Evaluation of Desperate Dependency 5
Evaluation of Desperate Dependency 5 – He
Psalm 119:33–40
We are glad you joined us for the Evaluation of Desperate Dependency 5! If you would like to start at the beginning of this series using the Evaluation of Desperate Dependency and Psalm 119, click here. You can also find a listing of all the previous posts in this series at the bottom of this post.
Beginning with Psalm 119:33–40 for the Evaluation of Desperate Dependency 5, we are challenged again to evaluate our behaviors. Before even reading the psalm, consider the question, Where is my happiness found? The author of Psalm 119:35 gives his answer to that question. Read the text, and see what he says.
Psalm 119:33–40
Consider the text of the He section of Psalm 119.
33 Teach me your decrees, O LORD;
I will keep them to the end.
34 Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
I will put them into practice with all my heart.
35 Make me walk along the path of your commands,
for that is where my happiness is found.
36 Give me an eagerness for your laws
rather than a love for money!
37 Turn my eyes from worthless things,
and give me life through your word.
38 Reassure me of your promise,
made to those who fear you.
39 Help me abandon my shameful ways;
for your regulations are good.
40 I long to obey your commandments!
Renew my life with your goodness. (NLT)
Could You Have Written Psalm 119:33–40?
Did you notice where happiness can be found? Could you truly say, I know my happiness is found in walking along the path of God’s commands? Maybe if you are honest you would say, my happiness is found in a cup of coffee? Or in a good book? Or in my spouse? Or in my children? Or in a bowl of ice cream?
If you KNOW your happiness is found in walking along the path of God’s commands, consider the other statements of Psalm 119:33–40 to evaluate your dependency on God. Mark the statements that currently and consistently (more often than not) describe you.
❏ I ask the Lord to teach me His decrees. I will follow the Lord’s decrees to the end.
❏ I ask the Lord to give me understanding so I can obey His instructions. I put His instructions into practice with all my heart.
❏ I ask the Lord to make me walk along the path of His commands because I know that is where my happiness is found.
❏ I ask the Lord to give me an eagerness for His laws rather than a love for money.
❏ I ask the Lord to turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through His word.
❏ I ask the Lord to reassure me of His promises because I fear Him.
❏ I ask the Lord to help me abandon my shameful ways because I know His regulations are good.
❏ I long to obey the Lord’s commandments. I ask the Lord to renew my life with His goodness.
Evaluation
I ask the Lord to help me abandon my shameful ways because I know His regulations are good. That is such a loaded statement, don’t you think? How easily do we admit that we have shameful ways? But wait. Why should I abandon my ways? Umm… because they are shameful! But that’s just the way I am. Yup. That’s the problem. That’s just the way YOU are. How much better to follow HIS regulations to become Christlike? Ugg! What a heart break when we recognize that we have shameful ways! Yes, Lord, help me abandon my shameful ways.
Extra Credit
Are you convinced you have no shameful ways? How about asking your accountability partner? You are processing the Evaluation of Desperate Dependency with someone else, right? If you really desire to grow spiritually, ask someone close to you to complete the Evaluation of Desperate Dependency with you. Would someone else agree with your evaluation of yourself? God does place people in our lives to assist us in our growth process. So, ask someone in the body of Christ to offer their perspective on your spiritual maturity.
Leave a Comment and let us know your experience with the Evaluation of Desperate Dependency 5.
May you grow in desperate dependency!
Click on the links below to go to the previous installments of the Evaluation of Desperate Dependency.
Evaluation of Desperate Dependency Ps. 119:1–8
Evaluation of Desperate Dependency 2 Ps. 119:9–16
Evaluation of Desperate Dependency 3 Ps. 119:17–24
Evaluation of Desperate Dependency 4 Ps. 119:25–32
(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)
You may find a complete version of the Evaluation of Desperate Dependency in Desperate Dependency and on our DDC Resources page.
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