Tuesday,
February 14, 2023
How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. I have tried hard to find you—don’t let
me wander from your commands. I
have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I praise you, O Lord; teach me your
decrees. I have recited aloud
all the regulations you have given us. 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 119:9-16
There are some images that stay with
you for life. Some are because they were
dramatic, or explosive, like a tragic accident, or first experience with death,
or birth. There are other lifetime
moments that insidiously sneak up on you.
One of those sneaky images I have is
something I heard in a pastor’s sermon many years ago about why some people don’t
believe in God. A child prays for a pony…his
family lives in a city apartment, so we know how that turns out. Later he prays that big kid in his third grade
class who’s been bullying him all year will catch the fever and die. We know God rarely grants that one. By the time he’s a freshman in college he’s
about had it with God, but he’s got a big math test coming up, so he decides to
give the man upstairs (ugh…how I hate that)…just One. Last.
Chance. He stands in the field next
to his college dorm and lifts the challenge:
God, if you’re really there, I need a ‘B’ on this test…no,
make it an ‘A’. With that base
covered he runs to the bar where he and his fraternity buddies drink the night
away. The next day, he flunks the math
test because he didn’t study at all. His
sulking thought: I knew it; I now
have proof: there is no God!
In comparison to our young friend
with the tried that praying to God thing, and it doesn’t work, attitude
chip on his shoulder, the Psalmist paints a different picture, of a
young person trusting God, not challenging
God.
Notice what he does:
·
He
recognizes his weakness, and the need to stay close to God, so he studies God’s
ways and commands.
·
He
memorizes those parts that speak warning to his heart so those will be second-nature
when the temptations come.
·
He
is teachable, even rejoicing while asking God to fix His Word deep in his soul.
The bottom line for this young man is
open and honest with his prayers before God.
For You Today
If not, today’s a good day to begin.
There are about 2,000 devotional
posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions
library. To dig deeper on
today’s topic, explore some of these:
When Words & Deeds Collide and Finding Wisdom
Images: Title Pixabay.com Images without citation are either personal
property of the author, or in public domain.
Unless noted, Scripture quoted
from The New Living Translation©
