The Prayer of the Blessed - Psalm 119:5

Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! (Psalm 119:5 NIV).

Oh – There is a deep longing in all Christians to keep the commands of God. But guess what? We know how often we fall short. Like a New Year Resolution, we have the best of intentions, then once the New Year turns, within a very short time, all our intentions are just that – good intentions drowned by utter failure.

Here the writer is actually crying out to God. He is praying, pleading and displaying an intense desire. He is all emotion right now. We have already been introduced to what is required to have a “blessed life” (vv. 1-2). Keeping one’s way blameless (v. 1) and observing God’s testimonies (v. 2) are within reach, but so often we fall short. This is because we try our best to obey God in the power and struggle of the flesh. The end result is failure and misery. So the writer cries out to God, “Oh. . .,” which is simply His way of praying, “Lord, I need your help if I am going to pull this off!”

My ways were steadfast – “ways” in the Hebrew means, “path,” “journey,” “course of life.” The word, “steadfast” means “enduring,” “stable” or “firmly fixed.”

Okay, here is the meaning: Ever been on a diet and failed? Of course you have. What usually happens to the majority of people who start out with lots of high hopes but end in disaster? They quit. “Forget this,” they sigh. “I might as well be fat or undisciplined.”

This is the mindset that many people possess; I know I have struggled with this far too many times myself. Failure is what causes many Christians to throw up their hands in disgust and declare, “I might as well walk the path of a weak and defeated Christian. I will never amount to anything good for God.”

Within the first five verses, the writer of this Psalm understands how human nature works. He knows what often accompanies failure – hopelessness. So the he prays, “Lord, please cause the path that I take toward the blessed life to be steadfast, fixed and firmly established. Don’t let me give up over a few failures along the way. Don’t allow me to quit trusting in you. Stop me from listening to the devil and all other voices that say in so many words that I cannot become what God wants me to become. Please keep my walk, my path, my ways firmly secure, strong and enduring.”

Obeying your decrees – Again, continuing the previous thought, the writer is praying that he will not be so easily tempted to give up from obeying God. Walking with the Lord is always a challenge. Obeying God in big and small things means a life of commitment, dedication, duty and submission. There will be days in which we will not feel up to the challenge. It is during such times we are to pray to God and with all of the emotion and intensity within us, ask: “Dear Lord, the spirit within is willing, but my flesh is weak. Today, help me to live in the power of your Spirit and not in the might of the flesh.”

decrees – This means a “prescribe law or command.” God’s laws are thoughtfully prescribed with us in mind. You see, the Lord does not make arbitrary laws that have no thought of us. He prescribes specific commands and laws bearing in mind His people, knowing that it is for their own good and protection that they obey Him. God is good and everything that proceeds forth from Him will bear such resemblance. Never think for one minute that God’s laws are an attack on your happiness and well being. Nothing could be further from the truth. God has decreed such commands in order to ensure your well being. Therefore, don’t become weary in doing good, knowing that you will reap the benefits in due time (Gal. 6:9).

Conclusion: There is no possible way to strive for the blessed life relying on the flesh or human achievement. Cry out to God for help and strength and never become discourage while walking on the path of obedience.