GOD’S WORD IS POWERFUL IN TRANSFORMING LIVES
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“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” – Romans 15:4 –
There is no greater validation of our hope in Christ than God’s Word. For God’s Word is infallible. It is alive… it is powerful… and it is miraculously able to change lives. God has breathed life into His Word. It speaks deeply to our spirits in ways that are transformational. In His Word, God shares His deep love for all mankind.
God’s greatest expression of this love is His Son, the living Word, who laid down His life for us. When we accept Jesus as Lord of our lives, we accept His testimony that Scripture is God’s Word to us personally. It is our handbook for living. We do not choose parts to believe and parts to ignore. We build our lives on His Word and build His Word into our lives.
“I have put my hope in Your Word.” – Psalm 119:147
Psalm 119 is a celebration of God’s Word. The author is believed to be Ezra the priest who returned with the exiles from Babylon. He oversaw the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. In this longest psalm of the Bible, the author shares the hope he finds in Scripture. His love for God, and the joy and consolation he finds in God’s living Word, emanates from every verse.
In biblical times, common people did not have access to Scripture. God’s Word was written on scrolls, copied and preserved by scribes who were often the only ones who could read and write. The people would memorize passages of Scripture and pass them along orally through the generations.
Psalm 119, in its original Hebrew, is uniquely arranged as an acrostic poem to enable easy memorization. All 22 stanzas are subtitled alphabetically with a Hebrew letter, beginning with Aleph and ending with Taw. The 8 verses of each stanza begin with that same Hebrew letter. This arrangement served as a mnemonic device to help the people memorize and keep God’s Word in their hearts.
As you read these verses from Psalm 119, capture the author’s joy and hope in the living Word of God…
“I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” – Psalm 119:11
⇒ God’s Word, kept in our hearts, helps us in our times of need
“Teach me, Lord, the way of Your decrees, that I may follow it to the end.” – Psalm 119:33
⇒ God’s Word guides us along His way of righteousness
“Remember Your Word to Your servant, for You have given me hope.” – Psalm 119:49
⇒ God’s Word gives us hope for our daily lives
“The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.” – Psalm 119:72
⇒ God’s Word becomes more valuable to us as we grow closer to Him
“Your Word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” – Psalm 119:89
⇒ God’s Word will stand forever
“Save me, for I am Yours; I have sought out Your precepts.” – Psalm 119:94
⇒ God’s Word looks ahead to the coming Savior of the world
“Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.” – Psalm 119:98
⇒ God’s Word imparts to us His perfect wisdom
“I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.” – Psalm 119:104
⇒ God’s Word keeps us on His path for our lives
“Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.” – Psalm 119:111
⇒ God’s Word brings us joy
“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in Your Word.” – Psalm 119:114
⇒ God’s Word protects us from sin and evil
“I am Your servant; give me discernment that I may understand Your statutes.” – Psalm 119:125
⇒ God’s Word helps us discern right from wrong
“The unfolding of Your words gives light.” – Psalm 119:130
⇒ God’s Word illuminates our way through life
“Direct my footsteps according to Your Word; let no sin rule over me.” – Psalm 119:133
⇒ God’s Word is our roadmap for life
“Trouble and distress have come upon me, but Your commands give me delight.” – Psalm 119:143
⇒ God’s Word is our delight in a fallen world
“You are near, Lord, and all Your commands are true.” – Psalm 119:151
⇒ God’s Word is our source of absolute truth
“Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” – Psalm 119:165
⇒ God’s Word blesses us with His peace and His strength
“I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commands.” – Psalm 119:176
⇒ God’s Word lovingly draws us back to Him when we stray
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Lord, illuminate Your Word to me. Let me be captured by the joy of Scripture. May Your Word, spoken to me personally, sink deep into my spirit assuring me of Your unfailing love for me. Renew my love for You as I read and study the Bible. Let me learn to hide Your Word in my heart for I know it will transform me from the inside out. Let me discover the eternal hope in Christ found in Scripture. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
