There are some great prayer-seeds in Psalm 119:33-40.
Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes;
and I will keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
Confirm to your servant your promise,
that you may be feared.
Turn away the reproach that I dread,
for your rules are good.
Behold, I long for your precepts;
in your righteousness give me life!
These are bold, heartfelt pleas. They are great things to pray. I need to pray them and I’m encouraging you to pray them too, but I left out two because they need to be highlighted and seriously considered. If I truly want God to answer those six pleas above, these two seeds from right in the middle are indispensable. These are personal. These involve me.
Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to selfish gain!
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways. (119:36-37)
It’s great to tell God that I’m open to being taught. It’s wonderful to seek confirmation of his promises. What a blessing to be able to ask that he shield me from reproach and give me life! By all means, let’s pray those things. But let’s not be so foolish or arrogant as to ignore how God makes these blessings a personal reality.
- He turns our eyes away from worthless things to himself as the greatest treasure.
- He turns our hearts away from selfishness to himself as the true and rightful King.
There are some great things to pray in Psalm 119:33-40. By all means, let’s pray those things. Let’s just make sure that we realize how God brings those blessings into reality: my eyes, my heart. It doesn’t get much more personal than that. Which means that I must be willing to ask today: am I willing to allow God to turn my eyes away from the worthless? Am I open to having my heart reshaped into harmony with his testimonies? Does he have my attention? Has my loyalty been pledged? If not, what about me needs to be turned? What does the Lord still need to reshape?