Psalm 25

From flesh to spiritual

Our spiritual growth can be divide into two stages, it started in walking in the flesh, then move up to spiritual. In the first stage we rely more on our head to absorb the knowledge of God when we read the Bible, after analyzing we will respond to the message received. Although it is the Holy Spirit moved us to accept Christ, but we don’t know much about Him. No so many have pure heart and good conscience to accept Jesus’ instruction to pick up the cross immediately and follow Him. The scripture told us, (I Thessalonians 1:6-7) You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

All the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia did not imitate Paul nor Christ, they all walk in the flesh. Most of us are the same, have too much self-confidence, but too little knowledge of God. To be born again need a process to reverse this by the Word of God through the Spirit.

Peter put it in three verse, (II Peter 1:5-8 NIV) For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

To increase faith, goodness and knowledge, we need to practice what is written: (Jude 1:20) But you, dear friends, must continue to build yourselves up on your most holy faith. Pray in the Holy Spirit. That is to pray after the book of Psalms, it is written in (Ephesians 5:19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Trust and Obey

There is no need to know why Psalm 25 or even it’s meanings before we pray, because they are mainly written for our inner being, our soul and heart. Just need to trust and obey. After that, we will gain more knowledge and faith. This happened to me more often recently, when I obey the Word first, just put it into practice, then my understanding goes deeper.

Because my lack of trust on the word of God, I always want to know why I need to do this or that before obeying the Word, the result is no progress in faith, knowledge, self-control and godliness and so on, this lasted for a very long time. We may all go through a stage in our spiritual walk that seems no mater how much we read the Bible, just can’t see anything new. Then it’s easy to get discouraged in reading the Bible and turning to other things.

The lesson we can learn from my mistake is re-adjusting our focus onto practicing the scriptures, even if it sounds very simple or not making much sense. After our action of obedience to the Word, the Holy Spirit will work from within, to renew our inner being, so that we gain more knowledge and love for God. This is the result of Second Peter 1:5 to 8. Of course, before practicing we have to know the Word first, and the key question is; how much time for His Word?

It is written: (Galatians 6:7) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. The consequence of not spending enough time on the word of God will be beyond man’s imagination, for the coming wave of disasters will be more than extreme. Maybe we can have a glimpse of what’s on our way to this earth from Joel (1:14-20);

Sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the elders and all the people of the land unto the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.
Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is at hand, and it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
Is not the food cut off before our eyes, and joy and gladness from the house of our God?
The seed is rotten under their clods; the storage bins are desolate; the barns are broken down, for the grain has dried up.
How the beasts groan! The herds of cattle are troubled because they have no pasture. Yes, the flocks of sheep are devastated.
O LORD, to You will I cry; for the fire has burned up the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame has burned all the trees of the field.
The beasts of the field also cry to You; for the rivers of water are dried up, and the fire has burned up the pastures of the wilderness.

(Joel 2:12-14)
“Therefore even now,” says the LORD, “turn to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.
Yes, rend your heart and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and He repents of the evil.
Who knows if He will return and repent and leave a blessing behind Him—a grain offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?”

Now let us pray psalm 119:57-112

The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words.
I sought Your favor with all my heart; Be gracious to me according to Your word.
I considered my ways And turned my feet to Your testimonies.
I hastened and did not delay To keep Your commandments.
The cords of the wicked have encircled me, But I have not forgotten Your law.
At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to You Because of Your righteous ordinances.
I am a companion of all those who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts.
The earth is full of Your lovingkindness, O LORD; Teach me Your statutes.

You have dealt well with Your servant, O LORD, according to Your word.
Teach me good discernment and knowledge, For I believe in Your commandments.
Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.
You are good and do good; Teach me Your statutes.
The arrogant have forged a lie against me; With all my heart I will observe Your precepts.
Their heart is covered with fat, But I delight in Your law.
It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.
The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Your hands made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
May those who fear You see me and be glad, Because I wait for Your word.
I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
O may Your lovingkindness comfort me, According to Your word to Your servant.
May Your compassion come to me that I may live, For Your law is my delight.
May the arrogant be ashamed, for they subvert me with a lie; But I shall meditate on Your precepts.
May those who fear You turn to me, Even those who know Your testimonies.
May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, So that I will not be ashamed.

My soul languishes for Your salvation; I wait for Your word.
My eyes fail with longing for Your word, While I say, “When will You comfort me?”
Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget Your statutes.
How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?
The arrogant have dug pits for me, Men who are not in accord with Your law.
All Your commandments are faithful; They have persecuted me with a lie; help me!
They almost destroyed me on earth, But as for me, I did not forsake Your precepts.
Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.
Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands.
They stand this day according to Your ordinances, For all things are Your servants.
If Your law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my affliction.
I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have revived me.
I am Yours, save me; For I have sought Your precepts.
The wicked wait for me to destroy me; I shall diligently consider Your testimonies.
I have seen a limit to all perfection; Your commandment is exceedingly broad.

O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine.
I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Your precepts.
I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word.
I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, For You Yourself have taught me.
How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
I have sworn and I will confirm it, That I will keep Your righteous ordinances.
I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word.
O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, And teach me Your ordinances.
My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law.
The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts.
I have inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart.
I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, even to the end.

Amen.