I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.(Psalm 119:15-16)

I recently started a brief but important series dealing with resolutions.  This is in light of the new year that has recently come upon us and it is meant to encourage all of us on the matter of making spiritual resolutions in order to see and growth in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Last week, we focused on some resolutions that Jacob made specifically dealing with the matter of giving back to the Lord.  This week, I would like for us to focus on the resolutions made by King David.  His resolutions centered on God’s Word and the verses quoted above are just one of several resolutions that you can find on the part of David concerning the Word of God.

Notice some important resolutions David makes in these two very short but powerful verses:

First, David writes, “I will meditate on your precepts…”  This promise shows that David understood the importance of meditating on God’s Word.  His son Solomon followed up on that same thought when he wrote that as a man thinks in his heart so is he (Prov. 23:7).  Putting God’s Word into our minds and hearts on a regular basis is absolutely crucial.  The only way that we can walk carefully in this world, defeat temptations, refuse sin, and defy the devil is to hide God’s Word in our hearts and then to heed it on a regular basis.

Second, David says, “I will fix my eyes on your ways….”  In order for this to happen, reading God’s Word cannot to be drudgery.  It must instead be your daily delight.  I heard an old preacher say one time in my Bible College chapel that he would live his life with the motto, “No Bible, No Breakfast!”  His point was that he felt it was much more important to feed his soul the very first part of the morning rather than feeding his body.  I am not saying that every Christian needs to be that strict but I am saying that this is the desire that each of us needs to have for God’s Word.  Fix your eyes on learning and following God’s ways and God’s plan for your life.  The more you know about Scripture and the more knowledge you gain about God from the it will create greater growth in your life.

Third, David states, “I will not forget thy word…”  This is an encouragement for the memorization of Scripture.  Memorization of the Bible is not just for children, it is for every Christian regardless of age.  It is very important to read through the Bible each year and perhaps that is something you have been doing for years.  Why not begin to memorize verses each week this year?  Why not stretch yourself and begin to hide God’s Word in your heart so that you won’t ever forget His Word?  This time of the year is the perfect time to get yourself on a Scripture memorization program!

What is it that we can conclude from David’s resolutions here in Psalm 119?  Ultimately, it is the value of a resolve to read the Bible through this year and to remain in God’s Word on a regular basis.  Read to understand it.  Study to apply it.  Seek for Biblical change in your life and ask the Holy Spirit to mold you through the living and perfect Word of God.  This is the most important resolution that you could ever make in your life and I hope that you will do it.  The New Year is still new and you still have time.  Bible reading plans are available all over.  Find one that works for you and determine to immerse yourself in God’s Word in 2013!

Next week we will conclude this series by looking at the resolutions that Daniel made as a young man in a foreign land.