HOW ARE YOU HANDLING THE PROBLEMS OF YOUR LIFE?

SCRIPTURE:
I reach out for your commands, which I love,
that I may meditate on your decrees.
(Psalm 119:48)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever had a time in your life when you felt about as low as you could feel?
The psalmist did.
I am laid low in the dust; (Psalm 119:25)

Perhaps you have had a time of extreme sorrow
over some circumstance or the loss of a loved one.
The psalmist did.
My soul is weary with sorrow; (Psalm 119:28)

You may have reached a point in your life where you felt
you just needed to open up, be honest, and confess your sins to the Lord.
The psalmist did.
I gave an account of my ways…. (Psalm 119:26)

Have you ever felt you were not being totally truthful?
The psalmist did.
Keep me from deceitful ways; (Psalm 119:29)

The scriptures are our roadmap to finding relief for feeling down,
experiencing sorrow, handling guilt, and being deceitful.
How did the psalmist handle these conditions?

He communicated with God, he depended on the promises in His Word,
he remembered how God had helped him in the past,
he reignited his desire to learn more about God’s desires for him,
and ultimately, he committed to following the paths of His commands (which can be
difficult for many, since we tend to gravitate more toward the seen than the unseen).

“preserve my life according to your word.” (Psalm 119:25)

“and you answered me; teach me your decrees.” (Psalm 119:26)

“Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,
that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.” (Psalm 119:27)

“strengthen me according to your word.” (Psalm 119:28)

“be gracious to me and teach me your law.” (Psalm 119:29)

“I have set my heart on your laws.” (Psalm 119:30)

“I hold fast to your statutes, LORD…” (Psalm 119:31)

“I run in the path of your commands,
for you have broadened my understanding.” (Psalm 119:32)

ACTION:
How have you been dealing with feelings of depression and loneliness,
sorrow, guilt, or being dishonest?
Maybe you have been struggling to handle them by yourself?

Learn from the psalmist: God is available and has what you need in all situations.
More importantly, realize that He wants you to depend on Him at all times
(that is the kind of loving God He is).
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been
made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me of Your presence.
Forgive me for failing to depend on You and trying to handle my life
problems independently, in my own strength. Thank You for Your
promises. Thank You for how You have helped me in the past. Teach
me more about Your laws and how to alter my life accordingly, so that
I will become more obedient to You. I pray that my life will be a shining
light on the hill for others to see You in me.”