Day Nine: Psalm 119:65-72
“My troubles turned out all for the best-they forced me to learn from your textbook.” (119:71, The Message) That is the truth! Sometimes what we are dealing with in life does force us to turn to the one place where we will find the right answer. It all comes back to seeking the truths God has already given to us. I think of how some people spend their lives searching for something, anything that makes them feel complete but never really attain that. We as believers never have to feel that way. Everything we need to know, how to act, how to live, what to do with our money, how to raise our children, how to worship, pray, etc…it is all right here. No need to waste our time looking for any worldly answers. I pray to remember this truth each day.
May 26th, 2009 on 9:29 pm
I agree, I’ve recently learned (or I should say am learning) not to pray for “relief, help, etc” when times get tough, but to pray for God’s will and the ability to endure any hardships that may be part of His will. I’ve found that when I can do that, I have a whole new perspective on the situation. I have a “peace” about what is going on and this peace allows me to seek God’s purpose in the situation be it to learn as mentioned in vs 71, to demonstrate His glory through the way I handle the situation, to prepare myself for a task yet to come, etc.
May 26th, 2009 on 10:47 pm
I can easily agree with vs 72 – the law of Your mouth is worth more to me than money, but where is my heart, truly? I am such a baby in the Word! Seriously – I know the right answer – I KNOW it, but sometimes I question the motives of my heart so much that I wonder how there could be any God in there at all…
May 27th, 2009 on 5:16 pm
Amy – What a wonderful point you make.
The verse that spoke to me the most was Vs. 65-66:
“LORD, You have treated Your servant well,just as You promised. Teach me good judgment and discernment, for I rely on Your commands.”
Being older, I have the ability to look back over events, circumstances, and situations in my life, in “hindsight”. I can truly say that only with the passage of time and a growth in my perspective have I realized the “good” He did for me, even when it was not pleasant. This truth seems similar to you allowing (making?) Colton and Aly Jo to get their childhood immunizations…not pleasant for them, but as a parent you know it is necessary to allow it to happen, because it will ultimately be for their good. I believe God has worked with me in that way in my life sometimes. He has allowed (not caused) difficulties to enter my life so He can teach me to rely upon Him and His desire to do Good for me…, and not to harm me.
Looking back on these experiences, I now realize he usedd these times to help me learn discernment and judgment…and most importantly…to rely upon His commands (promises).
Randy (Pops)