Reset And Restore
BRD REFLECTION 2025
Proverbs 31:10-31 and Psalm 119:161-176 (NIV)
(Koh Choon Chye, Mandarin Ministry)
READ:
Psalm 119:161-176 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
Psalm 119:161-168 declares the psalmist’s deep love for God’s word and total obedience to His Law even when confronted with persecution. He rejoices in God’s promises and praises God daily for His righteousness. It is more than just a daily ritual but a complete worship from the heart. The psalmist continues to praise God for the great inner peace that trials cannot disrupt when we obey His law. He goes on to declare his love and obedience in verse 167.
Psalm 119:169-176 reveals a heartfelt, prayerful cry to God. The psalmist begins by crying out to God for His wisdom and truth amid struggles. He anchors his request in God’s promise and not his own. Walking in obedience and trust, he boldly asks for God’s intervention and deliverance. The psalm ends with a confession. Even though the psalmist loves God’s word and lives in obedience, he admits he strays. Yet, he cries out with hope, knowing that God, like a faithful shepherd, seeks out the lost and lovingly restores them.
APPLY:
Though persecuted, the psalmist does not fear his enemies—instead, he holds a deep reverence for God’s Word. He remains steadfast in prayer and worship, fixing his eyes on God’s truth as his source of strength, peace, and courage.
How would I respond when I face opposition, hardship, and challenges? Do I instinctively rely on my own strength—defending myself, seeking to clear things up? Or do I turn to God’s Word for wisdom, clarity, and strength?
I wonder: do I cherish God’s Word the way the psalmist did? Honestly, I fall far short. I have spent much of my time working and serving in church, but in doing so, I’ve neglected the very foundation—God’s Word. I must admit, I have strayed. My daily time with Him, in worship and reading Scripture, has faded. While I have been actively serving God, I now see that service alone is not what He desires most. What He longs for is a deep, personal relationship with me—one that is nurtured through time spent in His presence and in His Word.
DO:
I will
- Seek God’s word first whenever I encounter any challenges in life.
- Realign my priorities and manage my time wisely, making space each day to read God’s Word and pray regularly, not just in times of trouble.
- Choose to see time with God not as an obligation, but as a joy. To not merely read His Word, but to truly treasure and love it.
PRAY:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. It has stirred my heart and reminded me to pause, reflect, and reset my priorities. Thank You for allowing me to come back to You who knows I stray. I come before You now, to restore and deepen the relationship I have allowed to grow distant. When the weight of the world presses in, help me to anchor my heart in the peace and joy of Your truth. Teach me not only to study Your word, but to love it. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
