Casandra Martin

Psalm 119:9-16

Purity isn’t really valued in our society. Sure, we all want clean air and fresh water, but purity of heart, mind, and spirit is seen as something naïve or quaint. While protecting the environment is important, God wants us to be vigilant about protecting the purity of our souls.

The second stanza of Psalm 119 begins with a question. “How can a young man keep his way pure?” We are not the only society to struggle with being saturated with sin or immersed in immorality. Just hoping that we can walk through the gauntlet of temptations and distractions unscathed is not going to be enough to keep ourselves pure. If we want to be pure, we have to set up a guard, a sentential, around our hearts. The answer to the psalmist’s question is that purity is best guarded by the Word of God.

When we store up His Word in our hearts, it not only brings us comfort, teaches us about righteousness, and gives us guidance, it offers us a protection that we can’t find anywhere else. His Word helps us navigate through the darkness of our culture. It helps us see His truth in the midst of the world’s lies. It lifts up His standard, offers us a refuge, extends grace, and holds us accountable. It serves as a shield, an anchor, a lamp, and a guardian. When we fill our minds with the Word of God, there isn’t any room left for the impurity of the world.

My Jesus Resolution today is to value my purity. Pure things don’t stay pure by accident. Keeping my way pure requires me to be diligent about setting a guard around my heart. This piece of Psalm 119 challenges me to seek, store up, declare, delight, meditate, fix my eyes, and not forget the riches of His Word. Committing myself to these seven actions sets a guard around my heart that helps me keep it pure.