Today’s Bible reading is Psalm 119:25-48.
There are some great prayer-seeds in Psalm 119:33-40.
Teach me, O LORD.
Give me understanding.
Lead me in the path of your commandments.
Confirm to your servant your promise.
Turn away the reproach that I dread.
In your righteousness give me life!
These are bold, heartfelt pleas. They are great things to pray. I need to pray them. I’m encouraging you to pray them.
But I left out two. I want to highlight them. If I truly want God to answer those six pleas above, these 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. (Psa 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?