Perseverance
(Having God’s Favor, Part 6)
Psalm 119:33-40
What does it take to make it through life? Perseverance. Perseverance is defined as steadily moving towards a specific goal in the midst of all circumstances. Determination. Staying power. Endurance. These words describe what is inside you to meet and succeed in day-to-day challenges.
Ultimate perseverance is not something anyone can achieve from human power alone. The high power of God is the only source to pushing and striving so you shall persevere through the tests of time.
Psalm 119:33-40 continues to explain the guidelines to obtaining and keeping God’s favor:
HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness. (Psalms 119:33-40)
I’m asking the Lord to:
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Teach me the way of Your statutes.
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Give me understanding to keep Your law so I may observe it with my whole heart.
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For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:6)
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If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6)
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Make me to go in the path of Your commandments.
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Incline my heart to Your testimonies, not to covetousness (robbery, sensuality, unworthy riches).
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And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as My people, and they hear the words you say, but they will not do them; for with their mouths they show much love, but their hearts go after and are set on their [idolatrous greed for] gain. (Ezekiel 33:31)
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For from within, [that is] out of the hearts of men, come base and wicked thoughts, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, Coveting (a greedy desire to have more wealth), dangerous and destructive wickedness, deceit; unrestrained (indecent) conduct; an evil eye (envy), slander (evil speaking, malicious misrepresentation, abusiveness), pride ( the sin of an uplifted heart against God and man), foolishness (folly, lack of sense, recklessness, thoughtlessness). All these evil [purposes and desires] come from within, and they make the man unclean and render him unhallowed. (Mark 7:21-23)
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For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute [mental] pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee from all these things; aim at and pursue righteousness (right standing with God and true goodness), godliness (which is the loving fear of God and being Christlike), faith, love, steadfastness (patience), and gentleness of heart. Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and [for which] you confessed the good confession [of faith] before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:10-12)
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Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down ( relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] (Hebrews 13:5)
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Turn my eyes away from beholding vanity (pride and outward appearance).
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Quicken me in Your way.
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Establish Your Word in me (Your servant who is devoted to Your fear).
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And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you but [reverently] to fear the Lord your God, [that is] to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being, To keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good? (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
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O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; tremble before and reverently fear Him, all the earth. (Psalm 96: 9)
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Turn away my reproach (disapproval and disappointment of You) which I fear: for Your judgments are good.
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Provide me a longing for your precepts.
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Quicken me in your righteousness (a good, solid, right-standing relationship with God).
References
Psalm 119:33-40
Proverbs 2:6
James 1:5-6
Ezekiel 33:31
Mark 7:21-23
1 Timothy 6:10-12
Hebrews 13:5
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
Psalm 96:9
