I wake up early and climb the stairs to the upper room above my garage. A portion of my morning devotion is spent praying for the people of First Baptist Sulphur Springs. I use Psalm 119:10-11 to pray over those holy people,
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you
Let’s focus upon three phrases:
May you seek God with all your heart
This speaks of a whole-hearted devotion. You don’t seek God with all your heart by accident. It takes consistent effort.
In Mark’s Gospel you get a glimpse of Jesus’ spiritual practice. He got up early, sought a solitary place, and prayed. Life is hard and trends toward busyness. We are easily consumed by the stress of the day and the demands placed upon us by family, work, and the daily grind. If not careful, we will be held captive by the urgent, not the important. There is nothing more important than seeking God. After all, He’s your Creator, Sustainer, Provider, and Redeemer.
May you hide God’s word in your heart
A key component of seeking God is hiding His word in your heart. This is a far cry from religious ritual or Bible trivia. This is getting Scripture before your eyes, into your mind, and deep in your heart.
You need a time of daily Bible reading. I suggest a Bible reading plan. Yet, find the Bible reading plan that works best for you. Feel free to take a plan and slow it down. The goal is not to complete a Bible reading plan, but to hide God’s word in your heart.
I’d also recommend memorizing Scripture. There is nothing like having the word of God in the back of your mind and on the tip of your tongue. When I suggest Bible memorization many people are quick to claim a faulty memory. I get it. But have you ever prayed, “God, help me commit this verse to memory. Help me get this word deep into my heart”? I believe that’s a prayer God will answer in the affirmative.
May you live in a way that glorifies God
Psalm 119:11 says, “that I might not sin against you.” Seeking God and hiding his word in your heart results in a transformed life. Take your daily Bible reading and put it into practice each day.
Read a passage about forgiveness. Pray for the strength to forgive. Jump at the opportunity to forgive.
Read a passage about patience. Pray for the strength to be patient. Jump at the opportunity to be patient.
When you succeed, give glory to God. When you fail, confess and repent. Use failure as an opportunity to lean upon God and grow closer to him. You need a healthy diet of Bible reading and a healthy exercise plan of Bible living.
It’s not in Psalm 119:10-11 but you were never intended to walk this road alone. The Christian life is not a solo adventure. It is done in community. Surround yourself with mature followers of Jesus who will support and encourage you.
Jeff Gravens 