Friday, February 28, 2014
Patterns For Life
For some time now as I have been reading the scriptures I have noticed what appears to be patterns embedded in various places, both the Old and New Testaments. These patterns seem to present to us as believers thoughts, actions, and speaking that when repeated produce specific results, either good or bad. The outcomes are good when the patterns are God’s ways, and bad when they are not (the ways of man and/or evil). On the surface this may seem either “common sense” or simplistic, but to me it is neither. It is possible it is one of the fundamental messages that God is trying to communicate to us, and through us to the world; perhaps a primary purpose to life. I found yet another example in the psalms this morning that I had passed by in previous readings.
Psalms 119:ZAIN.
49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.
52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord; and have comforted myself.
53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
55 I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept thy law.
56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.
Here the psalmist is saying that God’s word to him was his source for hope. God’s statutes have become his songs. Interestingly he says that in the night, when there can be darkness and fear, he remembered God’s name (which also refers to God’s position) resulting in him keeping God’s law. But the part I had not seen before is in verse 56. These things in the previous verses – hope, comfort, the ability to fight off the darkness – all were in the psalmists possession because he kept God’s precepts, God’s patterns for life. It seems that the keeping of these patterns perpetuates them in our lives, which would include all of the many blessings of healing, deliverance, and provision.
God’s way is a way of repetitive patterns based on His statutes. Want a different, better life? Find the patterns, and repeat them!
Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You today as our King. Today we have for You nothing to give but our lives. It is small compared to what You have given and do give every day. Please forgive us when we fail to keep Your ways, and help us to get back to them. Please send us today healing, deliverance, and provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.