THE FAST: Day 4

It’s the fourth day of our 21-day fast and it seems like things are going well. Even though some students have altered their fast due to certain activities – like soccer and football practices – God sees the sacrifice and will honor it. Here’s some scripture to think about today:

Psalm 119:9-16

⁹How can a young man keep his way pure?

by living according to your word.

¹⁰I seek you with all my heart;

do not let me stray from your commands.

¹¹I have hidden your word in my heart

that I might not sin against you.

¹²Praise be to you, O LORD;

teach me your decrees.

¹³With my lips I recount

all the laws that come from your mouth.

¹⁴I rejoice in following your statutes

as one rejoices in great riches.

¹⁵I meditate on your precepts

and consider your ways.

¹⁶I delight in your decrees;I will not neglect your word.

 

In 5^th and 6^th grade, I was on a competitive soccer team – I would have continued to play, but I chose to pursue basketball in junior high. On this soccer team we had a playbook – set plays for direct & indirect kicks, corner kicks, and runs down the field. Who knew soccer was so complicated, especially for 11 and 12 year olds? Anyway, we had to know those plays – by heart. If we didn’t we would look foolish, the coach would know, and we’d have to run A LOT. Those plays and the commitment to them helped us be successful and gain an edge on our opponents.

Life is a lot like that. Do you want to be successful? Want to live a life pleasing to God? Want to overcome your adversary, the devil? Then, follow God’s word. The author has found and understands that in order to keep his way pure and not sin against God, he must live according to God’s word. How do you do that? You have to know God’s word. Just like we had to commit those plays to memory so that we wouldn’t be lost on the soccer field, you and I have to commit God’s word to our lives so that we won’t be lost.

How are you doing with that? Do you know God’s word? Is it inside of you?

Spend some time reading God’s word. Ask God to help you live according to His ways.

 

Pastor Brad