Keeping God's Word Close
Daily Scripture
Psalm 119:9-12, 103-106
9 How can young people keep their paths pure?
By guarding them according to what you’ve said.
10 I have sought you with all my heart.
Don’t let me stray from any of your commandments!
11 I keep your word close, in my heart,
so that I won’t sin against you.
12 You, Lord, are to be blessed!
Teach me your statutes.
103 Your word is so pleasing to my taste buds—
it’s sweeter than honey in my mouth!
104 I’m studying your precepts—
that’s why I hate every false path.
105 Your word is a lamp before my feet
and a light for my journey.
106 I have sworn, and I fully mean it:
I will keep your righteous rules.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Pep Guardiola: “Without the ball, you can’t win.”
Psalm 119, an elaborate Hebrew acrostic poem of 176 verses, “emphatically makes the point that God’s Instruction—that is, God’s will—is pervasively and extremely important in the lives of the faithful and the life of the world.” * Like Guardiola’s concise soccer truth, today’s excerpts said we can’t “win” in life without the wise principles found in God’s word. The psalmist even suggested we should value them as much as honey on our oatmeal (see also Psalm 19:9-10)!
- The psalmist didn’t savor the Scriptures haphazardly: “I’m studying your precepts.” Can you recall times when studying the Bible while asking God for wisdom gave you a sweet sense of insight for a tough challenge? A beautiful life isn’t ordered by rigid rules but by love that delights in God’s word—as sweet as honey, as guiding as a lamp. How might memorizing key Bible passages give you ready access to God’s wisdom in moments of need?
- Article 5 of the United Methodist Articles of Religion, dating to John Wesley, says “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation.” (To read article 5, or the whole document, click here.) The Bible doesn’t magically answer every historical, scientific, or financial question—but Methodists (like nearly all Christians) are convinced it leads to salvation. What parts of the Bible’s story most powerfully draw you to Christ?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, in the Bible I find the centuries-old story of how you’ve dealt with people who loved and followed you. Help me hide your word in my heart and let it light my path. Help me see my walk with you as part of that same story. Amen.
GPS Insights
Wyatt Davidson
Wyatt Davidson, who is serving as a Student Ministries intern at Resurrection this summer, wrote today's Insights. He is going into his sophomore year at Nebraska Wesleyan University as he continues his academic and athletic careers there. He studies Health and Physical Education as well as Philosophy and Religion, and is also a pitcher on the University baseball team. Wyatt loves being outdoors, whether playing games, working on projects, or off-roading/mountain biking. Wyatt is extremely excited to be on staff here at Resurrection this summer and can’t wait to get started!
These psalms are very impactful, but before I dive into my thoughts about them, I want to briefly talk about how we read psalms. Sometimes when I read the Bible I feel like the voice in my head becomes monotone. When that happens, we lose so much gravity to what has been written! The Bible can be very emphatic–sometimes, people cry out! Sometimes they dance with joy, and sometimes they are just simply quiet and reserved. When we read the Bible with a monotone, Siri-like voice, we lose so much of the feeling of these chapters, especially Psalms. When you look up what a psalm is, you learn that a psalm is a sacred poem or a song. These are songs!!!
Now going back to today’s psalm… These verses are so powerful because they just drive home the importance of staying true to the word of God and what God calls us to do. It reinforces that if we keep God’s word prevalent in our lives, it assists us in staying close and true to him. Verses 103-106 also dive deeper into not just reading and listening to God’s words but truly believing and living by the word.
When I travel around for youth events, I always try to bring a ball with me. This opens so many avenues for connection because with one ball you can play so many games. One ball can allow so many students to be active and connect by just playing games. Think about many of your favorite games to play with others (that include a ball) and then take the ball away. There’s nothing there now. Think of the World Cup if the ball never existed–I don’t imagine there being anything. This is very similar to our faith; without the word of God and the influence it brings into our lives, we have nothing for our faith to stem from. One ball opens so many hearts and unites so many countries. So why can’t our faith and what we have learned from God’s word do the same?
© 2026 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* J. Clinton McCann, study note on Psalm 119 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 973 OT.
