Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart trembles at your word. I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil. I hate and detest falsehood but I love your law. Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. I wait for your salvation, Lord, and I follow your commands. I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly. I obey your precepts and your statutes, for all my ways are known to you.

Think back over the past year: What are some of the good and bad experiences you have had? How did those experiences impact you — at what level did they impact you?

Psalm 119 is a long and wonderful Psalm, and today’s verses really stood out to me, as I was reviewing it.

Can you relate to being persecuted without cause? I can. And how does this impact you? Does it shake you, get you off course, or do you tremble in fear of the results?

The Psalmist says that in spite of kings persecuting him (my personal persecution has not risen to this level), he only trembles (fears) the Word of God.

This brings up an interesting question: Where do I go before I give worldly fear a foothold?

The Word of God and his law is like a great treasure. When we experience evil or hardship in the world, we have some choices: 1) We can tremble at it and shrink away in fear, 2) We can lower the expectations for our life, so it doesn’t seem like a big deal, or 3) we can run to God in prayer and to his Word for instruction, comfort, and promises. We can take the promises of God “to the bank” with 100% confidence that he will act on them, in his perfect timing.

It all depends on who we choose to love more every day: ourselves and the pleasures of the world, or God. Setting our frame of mind to start the day matters. The Psalmist gains peace and confidence in troubling times through the truth in God’s Word. He is honest about sin and transparent about his need for God. And he is obedient to God, the master of his soul.

So I must ask myself: Who do I want to tremble before, God or the forces of this world?

Lord, thank you for this encouragement this morning. I choose to tremble before you and you alone. You will be my daily priority and my shelter in turbulent times. I claim the peace of God and gain it by obeying and following you. Help me see through the chaos of this world and find your light to lead me each day.