Read Psalm 119:11-16; Luke 24:27; John 5:39; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 2:2

Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.
Blessed are You, O LORD;
Teach me Your statutes.
With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Your mouth.
I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
I will meditate on Your precepts
And regard Your ways.
I shall delight in Your statutes;
I shall not forget Your word. (Psalm 119:11-16)

How precious is Your Word to us, our Father. The older we get, the more we realize its value and treasure its truths. We thank You for its precepts, clearly delineated and purposefully defined to give us direction. Thank You also for principles that, with wisdom, may be applied even in the twenty-first century, when it seems as though the world's standard for living has gotten fuzzy, making the future intimidating and frightening for many.

We're grateful, Lord, that Your Word gives light, because there's an enormous amount of darkness around us. We want to live on the bright side of life. We want to enjoy what You have for us rather than endure our circumstances. We want to see the beauty of Your purposes and how they all fit together into a divinely designed plan that makes great sense to You. We rest our case there, even though there are times it does not make sense to us.

Thank You, Father, for the way You speak to us through Scripture. May we realize its relevance and appreciate how often Your Word addresses the needs of our lives. In clearly stated words, it talks about where we live, how we are to live, and what life is all about. We desperately need that guidance. So we submit ourselves to You and we commit ourselves to the reading and the study of Your Word. May we be faithful and disciplined to this commitment.

In the name of Jesus, who loved us and gave Himself for us, we pray. Amen.

Excerpted from The Prayers of Charles R. Swindoll, Volume 2, Copyright 2010 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.