FAMILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
January 22-28, 2012
Sunday, January 22
Call the family together.
Pray.
Read: Psalms 119:57-64
Ask: What is the commitment in verse 57? (The Psalmist is committed to keeping the God’s Word.)
For what does the Psalmist pursue in verse 58? (He is seeking for God’s mercy with His whole heart.)
When he thinks about his ways, what does he do? (He thinks about his life and compares it to God’s Word and changes his direction according to God’s law.)
What is happening in verse 61 with the “cords of the wicked”? (The New Living Translation says, “Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to Your law.”)
Who does he make friends with according to verse 63? (He is a companion to those who keep God’s law. Our ability to grow in faith and stay holy is based somewhat on the influences of our life. We all need godly friends.)
Lesson: We need to make a personal commitment to follow the Word of God. We need to make changes in our lives to conform to the Word of God. We can resist sin as we are anchored to the Word of God. We want our closest friends to be followers of the Word of God.
Memory Verse: “This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.” (Psalms 119:50)
Pray: Thank the Lord for His Word. Commit to follow it fully. Pray for a heart that willfully submits to God’s commands.
Monday, January 23
Call the family together.
Pray.
Read: Psalms 119:65-72
Ask: What does verse 67 say about coming back to God and His Word? (The author says that affliction or trouble is what brought him back to God’s Word.)
How does verse 71 confirm this? (It states that it was good for me to go through affliction so that I would learn God’s Word.)
What does verse 68 say about the character of God? (It says that God is good and does good. We can trust His law is good for us because God works on our behalf and for our good.)
How does he describe his commitment to God in verse 69? (He wants to follow the Lord with his whole heart! He desires to keep God’s Word with his whole heart.)
How important is God’s Word to him according to verse 72? (God’s Word is worth more than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. The treasures of this world cannot compare with God’s Word!)
Lesson: Sometimes affliction is good for us. Personally, going through trials can bring a person back to God and renew the habits of prayer, Bible study and worship. Nationally, we are now facing economic struggles. It is probable that many will humble themselves before God and seek Him again. Adversity provides a good opportunity to grow spiritually.
Memory Verse: “This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.” (Psalms 119:50)
Pray: Thank the Lord for any affliction that you may be facing in life. Pray that God would draw you closer to Him through your trials. Pray for someone else you know who is enduring hard times that God would use it in their life to draw them back to Himself.
Tuesday, January 24
Call the family together.
Pray.
Read: Psalms 119:73-80
Ask: What does the author proclaim in verse 73? (That God made him. He understands he was fashioned by the hands of God. He prays that God would also give him knowledge.)
Why does he think others that follow God will be glad to see him? (The Psalmist has put his hope in God’s Word and God faithfully fulfilled His promises. Others who go through trouble will be glad to see him because his life is a reminder that God can be trusted!)
How does he describe his troubles in verse 75? (That his affliction is evidence of God’s faithfulness. The Psalmist had drifted from the Lord and God brought affliction to turn him back.)
Where did he find comfort in affliction according to verse 76? (The Word of God.)
Where did he learn about God’s mercy in verse 77? (The Word of God.)
What is his prayer in verse 80? (That his life would be without blame; that he would be pure and holy and never embarrassed about how he has lived.)
Lesson: A key element in surrendering to God and His Word is the confession that we are created by God. God’s Word is truth about everything. We are not accidents but creations of God. We are not random but made with purpose. God has showed us how to live life through His Word.
Memory Verse: “This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.” (Psalms 119:50)
Pray: Thank the Lord for His Word. Thank Him that you have been fashioned with purpose and are here for His glory. Renew your commitment to live your life for Jesus.
Wednesday, January 25
Call the family together.
Pray.
Read: Psalms 119:81-88
Ask: What does the soul of man long for according to verse 81? (the salvation of God)
Where does the author put his hope? (In God ‘s Word.)
According to verse 82, how intense is his search of the Bible? (He reads the scriptures so much that he strains his eyes.)
What seems to be his complaint in verses 83-85? (People have persecuted him and have tried to trap him. He is wanting for God to intervene and punish the evil ones.)
According to verse 87, how faithfully did he obey God’s Word? (Even when his life was threatened and death was near he continued to follow God’s law.)
How does he describe God in verse 88? (God is full of lovingkindness. The Psalmist longs to be renewed in both physically and spiritually through God’s lovingkindness so that he can obey the scriptures.
Lesson: The soul of man can only be satisfied with the salvation of God. We need the Lord to meet the deepest needs in our lives. We can trust God’s Word to give us hope through affliction and need to resolve to stay faithful till death.
Memory Verse: “This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.” (Psalms 119:50)
Pray: Ask the Lord to help you understand the Word of God better. Pray for His Spirit to guide you in the study of the Bible and reveal truths that can nurture your soul.
Thursday, January 26
Call the family together.
Pray.
Read: Psalms 119:89-96
Ask: How long is God’s Word been settled in heaven? (Forever!)
How long will God’s faithfulness endure? (To all generations.)
What is one example of the lasting power of God’s handiwork? (The world – He created it and it endures to this day – see verse 90.)
What saved the writer in time of trouble? (The Word of God is what gave him hope in trouble.)
What does verse 93 say that the Word of God gives? (The Word of God gives life.)
What does verse 96 means? (The author seems to say that perfection has limits but God’s Word has no limits. The NIV reads, “To all perfection I see a limit; but your commands are boundless.”)
Lesson: There is nothing in this world that can destroy the Word of God. God’s Word is settled forever in heaven. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away but My words will never pass away” – Matthew 24:35. You can trust the Word of God to be true forever.
Memory Verse: “This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.” (Psalms 119:50)
Pray: Pray that God will increase your faith that His Word is true. Pray that you would explore it deeper though you can never probe the depths of its truths. Pray that you would live by it and be changed by it.
Friday, January 27
Call the family together.
Pray.
Read: Psalms 119:97-104
Ask: What does verse 97 mean about the Word of God being his meditation all the day? (To meditate is to think about something over and over. The author says he thinks about the Word of God all day long.)
Who are three groups of people that the author says he exceeds in wisdom because of the Word of God? (He is wiser than his enemies in verse 98; he is wiser than his teachers in verse 99; and wiser than the elders of the land in verse 100.)
What has God’s Word kept him from in verse 101? (God’s Word has kept him from evil. He has been taught by God’s Word and stayed away from evil.)
What does he compare the scriptures to in verse 103? (He compares the Word of God to honey – he says that God’s Word is sweeter than honey!)
Lesson: People search for wisdom. They long for answers to life’s questions. Many live despondent because of lack of wisdom and confusion. The Word of God makes you wise. The world claims wisdom but also declares that the fool says there is no god – Psalms 14:1. The wisdom of this world is foolishness but God’s Word will make you wise with the wisdom of God!
Memory Verse: “This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.” (Psalms 119:50)
Pray: Pray for wisdom through God’s Word. Pray for confidence in God’s Word. Pray that others would come to understand the treasure of God’s Word.
Sunday, January 28
Call the family together.
Pray.
Read: Psalms 119:105-112
Ask: How does he describe God’s Word in verse 105? (God’s Word is a lamp to guide the feed and a light to brighten the path. God’s Word gives direction and shows the way.)
What does the Word of God do for the author in verse 107? (It revives him spiritually!)
What do you think are the offerings of our mouth spoken of in verse 108? (The offerings of our mouth are praise and worship. Hebrews 13:15 says “…offer the sacrifice of praise to God…”)
What does he remember when he is close to death? (Verse 109 says that his life is always in his hands, meaning in danger or at risk, but he never forgets God’s law.)
What protects us from the traps of evil people according to verse 110? (The Word of God – we know how the devil works and can avoid his snares because of the Word of God.)
What does God’s Word do for him in verse 111? (The Word of God causes his heart to celebrate or rejoice.)
Lesson: God’s Word lightens our way in life. God’s Word teaches us how to live and dispels the darkness that would cover us. The Word of God gives guidance to those who want answers to life. The Bible is a spiritual light to a dark world and God has given it to us so that we would not walk in darkness.
Memory Verse: “This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.” (Psalms 119:50)
Pray: Thank God for His Word. Pray that you would embrace it as absolute truth and apply it to your life. Thank the Lord for the answer He gives for the questions of life. Pray for God to bless the worship time tomorrow.