Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.

Psalm 119:18

Previously I shared that the Psalms are one of my favorite books in the Bible; and chapter 119 one of my favorite chapters. It has so much meat in it; both for us to learn from and for us to use as a heart-felt prayer. In this post I will be sharing  verses, that I feel are very helpful for both ways.

Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.
I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have given me life.

Psalm 119:92-93

Life doesn’t always go the way we had planned. I know when I was young, I never even thought far enough ahead to my fifties; that was too old to think about then. But if I would have, I would’ve never in my dreams thought that I would be divorced, living alone, disabled with health problems and depending on others for some assistance. No way! I would have planned something a lot more glamorous and cool for myself at this age. But God had other plans.

Consider my affliction and deliver me,
For I do not forget Your law.
Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word.

Psalm 119:153-154

I have a lot to be grateful for in my life. I have four wonderful kids and four terrific granddaughters; but I am also thankful for my health problems. Sounds strange, right? God has used them in a round about way to help me stay close to Him. He also expects me to be thankful in everything. Not for everything but in everything.

Forever, O Lord,
Your word is settled in heaven.
Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
You established the earth, and it abides.

Psalm 119:89-90

It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.

Psalm 119:71

As I have mentioned before, I am very independent and stubborn at times too. I was never one to wait around for help. I would try to do it myself whether I ended up hurting afterwards or not. In my way of thinking, “At least it’s done.”. Now, physically, I have to have help with some things. It’s hard for me, but it does result in some good. It causes me to be thankful toward the person willing to help me and it makes me be humble before God who allowed this. He does things for a reason, whether we like it or not. He is God and like a child with their Father, we need to listen and obey; even accept things we ourselves wouldn’t have chosen.

Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.

Psalm 119:67

I thought about my ways,
And turned my feet to Your testimonies.

Psalm 119:59

When we are faced with life’s challenges and problems, sometimes we need to think of them from God’s perspective. Ask yourself, is He trying to teach me something? What does God want to show me with this? I know normally all we want to ask God is “Why me?” We think it would be so much easier if God just told us or showed us. It may be easier, but would we have learned anything? We can also think about how as a believer, we could be living our lives during this difficulty that would bring glory to Him.

My soul faints for Your salvation,
But I hope in Your word.
My eyes fail from searching Your word,
Saying, “When will You comfort me?”

Psalm 119:81-82

Revive me according to Your loving-kindness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

Psalm 119:88

We need to remember it isn’t always about us. God may have us endure trials and hardships, for someone else’s benefit. They may be encouraged by watching our response to our situation. It could even draw them to God. They may grow in their prayer life as they pray for us. Others may gain blessings from God by helping us. Down the road we may be able to help someone else who is going through a similar situation, because of our current experience.

Those who fear You will be glad when they see me,
Because I have hoped in Your word.
I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness

Be for my comfort,
According to Your word to Your servant.

Psalm 119:74-76

God knows what is best for us and though it may be hard for us to understand, we need to trust Him enough to leave our lives in His hands. Remember He sees our whole life at a glance, where we can only see our past and today. We can hope for tomorrow but that is all.

Uphold me according to Your word,

That I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
Hold me up, and I shall be safe.

Psalm 119:116-117a

We need to trust Him with our future. Whether our situation will improve or not, we need to trust Him every single day. We can praise Him as our Lord and God, no matter what happens; because no matter what happens, He is our God, our Abba, who loves us and has the best future waiting for us.

Let Your hand become my help,
For I have chosen Your precepts.
I long for Your salvation, O Lord,
And Your law is my delight.
Let my soul live, and it shall praise You;
And let Your judgments help me.

Psalm 119:173-175

You can find Part two here: Life Lessons From Psalm 119 Part 2

Until next time, God Bless.

~Brenda

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