May 13 - Reading 41: Psalm 119:1-56

“Open my eyes, that I may see wonderful things from Your law.”

(Psalm 119:18)

Psalm 119 was written to celebrate God’s law. But when we first encounter the word “law,” our initial reaction is usually not one of celebration. Why? Because we immediately think someone is trying to tell us what we can’t do. That’s why we need the Lord to open our eyes, so we can view His law as a wonderful thing, something to help us live our best life possible.

Let’s think back to when we bought our first car. We pored over the owner’s manual to learn how the car was designed and how to bets utilize the newest and latest features. How arrogant it would be to disregard the owner’s manual and think “Well, I don’t need any instruction. I can figure it out for myself.”

It’s the same way with us. God designed us and knows far better how we function best. That’s why He inspired, and preserved His owner’s manual — the Bible — so we could live our most productive and fulfilled life.

As we think back to the times  when we chose to do it our own way, doing what felt right to us, we ended up going down a destructive path. Why? Because He is God and we are not! His mind is infinite and ours is not. His ways are higher than our ways. We need to study and commit to His ways, not ours. The question is not “Does His way make sense to me?” The question is only “Is this His way?”

As we read today’s portion of Psalm 119 to Him, may we embrace its truth with our whole heart. Then, let’s commit to follow His guidance in obedience, walking by faith and not by sight, and turn that strengthened faith into fervent intercession. As we line up our lives with His instructions in His owner’s manual, we will experience the blessing of doing things His way, because His Word gives us life (Psalm 119:50).