Prayers of the Heart: Let and Let Not in Psalm 119: Let Not Any Iniquity Have Dominion Over Me

"Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me." — Psalm 119:133

This is a righteous prayer and a right desire. If one's steps are guided by God's Word, no iniquity or sin will have dominion over the believer. However, the psalmist knows that he cannot walk the right path on his own, so he asks the Lord to order his steps.

This is the desire and prayer of every believer's heart.

Such a prayer will not go unanswered, for we are asking for something that the Lord desires to give. We are also praying to prevent something that God hates—sin—from having power over us.

Topical meditation 2024

October 11

Prayers of the Heart: Let and Let Not in Psalm 119: Let My Heart Be Blameless

 

 Let My Heart Be Blameless…

"Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, that I may not be ashamed." — Psalm 119:80

Once again, the psalmist asks for the right thing: a blameless heart. He knows that having a blameless heart will leave him with no reason to be ashamed.

A blameless heart is one that longs for holiness, seeks the Lord, hates sin, loves the Word of God, and allows God's Word to dwell within.

Anyone with such a heart will have no reason to be ashamed. A person with a blameless heart will not be condemned by their conscience, knowing that they are living according to their faith. They will also have no reason to be ashamed in front of others—unbelievers will not be able to say, "What kind of believer is this? Unbelievers behave better than him!" Moreover, such a person will not be ashamed at the coming of Jesus. Having boldly confessed Jesus before others, they will be confessed by Jesus before the Father.

This is the desire of every child of God: Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes.

Topical meditation 2024

October 10

Prayers of the Heart: Let and Let Not in Psalm 119: Let Those That Fear Thee Turn Unto Me

 

"Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies." — Psalm 119:79

A God-fearing person desires the company of those who also fear God. A lover of God's Word delights in communicating with those who know and cherish His Word.

The presence of those who fear God and know His Word is a blessing in the life of every believer. Fellowship with them brings edification, as they love to speak about the same topics: God's Word, God's works, and God's love. They share the same desire—to grow in sanctification and bring glory to God with their lives. They hate the same things: sin and falsehood. They walk the same path, the narrow way of Jesus, and are citizens of the same city—the heavenly Jerusalem.

Like the psalmist, I long to be surrounded by people who fear God and know His Word.

Topical meditation 2024

October 9

Prayers of the Heart: Let and Let Not in Psalm 119:Let the Proud Be Ashamed… Let Me Not Be Ashamed of My Hope

"Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts." — Psalm 119:78
"Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope." — Psalm 119:116

The psalmist knows he has no reason to be ashamed because his hope is right and placed in the right Person. If his hope had been in himself or in another person, he would have reason to be ashamed. He who trusts in the Lord is humble and obeys His Word, so he has nothing to be ashamed of.

The proud, on the other hand, rely on themselves, and thus, they will be ashamed.

Topical meditation 2024

October 8

Prayers of the Heart: Let and Let Not in Psalm 119: Let Thy Mercies Come

 

"Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word." — Psalm 119:41
"Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant." — Psalm 119:76
"Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight." — Psalm 119:77

The psalmist asks for God's mercy because he knows that salvation comes only from Him. Salvation is our greatest need, and God's greatest gift. Without God's mercy, no one can be saved. Therefore, everyone who desires salvation must seek His mercy.

The psalmist also asks for comfort, recognizing that true comfort comes from God's mercy.

He seeks God's mercy in order to live. Without it, life becomes meaningless and purposeless.

I, too, seek God's mercy to live a life that is pleasing to Him—in holiness, obeying His Word, serving Him, and sharing His mercy with others.

This prayer will surely be answered because it aligns with God's will, and this desire will surely come true.

Topical meditation 2024

October 7

The Perfect Teache

Behold, God is exalted by His power; who teaches like Him? - Job 36:22

Who can teach like God? There is no teacher like Him. He gives the best lessons, in the best way, for the highest purpose.
His teaching is unmatched and incomparable because:
He knows the lesson perfectly. He is omniscient, the source of all wisdom.
He knows His students well. He understands the abilities of each one.
He is patient, never growing weary of repeating the lesson until we learn it fully.
God teaches us through the revelation of His Word—our divine textbook—giving us lessons of love, holiness, victory, and contentment. He also instructs us through our life experiences. Every joy and trial, every blessing and challenge, is part of His divine curriculum.
Each day, I want to sit at His feet, diligently studying His lessons. I want to learn to obey His Word, resist temptation, practice patience, love as He loves, and be content in every circumstance.
How blessed I am to be His student!

From my diary,

October 6, 2024

 

God’s Promise to the Righteous

 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. The LORD preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. - Psalm 145:19–20

Those who fear the Lord and those who love Him are the same people. They have their desires fulfilled, prayers answered, salvation, and preservation. They experience all of this because they have both the fear of God and love for Him. The desire of those who fear God is sanctification, and that desire is definitely fulfilled.
These verses draw attention to the contrasts between those who love the Lord and those who are wicked. In essence, those who do not love God are classified as wicked. The word "all" is encouraging. The Lord preserves not many of those who love Him, but all of them, and He destroys not most of the wicked, but all the wicked.

From my diary,

October 5, 2024

The Joy of Seeing Souls Save

 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. - Acts 15:3

Where there is a concern for the lost, a desire to spread the Word of God, and a passion to serve in His kingdom, there is great joy in witnessing the conversion of souls. It is a profound joy for God's children to see people come out of darkness into the Light, leave behind the bondage of sin and serve God, renounce idolatry and worship the true and living God, and be saved from hell and transferred into the kingdom of heaven.
When the number of God's people increases, the angels in heaven rejoice, and God's children rejoice here on earth. For those whose hearts and treasures are set on heavenly things, there is joy in seeing others receive the gift of eternal life. Every person who sows the seed of God's Word rejoices when that seed takes root and grows. Those whose joy is in Jesus, rejoice when others come to accept Him as their Savior.
If I desire to experience this great joy, I must make a great effort to bring God's Word to the lost. I must dedicate time to testifying of God's truth and praying for the unconverted. I should never miss an opportunity to share the good news.

From my diary,

October 4, 2024

Clothed in Righteousness

 "I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban." (Job 29:14

God’s children are also given this precious garment of righteousness. Clothing covers, protects, adorns, and is visible to others. When we put on the robe of righteousness provided by the Lord, it covers the sins of our past, shields us from the arrows of evil, and beautifies us with His holiness. This righteousness is not hidden—it is evident in our deeds and actions, seen by all who witness our lives.

From my diary,

October 3, 2024

Seeking to Know Him More

"And how small a whisper we hear of Him!" — Job 26:14

After more than thirty years as a Christian, I find myself echoing the words of Job. Despite all these years, I realize how little I truly know of God—how faint the whisper I’ve heard of Him. How little I know of the nature of my God, of His perfection, of His love and mercy, of His infinite wisdom, of His great works, of His wondrous wisdom, and of His inscrutable plans.

Decades of reading His Word, memorizing scriptures, and seeking His presence still leave me with the humbling truth: I know so little of Him. Yet, this realization doesn't discourage—it humbles me, stirs reverence within me, and fills my heart with awe. How much more there is to know, how much deeper to seek. And with that awareness comes a growing desire to know Him more, to continue listening for more than just a whisper of His greatness.

From my diary,

October 2, 2024

 

Hold Fast Until He Comes

 But hold fast what you have till I come.

Revelation 2:25

Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

Revelation 3:11

These words, addressed to the churches of Thyatira and Philadelphia, are meant for all of God's people. God's Word commands us to hold fast to what we have. All that I have are His gifts.

I desire to hold fast to the treasures of His precious Word—the commandments, the statutes that bring joy to my heart, and His promises. I want to hold fast the comfort, joy, peace that surpasses all understanding, the love, the longing for holiness, and every blessing granted by Him.

I will hold fast all that has been given to me by the One who has promised to return soon.

From my diary,

October 1, 2024

Unworthy Yet Loved: The Reason We Love Him

 We love Him because He first loved us. – 1 John 4:19

No one can love God if they do not know that God loves them. Most people either ignore Jesus or oppose Him. Few love Him because few truly know His love. He loved us first, and that's why we love Him.

We love Him; not only the good things, gifts, and blessings He has given us.

We love Him and long for His presence.

We love Him and obey His Word.

We love Him and think of Him.

We love Him and love the things He loves.

We love Him and rejoice in Him.

We love Him and prefer Him above all.

We love Him and His loved ones.

We love Him, and we love to talk about Him. We love to talk with Him.

The One who loves us is wonderful, and we, His loved ones, are unworthy, so it is not surprising that we love Him.

His love is unchanging, indescribable, infinite, sacrificial, saving, and never-ending.

Love for Him is the most effective and strongest of sin-killers.

That’s why I want my love for Him to increase day by day, so that I may put to death all the works of the flesh, sins, and wrong desires. The more I love Jesus, the more easily I will overcome temptation, and the more easily I will kill the things He hates.

From my diary,

September 30, 2024

Job's Friends: Comfort or Condemnation?

How then can you comfort me with empty words, since falsehood remains in your answers? —Job 21:34

I have always been puzzled by the behavior of Job's friends. Did they come to comfort or to cause more pain? They accused Job of sins he had never committed, despite the fact that God Himself testified about Job, calling him "a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil." Job was right—his friends' comfort was empty.

When someone is sick and you don't have the right medicine, it is better to give nothing than to offer the wrong remedy, which not only fails to help but can also cause harm. This is what Job's friends did. How could their comfort be genuine when there was falsehood in their answers?

Instead of empathizing with Job’s suffering, they approached him with the biased belief that the righteous should never face hardship and the wicked will never prosper. True comfort comes from being inspired by the Word of God and speaking it with conviction. A comforter must believe the words they offer, not just recite Scripture without faith. Job's friends, in this sense, were false comforters.

From my diary,

September 29, 2024

Sanctification and Strength

 … And the one with clean hands will grow stronger and stronger. Job 17:9

Spiritual growth is a gradual process, and true progress requires a life of holiness. Where there is holiness, there is increasing strength. The desire for holy living leads to greater holiness, a heart committed to prayer becomes more fervent, and resistance to sin brings ever-growing strength in the battle against temptation. What a wonderful  promise for those with clean hands—they will grow stronger with each passing day.

From my diary,

September 28, 2024

Preventing the birth of sin

“Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” James 1:15

To prevent an unpleasant birth, we must take the necessary step of mortification. To stop sin from being born, we must kill the desire that conceives it. I am reminded of John Owen’s quote, “Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you.” Every Christian must put sin to death. But sin must be killed before it is born, while it is still only a desire, a thought. Negative thoughts need to be eliminated before they grow into hatred and envy. Dissatisfaction must be uprooted before it turns into a complaint.

I am reminded of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince. He plucked baobabs on his planet every day. When the narrator remarked that baobabs are very large, the Little Prince responded simply and wisely, “Before they grow so big, the baobabs start out by being little.” They had to be pulled out while they were still small. Sin must be dealt with while it is just a thought. Once it grows, it becomes much harder to remove

From my diary,

September 27, 2024

No Unemployed in God’s Kingdom: Work While It Is Day

 

"I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work." (John 9:4)

Jesus didn’t say, “I will work when I see fit” or “I will do God’s works when I want to.” His followers speak like Him and work like Him, understanding that the day does not last forever. Night will surely come, so we must work while it is still day.

Daytime is not for sleeping. Every person born into God’s kingdom is called to work; there are no unemployed in God’s service. Lately, I have been praying for more opportunities to serve and to participate in God’s work. May I labor heartily and diligently for His glory.

From my diary,

September 26, 2024

The Heart's True Landlord: God's Word

 “… because My word has no place in you.” (John 8:37)

I don’t want these words of Jesus to apply to me. There is a place for God’s Word to dwell, and that place is the heart To make room for it, I don’t just need to rearrange things — I need to empty my heart completely, so that God’s Word occupies not just a part of my heart, but my whole heart. His Word must be the sole Landlord. The Word of God doesn’t seek a temporary lodging but a permanent home in my heart. Only when God’s Word fully resides there will sin have no room in my life.

From my diary,

September 25, 2024

In Every Season, His Care Preserves Us

"You have granted me life and favor, and Your care has preserved my spirit."

— Job 10:12

Job was able to speak these words in the midst of immense suffering, loss, and sorrow, bearing witness to the Lord's constant care. All the heroes of the Bible who trusted in Him could offer the same testimony. Every child of God can bear witness to God's care. If someone does not, it is either because they are blind or ungrateful. For it is impossible to recognize God's care and not be thankful.

From my diary,

September 24, 2024

 

A prayer journal filled with God's children's names

"I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers." Philemon 1:4

In my prayer journal, there are the names of about seventy Christians for whom I pray. I imagine that if the apostle Paul had kept a prayer journal, he wouldn't have been able to write down all the names. Paul's prayer list must have been very long, as he wrote that he prayed for the Christians in the churches of Corinth, Ephesus, Thessalonica, and Philippi. He was grateful to God for them and faithfully lifted them up in prayer.

Paul preached, healed, prophesied, spoke in tongues, and did many things I cannot do, but there are two things I can certainly do: pray for God's children and encourage them to remain in God's Word.

This is why I desire a stronger prayer life, a consistent prayer habit, and friendships with sisters who love to pray.

From my diary,

September 23, 2024