Recent Focal Point Email

The Comfort Of God’s Word

“My eyes fail with longing for Your word, while I say, `When will You comfort me?’” (Psa 119:82).

Psalm 119 is an acrostic Hebrew poem, with eight lines in 22 stanzas, with each line in each stanza beginning with a succeeding letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This memory device would aid memorization for the Hebrew reader. “O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psa 119:97).

The following several verses from Psalm 119 promise God’s comforting help in our troubles, if we remember His Word. The power of God’s truth in the heart, mind and soul draws the troubled life closer to God, gives help to cope with difficulties, and helps to put things in a calming spiritual perspective. Bible reading, meditation, prayer, praise and scriptural application before God build greater trust and spiritual peace. When feeling troubled, it is good and empowering to memorize and meditate on these verses during the day. “This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me” (Psa 119:50).

v. 25 “My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to Your word.” When I feel low, God’s truth can lift me up.

v. 28 “My soul weeps because of grief; strengthen me according to Your word.” Scripture offers divine relief for my innermost grief.

v. 31 “I cling to your testimonies, do not let me be put to shame!” Like a mountain climber hanging on for dear life, so God’s holy word is a lifeline testifying to His faithfulness, so we can hang on.

v. 52 “I have remembered Your ordinances from of old, O LORD, and comfort myself.” God’s eternal truth is unchanging, which gives my soul security and stability.

v. 54 “Your statutes are my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.” Through life’s up’s and down’s, God will is so wonderful that I always have the song of eternity in my heart.

v. 57 “The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words.” When God is all I have, I discover that God is all I need.

v. 59 “I considered my ways and turned my feet to Your testimonies.” Trials are marvelously mind-expanding exercises that prompt reflection and needed reforms.

v. 62 “At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to You because of Your righteous ordinances.” When I cannot sleep, I can always remember to be thankful that God’s ways are always right.

v. 65 “You have dealt well with Your servant, O LORD, according to Your word.” Whatever happens to me, I can accept that God’s dealings with me are good.

v. 71 “ It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.” Problems are my teachers, which show my need for God.

v. 76 “O may Your lovingkindness comfort me, according to Your word to Your servant.” In life’s twists and turns, I always stand in need of God’s grace and mercy.

v. 77 “May Your compassion come to me that I may live, for Your law is my delight.” When I feel like I’m at death’s door, I need to still delight in God’s will as being the right thing to do; then, trust His tender mercy to give what is best.

v. 81 “My soul languishes for Your salvation; I wait for Your word.” I must learn to wait patiently on God’s timetable, not my own, for His deliverance.

v. 82 “My eyes fail with longing for Your word, while I say, `When will You comfort me?’” When there are no quick solutions or easy answers, I can be honest with God in prayer about my hurts; the solution will come in God’s good time, with grace to bear it in the meantime.

v. 83 “Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget Your statutes.” Even when I feel exhausted and used up, my only hope is to cling to God’s directions.

v. 87 “They almost destroyed me on earth, but as for me, I did not forsake Your precepts.” When others hurt me, this is no excuse to disobey God. If God says I can do it, He will give me the strength to perform it.

v. 88 “Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.” How wonderful that God’s grace is greater than my sins, as well as my troubles.

v. 92 “If Your law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction.” In my trials, what’s inside my character comes out under pressure, so I want to fill the reservoir of my heart with God’s Word.

v. 93 “I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me.” God has the power, if I have the faith that He can pick me up when I am down.

v. 101 “I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word.” Regardless of the pressure of the moment, it is never right to do the wrong thing.

v. 105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God’s revealed word is an all-weather, all-terrain beacon that floods my soul with enlightening hope.

v. 107 “I am exceedingly afflicted; revive me, O LORD, according to Your word.” In the worst of times, I can still rely on the rejuvenating power of Scripture in my soul.

v. 111 “I have inherited Your testimonies forever, for they are the joy of my heart.” Even if I lose everything physically, I am still rich spiritually with the treasures of eternal truth.

v. 114 “You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word.” When the storms of life strike, God is always there as a refuge for my soul; in Him I learn the valuable lesson of relying on His uplifting word.

v. 116 “Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope.” Without Scripture, I am weak and hopeless; with Scripture, I can press on through the ordeal.

v. 129 “Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul observes them.” Despite changing circumstances, a positive attitude toward the thrilling story of God’s unchanging plan of redemption motivates me to want to be a part of it.

v. 135 “Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.” God’s favor is available for the asking, if I have a teachable, obedient spirit to His will.

v. 141 “I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts.” Even if I feel low, I can still look up to God’s heavenly light of His revelation.

v. 143 “Trouble and anguish have come upon me, yet Your commandments are my delight.” The worst of times is the best time to rejoice in the enduring delights of Scripture.

v. 145 “I cried with all my heart; answer me, O LORD! I will observe Your statutes.” God will listen to me in prayer when I am careful to listen to His Word.

v. 147 “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words.” In restless nights, God is just a prayer away and the Bible promises His help.

v. 148 “My eyes anticipate the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word.” Amid life’s hectic distractions and distresses, I need quiet time to focus on Scripture’s soothing voice.

v. 153 “Look upon my affliction and rescue me, for I do not forget Your law.” I can confidently rest in the assurance that the Almighty God of heaven is not unmindful of my struggles; He can powerful intervene to deliver me.

v. 154 “Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word.” When no human help will do, I can serenely hope in God’s providence and precepts to give just what I need.

v. 156 “Great are Your mercies, O LORD; revive me according to Your ordinances.” God’s revitalizing mercy to the lowly is coupled with our trusting respond to His commands.

v. 159 “Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness.” How precious the thought, even amid even depression, that God’s grace is available to me, not for perfect performance, but loving Him and His will with perfect intent.

v. 164 “Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous ordinances.” Regardless of how hard the times, it is always appropriate to extol God’s greatness, because His moral perfection in Scripture guides me aright.

v. 165 “Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.” A Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.

v. 170 “Let my supplication come before You; deliver me according to Your word.” God’s Word provides a faithful escape hatch from overwhelming problems.

v. 173 “Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.” God aids those who actively seek Him.

v. 175 “Let my soul live that it may praise You, and let Your ordinances help me.” I read God’s Word to remember that I am not alone; the praise of Almighty God lifts me above the shadows of this dark world.

v. 176 “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments.” I am weak but God is not. He is near to help and mighty to save.

God bless you in your Bible study and meditation. If we hide the word of God in our hearts, we will never lack strength and power for living.

Share and Enjoy

Subscribe to Focus Magazine

• 
• 
•