“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word” (Psalm 119:9).

Just because the verse refers to a young person, don’t let that be a turn off. The issue is not whether one is young or old. The purpose of this teaching is for giving guidance and wisdom regarding purity.

The Hebrew word for purity means “to be clear, clean, or pure” in a moral sense. It means to be blameless, untarnished, without impurity.

Notice that purity is not a destination or a particular stop on the journey of life. Purity is to be pursued during the course or the path of life.

So how can one stay on the path of purity? By living according to God’s word.

The thing is every single one of us is going to fail in this endeavor. We are going to wander, go astray, and leave the path. That’s going to happen. But what ultimately matters is not whether we fail, but whether we choose to get back on the pathway. That’s what matters.

God’s word gives us the compass heading. God’s truth shows us the path we are to follow. People will stray. We all do. But what matters is not that we stray, but that we get back on the path to pursue God and his truths revealed in God’s word.

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).

This week we will be looking at five truths regarding God’s word from Psalm 119.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. The subject of the entire psalm is God’s word. Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem. What that means is that it is written alphabetically with eight verses per the Hebrew Alphabet. Each stanza begins with the Hebrew letter. Something like this:

• Almighty God…
  Always kind…
  All the world praises…
  A…
  and so on…

The entire psalm gives us insight and instruction regarding God’s word. It is written as an acrostic poem to help people remember by memorizing the psalm.

Why would someone memorize God’s word?

Our verse of the day tells us: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

What does it mean to hide God’s word in one’s heart? It means to memorize it. We memorize God’s word. We internalize God’s truth. We make God’s word our own. No one, no hardship, no circumstance can ever take from us the truth of God’s word hidden and treasured in our hearts.

Psalm 119:11 would be a great verse to memorize. So I dare you to do it. Go ahead. Treasure God’s word in your heart that you might not sin against God.

“Pray continually…” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Praying isn’t a spilling of the laundry list of “I wants.”

Praying is seeking God and God’s will.

So, how can a person pray without ceasing? How can a person pray always? How can someone pray continually?

Praying is about seeking God’s presence throughout our day.

There is never a “there” where God is not present. It’s just that we get so preoccupied that we forget God’s presence. So praying is reorienting our minds and hearts to God’s presence.

So…

• Pray instead of worrying
• Pray instead of stressing
• Pray instead of panicking
• Pray instead of overthinking
• Pray instead of assuming
• Pray instead of controlling
• Pray instead of wondering
• Pray instead of doubting
• Pray instead of second-guessing

Pray always.