Thoughts for the Day

My soul clings to the dust;
revive me according to your word.
Teach me your statues.
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
My soul melts away for sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word.
Put false ways far from me;
and graciously teach me your law....
I cling to your decrees, O Lord;
let me not be put to shame.
I run the way of your commandments,
for you enlarge my understanding.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Sometimes when we upset other, whether this is friends or family, it drives us farther away from , as we are ashamed of our actions.

The writer in this section of Psalm 119 is suffering, we don't know why or how, but he knows much of it is his own fault. He says his 'soul clings to the dust' as he confesses his sin to God. But unlike us instead of driving him away from God, he wants a closer connection and greater understanding of His ways. As he battles to do what God wants rather than what he wants, he simply cannot be happy with the way that he lives his life.

Often our mistakes leave us feeling as though we are further than ever away from God, but the writer of Psalm 119 knows that our faults should lead us to learn more about God, and to grow ever closer to Him. When we feel like this let us also ask Him to teach us more about what He wants from us, so that we can live a committed Christian life and be satisfied that we are living according to His ways, and not our own. Then we can say with the Psalmist that we 'cling to your decrees, O Lord' and we are 'not put to shame'.

Heavenly Father,
when we disappoint You
may this not drive us away from You.
Instead let our mistakes
drive us towards You.
May we continue to want to learn
Your ways and Your wishes,
and grow ever closer to You.
Amen.