Psalm 119:97-128; Mem, Nun, Samekh, Ayin

מ Mem - On Your words, I meditate, focus, obey.  I am teachable, I keep them close and I take them in; they are my constant companions.  I expect to be strengthen, nourished, revitalized by them.  Lord, I would that these were my M.O.  Please, Holy Spirit, today, may I walk consistently in these priorities, seeking to bring You glory, to see You at work and to be complicit with Your will.  Thank You.

נ Nun - Your statutes are my heritage forever;  they are the joy of my heart.   My heart is set on keeping Your decrees to the very end.  Help me, Holy Spirit to believe this; that Your words are my eternal, supernatural birthright, my daily way of life and the pattern for the forever life with You.

ס Samekh - Sustain me, my God... You are faithful to Your words, Your character, Yourself.  I need sustaining today.  Sustain me in the spiritual, the physical, the emotional and all of the realms in-between and beyond.  I thank You and praise You that You are my Sustainer. 

ע Ayin -  I am Your servant; give me discernment that I may understand Your statutes.  Lord Jesus, thank You for the privilege to be Your servant, as You came to serve, not be served.  I need discernment, comprehension, apprehension in order that I may fully receive and understand what You have said.  I need to know.  Please have mercy on Your servant-girl. 

Psalm 119:65-96; Teth, Yodh, Kaph, Lamedh

טTeth
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your Word. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn Your decrees. Why do bad things happen to good people? For Kingdom’s sake. For goodness’ sake. For my sake. For obedience and wisdom’s sake. Thank You Father, that You are good and what You do is good! I praise You.

י Yodh
Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn Your commands. … May I wholeheartedly follow Your decrees, that I may not be put to shame. You are my best teacher for You know, You designed my learning patterns. You crafted me for a purpose; teach me in light of my uniqueness that I may wholeheartedly obey. Thank You that You took the shame and responding rightly to You never yields shame. I praise You today.

כ Kaph
My soul faints with longing for Your salvation, but I have put my hope in Your Word. I am desperate for Your salvation; yet I hope, not in what Your doings, but in Your Word. You are faithful. Your Word is my hope.

ל Lamedh
…for all things serve you. May I serve You well, lovingly and consistently. soli Deo Gloria!

Psalm 119:33-64; He, Waw, Zayin, Heth

ה He Give me understanding, so that I may keep Your law and obey it with all my heart.
Jehovah, if You do not incline Yourself to me, I am lost. I need You, Holy Spirit to teach me, remind me and advise me on the Way Everlasting that I may, with my whole heart, love Your path.

ו Waw May Your unfailing love come to me, Lord, … then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in Your Word.
Father, the art and the “freedom of self-forgetfulness” is to be found only in Your love. May I trust as You love, unfailingly – and to the praise of Your very great Name.

I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.
May my desire be such that I reach and yearn and climb and pursue Your words. May they fill my mind and heart and soul and life.

ז Zayin In the night, Lord, I remember Your Name, that I may keep Your law.
 
Spirit of the Living God, fill my nights and dreams with Your presence, Your names and Your purposes. Reveal Your glorious self to me in visions that I may know You and obey You better. Thank You for meeting me in unexpected places and for Your divine revelations. My dreams are Yours to inhabit and fill.

ח Heth You are my Portion, Lord; I have promised to obey Your words. … The earth is filled with Your love, Lord; teach me Your decrees.
Oh, that You really were all that I desire in this world. I confess, I want too many, too much; I succumb to distractions in attention and affection. But, You are my Portion, and I seek to obey Your words, teach me – that I may fully partake in Your love which fills the earth.

Psalm 119:1-32 Aleph, Bet, Gimel, Daleth

Aleph
     Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to
        the law of the Lord.
Happy are the ones who obey Your commands.  Happy, blessed, fulfilled.  Not miserable, robotic, mindless, Stepford Christians.  Happy.  Help me, help us to live this.  To so embrace You in our lives that we live that blessed and happy life - because of our knowing and experiencing You, not because we have the circumstances which sell.  You, You alone.  Let me walk blamelessly according to Your law, because You have given me the privilege; not because I am working on attaining anything or achieving some performance-based award.  You.

Bet
     I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
Holy Spirit, I do not seek with all my heart.  Please help my heart not be divided that I may seek You with all my heart.  That my obedience would match the heart, undivided and focused on You.

Gimel
     My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.
Not so, Lord God; but make it so, please.  I want to be consumed with You and Your ways.  Love God and love others.  Your priorities for life.  Make it so in my life, heart, mind and soul.  Let me spend my strength on this.

Daleth     Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate 
       on your wonderful deeds.
Please Lord, grant me understanding that I may glorify You in my thoughts, words, life.

Psalm 118

I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done. 

Thank You Lord for this gentle reminder that You have died that I may live – even with You. May my life proclaim Your amazing yet tangible love and works. Also, Holy Spirit, I confess I don’t always react the best and most trusting way to Your invitation; but You again remind me that I will not die – despite my initial, fleshly responses to Your direction. It won’t kill me. Or at least all of me, just the part that needs to die, the part that resists You and Your words. So, thank You and please continue to show me how to die to myself that I may live and proclaim, extol what You have done, Who You are. I trust You.

With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
  
Thank You my Lord for showing me that all the celebrations should have You as the center, the focus. Anything else will glorify self and lead us astray. Teach me how to party in Your Name. You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, and I will exalt You. I give thanks to You, Lord, for You is good; Your love endures forever – and includes me.

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Father, while I know it refers to my Messiah, today these words strike me as referring to the Jewish people. One man into a nation who is blessed by God, yet cursed and rejected by man. The faith and truth entrusted to them for the world is the cornerstone of the Messiah’s teachings. How much more should this Jesus of Nazareth resonate with God’s chosen ones as their own, their very own Messiah. You, God, You have done this and it is marvelous. Thank You for eyes to see Your handiwork and invitation. You are wonderful and good and forever faithful. Please open eyes all over the world, grant spiritual vision for Your precious ones, faith and willingness to receive Your revelation. I also pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all of Israel. God, remember Your people. And remember Your Church. Let the Church bless in Your Name Your people, may I be a part of that.

Psalm 117

Extol – to praise highly, glorify

Him – the Lord,
                     Creator of all nations and all peoples,
                     Great Lover of us,
                     Faithful Lord, enduringly faithful,
                     forever

Praise the Lord.

Thank You, my Lord and my God, for resetting my focus on praise and extolling rather than react and emoting. You are good. May I so grow in praising You that I would be not merely a praiser but an extoller of my God.

Psalm 116

The Lord protects the unwary – You guard the unsophisticated, You take care of the clueless, You shield the simple, You secure the unsuspecting. You are too kind. Thank You for your gracious inclination to me. My soul can return to its rest, for You have been good to me, Your faithfulness endures forever and through each moment of today. I praise You now. May I praise You every moment.