Psalm 119:26-27

"When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes! Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works."

- Psalm 119:26-27

I have to admit that I sit here and stare at these verses and I'm not quite sure what to make of them. Maybe that's because it's 2 in the morning. But they are in a way hard to wrap my head around. The first portion of verse 26 doesn't quite mesh with the second half. But maybe it does more than I realize. 

The Amplified version of verse 26 says "I have declared my ways and opened my griefs to You, and You listened to me; teach me Your statutes." The first thing that I notice here is how much the Psalmist understood prayer, and how prayer worked. He poured his heart out to the Lord. He opened up to Him, he told the Lord of His ways. He pours out his frustrations and griefs to the Lord and likely confessed his sin. And he knows that the Lord listens! Sometimes I can't even fathom the idea that He listens to me. He listens to little me who prays about this and that, complains about this and that, but He still listens. 

Maybe the reason the Psalmist follows up his statement with "teach me your statutes!" is because he realizes how much he doesn't follow them. When we come to the Lord in prayer, whether it be to pour our hearts out to him with request or seek forgiveness, we need to understand what He has to say about those things. When we confess our sins to Him we need to have teachable hearts that are willing to change and learn from scripture how we can change our ways. It doesn't help to seek forgiveness for the same thing over and over if we aren't willing to be teachable and learn what the Lord has said about that sin. 

The Psalmist asks for understanding of the Lord's precepts. Understanding can only be gained through careful examination or meditation. We need to focus on what the Lord has said. We need to take time to study scripture and examine it. His Words and works are without a doubt wondrous. The things that He has done throughout history are amazing. The examples of his wondrous works are numerous in Scripture. We would do well to meditate on them and remember them. When we go through trials, temptations, etc. It's good to know what scripture says about those things, and to read stories of those that have over come them. 

Heavenly Father, 

Thank you for listening to me. Thank you for your forgiveness of my sins. I pray that I will have a teachable heart to learn from You and from Scripture how to follow your rules and statutes. I pray that I will take the time to meditate or what Your Word says and that I will yearn for You and Your Word everyday.