Who I Am In Christ Devotionals

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I could learn your statutes. Psalms 119:67,71 Why am I in pain? Sometimes, only God knows the exact answer to that question. Sometimes, with a little patience and waiting on the Lord, I can figure it out; I can understand it enough. I’m sure there are always depths to any situation that I don’t fully comprehend. And maybe the simple answer is the best one today. This passage from Psalm 119 says, “Before I was afflicted, I went astray…” (And by the way, I’m skipping some verses in the passage today, but please read Psalm 119:65-72 if you have the time today) Those are sobering words. I went astray, so the Lord afflicted me. Or some would rather say it like this, “The Lord allowed me to be afflicted.” My heart and my behavior matter. They matter to me, to my family, my place of employment, my community, my church, and the church. When my heart and behavior are astray, it aff

This post is an audio only series of 7 podcast episodes on Psalm 119. You can find part 1 of the series here: https://arseayli.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-psalm-119-series-part-1.html.  If you like these or if you have a helpful critique, please let me know at arseayli@gmail.com.

  But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25 (NKJV) Not a Forgetful Hearer I am blessed by God's grace. And I ask Him for it. I must shower in the Word. I must read and pray in the Spirit, asking the Holy Spirit to teach me as I read. Alright, I can do that. I can look into the perfect law of liberty. "...is not a forgetful hearer..." Uh, I obviously need to confess. I am often a forgetful hearer. It hurts to admit it. Still, I'm hopeful. Because in His sanctifying work, He is doing it in me. I see it. I am being built up. I am remembering. I do some of what I hear. Okay, so I need to hear it 25 times before it begins to sink in! That's why I must soak in the Word over and over and over.  "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Forgiving and Gracious I must read it. Hear it preached. Read the works of godl