“How blessed are those whose way is blameless,
Who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
Who seek Him with all their heart.
3 They also do no unrighteousness;
They walk in His ways.
4 You have ordained Your precepts,
That we should keep them diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may be established
To keep Your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be ashamed
When I look upon all Your commandments.
7 I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.
8 I shall keep Your statutes;
Do not forsake me utterly!” (Psalm 119:1-8 NASB1995)
Speaking as someone who once walked in the ways of the world and of the flesh and of sinful desires, but who has also walked in the ways of the Lord in obedience to the Lord in holy living, I can tell you from experience that there is no better life on this earth but to walk in the ways of the Lord, and no longer in sin, and no longer according to the sinful patterns of this world. Even with all the persecutions and rejections that come along with being a follower of Christ, I would never want to go back to living in sin and for self.
Faith in Jesus Christ, if it is of God, and not of the flesh of man, will result in us dying with Christ to sin and us walking in obedience to our Lord and to his commands. For in Jesus’ death on that cross, he put our sins to death with him so that, by God-persuaded faith in him, we will now die to sin and live to God and to his righteousness, in holy living. We are now to be followers of Christ who walk in his ways, following him wherever he leads us in doing whatever it is he calls us to do, no matter the cost, because we love him.
We should be those who seek the Lord with our whole hearts, eager to do his will, to be his witnesses in taking the truth of the Gospel to the people of the world, and in loving the people of this world enough to tell them the truth, even if they hate and persecute us in return. We should be people of God who minister God’s love and grace to others because we love God, and because we love the people of this world, so we want them to know Jesus as we know him, and to be saved from their sins and to have new life in him.
I would not trade the life I have in Christ with any other way of living, by his grace, in his power. Knowing that I am loved by God, and that I am in the center of his will, doing as he commands, in daily practice, is the best life ever! And knowing that I am making a difference in other people’s lives, in sharing with them what the Lord is teaching me from his word each day, brings me much joy. And this is how I feel, even when I am being hated by some, and when I am being attacked and falsely accused sometimes, too.
So, I would encourage everyone who is reading this today, if you have not already done so, to surrender your hearts and lives completely to the Lord, to doing his will, to obeying his commands, and to walking in his ways and in his truth and righteousness, and no longer in sin. Let him truly be Lord of your lives, and serve him in doing what he has for you to do as one of his followers. Then you will have the hope of salvation from sin and of eternal life with God, and you will be blessed of God in your walks of obedience.
As the Deer
By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1
As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You
You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You
Login to view embedded media
Caution: This link may contain ads
With Uprightness of Heart
An Original Work / July 18, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love