Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.

Have you ever had a flat tire, mentally prepared yourself to change it, only to find you have no tire iron? Oh, it has happened to someone (likely more than one) reading this. There is just no getting around it; you can't change the tire. If you don't have the right tools, you'll definitely need some help. Hopefully, you can phone a friend or Triple A for this one.

Suppose you need help or guidance in making decisions about relationships, finances, habits, your career, etc. In that case, Psalm 119 tells us that everything we need can be found in scripture:

"You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That's right—you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; Then I'd never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. I'm going to do what you tell me to do; don't ever walk off and leave me."

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible and is an acrostic poem built around the Hebrew alphabet. Its entire focus is on God's Word; His law, commands, statutes, testimonies, and promises. I'm not going to put the whole chapter here. However, I do highly recommend you read it (The Message version is excellent) and consider how the psalmist is speaking to God. There is so much emotion in his words as he suffers insults, pressure, and persecution while turning to scripture to sustain him. 

I am going to leave you with a few nuggets of scripture to encourage you: to know God's heart, hear His voice, and live His way, we must cling to His Word—joyfully, faithfully, and wholeheartedly. Even if you aren't toting around your Bible, you can grab your phone and use the YouVersion Bible app to search for (fill in the blank) and BOOM! The WORD at your fingertips right when you need it. 

FEAR: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

RELATIONSHIPS: "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

PEER PRESSURE: "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm." Proverbs 13:20

ADDICTION: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1 

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God's Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today's passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.