“I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.”  Psalm 119:16

In athletics if you neglect your training your skills get stale. Similarly, we grow stale spiritually if we neglect the word of God. As the psalmist writes in the verse above, we are to delight in God’s decrees. But as with athletic training, spiritual training takes discipline and commitment, and as athletic training is fueled by a love of the game, spiritual training is fueled by a love for God and for his word. As the psalmist writes in Psalm 119:14, “I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.”

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible and promotes the word of God as the word of life. Among the many training points the psalmist makes are these.

Vs. 24: “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.” We can count on the word of God for advice in all aspects of life.

Vs. 50: “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” In the most challenging times of our lives we can trust God to sustain us.

Vs. 89: “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” Heaven and earth may pass away, but the word of God endures forever, and his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Vs. 105: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” A light is a powerful metaphor for the word of God. I know how grateful I am to have a flashlight when I walk our dog at night; how much more grateful I should be for the illuminating power of God’s word in my life.

Do you love God’s word? Are you committed to it as your basis for spiritual training?