Psalm 119 With Matt Chandler: A 10-Day RightNow Media Devotionalنموونە

Day 10: Psalm 119:169–176

Have you ever experienced something so good that it made you dissatisfied with every other form of it—a comfortable bed, a perfectly cooked steak, etc.? Intimacy with God has that kind of effect on us as believers. The deeper we grow in our relationship with God, the more dissatisfied we become with worldly things and all they claim to offer. And that’s what we’ll discuss in this final session.

Reflect

At the time of David’s writing, “God’s Word” was the Old Testament, primarily the first five books of the Bible. These shaped David so thoroughly that they influenced both his prayer and praise life. Yet, many Christians today neglect reading the Old Testament for a variety of reasons. How do you feel about reading the Old Testament? Does it create in you the same kind of joy David writes about? Why, or why not?

God’s Word shapes our prayers and praises, as it did David’s. It also shapes our longings, both fulfilling our desire for intimacy with God and, because God is an inexhaustible well, sparking a desire for even more. How would you describe your longing for intimacy with God? What would it look like for you to grow in your longing for God and His Word? How could you begin pursuing that longing in the immediate days ahead?

Respond

We never arrive in our relationship with God. To walk with Him is to set out on a journey of sanctification in which He molds and shapes us to look like Him. But He has promised that it is a journey He will bring to completion.

The world is competing for your attention. Any number of temptations exist to draw you away from a focus on God and His Word. The Christian life requires intentionality and persistence, but our discipline is fueled by the truth that we serve a loving and caring Father who is with us always, and who satisfies our deepest longings. Be encouraged by that truth and let it drive you to God’s Word and to the Word who became flesh—Jesus Christ.

Now that you’ve finished this study and finished reading Psalm 119, set aside some time to read the entire psalm in one sitting. As you read, pray that God will be present with you and apply His words to your heart.

To access free RightNow Media Bible study videos and study guides, visit www.biblestudiesforfree.org. Learn more about RightNow Media at www.rightnowmedia.org.