2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Note the word ‘all’ which means everything without exception.

From this verse we gather two truths. Scripture is God-breathed, and it is profitable. It is not all written to us, but we can make personal applications from it all. I do know that since I started reading through my Bible consistently, it speaks to my heart differently according to the season I am in.

As I was meditating on Psalm 119:14 I realized that it was a verse which draws a line in the sand. It says, “I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.” Hmm. It makes my heart stutter at the second part’s comparison. How will I make an application?

Isaiah 43:18 is one of my ancient path verses. It says, “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.” Consider means to ponder and think about it. Verse 19 in the Amplified says, “Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it?…”

When we are so caught up in a mental dialogue about things in our past, we will miss what the Lord is seeking to do in our present. The Lord is always at work in our lives. I had a friend email me a quote this morning. “Is my faith in an outcome, or is my faith in God?”

Jesus instructed His disciples in Mark 11:22, “…Have faith in God.” Each time we veer off track, it is because we have lost sight of the Lord. Our circumstances can change in a moment, but His purposes for us remain steadfast and immovable through every change.

I memorized Psalm 119:9 as a child. My understanding has greatly broadened since then. As I was meditating on it recently, I thought about the word ‘heed’ and other verses that use that word. The Hebrews means: to keep, guard, observe, retain, and treasure up in memory.

How do we keep unspotted from the world? The Amplified says, “…By taking heed and keeping watch (on himself) according to Your word (conforming his life to it).” Here is a great explanation for conformity from another translation.

Romans 12:2 J. B. Phillips says, “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within…” God’s way of conforming is through inner transformation. His way of righteousness is to mold our thoughts, purpose, and actions to His will and ways. He does that as we embrace His truths and make them our own.

Psalm 119:4 says, “You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently.” My mind goes back to Deuteronomy 28:1. It says, “…if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments…” The chapter continued with the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience.

Peter reminded his readers in 2 Peter 1:5 to give all diligence to add certain inward graces to their faith. Both verses were written to others, but we can make personal applications. Our diligence is evident through our actions or inactions. All actions follow thoughts.

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Our heart is our belief center. Our life is a vineyard that needs to be tended. What have you neglected to prune from your thoughts?

When we fill our mind with thoughts based in God’s word, our actions will be righteous. Our hearts will be guarded by His inner sentinel of truth. Our discernment will be sharp. As Proverbs 2:11-13 says, “Discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil…from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness.”

We will not stray from the truth of God’s way when it becomes our guiding compass. Psalm 73:24 says, “You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.”

Psalm 64:10 says, “The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory.” Being attentive, alert, and willing to follow are key components in our progressive sanctification.

I have been meditating on Psalm 119:3 for several days. It was written about those who walk uprightly. It says, “They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways.” There is an essential key for us.

Psalm 18:30 says, “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” Perfect. No way to improve. Complete. Then verse 32 says, “It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.”

Walking in God’s perfect way keeps us from sin~protects us when tempted. When we stray from His way we get derailed. His way is truth, our way is based in self-deception. Anytime we put our way ahead of God’s we will sin. Sobering truth. Romans 6:1-2 states that we don’t have to sin because we died to sin at salvation.

All thoughts bear fruit ~ life-giving or destructive. When we meditate on God’s word, He expands on His truths through life-sustaining rich insights. Insights empower. They bring clarity, wisdom, understanding, and direction.

Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…” Caroline Leaf is a Christian neuroscientist. She uses a very gnarled wire tree to illustrate how our toxic thoughts create such chaos in our brains.

We are a reflection of our thoughts. Meditation on God’s word changes our brain’s neural pathways. Amazing. We are truly fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14. 

Consider: all of God’s thoughts are life-giving. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thought of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Psalm 139:17 says, “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them.”

Years ago I sawed off a low hanging branch on a tree in my backyard. It exhausted me and I went in to lay down. I went out a half hour later to drag it to the dumpster in our mobile park. It was totally wilted. I was amazed.

Once the Lord prunes a fruitful branch it will bear no more fruit. It is done. In 1999 He pruned one of my fruitful branches. He stopped that ministry with His pruning shears. Perhaps you can relate.

God’s goal in pruning a fruitful branch was stated in verse 8. It says “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you will be My disciples.” The test of discipleship is fruit borne as we abide in Him. Verse 5 Amplified says, “…Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me (cut off from vital union with Me) you can do nothing.”

Last night I came to John 15 in my daily reading. As I read verse 2, I stopped and looked it up in other translations. The Greek for “He takes away” means to raise, lift up, take away, and to remove. In my mind I envisioned Him picking up the branch and inspecting it.

Verse 2 clarifies that John was talking about believers. It says, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” Only a believer can be IN Christ.

Fast forward to Ephesians 1. I encourage you to circle the word ‘in’ or write it down. Here are two. Verse 3 says that we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Verse 4 says, “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…”

Psalm 119:7 says, “I will praise You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments.” I want to make something clear. This verse is talking about our progressive sanctification ~ a learning process.

Our standing was stated clearly in 2 Corinthians 5:21. It says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” The moment we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are given His righteousness. This verse stated an instant impartation.

Walking upright is a process of reading God’s word and applying it to our lives. It is an ongoing work that bears fruit. Isaiah 32:17 says, “The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.”

Psalm 11:7 says, “For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.” As we behold the One beholding us, we are transformed according to 2 Corinthians 3:18.