How can we practically apply the "great reward" mentioned in Psalm 19:11? Setting the Scene: Why the Promise Matters Psalm 19:11 declares, “By them indeed Your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward.” God’s commands are not abstract ideals; they are living words that safeguard and enrich anyone who obeys them. What Scripture Means by “Great Reward” • Deep fellowship with God (Psalm 25:14) • Daily guidance and protection (Proverbs 3:5-6) • Internal freedom from sin’s grip (John 8:31-32) • Steady growth and fruitfulness (Psalm 1:2-3) • Tangible blessing on work and relationships (Joshua 1:8) Recognizing the Shape of the Reward 1. Spiritual vitality—clear conscience, ready access in prayer. 2. Emotional stability—peace that resists external chaos (Isaiah 26:3). 3. Moral clarity—warnings received before disaster strikes. 4. Relational credibility—trust grows when people see integrity. 5. Missional usefulness—God channels blessing through obedient lives. Practical Ways to Live in the Reward • Schedule Scripture first: open the Bible before the phone. • Read until one command stands out; write it down verbatim. • Ask, “Where does this command intersect today’s calendar?” then plug obedience into a specific appointment. • Speak the verse aloud during the day (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). • Measure success by obedience, not by feelings or results. • Celebrate every kept command with gratitude; this reinforces joy in obedience (Psalm 119:14). Daily Practices That Keep His Commands • Two-minute meditation breaks: pause at mid-morning and mid-afternoon to recite and apply one verse. • Accountability text: send a short message to a trusted friend noting how you obeyed a specific command. • Evening audit: review the day beside James 1:25—“he will be blessed in what he does.” Note where you walked in that blessing. Sample Week of Application Monday—Honor speech: “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths” (Ephesians 4:29). Track conversations. Tuesday—Generosity: “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Choose one extra act of giving. Wednesday—Purity: “Flee sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18). Install or review safeguards on devices. Thursday—Rest: “Remember the Sabbath day” (Exodus 20:8). Plan Sunday worship and downtime. Friday—Reconciliation: “Be kind and compassionate… forgiving one another” (Ephesians 4:32). Initiate one healing contact. Saturday—Praise: “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Journal ten reasons for gratitude. Sunday—Worship: engage fully with God’s people (Hebrews 10:24-25). Encouragement from Other Scriptures • Joshua 1:8: “This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth…but then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.” • James 1:25: “But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom…he will be blessed in what he does.” • John 13:17: “If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” Closing Thoughts The “great reward” is not a distant prize; it unfolds each time we take God at His word and act on it. Obedience turns commands into channels of blessing, proving again that God’s promises are as trustworthy as the heavens He made. |
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