text:_ Psalm 119:35-37 Reflections

Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statues and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

These verses teach us to come to God's word seeking transformation, not information. There are four imperatives in these verses: direct me, turn me, turn me, preserve me. Naturally, we are prone to wander away from God, to turn to selfish gain and worthless things. Naturally, we are prone to forget. Naturally, we are prone to decay.

When we come to God's word we are recalibrated, re-aligned, preserved. Nowadays, it's very rare for me to learn something from the Scriptures that I didn't already know. I've read it all through several times. So why do I keep coming back? I keep coming back not because I'm looking for more information, but because I'm looking for more transformation.

I already know what God wants from me. But I don't always want what God wants from me. Reading God's word with a prayerful, expectant attitude is what fuels my passion. Reading God's word doesn't simple inform me on how to live and say "good luck". No, reading God's word actually transforms my heart and will, not simply informing my mind. Reading God's word makes me think like He thinks, want what He wants, do what He does. In short, God's word preserves my life. Thank God for that!