Sunday Soaking: Lord, Please Help!

Your statutes are my delight;
they are my counselors.
Psalm 119:24

Where do you go for help and for answers to life’s difficult questions?

Many might post an open question on Facebook, phone friends to take an informal poll, or visit the self-help section at Barnes and Noble.  But why get friend-help or self-help—oh, the irony of the latter!—when God-help is available?

The Psalmist describes God’s Word as delight. Interesting. Imagine you’re watching The $100,000 Pyramid and the category is “The Bible.” It’s easy to imagine these clues being given:

• Straitjacket
• List of rules
• Do’s and Don’ts
• Legalism
• Judgment

What clues would you give? What words pop into your head when you think of the Bible? Where do you fall on the duty/delight continuum?

Attitudes aren’t transformed by our will alone, but desiring change is the start. Choosing to place yourself in the Word on a daily basis is the first step on the pathway to making God’s Word your delight.

My journey began decades ago, and it began as duty. A have-to. But as my great God began to reveal Himself to me through His Word, my have-to was transformed to want-to, which in turn became delight-to. Today, I’m in a place I call need-to:  without the counsel and conviction of God’s Word, I’m a mess.  My “Laura” (my flesh) leads out.

I want less of Laura and more of Jesus. For this girl, that’s impossible apart from abiding in His Word.

God’s Word is a glorious, good-for-you addiction: the more you have, the more you want. As you keep your daily appointment, you will naturally move from duty to delight.

Why seek advice and counsel from any other source, when the One who knows you best and loves you most is available?

Is God’s Word your first reach or your last resort when trouble comes?

In this week’s devotional video, Laura is joined by her friend, Mary Boxx, as they unpack these questions: Is there such a thing as good affliction? And, how can David use “good” and “affliction” in the same sentence? We invite you to watch as they explore these questions.

You can find your copy of our bookmark highlighting Psalm 119 on our Downloads page.