God's Glory Church

“Lord, deliver my soul from a lying lip, from a treacherous tongue!” — Psalm 119:2

“The Christian consciousness begins with the painful realization that what we believed to be the truth turned out to be a lie,” wrote Eugene Peterson in his profound reflections on Psalm 119. This psalm is the first of the “songs of the pilgrims” (Ps. 119-133) that the pilgrims sang on the way to Jerusalem. As Peterson points out in the book Enduring Obedience in One Direction, these psalms also depict a spiritual journey to God.

This journey can only begin with a deep awareness of one’s own need for something else. Peterson says, “A man must feel a complete abhorrence of the present state of things in order to find the motivation to follow the Christian path. . . . [Man] must have his fill of the world of sin before he can feel an appetite for the world of grace.”

The sinfulness and despair we see in the world around us can be easily discouraging, and our culture often shows a callous disregard for harm done to other people. Psalm 119 frankly says: “I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war!” (v. 7).

At the same time, the realization that our pain can awaken us to a new beginning provides healing and freedom. This is possible only because of the Savior, who can help us leave harmful deception and lead us to the paths of peace and wholeness (Ps. 120:2). So, as we begin this new year, let us seek God and His ways!

How did you get used to bad ways? How does the Gospel call you to the ways of peace?

Loving God, help me to strive for Your ways of peace and help them spread in the power of Your Spirit.

Author: Monica La Rose