 (NIV)

Overflowing with praise ...

for grace

and peace

and mercy.

for friendships

and family

and faith.

for trials

and sorrow

and growth.

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

for laughter

and tears

and both combined into one.

for salvation

and liberty

and wisdom.

for sacrifice

and promise

and hope.

for the Lord who gives

and takes away.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

What praise is overflowing in your life?

© 2010 Teri Lynne Underwood

Thank you for joining me on a journey through

Psalm 119. One of my favorite passages of

Scripture, these verses give us such insight into the

value of God’s Word in our lives.

Teri Lynne Underwood

About Teri Lynne …

Writer, Speaker, Teacher, Blogger ... Follower of the Risen Lord,

Lover of one man, Mom to a beautiful daughter. But basically, just

a girl who encourages lives where the sacred and the secular

collide.

Daily encouragement at Pleasing to You. Tweeting as TeriLynneU.

Founder & Writer, Scripture Dig. Contributor, MOD Squad and

Gather Inspirit.