The Key to Staying on Track
- Shawna Jones
- Dec 24, 2023
- 2 min read
(12/24/23)
(9) "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
(10) With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
(11) I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."
Being in high school, I didn't worry too much when the time I spent reading the Word would frequently get replaced by overwhelming amounts of schoolwork. Soon, however, my habit of daily meditating on and applying Scripture to my life dwindled to infrequent sessions of choppy reflection. Even though I didn't see much of a problem with my habit of doing this then, I can see now the impact it had on me in my walk with God.
Although I did my best each day to follow Jesus' teachings, I realized that my desire to be completely committed to Jesus and to sharing the Gospel diminished. Spiritual growth was replaced by apathy and divided devotion. And, overall, I had lost my eternal mindset as worldly passions and desires kept my focus on the day-to-day events going on in my life.
Going through this season has reminded me of the importance of faithful reading and meditation on Scripture in the Christian life. The Bible isn't just an instruction book that we can toss aside and still expect to get by without. Rather, it's the very thing that will keep us wholeheartedly walking in full service and devotion to God (2 Tim. 3:16-17 ). Consistently spending time in Scripture should be taken seriously if we want to succeed in the Christian life.
The Psalmist in charge of writing Psalm 119 understood the importance of constant meditation upon the Word of God. Additionally, he understood the necessity of it in guarding one's path from sin and corruption. The path of moral purity can not be stayed on with a loose and inconsistent relationship with God's Word. Instead, it requires that we diligently and actively seek to set time aside each day for it. Whether it be through memorizing Scripture or simply working to create a routine that will allow us to be in God's Word daily, may we all follow the example of the Psalmist and rely on Scripture to keep us on track in our walk with Christ.
God, thank You for Your Word and the power it has to maintain us in our relationship with You. Help me not to neglect spending time in Your Word anymore. Examine me through it and help me to walk according to it. Thank You for all that You do for me.
In Jesus' Name, I pray, Amen.
Comments