Refresh Your Spirit with the Word

Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (NIV).

Scripture contains such good instruction, often in just a few sentences. I love that, when I don’t know what I should be praying for or when I’m too overwhelmed with life to dig through my thoughts and talk to God, I can go to the book of Psalms. Eventually, I’ll read something that makes sense given my situation or helps me realize who I need to pray for, and then I can pray the Lord’s own words right back to him.

Psalm 19:7–14, David wrote,

“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple…By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (NIV)

When I read these verses out loud to my kids, I remarked that the part about David’s desiring God to forgive the faults he couldn’t name felt so on point to me. Listing all my sins for God isn’t a strong part of my prayer life, but I know they exist. I should not only be asking him to forgive my hidden faults but to bring them into the light if it’s his will. Sometimes shining light on sin makes it easier to identify and then let go.

The part about willful sins reminded me that sometimes my heart is ruled by a desire other than to obey God. I would rather be blameless, though, so I hope the Lord will throw up some roadblocks for me when I push the limits in the wrong direction.

I desire to be pleasing in the Lord’s sight, which means following his law. Jesus came to fulfill the law, and now we know that the greatest commands are to love the Lord first and then to love our neighbor (Matthew 22:37–39). If we live according to those two commands, we’re likely following the law of the Lord, and our souls will be refreshed.

I can think of no better tool to refresh our souls than the Word of God and doing what it says or using it to spark prayers we might not even have realized we should be praying. The Lord is trustworthy with our prayers. We might not hear an audible answer, and we might not see an answer instantly, but I have always found that I recognize the hand of God in hindsight, which gives me reason for ongoing faith.

In reading this part of Psalm 19, I was reminded that I’m imperfect and sometimes far from God, but that he wants to draw me to him through my willingness to be authentic with him about who I am and about the state of my heart. He wants me to let his Word light up the dark places. He tells me I can trust him, and when I do, I gain wisdom and renewal of spirit.

Will you allow the Lord to refresh your spirit through his Word today?

Lord, make your word a true lamp for our feet and light for our path. Refresh our souls with the truth of your Word. Give us wisdom to identify our sin and push it out of our lives, even the sin we’ve been blinded to, so we can be blameless in your sight. Thank you for redeeming us through your Son, Jesus. Help us to live in the light of that sacrifice. Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22 NIV)

Take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17 NIV, emphasis mine)

Reach for More

Read some Scripture today with your eyes wide open. How does it speak to what’s going on in your life right now? Does it give you hope? Does it call you to change? Is it lighting up some dark place, shining light on sin you didn’t see before? If you don’t know where to start, open your Bible to the book of Psalms and begin reading the beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking words there. David wrote many of the psalms, and he gave us words we can use to talk to God. Use them!

Carla Clemens enjoys a crazy, beautiful life with her military husband and four sons. A baby and toddler interrupt her homeschool days in the best ways, and she is always attempting to live with mindfulness of each moment. She hopes to look at the world and each person in it in light of our amazing Creator and therefore, to see each moment presented as an opportunity to love and serve him more. Carla relishes time to ponder God’s Word and have quiet moments with him and her coffee. She loves doing life with other mamas and encouraging them to simply be who God has made them to be.

Photograph © Josh Applegate, used with permission