I Will Walk About in Freedom
Date: July 9, 2024
I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.
B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Voice and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
S - Summarize and Share
You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?
B - Bible Verse in NIV (Psalm 119:45) I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.
L - Listen for God's Voice and pray Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for the freedom we have in Christ. Help us to understand and follow Your Word, so that we can experience true freedom in our lives. Guide our steps and give us wisdom to live according to Your ways. May we find joy and peace as we walk in the freedom You provide. In Jesus' name, Amen.
E - Explore the History and meaning Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, and it's all about praising God's Word and laws. The psalmist, who many believe was King David, expresses his love for God's teachings and how they guide his life. In this verse, he's saying that by following God's instructions (precepts), he finds true freedom. This might seem odd to us, but the idea is that God's rules actually set us free from the harm that comes from sin and wrong choices.
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
"Walk about in freedom" - This means living life with a sense of liberation and without constraints.
"Sought out" - The psalmist actively looked for and tried to understand God's instructions.
"Precepts" - These are God's rules or principles for living.
S - Summarize and Share Let's talk about freedom. When we think of freedom, we often picture doing whatever we want, whenever we want. But you know what? True freedom, the kind that God offers us, is something even better.
In today’s verse, the writer tells us that he walks about in freedom because he has sought out God's precepts. Now, at first glance, that might sound a bit backward. How can following rules lead to freedom? Well, it's kind of like the rules of the road when we're driving. Those rules don't take away our freedom; they actually allow us to drive safely and get where we need to go.
In the same way, God's precepts - His instructions for living - aren't meant to box us in or make our lives boring. Instead, they protect us from the things that can really rob us of our freedom, like sin, guilt, and bad decisions that have long-lasting consequences.
When we seek out God's Word and try to live by it, we're actually setting ourselves free from so many burdens. We're free from the need to impress others because we know God loves us just as we are. We're free from worry about the future because we trust in God's plans for us. We're free from bitterness and resentment because we've learned to forgive as God forgives us.
This kind of freedom doesn't always come easy. Just like the psalmist, we need to actively seek out God's precepts. That means spending time reading our Bibles, praying, and trying to understand how God wants us to live. But oh, the freedom we find when we do! It's like taking a deep breath of fresh air after being cooped up inside.
Let’s embrace the freedom that comes from following God's ways. Let's seek out His precepts and allow them to guide our steps. As we do, we'll find ourselves walking in a freedom that's deeper and more satisfying than anything the world can offer - the true freedom that comes from living life God's way.
3 Bible Cross References:
John 8:32 - "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Galatians 5:1 - "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
2 Corinthians 3:17 - "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."
Question for the followers: How has following God's Word brought more freedom into your life?