This post’s Scripture passage reference: Psalm 119:166-170
I have heard numerous people, when they are attempting to encourage someone, say, “Just do the next thing, and then the next thing, and the next thing after that…” When we are going through difficult times, we sometimes need to hear this to help us keep moving forward. To keep moving forward is one way of making sure we remain faithful.
I have seen on my social media feeds couples celebrating, 50, 60, and 65 years of marriage recently. The amount of hard work, cooperation, give-and-take and sacrifice to see that through is a testament to faithfulness. I wonder how many times they have had to just “do the next thing” to keep their marriages faithfully going?
I feel like faithfulness is the subject that the psalmist in Psalm 119:166-171 is talking about. He continued to express hope for salvation that the Lord had promised. He, again, reminded the Lord that he had kept His commandments. He wanted everyone to know that, within his soul, he had kept the testimonies of the Lord. He seemed to have had a deep, abiding love for them.
As the psalmist was writing, he emphasized that he had kept the Lord’s testimonies and that the way he lived his life was an open book before the Lord. He beseeched the Lord to hear him and to listen to his cry. He begged for understanding that has been assured in God’s Word.
He petitioned the Lord to hear his supplications. He begged for deliverance. He vowed to give God the praise for the wisdom he had gained through His statues.
The challenge here for those that choose to follow Christ could simply be remaining faithful. Faithfulness is something that a majority of our younger generations have not been taught and have not seen lived out in front of them. We need to challenge ourselves to strive to be as faithful to our Lord, as the psalmist was and live it out for the world to take note of.
How can we apply this to our lives? If you have chosen Christ, faithfulness should not ever be a question. But there are steps you can deliberately take to help strengthen your faith. As the psalmist has talked about all throughout this Psalm, we need to have hope in God’s commandments, cultivate a love for His testimony and His precepts. Study His Word and listen for what He will teach you. Do these things faithfully.
What does this mean to my faith? Knowing that when I am faithful to God He will be faithful to me. The thing is, actually, God is always faithful. We are the ones, on our end, that get weak on faithfulness. When I seek Him diligently, and faithfully stay in His Word and follow His precepts, my faith is strengthened and I grow in my relationship with Him.
Lord. I thank You for so much. I thank You for Your Word that leads and guides me. I thank you for the people You have placed in my life to help me along the way. Mostly, I thank You for the gift of salvation. I pray that when I get to the end of this path I am on that I will be able to look back and see that I have been faithful.
~~~~~~~
“166 Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments. 167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. 168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee. 169 Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word. 170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word. 171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.” Psalm 119:166-171 (KJV)
“Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.” Psalm 4:5 (KJV)
“I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [is] within my heart. Psalm 40:8 (KJV)
“For the ways of man [are] before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.” Proverbs 5:21 (KJV)
_____________
I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about my Jesus.
What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe? Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him? You can know Him. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity. You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.
Here is an excellent website that can give you additional information about making your decision for Jesus Christ! PeaceWithGod.net
————————
Blog Image by GuangWu YANG from Pixabay
Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 