Received, Not Achieved

Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall observe it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law
And keep it with all my heart.
Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.
Incline my heart to Your testimonies
And not to dishonest gain.
Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,
And revive me in Your ways.
Establish Your word to Your servant,
As that which produces reverence for You.
Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your ordinances are good.
Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness.”
—Psalm 119:33-40

We often erect barriers that make us feel inadequate. Why do we insist on making things so complicated?
Why do we keep adding layers between ourselves and the reality of God’s presence in our lives?

If I could spend more time reading my Bible...
What if I developed better Bible study resources...
I should memorize more Scripture...
I’m not spending enough time in prayer...

While all of these are worthy pursuits, none of them, by themselves, accomplish God’s purpose in my life.

What they can do instead is subtly shift my focus inward, making me feel inadequate and keeping me at a distance.

Why?

Because in each case, the emphasis is on me. My effort. My discipline. My accomplishment.

The writer of Psalm 119 puts all of that in its proper place.
He embraces the truth that all he brings to the table is... nothing.
Even his desire to pursue and commune with God is a gift from God.

Teach me...give me...make me...
He places the entirety of his desire in God’s hands.

Incline my heart...turn away my eyes...establish Your word...
The action belongs to God.

This is not casual language. The Psalmist is presenting himself as completely dependent. In essence, he is saying, “Even if I knew what to do... I would still be unable to do it — unless You act in me."

In this way, even his obedience becomes evidence of God’s work, not proof of the Psalmist’s strength. Rather than expecting us to exert more effort, God calls us to rest. To allow Him to finish His work in us.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. —Philippians 1:6