All people have a natural desire to be happy. This is built into us by our Maker himself. The desire to be happy is not a problem. The problem is that we tend to search for this happiness in the wrong places. We think, “If only I could be married, then I will be happy.” “If only I could have children, then I will feel fulfilled.” “If only I had money, then I would be content.” “If only I was skinny, or organized, or my own boss or well rested, THEN I would be happy.”
When searching for happiness where should we look and what should we pursue? The writer of Psalm 119 tells us that blessing and joy are found in God’s word. Here are 3 reasons.
1. God is found in the Word
The words found in our Bibles are not just the ramblings of a bunch of men who decided to write down some of their history, experiences, sayings, or sermons. Our Bible is the very word of God. He chose to speak through people, causing them to write down exactly what he wanted his people to read and know.
The Scripture goes by many names in this Psalm. It is called his law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, and rules. And for the Psalmist the law and precepts were not heavy burdens to bear, they were a delight to him for in them he sees God.
Your testimonies are my delight;
they are my counselors.
Ps. 119:24
In all of his word God has chosen to reveal who he is, how he operates, and how we are to live so that we can find the deepest kind of joy.
2. The right way of living is found in God’s word
We know that living a life pleasing to God brings blessing and joy. But sometimes it is hard to know what the right way is. How should I handle the various relationships in my life, what should my conduct be as a child of God, how should I handle my finances?
It is often said that God’s word is like a road map that shows us the way to go, the way of happy holiness.
There he will find every turn of the road, marked down, every slough and miry place pointed out, with the way to go through unsoiled; and there too, he will find light for his darkness, comfort for his weariness, and company for his loneliness.
-Spurgeon
3. Salvation is found in God’s Word
Salvation is our biggest need. We all fall short in every way because God’s standard is perfection and we are not perfect. We don’t know God the way we should, we don’t love God’s word the way we should, and we don’t live godly lives the way we should. We need to rescue from our sin and help to walk with God.
Jesus, who is himself called The Word of God, has known the father perfectly, loved the ways of God perfectly, and lives in perfect submission to the will of God. He has done what we have not. And in his death on the cross he paid for all our failings. We can only delight in God’s word after we have been rescued by The Word.
Ultimately the pages of our Bibles are about Christ. He is the answer to all the longings in our soul. He is the one who saves, who comforts, who guides, who prays over us, who causes us to grow, who corrects us when needed and who is our ultimate source of delight and joy.
Therefore our Bibles should be our most prized earthly possession. Like the Psalmist we need to know it, read it and meditate (vs. 15) on it and call it our delight for that is where we find Jesus. Then joy will grow whether our lives are filled with sunshine, rain, or storms.
Looking To Jesus,
I have not participated in a Love God Greatly Bible study in months but last week I knew I had to do this one. The Holy Spirit was really directing my steps and I’m so thankful I listened. You at LGG have such a gift as writers and encourages. My walk had grown stale but it has been revived this week! Thank you for your obedience so women like me could grow closer to God!
I just began this study last night and.I could not put it down thank you for letting God direct you to this passage of scripture.
Brenda,
We are so thankful to God for His direction and for you joining us as we journey through Psalm 119.
Martha, LGG Leadership Team
I am not sure if I am posting in the correct spot but oh well, here it goes!!! I did a bible study with Love God Greatly with some of my girlfriends at church that have a blog called Fromawomansheartproject and I loved it!!! I am doing this one by myself and did the entire 1st week today. I do bible studies at our church all of the time but I felt the need to do one on my own…I am a little embarrassed to say this but, I have felt like I was doing every bible study that my church offered more to “impress” people at the church than for the real reason that I should be studying God’s word!!! Now that I have started this first week, I KNOW that I definitely needed to be here!!! I look forward to studying with you all and thank you.
Hello Lindee,
Oh so glad you are here! Thank you for being honest about doing Bible study to impress. I think most of us have been in similar situations from time to time. I have over committed a time or two for the wrong reasons. Looking forward to taking this journey through Psalm 119 with you.
Martha, LGG Leadership Team
Leslie,
We are so thankful you are here with us participating through Psalm 119 with us. We are excited to take this journey of growing closer to God with you.
Martha, LGG Leadership Team
I am starting late but I would really like to do this study.
I have a slight problem though. I am not getting the email updates.
I am subscribed (so my phone says) but it’s not coming through.
Any ideas on what I can do?
Thank You, Michele
I’m not getting emails either, though I registered. I also can’t seem to find the English version of study guide. Is there more help available in addition to the 3 weekly blog posts?
Hello Kerrye,
I’m sorry that you are not getting the updates. Please send me an email to [email protected] and I will try to help get is straightened out. Let me know that I asked you to email me about not getting the updates.
Martha, LGG Leadership Team
Hi Michele and Kerrye, I’m sure you are going to enjoy this journey! In my opinion, try subscribing again from a computer… Hope that solves your problem. Please ask again if it doesn’t. Someone from LGG will be able to help you.
I have found this note on the registration page of the site.
“Note: Open Group Enrollment for our Love God Greatly Summer Session Psalm 119 is now over! Please feel free to follow along here on our Love God Greatly blog or on our LGG Facebook page!”
These are under FAQs
“Q: How do I get started?
1. Subscribe to LoveGodGreatly.com so you won’t miss a thing (tip: don’t forget to activate your subscription)! Links for our FREE study materials will be included at the end of each LGG email.
2. Before each new study session, register to let us know you’ll be participating.
3. Follow Love God Greatly on social media (head to our Home page and scroll down to the end of the page to find links to where we are!).
4. Some women study individually, but group involvement is encouraged! You are welcome to form your own group, or you can find one here during one of our open enrollment sessions.
Q: What is the difference between subscribing to LoveGodGreatly.com and registering for the study? Do I need to do both?
A: Love God Greatly creates specialized Bible reading plans, study guides, and additional resources for each online Bible study that we offer. Subscribing to the website ensures that LGG blog posts are delivered to your email inbox. By subscribing, you gain access to our {FREE} study resources in the form of downloadable links, which are provided at the end of each email. Subscribing to LGG needs only to be done once.
Registering for the study is just like signing up for a Bible study at your church. It’s our way of taking “attendance,” and it also helps us record demographics of who’s studying with us so that we can better serve you. Registering needs to be done for each current study in which you participate.
These two steps are quick and easy… thanks for helping us in this way!”
Personally I follow the LGG Psalm 119 reading plan on the YouVersion BibleApp.
Hope that helps!
Elma
Elma,
Thank you for being so sweet in helping out.
Martha
Michele and Kerrye,
Are you enrolled in a group? LLG send the blogs 3 times a week, but the members of the group email each other daily. Please let me know if you need a group. I have room in my group. My email is [email protected].
Rossana
Hello Rossana,
I noticed your offer, but I don’t see you on our Facilitators registration form… if you haven’t filled one out.. please email me at [email protected] so we can get you listed as one of our LGG Facilitators.
Martha, LGG Leadership Team
Hello Michele,
I’m sorry that you are not getting the updates. Please send me an email to [email protected] and I will try to help get is straightened out. Let me know that I asked you to email me about not getting the updates.
Martha, LGG Leadership Team
I too am feeling revived and refreshed this week. I am finding my love for God and His word growing and I really look forward to these quiet moments in the am. And it definitely puts me in a right and better frame of mind for the day! Now I am chas.enging myself to listen to The Word while driving and to memorize scriptures. Also going to work on us learning scriptures as a family! Thanks for all you do
And for the challenges you give us to help us grow!!
Lauren,
YAY for feeling revived and refreshed this week. I’m with you, I so look forward to quiet moments with God. GREAT idea, listening to the Word while driving, I have not tried that yet.
Thank you for joining in here and taking this journey with us.
Martha, LGG Leadership Team
Thank you LGG for this summer study. Summer is a busy time and often regular scheduled studies at church take the summer off. I am grateful for this opportunity to learn and to be accountable. God’s Word is my strength, comfort, direction and truth for each day. God bless and thank you, Marie.
Marie,
We so appreciate have you with us as we study Psalm 119. I find I need these studies during the summer, they keep me accountable as well.
Have a great 2nd week!
Martha, LGG Leadership team
I love that a whole day was devoted to summarizing the reading. This is something I should have done more in past studies, but always ended up skipping over it!
God left His Word for US. He left it for us so that we may truly know Him. He wants us to know His Son, and He wants us to be saved. He gives us everything we need, but He doesn’t just leave it for us to figure out. God genuinely wants us to spend eternity with Him, but He still gives us free will to make that decision ourselves. He is walking with us, whether we see Him or not.
We need to stop looking at His Law, or any piece of it, as restrictions. God gave us boundaries, but they are for our own good. There is purpose in those boundaries. God doesn’t do anything for no reason. We need to delight in His Law. We need to hide it in our hearts. We need to read it and know it. We need to live it out. We need to truly seek God with all of our hearts.
Ann!
I’m with you, I love the summary, helps me to go back to the beginning of the week and meditate more. Nicely said… ‘stop looking at His Law, or any piece of it, as restrictions’! I agree!
Thank you again for joining in here with us.
Martha
This week has been a blessing. Thank you for playing your part and for helping me to see a better way to do mine.
Stacy,
Thank you for blessing us by taking the time to log on and drop off a comment to let us know how you are doing.
Martha
Your posts are so uplifting. I’ve participated in the past couple of studies and have learned so much from them. Summer seems to work better for me, as I seem to have more time to meditate on the scriptures. I’m excited after completing the first week and am anxious to see what lies ahead! Thank you for all you do to make this possible! I know God directed me here!
Cindy,
We are so glad that summer is working out for you in participating in our studies. I love how God works – I remember when He directed me here, so blessed!
Here’s to next week!
Martha
This week has been such an encouraging start to the study of Psalm 119. Thank you so much for all you do in putting this study together.
What a blessing to be reminded of the value God’s Word should hold in our lives. When we approach His Word with rejoicing hearts, it removes the restraints rules imply. We can eagerly seek Him and willingly open our hearts to His direction and instruction, knowing He desires; a relationship with us, desires we live lives that are free from the binding chains of sin, desires us to live lives that are full and that bring Him honor and glory. We are so deeply loved, how can we respond any other way, than to return that love to Him and extend that love to others.
Carla,
Yes ma’am a blessing indeed, a wonderful reminder of the value of God’s Word! Thank you for joining us, beautifully said!
Martha
I love this study and the staff makes an online study feel real and personal. God’s word is our counselor and I will fix my eyes on his way. “Open my eyes that I may behold the wondrous things in your word”.
Mary C.
We are thrilled that you are loving the study and that participating here feels real and personal. Aw, you made our day! We are so very thankful for you and all the women that take the time to log on and share their thoughts with us. We are blessed!
Martha, LGG Leadership Team
Just FYI: I found that when I tried to register from my iPad, or iPhone, it did not go through. I re-registered on my iMac and am receiving the 3 weekly mailings.
I am enjoying studying with the group and the fellowship and sharing is awesome.
Thank you Mary, for letting us know that you are receiving the emails finally! YAY!
We are so happy you are enjoying studying with the group, fellowship and sharing! Wonderful!
Martha, LGG Leadership Team
God bless you Jen
Is there any way that you can send the downloads to my home address? I can email you my address. My computer isn’t working at all. I believe it’s time for a new computer. Im using my phone to do this. If you can’t then I understand. Thanks
Damaris,
Thank you so much for stopping by today. I’m so sorry about your computer, I wish we could mail out the downloads to all that ask for them. I have a friend that logs on Monday mornings, and writes down the reading plan for the week from the blog post and then she writes her soaps in a notebook. Maybe that could be an option for you as well.
Blessings,
Martha
I recently started reading through some of the Psalms and I felt like I should read 119.
To be honest, I didn’t want to read it. I did. Once. After that I decided that was enough, but God’s didn’t think it was enough. A couple of days later I see LGG is doing a study.
Thank you for blessing me with this study.
Cassie,
I love how we think one thing and God has other plans for us. So glad you were open to following His plan and joining us for the Psalm 119 study. Thank you for blessing us by sharing.
Martha
The essays this week have been so inspiring. I have never read Psalm 119 in its entirety, just a few verses during a church service or in a song. I am glad that Love God Greatly chose to do a Bible study on Psalm 119 this summer so that I, too, might ponder the word of God as the Psalm writer did centuries ago. Thank you.
Janine,
I read Psalm 119 all the way through but I really didn’t take the time to meditate on it. I wish I had before now. So glad you are here with us. Thank you!
Martha
I really love how there is a day to summarize and reflect and meditate on the first week’s verses as well.
Thank you for doing this study!
Amy,
I love that there is a day to summarize and reflect as well. It really helps me with meditating on the first part of the week as well. Thank you for being here with us on this journey.
Martha
What a blessing and encouragement this week has been for me as a facilitator, and as a participator in the group of LGG on LI. It started out slow in the week, ironing out the kinks, however, I am so blessed to see the women responding and reading God’s word, even though they don’t always have time to make comments, they are eating of His word! All glory and honor and praise to our King jesus!
Paula,
We are thrilled to have you as a facilitator and so happy that things are settling down and getting ironed out. I love when our women read God’s Word – even when they might not say much in a group – they are in the Word and that’s the most important thing. Thank you for joining us.
Martha
I once was lost but I have found LGG. I am not a reader but I know I need to read and meditate on Gods word. After just one week of following the reading plan I must have more. I feel the presence of God while reading and after each reading. I find my self crying from his presence. I am asking you to pray for me during this time of study. I have something that I need to clear up in my life which I know will bring me closer to GOD. I can not serve GOD with this baggage that I am caring and I want it removed so I can walk, read, and meditate with GOD without and shame.
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this bible study. I am feeling better already.
God Bless you all ,
Kimbly
Kimbly,
Thank you for joining us. We are so glad you found LGG and that you are participating in Psalm 119. Lifting you up in prayer as you take this journey. He is here and listening, He welcomes you with open arms and full of love. Praying that you can come before Him and release the baggage that is holding you back. Praying peace for you, in the name of Jesus. Hugs!
Martha
I too have been greatly blessed by this study this week. I’m using a variety of ways as well to stay grounded. 1) I read the suggested verses and SOAP first thing in the am 2) I too listen to the verses in the car while driving 3) I found this study on YouVersion Bible App that shows the daily reading but gives commentary to those verses for the day. 4) on Saturday I read and re read the week verses but in 2 different versions (The Voice and The Message – available for free on Bible Gateway or YouVersion). By reading in other versions, it helped open my eyes deeper to the verse.
Thank you for such an inspirational word Ms.Lindee!
Gods’ continued blessings in your life!
I meant to say Ms.Jen LOL
機會係個天俾嘅 yes. BUT it is only those who are prepared that can see and cilatipaze the chance given. The people who always blames god/命/天 that there is no chance is absolutely wrong! If they haven’t prepared, work hard or think hard, how can they see the chance themselves, even if they see the opportunity is right in front of them, they wont have the skills, connection, knowledge or experience to take advantage of it.How sad!!!Bomb
I have exactly what info I want. Check, please. Wait, it’s free? Awesome!