How Can A Young Man Keep His Way Pure?
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word.” Psalm 119:9
Remember when our kids would build a fort out of pillows and cushions? They would surround themselves with them to protect themselves from any ‘enemy’ whether it be a sibling or pet who was the perceived ‘intruder’. It was creative and fun. But there is a great spiritual significance to that fort building.
Psalm 119:9 says “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living (or keeping) according to Your word.”
The word “pure” is the Hebrew word “zaka” which means translucent or morally innocent (1). Oh how we pray that for our sons and daughters! But in this world, corruption is easily attained, even if it’s not pursued. So how can they guard against it? And how can we pray?
We pray that they are living according to God's word. That word “living” is the word “samar” in Hebrew. Samar means to hedge about as with thorns, the guard, attend to, be circumspect and keep watch.
In Medieval times, the castle was always built with a keep- that portion of the castle that was the strongest and safest place. It was a fortified town and a place of refuge. Psalm 61:3 says, “For You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.”
Our sons and daughters will only keep their way pure, not just by going about their day with God in mind, but by surrounding themselves with His word, being circumspect- looking all around them and guarding against attack by the enemy.
Just knowing God’s word isn’t enough. Being familiar with it won’t provide the protection and defense we need. No, we need to surround ourselves so that we do not fall into sin.
Today, let’s pray that they revert back to their childhood days of building a wall of protection against the enemy, not with cushions and pillows, but with the mighty Word of God.
“Great peace have they who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” Ps 119:165
“Heavenly Father, You are the Mighty Protector and the Great Defender. I pray that You would surround (name) today with a hedge of spiritual protection against the Enemy. Lord, let (name) be ever-mindful of You and Your Word. May it not just be something that is ‘familiar’ to them, but let Your word be light and life to them. May they look to You for their guidance and protection. May their first thought in the morning be You and their last in the evening as well. Lord, help (name) to keep their way pure- not hiding sin but translucent, allowing Your light to shine through them. Help them to be morally pure, not following after deception or evil but wholeheartedly following after You. Be their Keeper, Lord and may their life be full of peace because they love You completely. “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25, KJV)
Pray without ceasing, friends.
1. H2135 - zāḵâ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2135/niv/wlc/0-1//
2. H8104 - šāmar - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h8104/niv/wlc/0-1/
Boundaries of the Thoughts & Mind
2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”
The battlefield of the mind is a dangerous place. There we struggle with thoughts and desires. We ponder sin...or make a firm determination to avoid it. We wrestle with doubt, anger, dark thoughts and depression. We relive memories that often contain vivid reminders of our faults and failures. The mind is certainly a battleground where the Enemy can disable and defeat us.
So what can we do? First, we need to demolish those arguments that fight against what we know is true according to God’s word. We DEMOLISH them. We don’t just set them aside or push them down, we need to destroy them. Then, we have to take every thought captive. If it’s not pleasing to the Lord or edifying to our hearts and minds, it’s gotta go. What are we meditating on? Do we want to feast on the fresh, spiritual food of scripture, or do we find delight in chewing on years-old, spoiled ‘leftovers’ from our faults and failures?
Next, we must remind ourselves of what is true. We are made in the image of God. Think about that. We bear the image of the Almighty God! He created us in His likeness (Gen 1:26). So we are God’s ultimate creation! Then, He set eternity in our hearts- giving us a sense of purpose and a longing for more than what we see and experience here on earth (Ecc. 3:11). So our value is rooted in the image we bear and the purpose we hold; they are spiritual, eternal, and gospel-directed.
The Enemy hates that. He will do all he can to destroy us. He HATES image-bearers. His arguments set themselves up against everything God says is right and true! So, when our thoughts and hearts veer from our God-given value and purpose, when they argue and war against what we know is right and true, we need to stop and redirect them back to God’s truth once again. Take every thought captive!! Don’t entertain them, don’t linger with them, don’t abide with them. Too often we get ‘comfortable’ with our negative thoughts. We live with them and maybe even feel consigned to carry them- it’s our ‘lot in life’. It’s just the way it is and although we don’t like it, we are so familiar with that mindset that to try and break out means abandoning our ‘comfort zone’, despite the dark discomfort it brings. Stop!! Do not give the Enemy space in your thoughts! Hang a ‘no vacancy’ sign and fill your mind with the Truth of scripture!!
But we don’t just take those thoughts captive and then sit there. No, we bring them into obedience to Christ. We have to shift our thinking. When Christ redeemed us, He pulled us out of the swamp of our sin. We were not meant to continue living there, up to our necks in the muck and mire of our iniquities. He changed our hearts, our minds and our spiritual destination. So, when we struggle with thoughts and feelings that are negative, dark and defeating, we’re heading back to the swamp. God placed boundaries for us to protect us from that space...let’s not jump the wall and head back to our sinful, hopelessness.
So, then, what do we think on? Whatever is true- we are made in God’s image, we are His children, we are holy and dearly loved. That is truth! Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life- think on Him!! Then, whatever is noble- that’s the stuff that’s honorable and honest, not the lies from the pit, but the Truth from the Word! Whatever is pure and unpolluted is what should be at home in our hearts and minds. Leave no room for filth and lies. If it’s of ‘this world’ it’s likely tainted...so fill your minds with scripture! Then, whatever is lovely. Friends, we can spot ‘lovely’ a mile away!! Run after that- seek to fill your minds with beautiful things of the Lord. If it’s admirable, embrace it. If it’s sketchy, kick it to the curb! Whatever is praiseworthy- think on it. If it’s not praiseworthy, it’s likely an intruder...a ‘plant’ by the Enemy to derail our walk.
Let’s pray for our sons and daughters today that they will take EVERY thought captive and bring it into obedience. Pray that they would understand their value and purpose and would guard it well, abiding by firm boundaries of the mind, allowing the Lord to be the Master of their thoughts and the One on whom they meditate. Pray that the Enemy would be powerless to affect them and that their thoughts would be centered on all that is just, good and lovely according to the Lord.
Pray for boundaries and protection, today and every day.
Pray without ceasing.