Psalm 119:121-176: In His time

by Chantalle Wookey

Psalm 119: 121-176

David prays that God would be his surety and would ensure his well-being, that he would have understanding to know the testimonies of God, to recognise the things that God does.

Despite the desperation of his pleas for the hand of God to be on his life for his good David still realises that God does everything at the proper time, and He will need to sometimes wait for the proper season for God to act.

I believe that all of us will have times in our lives when we really have reached the end of ourselves and it feels like the time for God to act. There arrives a time when we can’t push any longer. We have done all we can do, and now it’s time for God to do the rest. 

This is certainly the case in prayer. We ask and then we wait. Sometimes we wait a short time and sometimes longer but we wait for God to meet us. The thing I know is no matter the timescale God does always meet us. He is our surety and our salvation. But in our waiting He also grants us understanding to know Him more, especially if we use our waiting to run to Him and His Word. His Word is always true and He is always faithful.

God, I pray that you would be surety to us for good.  I pray that you would deal with us according to your mercy, and teach us your statutes.  Would you give us more discernment and understanding, that we would know you better. May we desire you with our whole hearts, and live in your word because it is your word that keeps us on the right path.

Psalm 119:97-120: Who needs a map?

by Andi Norton

Psalm 119:97-120 (NIV) 


I had mixed feelings of long road trips with the family when I was younger. I used to look forward to getting to the destination, making camp and enjoying endless ice-creams and splashing in the sea, but I dreaded the journey. One because, being the youngest, I would be left to sit in the middle of the car, feeling carsick most the way, and two, there was always an argument as my mother would get frustrated with my father when they took a wrong turning for the 100th time and finally admitted we were lost.

It would be at this point someone would say - Where's the map?

In today's technological age where we are blessed (or not so in many cases) with Sat-Nav, we regularly find ourselves relying on google maps to guide our route and show us the way.

The same is true of our spiritual journey we need God to mark our way, guide us, to light our path (Psalm 119:105) and get us to that final destination.

If we fail to use the wonderful gift He's given us, how much harder does the journey become?

If we choose to not only use the gift of His guide (and by this point we know I mean His word, the Bible) but to study it, to meditate on it (Psalm 119: 97-104) we get a clearer picture of where we are going, how to get there, what to do if we are faced with "a cow on the country road" (challenges) and our journey can become one of greater faith that we will reach our destination.

We can have hope in His promises, in the truth of His word, we will not become disheartened, we will be empowered to tackle any challenges with faith as we remind ourselves of how He has overcome all of them for us already.

We are so blessed to live by the sea and occasionally as in these words (Psalm 119:97 - mem: meaning meditating by waters) I like to go and meditate on God's word in the beautiful surroundings we live in.

Let's take time to stop, it is an attitude response to remind ourselves to get into God's word, for when we do we don't only get a better picture of where we are going, but of the one who is showing us the way.

Lord forgive me when I strive on in this journey you've called me to with you on my own. Thank You for your word, which is a lamp unto our feet. As we meditate on it, would you reveal more of yourself to us, direct us, shape us, mould us and fill us with faith for the journey ahead.

Psalm 119:73-96: God's word above circumstance

by Sean Theunissen

Psalm 119:73-96 (NIV)


Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.
Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.
Your laws endure to this day,for all things serve you.
If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.
Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts.
The wicked are waiting to destroy me,but I will ponder your statutes.
To all perfection I see a limit,but your commands are boundless. 

(vs 89-96)

In this section of Psalm 119, we witness what it is to prioritise God's Word above the circumstance. Here the psalmist basically says that if he did not trust in God's promises in scripture, his worrying and stress would have killed him. I'll never forget John Hosier speaking about his experience of trusting God's word when he found out he had cancer. He said that he was tempted to read more about cancer than God's word.

For me this is a real temptation and one I honestly give in to often. I find myself worrying about a task I've got to do or meeting I've got to have, or money that doesn't seem to be there for the month ahead. But the stressing doesn't better the situation one bit. Whereas when I have done the right thing and choose to open the Bible in times of stress it is amazing how on every occasion God provides perspective and supernatural peace. You would think that from experience I would take the logical approach and continue each time to go for the option that has had the 100% success rate!

God, help me to choose your word above my own efforts. How amazing that You would give us your word to show us how to live and show us your redemption plan so that we may believe and know eternal life forever. Your Word became flesh and dwelt among us, He fulfilled your law so that His righteousness would stand in the way of our wickedness. God is there any end to your love? No, it is utterly limitless. What a glorious God you are! 

Psalm 119: 49-72: Why does God allow us to suffer some times?

by Priscilla

Psalm 119: 49-72 (NIV)

A friend who visited me last week used a phrase I am going to shamelessly pilfer. When we find ourselves in the midst of trials, she said, welcome the fire.

Trials are not easy by any standard. They are painful, stressful and usually full of anxiety.

In the midst of it though, it helps to ask these questions:

1. Are you trying to say something to me, God?
2. What do you want me to learn?

The Psalmist knows now the reason for his affliction. He says in verses 67 & 68:

Before I was afflicted I went astray,
    but now I obey your word.
You are good, and what you do is good;
    teach me your decrees. 

He recounts the blessing of his suffering in verse 71:

It was good for me to be afflicted
    so that I might learn your decrees.

John Piper once said in a preach, “The furnace of affliction in the family of God is always for refinement, never for destruction.”

A refiner’s fire melts down gold or silver, burns up all the impurities and leaves the precious metal intact.

God takes us through a fire – burns up sin and other impurities in our life while leaving us intact, pure and holy for Him.

In the intense heat of a trial it if difficult to know how we will react. If you find yourself today facing trials – whether old or new – ask God about the journey He is taking your on. There will be purpose behind it. Welcome His fire.

Psalm 119: 25-48: Where do you turn?

By Andy Flood

Psalm 119: 25-48 (NIV)


When life sucks, where do you turn?

We have a rich and deep heritage, in the word of God is that where we go? Do we just pray or do we lay hold of His truth

Part of a worship lifestyle is dwelling in His word, getting familiar with God's truth so when life is garbage. Our foundation is unshakable.

Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word. 

(Psalm 119:37 NIV)

Please use this song to respond to God and worship Him with it.

Psalm 119: 1-24: Hurt by words, Healed by the Word

by Peter Roxburgh

Psalm 119:1-24 (NIV)

A few years ago there was a girl in our cell group who very kindly suggested that I would never get married because I had a mono-brow. 

That, although said in seriousness (!), was light-hearted. But not all attacks are so easy to brush off.  

Public figures such as pastors will often be subject to slander even by people that have or are part of their church via blogs, comments and so on. 

But all of us have experienced painful words spoken to us or about us; whether it is a harsh thing that a husband says to a wife, regular sarcastic comments by a boss, a parent telling a child they will 'never amount to anything', a child shouting 'I hate you' to their parent or even friends saying things about you behind your back, or even us telling ourselves that we can never change.  We've all experienced those to varying degrees. 

In vs 23 and 24 the Psalmist says "Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees. Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors."

I was quite taken by that. How often do we mull, stew and burn up over things that have been said to us or about us, particularly things that we know are false? How often do we want to seek revenge, seek to correct them, sometimes even start to believe them?  

The Psalmists response is exactly what our response should be. He ignores the slander and hurtful words and instead goes straight to the word of God! 

Can we be challenged to do that? Why go to the word of God?  Because there we will find the truth about who we are and what God would have us do. There, as the Psalmist says, is where we will find delight and counsel (v24).  

If someone says that you are a 'good for nothing' then the Word of God tells you that He has created you in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared for you to do (Eph 2:10)

If they say you will never be able to do anything, the Word of God says that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it (Phil 1:6)

The next time someone speaks negative, accusatory words over you, quickly overcome any anger or sense of injustice, don't fire equally negative words back, don't allow the enemy to make you start to believe those words, don't go bitching to someone else, go to the Word of God. 

Much easier said than done but it is the best thing you can do. 

Meditate on the truth about God and you. Meditate. Let the Spirit minister that truth from your eyes, to your head and down to  your heart. If there are things you realise you do need to  change then ask the Holy Spirit to help you change. But otherwise let the healing begin immediately. 

Psalm 118: Where is your identity?

By Chantalle Wookey

Psalm 118 (NIV)

Over the last week I have been struggling with feelings of failure and a lack of belonging. I have been faced with some really tough situations recently and because I am struggling to handle them, I frequently feel I have failed. I have realised that I (wrongly) have subconsciously believed a part of my identity comes from what I do and because so much of what I do has been rejected in a painful way I have found myself quite down at times. 

As I have dwelled on this I am reminded again that it is only in my relationship with Jesus that I can be satisfied in life. I know that faith in Jesus is where I truly find security and can be filled with hope and ultimately content no matter the circumstance. 

Jesus, the man who was rejected, scorned and beaten and killed is my Saviour; the Cornerstone for all Believers. There is no rejection that I feel that he does not understand. It is His love that gives me peace.  It is His acceptance and grace that makes living my life a joy. 

I will choose to rejoice in the Lord no matter what my days may look like on the surface of things because they are all days that he has made. No matter what I face God is always and eternally good and he loves me no matter how I feel about myself. 

"The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 

The LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

His love endures forever.




Until tonight (Thursday) this blog stopped above but God showed me this image.....


I see my self as a runner who is pulled out of the race mid-stride.I then see myself lined up as a runner ready to go with ‘important people’. People who are way more important in life than I am.
A tunnel forms on my lane and my vision is narrowed in to Jesus saying "run, run".
My race became focused on Him and him alone.
I then see myself surrounded by things that represent what I have to do in life and my current circumstances and I say to God “I will be slow”
He says "You will be slow but it is making you STORNG"
And he is saying "Running is winning, Running is winning"


To rejoice and be glad no matter the circumstance is a way to run even when our feelings lie to us that we are on the sidelines. It is a way to run when we feel lacking, broken or failing. 

Lets keep running with perseverance because when we are weak he is strong, he is the strongest stone, the corner stone and if we are pushed back in our race and feel like we are about to fall the Lord helps us and calls "run, you are wining because I am your strength"