Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me!

Psalm 119:1-8

Dear God, when I read this passage this morning it made me think of the verse that says to obey is better than to sacrifice. I looked it up and it turns out that those words are the ones Samuel spoke to Saul when God rejected Saul as king for doing a sacrifice at the wrong time without Samuel. All of these things are said under the “old covenant,” before Jesus earthly life, but it doesn’t make their words and message any less true now.

I just did a little search because it seems like Jesus references this passage somewhere in the Gospels, but I didn’t find it. I did find Proverbs 21:3. It’s a pretty common message, and it makes sense.

Father, thank you for Jesus’ sacrifice. It makes it possible for me to even be here this morning, talking to you. But help me to simply obey. It is for my own good anyway. Help me to obey you. Help me to glorify you. Help me to decrease as you increase through me. I love you and need you.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen