Blogathon2012: #15 - How Can A Young Person Live A Clean Life?

^{Psalm 119:9-16 (The Message)} 

How can a young person live a clean life? 

      By carefully reading the map of your Word. 

   I'm single-minded in pursuit of you; 

      don't let me miss the road signs you've posted. 

   I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart 

      so I won't sin myself bankrupt. 

   Be blessed, God; 

      train me in your ways of wise living. 

   I'll transfer to my lips 

      all the counsel that comes from your mouth; 

   I delight far more in what you tell me about living 

      than in gathering a pile of riches. 

   I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, 

      I attentively watch how you've done it. 

   I relish everything you've told me of life, 

      I won't forget a word of it.

Yesterday I said that Psalm 119 was so chock-full of goodness, I need to share chunk by chunk with you. 

Even though I knew this as a 'young person', I did not fully understand that I needed to fully obey. My reading of the Word was haphazard at the most. As such, I made a lot of errors in judgement because I withdrew from my pitiful bank of knowledge and experience and that of other humans, instead of the deep well of truth and wisdom that can only be found in His Word, in Him.

But our God is a God of 'fresh' chances.

I am still not 100% faithful daily, but wow, what progress I have made, thanks to His grace!

I give up this prayer for my sons and their friends tonight.

Lord, give them an insatiable hunger for Your Word, single-minded in their pursuit of You. Train them in the ways of wise living and hide Your Word in their hearts, so that when situations arise, they have a bank of Truth to draw from.

Thank You, Lord.

May they know that to obey is better than sacrifice: