How’s life going for you these days?
Do you wake up with a sense of expectation, or do you roll out of bed counting down until you can roll back in?
Do you pursue your days with purpose, or do you drag yourself from task-to-task as if you have a sack of cement of your back?
Do you face challenges with peaceful confidence in God’s provision and power, or do you make yourself sick with worry that life will never get better?
Here’s one more question for you…do you know Jesus? I’m not talking about knowing who He is… such as knowing who President Obama is or Brad Pitt is.
Do you know Him? How His heart beats out of sheer love for you? How He leans over and whispers your deepest needs into His Father’s ear? How He took your sin on His soul so your soul could be set free?
If you don’t know Him, may I introduce Him to you right now? He’s been waiting so long. He already knows you through and through. Your dreams, your hurts, your proudest moments, your gravest mistakes. To begin a relationship with the One who loves you most, all you have to do is open your heart to Him. Tell Him you’re ready to know who He is and who you can be with His spirit in you. If you have questions about this life changing decision, I’d love to help. Shoot me an email at leebirdmerrill AT gmail DOT com.
Now…if you already have a relationship with Jesus, I wonder if Pastor Gary’s sermon will stomp on your toes like it did mine this morning.
Gary took us to Psalm 19 to show us how to live a life full of strength, wisdom, joy, and purpose.
The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:7-14 NIV)
What’s the key to living the abundant Christian life? Walking the Word.
God’s Word is alive and active, not just some book. (Hebrews 4:12) To let the Word truly do its thing in us, we must do more than just read it. We must jump in and soak in it, letting it transform who we are. Then we must give feet to the truth by living it out. When we learn about loving others, we go about loving. When we learn about forgiveness, we extend forgiveness (or ask for it). When we learn about prayer, we pray, pray, and pray some more.
What does walking the Word look like?
1. Walking in strength and power. The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. (v. 7)
When we daily delve into the Word and let it do its work in us, God fills our tank with strength and power. Hoo Ha!
I confess that most mornings, I wake up saying, “Ho hum.” I’d love to blame it on turning 40 or being a busy working mom and wife. But that’s only part of it. I’m worn out because I don’t spend consistent time letting God’s Word refresh my soul.
2. Walking in wisdom and truth. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. (v.7)
When we daily feast on the meaty Word of God and let the Holy Spirit describe the menu in full detail, God fills our minds with wisdom and truth we can use for ourselves and to help others. Woo hoo!
I confess that I tend to spend way too much time saying “Woe is me” over my worries and wonderings about what could have been or what may happen. The only cure for my woes is to spend more time nourishing my soul with the Word.
3. Walking in joy and true happiness. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. (v.8)
When we take regular baths in the Living Water and let it rinse away the residue of this world, God pours joy into our hearts…a joy that bubbles out on every circumstance and everyone we encounter.
I confess that my joy has been somewhat stifled lately. My heart is heavy with concerns and questions…things I should be laying at His feet when I spend time in the Word and in prayer. But my time with Him is sketchy at best. I choose to catch a few extra winks instead of getting up to meet with Him before I start my day. I choose to spend my evenings watching mindless television shows instead of letting the Word challenge and change me.
4. Walking with a spiritual sparkle. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. (v.8)
When we gaze long and hard at those wonderful words of life, our eyes will shine with peace and purpose. And people will notice.
I remember beautiful moments in my life when folks said, “What is it about you, Lee? You always have such a joy about you.” I was able to smile and say, “It’s not me…it’s Jesus in me.” I confess that, lately, folks have been saying, “Lee, are you ok? You seem so tired and down.” I just shrug and say, “I just need to get to bed earlier.” While that’s true (I’m writing this blog post at 12:22 a.m.), I know my sparkle is faded because I’ve been neglecting my time in His shining presence. I want to be like Moses: “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.” (Exodus 34:29 NIV)
5. Walking with a right heart. But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (v. 12-14)
When we sit at His feet and allow Him to shine His searchlight on our souls, He will reveal our sins. The ones we’re too dense to see on our own and the ones we’re too rebellious to give up.
I can’t remember the last time I sat still before Him for a thorough examination. The longer we let sin hang around in us, the more comfortable we become with it. Soon, those “little” sins we let slide become big ol’ whoppers that take over our lives. Here’s the thing…if we’re in His presence every day, He reveals those little things and helps us deal with them before they get out-of-control. I don’t know about you, but I feel so much better…so much lighter in spirit…when I keep a short account with God. I become more sensitive to His nudgings throughout my day. It helps me make things right when I screw up and even avoid screwing up quite to badly!
Why, oh, why do I neglect my time with God when I know there are so many benefits to it? I guess I’m just a silly sheep with no sense.
What about you? Are you walking the Word in strength, wisdom, and joy? Do you shine like a star in this dark and depraved world?
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. (Philippians 2:14-16 NIV)
Right here and right now, I choose to “hold firmly to the Word of Life” and let it give me back my sparkle. Are you with me?
Lord, I’m so sorry for letting life get in the way of the TRUE LIFE You want me to live. Please forgive me for neglecting my time with You. Help me to change my ways, Lord. Wake me up each morning with an expectant heart ready to hear from You. Settle my soul each evening with words of comfort I can snuggle up with while I sleep. And for the in-between times, keep my eyes and ears open to opportunities to share Your truth with others…with family, friends, and strangers. I don’t want to miss another opportunity. I want people to see something different in me, not just another weary woman trudging through life. Like Pastor Gary said, it’s no good to read the Word or even meditate on the Word if I’m not going to live it. Right now, I choose to live it. I choose to walk the Word.
