Psalm 119:57
“Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.”
The psalmist said, “I would keep thy words.” This is a great desire, but desire alone will not make you follow the LORD. At some point, you have to turn desire into action. I have known many people who desired to follow God, but they failed because they never did what it takes to follow Him. In verse 58-63, six things are found that are needed in your life if you are going to follow God successfully.
First, there must be a sincere desire. Verse 58 says, “I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.” Is it your whole hearts desire to follow God, or do you have some restraints on what you will do? You will never successfully follow the LORD unless it is a desire you have with your “whole heart.” You will not successfully serve the LORD half-heartedly. You must commit your whole heart to serving the LORD if you are going to follow Him successfully.
Second, there must be honest introspection. Verse 59 says, “I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.” You will never succeed in following God if you are not honest with yourself. Looking at what you do through the spectacles of honesty will reveal what changes you need to make in your life. Honest introspection is a key to successfully following God.
Third, there must be immediate obedience. Verse 60 says, “I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.” Delayed obedience is always disobedience. Don’t wait once you see what you need to change. The best response to the Holy Spirit’s voice is immediate obedience.
Fourth, there must be a proper reaction to adversity. Verse 61 says, “The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.” When hard times come, and they will, don’t stop doing right. You must determine that you are going to do right no matter what comes your way. Adversity is part of the Christian life, and you must determine to continue following God when it comes.
Fifth, there must be grateful retrospection. Verse 62 says, “At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.” The successful Christian is a grateful Christian. Every day you need to spend some time thanking God for what He has done for you. If you are not grateful, you will soon become resentful. Don’t allow discontent to set into your heart. Avoid this by taking time every day to thank the LORD for what He has done for you throughout your day.
Sixth, there must be fitting friendships. Verse 63 says, “I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.” Be careful with whom you make friends. Be sure your friends have your same desire to follow God. Friends influence appetites. If you want the right appetite for the LORD, you must have the type of friends who feast on His Word and follow Him. Make your friendships ones that fit within the confines of God’s Word. You will never go wrong!
I hope your desire is to follow God. If it is your desire, you will only succeed by following these six secrets from God’s Word. Make these secrets a part of your daily life and you will successfully follow God your whole life.