“Lord, you are mine! I promise to obey your words! With all my heart I want your blessings. Be merciful as you promised. I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands. Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your instructions. I rise at midnight to thank you for your just regulations. I am a friend to anyone who fears you— anyone who obeys your commandments. O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees.” - Psalm 119: 57-64 NLT

Nobody likes sacrificing something. When my wife and I got our puppy we didn’t realize how much we would sacrifice.

• Sleep
• Free time
• Personal space

We had days that we wish we hadn’t got her. But now we can’t image life without our Blu girl.

A relationship with God requires sacrifice. And it’s entirely on our part. After all, God sacrificed his Son - Jesus.

Relationship with God Requires Effort Just Like Any Other Relationship

Verses 59, 62: I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws… I rise at midnight to thank you for your just regulations.

If you haven’t had to sacrifice something in any kind of relationship, I have some questions about it.

My wife sacrificed sleep so we can go to the gym at 5:30 a.m.

I have sacrificed writing at night so we can spend more time together.

We must put forth effort in our relationship with God. I promise you can find time to spend with him.

• V. 59. We should meditate on this. We should reflect on our life and choose to follow God’s Word.
• V. 62. We don’t have to wake up at midnight to worship God. But we should always worship Him, even when it’s inconvenient.
  

Our Relationship with God Grows in His Word

Verses 60, 64: I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands… O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees.

There’s a sense of urgency in verse 60. This urgency shows progress, forward momentum to grow. Being in a hurry can be good or bad.

• When you’re late or about to be, being in a hurry is awful.
• When you’re awaiting something good, you want to hurry so you can experience it earlier.

In verse 64, the psalmist asks to know God’s decrees. He wants to understand. He wants to know. He wants to know God more by growing in His Words. He is desperate and urgent to know it. And we should be, too.