“I pray my ways become firmly established.”
Whom or what grounds you?
Family and faith are popular answers to the above question. On a day-to-day basis amidst the crazy, there are other ways to bring our focus back to what matters, like music, a scent, or stepping into nature. God’s Word and prayer also are two solid redirects.
David’s writings have a unique ability to combine both God’s Word and prayer. The Psalms may be songs, but they are more than lyrics to be sung. The Psalms reflect an intimate relationship between Creator and creation as the created ones bare their souls from deepest angst to overwhelming awe for the One who Created them.
The Psalms are heartfelt prayers interspersed with praise, thanksgiving, confession, intercession, and personal requests. Psalm 119 encompasses all of these prayer parts with a theme expressing David’s respect for the scriptures. In theme, a thorough reading of the 176 verses will uncover the intertwining of David’s love for God’s Word tied to his prayerful requests.
David wastes no time penning his craving for God’s Word to be replicated in his daily life. Five verses into the longest Psalm, he writes his first request,
“Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees!” (Psalm 119:5, NLT)
The key words in David’s ask are “consistently reflect.” The Hebrew word is “kun.” David desired for God’s Word to be played out in his life. This immovable stance is demonstrated in the variation of the word “kun” found in other translations.[i] (bold added for emphasis)
“Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!” (ESV)
“Oh, that my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes!” (BSB)
“O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!” (KJV)
Many translations use the word establish to translate the depth of “kun.”
“Oh, that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes!” (NASB)
“Oh, that my ways may be established to observe and keep Your statutes [obediently accepting and honoring them]!” (AMP)
“I pray that my ways may become firmly established so that I can obey your laws.” (GWT)
David prayed that God would take what he had read in the Word of God and establish these truths in his life like the foundation of a home. With God’s promises firmly sealed in his heart, David knew the walls, windows, rooms, halls, and doors of his life would be a living example of the promises of God.
His motivation for such a request is found in the following verse. “Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands” (Psalm 119:6, NLT).
Shame is an invisible chokehold on our lives that holds us back from being all God has called us to be. Shame rushes in worry about what others think or the fear that others will find out, exposing the painful truth that we are flawed. The shroud of shame becomes a prison. David had been behind shame’s bars before and did not want to be shackled again.
David knew that if God would establish his steps in the truth of His Word, David’s life would be free of shame. His actions would align better with the scriptures, and David desired a life that role-modeled God’s truths.
Whom or what grounds you?
When we pray for our life to demonstrate the truths of the Bible consistently, the impact will reach beyond our own lives. A simple and humble prayer that will establish our lives on the unshakeable Word of God, producing immense outcomes.
Are you brave enough to pray and ask God to ground you in His Word so that your thoughts, beliefs, and actions mirror His truths?
I pray that you would be firmly established in God’s Word, so much so that your life would reflect God’s truth and hope to the world. I pray each building block of God’s Word presses out the debilitating effects of shame in your life and that you walk free in Christ and stand firm all the days of your life. So be it, in Jesus’ name.
Meditate: God’s Word establishes me
Reflect: Do you feel God’s Word is a grounding place for your life? Whether yes or no, how could God’s Word become even more entrenched in your life? Would you like to begin praying David’s prayer, “Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect Your Word!” How would your life be different if it more reflected God’s Word?
Deeper: Psalm 119: 1-8; Psalm 19: 7-14; Colossians 1: 21-23
Summers in Psalm 119 Series will take the eight verse groupings divided by the 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, and over the months of June each summer, we will work through the entire 176 verses of Psalm 119. The BLOG will focus on one specific verse in a group, and the PODCAST will discuss the group as a whole, including additional Psalm trivia, and a deeper look at the symbolism in the Hebrew alphabet.
For further encouragement, listen to the PODCAST on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Google, IHeartRadio, and Podbean. Search God’s Word Gives Hope. LISTEN NOW
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(Bible References: NLT – New Living Translation, ESV – English Standard Version, NASB – New American Standard Bible, AMP – Amplified Version, KJV – King James Version, BSB – Berean Standard Bible, GWT – GOD’S WORD Translation)
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[i] “H3559 – kûn – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (kjv).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 31 May, 2023. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3559/kjv/wlc/0-1/>.
