“I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.”- Psalm 119:30

Good morning, friends. I want to share a few thoughts that have come from the scripture I connected with via this morning’s “verse of the day” from Bible Gateway.

It comes from one of the early sections of Psalm 119, a chapter from the Book of Psalms that is too often skipped over because it appears dauntingly long.

I remember the first time I came across Psalm 119. I was following a daily devotional guide and was taken by surprise at the length (it’s the longest chapter in the Bible, featuring 176 verses!). I skipped the reading at the time, and avoided it going forward.

Then, a decade of so ago, I took the time to absorb the entire Psalm, verse by verse, and this time I was taken by surprise at the depth of it.

Chose to be Faithful!

Today’s verse come from the fourth section, and this morning I have been meditating on verse 30: “I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations.” Or, from the NIV, “I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.”

What we are talking about here is setting our sights on God, making the choice to walk in faithfulness to the truth, and consciously living in the light.

If we live our lives, and understand our faith in terms of “feelings” or emotional responses to a sense of spirituality, then we are going to be light-switch disciples, on and off again, running hot and cold. The way we “feel” is not a reliable measure when it comes to something so important as our relationship with God.

Just like a marriage – where we choose faithfulness, where we choose to love, and where the decision to practice kindness, and fidelity, and encouragement, and commitment is challenged, and confronted, and exercised daily – our faith in God is something that demands the quality of words that pop up in this passage. Revive, learn, understand, meditate, encourage, know, choose, determine, cling, pursue, expand….

So read this short section, verses 25-32, and ask God to help all of us honor our commitment to conscious, determined, intentional, chosen faith. – DEREK

I lie in the dust;
    revive me by your word.
²⁶ I told you my plans, and you answered.
    Now teach me your decrees.
²⁷ Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,
    and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.
²⁸ I weep with sorrow;
    encourage me by your word.
²⁹ Keep me from lying to myself;
    give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.
³⁰ I have chosen to be faithful;
    I have determined to live by your regulations.
³¹ I cling to your laws.
    Lord, don’t let me be put to shame!
³² I will pursue your commands,
    for you expand my understanding.

Psalm 119:25-32