Psalm 119:33-40

Don't you just love it when you're reading the Bible and you just fall in love with a verse(or group of verses)? If we're being honest, sometimes reading the Bible isn't the most exciting thing ever. Let me make it clear that  I do believe there is much to be learned from the Bible and that it is our handbook from God on how to live our lives; but, when you're just reading a bunch of statistics or long lists of geneology, let's face it, you get bored. So when verses start to speak out to you it's all the more exciting. Well Psalm 119:33-40 is a group of verses that spoke out to me recently. The NIV version goes like this:

"Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees,
    that I may follow it to the end.
³⁴ Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law 
    and obey it with all my heart. 
³⁵ Direct me in the path of your commands, 
    for there I find delight. 
³⁶ Turn my heart toward your statutes
    and not toward selfish gain. 
³⁷ Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
    preserve my life according to your word.
³⁸ Fulfill your promise to your servant,
    so that you may be feared.
³⁹ Take away the disgrace I dread,
    for your laws are good.
⁴⁰ How I long for your precepts!
    In your righteousness preserve my life."

I also love the way The Message version puts it. It goes like this...

"God, teach me lessons for living 

      so I can stay the course. 
   Give me insight so I can do what you tell me— 
      my whole life one long, obedient response. 
   Guide me down the road of your commandments; 
      I love traveling this freeway! 
   Give me a bent for your words of wisdom, 
      and not for piling up loot. 
   Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets, 
      invigorate me on the pilgrim way. 
   Affirm your promises to me— 
      promises made to all who fear you. 
   Deflect the harsh words of my critics— 
      but what you say is always so good. 
   See how hungry I am for your counsel; 
      preserve my life through your righteous ways!"

Isn't that a great prayer? Asking God for wisdom, for strength to resist greedy desires, for the backbone to withstand criticism. I want my life to be led by God. I want to serve my Heavenly Father obediently. I want to gain wisdom from the Lord. I know that oftentimes, in my prayers, I ask God for wisdon to make the right choices and I ask him to guide me along the path he thinks I should go. These verses reflect some of my most important prayers and is something I plan to commit to memory. :)