Psalm 119:7

I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.

Jeff got his first full time job after high school and at first he wasn’t so sure about it. At least he had a job, but he didn’t know how long he intended to stay or what he thought of the company

As time went on however, Jeff got to know more and more people and what the company was all about. He learned about the honesty with which the company operated and how fairly they treated everyone who worked there. They didn’t throw money at politicians for company favors, but simply produced their quality product in quality ways. The company was fair and equitable in how it treated people and paid them. He watched as people were given raises and promoted who worked hard and were honest. He got to know the CEO as she frequently was seen with other workers in the company. She asked about people’s kids, things the company could improve for a better work environment, and just genuinely cared about people.

Jeff continued to work for that company for several decades because what he saw changed him. He took on and developed the attitudes of the company. He sang the praises of the company to many people. He did that because as he learned more and more about the company, praise about the company came naturally.

The writer of Psalm 119 had that same attitude when it comes to God and invites us to learn the same. The writer learned to praise God more and more every day with honest and genuine intentions. The reason? He studied God’s Word and learned ways his life didn’t line up with God’s will. He discovered ways his righteousness paled in comparison to God’s. He discovered that while his life didn’t line up, God covered over his sins with his Son’s forgiveness. That drove him to live more and more in line with God’s will. The more he learned about God’s righteous law and Word the more he praised God. God changed the writer and he praised God accordingly.

Spend some time this week in God’s Word, not just reading it, but learning from it. Learn what God wants from his people and honestly assess if you live like that. Learn what kind of life God wants from his people. Discover again the God of grace and mercy who shapes people, molds them to live like he wants, and covers over their sins with his forgiveness. The more you learn from God and learn to live like God, the more you, too, will sing his praises for who he is and what he’s done for you.