September 9 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Psalm 119:1-24:

¹Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
²Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
³They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
⁴Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
⁵O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
⁶Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
⁷I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
⁸I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
⁹Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
¹⁰With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
¹¹Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
¹²Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
¹³With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
¹⁴I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
¹⁵I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
¹⁶I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
¹⁷Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.
¹⁸Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
¹⁹I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
²⁰My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
²¹Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.
²²Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.
²³Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
²⁴Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.

Devotional

Young people are exposed to peculiar temptations and dangers. Those who follow their own evil inclinations will soon find themselves on a fatal incline, on a way that leads to destruction. On the other hand, how lovely when young people live lives of purity and godliness. But even God-fearing young people are exposed to danger, and need to be warned and instructed. Paul writes to Timothy, who had known the Scriptures from a child: "Flee youthful lusts." Peter speaks of "having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." How shall a young man (and this applies to a young woman also) cleanse his way? How shall he be enabled to lead a virtuous life? By giving heed to the teachings of God's Word. Take heed to your way. Watch your step. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." May our prayer be that of the psalmist: "O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes . . . With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wonder from thy commandments . . . Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." Then, if we "walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, " and have "a conscience void of offence." "Walk in the Spirit, and fulfil not the lust of the flesh."

Prayer

Our Father, teach us to pray. May we continue steadfastly in prayer; for our spiritual enemies, the devil, the world and our flesh are strong and cunning, and continually assail us. Help us to use the sword of the Spirit against them. May we walk in the light, while we have the light, lest darkness come upon us. May we believe in the light, that we may be the children of light. And so may we glorify Thy name by our daily life, giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We ask it in his name. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: 1 Tim. 2:22; 2 Pet. 1:4; Prov. 3:5, 6; Ps. 119:5, 10, 18; 1 John 1:7; Acts 24:16; Gal. 5:16.

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