Read: Psalm 119:9-16

I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways (Psalm 119:15).

After reading an encouraging and inspiring passage from the Old Testament, I suddenly felt the urge to praise God. Finding myself bursting into worship was a beautiful, unexpected experience. Although my problems weren’t suddenly solved, I felt an immense peace and confidence in God’s presence with me. The writer of Psalm 119 must have experienced similar emotions and thoughts when he penned, “I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word” (Psalm 119:14-16). Regardless of our wealth, status, or age, all us can delight in meditating on Scripture. As the psalmist wrote, followers of Christ can “stay pure . . . by obeying word” (Psalm 119:9). Psalm 119 highlights knowing God deeper through soaking in His truth from the Torah—the first five books of our current Bibles—by reading it out loud, studying it, meditating on it, and memorizing it (Psalm 119:13-16). All of these practices are a way to, as the psalm puts it, hide God’s word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11)—which the Amplified Bible translates as “treasured and stored in my heart.” Sin separates us from God, while drawing near to God through Scripture helps break sin’s hold in our lives. But we can’t know God by our own efforts, so the psalm asks God to direct our spiritual growth, to “teach me your decrees” and “don’t let me wander from your commands” (Psalm 119:10,12). Today, we have both the Old and New Testament books as inspired Scripture to read and meditate on. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, may we come to know God more and more as we seek the wisdom found in Scripture. Our Daily Journey ©2018 ODB Ministries, 3000, Kraft Ave., SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49555-0001, USA. Used by permission. For this and other materials contact ODB Ministries at 322 P. Guevarra, San Juan City (Phils.); Tel.: 722-2010.