Daily Reading
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word. 10 I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands. 11 I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you. 12 LORD, may you be blessed; teach me your statutes.13 With my lips I proclaim all the judgments from your mouth. 14 I rejoice in the way revealed by your decrees as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on your precepts and think about your ways. 16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. Psalm 119:9-16 (CSB)
Daily Reflection
If you train your brain with the Bible, the Spirit will tame your heart.
Be honest. You struggle to do what is right. Me too. We struggle with thinking wrong thoughts, saying the wrong words, and even doing wrong stuff. We’re flawed humans. However, there is hope for us.
In today’s reading, the biblical author provides some valuable insight on how to live a godly life. He writes, “I will meditate on your precepts and think about your ways” (15). This mediation is not that of Eastern religions but means merely to murmur or converse with oneself about the Scriptural precepts. (Yes, speak the word out loud to yourself. Don’t worry, people already think you’re crazy anyway.)
This process of “meditating” on God’s word or reading it out loud to oneself is what the Apostle Paul called “renewing your mind.” (see Romans 12:1-3). This discipline spiritually rewires your thought making process (Paul calls it taking captive every thought to obey Christ. See 2 Corinthians 10:5). As you are thinking over and over again on the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit cements these things in your heart (i.e., internalization) and changes your behavior. It has been said, “This Book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this Book.” Train your brain with the Bible, and the Spirit of God will tame your heart. Remember, a desire for a pure life should motivate us to memorize God’s Word by meditating on its precepts.
Suggestion for Prayer
The “In the Word Together” (ITWT) blog at http://www.kevinwbounds.com is a systematic approach to reading and reflecting on the Holy Scriptures in a community.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
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Kevin W. Bounds graduated summa cum laude from Lee University. A pastor and writer, he lives in South Georgia with his wife and two children.