READ Psalm 119:33–40. 33 Teach me, LORD, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. 35 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. 36 Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. 37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. 38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared. 39 Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good. 40 How I long for your precepts! In your righteousness preserve my life.
THE WORD AND THE SELVES. The psalmist wants to keep God’s law (verse 34) but finds the heart is easily turned to more self-interested ends (verse 36) and to idols (“worthless things,” verse 37). Ephesians 4:22–24 tells us that believers have an “old self” and a “new self.” Christians know that the old self struggles constantly with a sense of disgrace it dreads (verse 39), a feeling we aren’t good enough. That is a true intuition! But your moral efforts won’t address it. Only in Christ is the disgrace removed and a whole new identity given (Romans 8:1; Hebrews 10:22). Every day is a battle—will you operate out of your old self or your new self?
Prayer: Lord, I confess my old self, my old way of earning my acceptance and security, is still very present. It is why I still feel this sickening, vague dread of being exposed, found out as an impostor, a failure. Lord, burn deep into my conscience and heart this truth: The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. Amen.