May your unfailing love come to me, Lord, your salvation, according to your promise. (Ps. 119:41)

The freedom of salvation creates in us a desire to obey God. I have found myself in circumstances where I desperately needed the assurance of God’s promises. I craved his presence in my life. So, when someone challenges my Christian beliefs, I have memories of God’s faithfulness, and I feel secure.

This psalm underscores God’s unfailing love and how the writer never wanted to be far from him. When troubled by people taunting him for his faith, this psalmist prayed a simple prayer—for God’s love to hold him up. Like him, I know that God will give me wisdom to answer naysayers with truth. Because I love and want to obey, speaking with confidence will come naturally. If I imagine standing before my country’s leader, with him expecting my testimony of Jesus, I see myself praying for fearlessness, knowing God will come through. Paul’s courage when speaking boldly to Governor Festus and to King Agrippa inspires me (see Acts 25).

What can we learn from this psalm? First, God wants a relationship with us and promises unfailing love. Second, when we sit at Jesus’ feet and meditate on Scripture, we can meet each day with hope and courage to remain steadfast. We will take delight in God’s Word and be reminded of his grace. And obedience follows grace as surely as rain follows dark rolling clouds.

Consider your next act of obedience and let God make you brave.

Paula Geister lives in Michigan and writes Bible studies for her church. She enjoys reading and watching her rabbit jump around the house.

© 2019 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.