August 18 | Psalm 119:1-16

Kim Starr
Aug 18
3 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

How God Wants us to Live

By Kim Starr

We have been learning how, even today, God’s word is alive and active. We are learning to consider how God is using His Word in our lives and what a faithful response would look like. The verses we read today give us lots of insight how to faithfully respond to God.

Through His word, God has given us explicit directions on what we are to do, what we are not to do, how we are to behave, and how we are not to behave. We would be wise to follow the psalm’s directive to live according to God’s word, to seek God’s heart, to hide His word in our heart, to rejoice in following God’s laws, to meditate on His precepts and consider His ways.

What would it look like if you thought about how God would have you act the next time you are at the grocery store, are on a conference call, are in line to pick up a prescription at the pharmacy, or are being gossiped about by a co-worker? How would you respond when someone ran into your cart at the grocery store, or catches you playing on your phone while on a conference call, or had someone cut you in line, or heard what the co-worker said? What scripture can you pull from to show you are a child of God? How can we act to obey God’s decrees? And as we act as God tells us to, I ask you this question: How can we rejoice in following God’s statutes as one rejoices in great abundance?

This isn’t a question I can answer; it’s not one that any of us can answer on our own. We ask God to not let us stray from His commands because we know that we are broken and fall into sin. And when we sin, what does God tell us to do? He tells us to turn to Him. To confess our sins and accept His forgiveness. We are wiped clean of our wrongdoings by His grace, and we then begin again to do as God tells us to: to live according to God’s word, to seek God with all our hearts, to hide His word in our hearts, to rejoice in following God’s laws, to meditate on His precepts and consider His ways.

So, as you go throughout your day, consider what God’s Word would advise you to do and act accordingly. Then praise God for what he taught you and thank Him for giving you a tool that you can refer to again and again.

PRAYER

God, I thank you for the gift of your word. For telling us how you want us to live and for forgiving us when we fail. I ask that you help us fill our hearts with your word so that we might not sin against you. God help us to live according to your word, to delight in your decrees, and to not neglect your word. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kim Starr

I have been a member of UALC since I was 2-years-old. Over my life I have participated in, and volunteered for, numerous ministries, programs, and activities, all of which have grown and strengthened my faith. I have been blessed beyond measure by not only being a part of this congregation, but also by being able to worship with three generations of my family.