Resolving with the Psalmist to prioritize the bible in 2024

Also...4 suggestions on how to get it done.

Photo by Samantha Sophia on Unsplash

In late November 2023, I decided to put some order in my devotional life by taking the advice of Phillip Henry to his children.

I discovered this method while researching and writing my article 119 Notable Things About Psalm 119. 

This selection comes from the Charles Spurgeon’s Treasury of David:

“In Matthew Henry's "Account of the Life and Death of his father, Philip Henry," he says: "Once, pressing the study of the Scriptures, he advised us to take a verse of this Psalm every morning to meditate upon, and so go over the Psalm twice in the year; and that, saith he, will bring you to be in love with all the rest of the Scriptures." He often said, "All grace grows as love to the word of God grows."

I decided to give it a go. 

Taking this day-by-day verse-by-verse approach I’m moving steadily through this Psalm. 

The Psalmist’s Bold Resolutions

Now, in the first month of this new year, when many people make new resolutions, I got to a stanza in which the Psalmist is making a set of bold resolutions. 

They come in verses 30 - 32, in the stanza under the Hebrew letter Daleth (again if you haven't read up about the acrostic nature of Psalm 119 you can do so here).

He says: 

30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
   I set your rules before me.

31 I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;
    let me not be put to shame!

32  I will run in the way of your commandments
    when you enlarge my heart!

I have been singing this stanza with a sense of longing since 2023 when I memorized it. Even then I sensed it had a deeper truth for me than I could imagine by simply repeating the words (important as that was!)

Now that I am meditating on it line by line, I think they are perfect resolutions for a new year. 

These resolutions call for a commitment to prioritize the word of God.

They match our New Testament obligation in Colossians 3:16 to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”

Without Psalm 119 we should already be resolved to be in God’s word and, more importantly, doing everything to ensure that God’s word is in us.

Therefore, this year, drawing on the strength that God supplies me in and through Christ Jesus:

I choose the way of faithfulness.

I will set God’s rules before me.

I will cling to God’s testimonies.

I will run in the way of God’s commandments.

What should I do?

But how exactly can I let the word of Christ dwell in me richly?

Here are four things I’m doing this year, from which you may draw inspiration or ideas (or might have suggestions for me):

1. Simplicity

What works best for me are the things I can do every day.

How I was memorizing scripture before, for example, sorta worked, but it was something additional to add to my life. I had to find time to listen to scripture songs, simple as that was to do, I didn’t always get it done. I also had a hard time getting people I loved to listen regularly.

Combining scripture memory with making music - something I’d do every day anyway, meant I didn’t have to find a new slot for scripture memory.

It also meant I could teach my daughter the word, without having to set a time and - worse still, stick to it consistently.

I already sing around the house. By basically one change, making scripture music, I am memorizing scripture, meditating, and teaching the kids, without having to think about all those tasks every day.

This is my daughter Madison singing with me. We’re on vacation and I’m bribing her with a promise of popcorn but I just mentioned the tune and she could sing with me. She’s got most of it and just by hearing me around the house. That to me is simplicity.

So my suggestion: PRAY for insight and THINK how you can make the word part of things you already do.

Doing one thing well can fuel success in other areas over time.

2. Singing

There is no substitute for memorizing scripture. I always heard that. Now I believe it from experience.

I also believe in singing the word, if you are a musical person.

It works wonders for memorization but let me say, it is also amazing for meditation and worship.

It was singing these words that made me consider how and what the Psalmist must have felt. To sing it over and over makes a difference. Especially when you know the song by heart and can sing it Acapella.

Again, Colossians 3:16 says: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

This is my version of Daleth from the Psalm 119 collection:

Suggestion: Commit to listening to and singing scripture music this year, as a way to memorize the word, meditate on the word, and use the word for worship.

3. Systems

Nothing beats a great intention over the long span of a year like not having a clear plan. You need to know what you will do when you wake up if you want to make the most of the time.

I’ll share my plan as an example.

One verse

In the morning I write out the verse I am meditating on. It will be one verse for the day no matter how energetic I am. Maybe one line.

If I feel like I want to do more, like I am bursting with energy, well I write longer - but on the same verse.

If I feel sluggish. I slug on, but it’s not too horrendous because, again, it’s one verse.

Prayer

Sometimes I find I have less energy than I need to pray immediately after my meditation.

What works for me is praying about it the following morning.

As I pray for God’s help to understand the word I am about to spend time considering, I pray about what I saw the day before.

Listen through the bible

Instead of despairing because I can’t seem to make time to meaningfully pray, meditate and read the bible in the morning (and I, sadly, have not mastered the art of disciplining myself in the afternoon or evening), I have to choose what I’m going to focus on.

I get more from meditation, so I prioritize that. But I aim to read through the bible in the year. So what do I do?

I listen to it! After my meditation/prayer time, as I make breakfast or do something like that, I listen to the ESV podcast, Through the Bible in A Year.

They have some great options in terms of narrators and plans.

4. Supplications

Photo by Jack Sharp on Unsplash

Read this Psalm and you will see at every turn this is a man who is depending on God for help.

He resolves because faith without works is dead.

But he prays because working without God’s help is futile.

So as you work, pray like the Psalmist, “Lord…”

“Make me understand the way of your precepts,”

And

“…graciously, teach me your law.”

We also have to approach these resolutions in this spirit, continuously and entirely committing them to God, while we work in the strength that He supplies.

---

Those are my suggestions from my experience and my plans.

I am looking forward to hearing from you and sharing more with you in this new year!

Blessings.

- Andrew