by By David Jeremiah
Establish Your word to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You.
Psalm 119:38
Some things naturally go together, salt and pepper, bread and butter, pencil and paper, needle and thread. When it comes to godliness, God has given us all we need. But we must diligently provide two parts to the equation, a devoted heart and disciplined habits. Psalm 119:38 alludes to both. Our hearts must be devoted to fearing (reverencing) God, and we must form habits that establish us in the Word. Notice the two key words in this verse.
Devoted: Devotion is better than dedication, isn’t it? We can be dedicated to something without being devoted to it. Some people are dedicated to preserving their marriage, but not lovingly devoted to their spouse. We must keep our hearts tender, receptive, and thirsty for the Lord.
Established: Being established in the Word requires continual reading, studying, pondering, applying, and sharing. Little happens without steady habits, and habits are hard to sustain unless we work energetically to establish them. Reaching goals requires commitment and consistency. To live a godly life, we must diligently develop a heart of devotion and engage the habit of godliness.
Self-control is the exercise of inner strength under the direction of sound judgment that enables us to do, think, and say the things that are pleasing to God.
Jerry Bridges