Several years ago I realized I was reading the Bible all wrong. Just like everyone else, I opened it up to figure out how God wanted me to live my life. Basically, I read the Bible because I knew it would please Him (i.e. I was trying to impress God). But then God - who is so kind and patient - redirected my thinking and I realized that scripture, the Holy Bible, God's Word...it was all a revelation about WHO HE IS. 

That's a huge revelation.

I could continue to read the Bible to learn what hoops to jump through or I could read it to get to know Him as a person. When I shifted my focus and allowed the Holy Spirit to walk me through understanding God's Word from His perspective, the Bible came alive! All the verses I knew in my heart started to make sense and began to transform ME. As a result, I fell more in love with God's Word than I ever thought possible.

Then, I heard pastor Brenda Kunneman of Lord of Hosts Church teach on the importance of God's Word. In her teaching, she took a deep dive into Psalm 119 and pulled out points showing how God's Word benefits us. Inspired, I sat down and did the same. I encourage you to not only enjoy this list but go through Psalm 119 and make your own!

1. Makes me happy/Brings God’s blessing
   • How happy are those whose way of life is blameless, who live by the Torah of Adonai! How happy are those who observe His instruction, who seek Him wholeheartedly. { 1,2}
2. Causes me to not sin; I understand His ways (aka Knowing God’s Will)
   • They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. {3}
3. My path is straight, my life is “steady”
   • May my ways be steady in observing Your laws {5}
4. Keeps me from embarrassment/living in shame
   • Then I would not be ashamed/Then I will not be put to shame {6}
5. Gives me an attitude of gratitude
   • I thank You with a sincere heart as I learn Your righteous rulings / I will praise You with uprightness of heart… {7}
6. I learn about His righteousness
   • …as I learn Your righteous judgments. {7}
7. Cleanses me from sin
   • How can a young man cleanse His way? By taking heed according to Your word. {9}
8. Keeps me going in the right direction (living a narrow life)
   • Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments. {10}
9. Keeps me from sinning / keeps my heart pure / quality choices
   • Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might no sin against You. {11}
10. Teaches me to speak right
    • With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth {13}
11. Fills me with praise
12. Creates a desire above wealth (avoids coveteousness)
    • I rejoice in the way of your instruction more than in any kind of wealth. {14}
13. Keeps my mind at peace (on You…”whatever is lovely & pure”)
    • I will meditate on Your precepts and contemplate Your ways. {15}
14. Creates in me a desire for righteousness
    • I will find my delight in Your regulations. I will not forget Your Word. {16}
15. Brings Abundance
    • Deal bountifully with your servant that I may live and obey Your word {17}
16. Gives me Kingdom of God perspective
    • Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law {18}
17. Builds ever-increasing desire for the Word (i.e. Makes me thirsty for Him and His Word)
    • My soul breaks with longing for Your judgments at all times {20}
18. Brings discipline/correction
    • You rebuke the proud – the cursed, who stray from Your commandments. {21}
19. Become immune to the opinions of others
    • Remove scorn & contempt from me, because I observe Your instruction. {22}
20. Gives me counsel
    • Also your instructions are my delight; they are my counselors.
21. Brings hope & encouragement
    • My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your Word.
22. Fosters relationship (conversation) with God
    • I told You of my ways and you answered me; teach me your laws. {26}
23. Develops understanding & wonder
    • Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
24. Overcomes depression / brings encouragement
    • My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your Word
25. Brings Favor
26. Protects me from deceit (evil)
    • Keep deceitful ways far from me; and favor me with your Torah. {29}
27. Opens my eyes to truth
    • I have chosen the way of truth {30}
28. Increases my capacity to love/understand
    • I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart. (NKJV) I will run the way of your mitzvot, for you have broadened my understanding (CJB). {32}
29. Empowers me to live righteously
    • Give me understanding; then I will keep your Torah (Law); I will observe it with all my heart. (CJB) {34}
30. Creates a deeper love of God’s Word
    • Make me walk in the paths of Your commandments, for I delight in it. (NKJV) {35}
31. Keeps my focus on His way, not my way (keeps my motives in check)
    • Bend my heart toward Your instructions and not toward selfish gain. {36}
32. Changes my focus/helps me have the right perspective
    • Turn my eyes away from worthless things
33. Gives me life
    • with your ways, give me life {37}
    • in your righteousness, give me life! {40}
34. Teaches me to fear God
    • Establish Your Word to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You. (NKJV) {38}
35. Teaches me the way of righteousness
    • Behold, I long for your precepts; revive me in Your righteousness. {40}
36. Brings salvation
    • May your grace come to me, Adonai, Your salvation, as You promised. {36}
37. Gives me an answer for those who oppose or mock me
    • then I will have an answer for those who taunt me; for I trust in Your Word. {37}
38. Gives me hope
    • For I put my hope in your truth {43}
    • Remember your promise to your servant, through which you have given me hope. {49}
39. Empowers me to speak truth
    • Don’t take away completely my power to speak the truth; for I put my hope in your rulings (CJB) {43}
40. Instills confidence in my decisions
    • I will go wherever I like for I have sought your precepts (CJB) {45}
41. Produces freedom
    • And I will walk in a wide place for I seek your precepts (NKJV) {45}
42. Fills me with boldness
    • I will speak of Your testimonies before kings and will not be ashamed. {46}
43. Increases my love for God’s Word
    • And I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love {47}
44. Comforts in hard times
    • This is my comfort in my affliction (NKJV) {50}
    • Adonai, I keep in mind your age-old rulings; in them I take comfort. (CJB) {52}
    • This [comfort] has come to me, because I observe your precepts . (CJB) {56}
45. Infuses me with life
    • For Your Word has given me life (CJB) {50}
46. Strength in persecution
    • Though the arrogant scorn me completely, I have not turned away from Your Torah. {51}
47. A passion for righteousness
    • Fury seizes me what I think of the wicked because they abandon Your Truth (Torah). (CJB) {53}
48. Watches over my thoughts at night – Keeps Adonai’s name on my mind
    • I remember Your name in the night, O Lord {55}
49. Puts a song in my heart
    • Your statutes have been my songs wherever I make my home {54}
50. A guard against selfishness & covetousness
    • Bend my heart toward Your instructions and not toward selfish gain. {36}
51. Keeps me in His favor and mercy
    • You are my portion, O Lord I have said that I would keep Your Words. I entreat Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful to me according to Your Word. {57}
    • I entreated Your favor with my whole heart ; be merciful to me according to Your Word. (NKJV) {58}
    • The earth, Adonai, is full of your grace; teach me your laws. You have treated your servant well, Adonai, in keeping with your word. (CJB) {64-65}
52. Directs my steps
53. Reveals my motives
    • I thought about my ways and turned my feet to Your testimonies. {59}
54. Causes me to be thankful in unjust situations
    • The cords of the wicked have bound me, but I have not forgotten Your law. At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgments. {61,62}
55. Builds good relationships
    • I am a companion of all who fear You, and of those who keep Your precepts. {63}
56. Reveals how God wants to bless me
    • You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your Word. {65}
57. Keeps me out of trouble
    • Before I was humbled, I used to go astray; but now I observe Your Word. (CJB) {67}
58. Teaches me what is good
    • You are good, and do good; Teach me your statues {68}
59. Provides strength amid accusations
    • The arrogant and godless have put together a lie against me, but I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart. {69} AMPC
    • Princes pursue and persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your words. {161} AMPC
60. Teach and comfort me in difficulties
    • It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes {71}
61. Makes me prosperous
    • The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver {72}
    • I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great spoil. {162} AMPC
62. Reveals God’s faithfulness in hard times
    • I know, Adonai, that Your rulings are righteous, that even when You humble me You are faithful. {75}
63. Provides Comfort
    • Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Your word to Your servant. {76}
64. Opens my eyes to God’s mercy
    • Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for Your law is my delight. {77} NKJV
65. Wisdom to stand against enemies
    • Let the proud be ashamed, because they wrong me with lies; as for me, I will meditate on Your precepts. {78}
66. Gives me a pure heart
    • Let my heart be pure in Your laws, so that I won’t be put to shame {80}
    • Your word is very pure (tried and well refined); therefore Your servant loves it {143} AMP
67. Stability and Security
    • They have nearly ended my life on earth, but I have not abandoned Your precepts. In keeping with Your grace, revive me; and I will observe Your spoken instructions. {87-88}
    • Trouble and anguish have found and taken hold on me, yet Your commandments are my delight. [143] AMPC
    • They {His precepts] continue to this day according to Your ordinances {91} CJB
    • Your Word continues forever, Adonai, firmly fixed in heaven. {89} CJB
    • Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for Your statutes continually! {117} AMPC
68. A source of wisdom
    • The wicked wait for me to destroy me, but I will consider Your testimonies {95}
    • You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies {98,99}
69. Sticks to me!
    • For [Your commandments] are ever with me. {98}
70. Adds value to my life (worth fighting for)
    • I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your Word. {101} CJB
71. Captures my thoughts
    • For Your testimonies are my meditation {99}
72. To know God’s ways
    • I don’t turn away from your rulings, because You have instructed me {102}
73. Gives me understanding
    • From Your precepts I gain understanding; that is why I hate every false way. {104}
    • I understand more than the aged, because I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]. {100} AMPC