Training Myself to be Godly

Right now I am reading a thin, little book by C.J. Mahaney and John Loftness called, Disciplines for Life: Steps to Spiritual Strength. The book emphasizes the importance (and value) of cultivating consistency when it comes to the spiritual disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and Scripture memory and meditation. As I have begun to memorize my way through Psalm 119, while simultaneously realizing my own lack of discipline, this little book has been a timely exhortation of the absolute necessity of intimacy with God. This past week I read chapter two which is titled, Train Yourself To Be Godly. In this chapter C.J. suggests that developing a relationship with God involves the same dynamics as any other skill we might seek to develop: discipline, practice, and sacrifice. He goes on to suggest that apart from a private life of sacrifice, discipline, and daily practice even the most gifted individual will never reach peak performance. In other words, what we cultivate privately will directly affect our public appearance and performance. Therefore, the question I find myself asking today is this, "Do I understand the relationship between my private preparation and my public performance?" If I am truly committed to a life of godliness then I will discipline myself and train myself to pursue intimacy with God. A disciple is disciplined, and his training takes time. So I guess skill development takes discipline, practice, sacrifice, and...patience. May God grant us all diligence as we pursue intimacy with Him.

Seek and Keep

As I have read through and (slowly) begun memorizing Psalm 119 I have noticed several reoccurring themes and principles. One in particular stuck out to me this past weekend as I was reading through the chapter again. It is this idea of seeking and keeping. Over and over the Psalmist emphasizes the disciplines of seeking and keeping God's Word. In 119:2 he writes, "Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!" That seems to be a major theme of Psalm 119. The word keep is used over twenty-five times throughout the Psalm, and the word seek appears almost ten times. Both of these words are also coupled with the phrase "with the whole heart." In other words, one of the major themes of instruction in this Psalm is to seek and keep God's Word with the whole heart.

The Whole Heart

This phrase is unique to the Psalms and appears most often in the 119 chapter. It echos the greatest commandment of Deuteronomy 6:4-5 where Moses writes, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all you soul, and with all your strength." It is this idea of complete and utter abandonment to God; holding nothing back. Much like the suggestion that the average person only uses 10% of their brain, we could also be accused of only loving God with 10% of our heart; at least I could. John calls it the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16) but no matter what you call it it's no secret that our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). That is why the only healthy and happy heart is one that is completely devoted to God.

Blessed are those who keep God's testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart! (Psalm 119:2)

With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandmensts! (Psalm 119:10)

Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. (Psalm 119:34)

I entreat Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful to me according to Your word. (Psalm 119:58)

The proud have forged a lie against me, but I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart. (Psalm 119:69)

I cry out with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord! I will keep Your statutes. (Psalm 119:145)

Psalm 119:1-16: Patterns, Prayers & Priciples for Purity

Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the Lord!
Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!
They also do no iniquity;
They walk in His ways.
You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently.

Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes!
The I would not be ashamed,
When I look into all You commandments.
I will praise You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.
I will keep Your statutes;
Oh, do not forsake me utterly!

How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
Blessed are You, O Lord!
Teach me Your statutes.
With my lips I have declared
All the judgments of Your mouth.
I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies.
As much as in all riches.
I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.
I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.


In Psalm 119:1-16 we find David's Pattern, Prayer & Principles for Purity. True, soul satisfying purity can only be found in the instruction of God's Holy Word. Not simply physical purity, but emotional, psychological, relational, and spiritual purity. Psalm 119:9 asks the question, "How can a young man keep his way pure?" and the answer is simply, "by living according to the Word of God."

A Pattern for Purity
True, soul satisfying purity is only achieved through obedience to God's Holy Word. In Psalm 119:1 we find that the pure are blessed because they consistently obey the Word of God, and in Psalm 119:2 we find that the diligent are blessed because they are committed to obeying the Word of God. The pattern for purity is found in a consistent commitment to obeying the Word of God.

A Prayer for Purity
A consistent commitment to obedience begins with a diligent desire to obey. In Psalm 119:5-8 we find a prayerful plea for purity that reveals a diligent desire to obey God's Word with consistency. This is a wonderful prayer that anyone would do well to sincerely recite.

Principles for Purity
In Psalm 119:9-16 we find answers to the previously mentioned question, "How can a young man keep his way pure?" The Psalmist gives us several principles as answers.
1. Obey God's Word
2. Obey God's Word with your whole heart
3. Do not wander from God's Word
4. Memorize God's Word
5. Meditate on God's Word
6. Delight in God's Word
7. Do not forget God's Word

What a simple, yet powerful reminder of the absolute necessity and sufficiency of God's Holy Word. May we all delight ourselves in the Word of God as we seek Him with our whole heart.

A Day of Firsts on April 1st

Today is a day of firsts! It is my first blog, which is exciting enough, but it is also my first day beginning to memorize the entire chapter of Psalm 119. It has been a long time since I committed myself to any significant scripture memorization, and even now I have my doubts as to how far I will get before failing miserably yet again. Actually I intended to start yesterday, but decided to put it off until today. So here we go!

Keep checking back as I memorize and blog my way through Psalm 119.