Welcome to this Daily PBJ devotional. Read Numbers 7, Song of Songs 9, and Psalm 119, verses 25 to 48 to keep going in the Old Testament reading schedule for this year. This devotional is about Psalm 119, verse 45, but I'll read the entire section of Psalm 119, verses 25 through 48 that are assigned for today's reading. My soul cleaves to the dust. Revive me according to your word. I recounted my ways, and you answered me. Teach me your statutes. Make clear to me the way of your precepts. Then I will meditate on your wonders. My soul melts with sorrow. Strengthen me according to your word. Remove me from the path of deceit, and graciously grant me your law. I have chosen the way of truth. I have set your ordinances before me. I cling to your testimonies, O Lord. Let me not be put to shame. I run in the path of your commandments, for you will enlarge my heart. Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, And I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding that I may obey your law, And follow it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commandments, For there I find delight. Turn my heart to your testimonies, And not to covetous gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things, Revive me according to your word. establish your word to your servant, to produce reverence for you. Turn away the disgrace I dread, for your judgments are good. How I long for your precepts. Revive me in your righteousness. May your loving devotion come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise. Then I can answer him who taunts, for I trust your word. Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I hope in your judgments. I will always obey your law, forever and ever. And I will walk in freedom, for I have sought your precepts. I will speak of your testimonies before kings, and I will not be ashamed. I delight in your commandments, because I love them. I lift up my hands to your commandments, which I love, and I meditate on your statutes. This is God's word. And once again, this devotional is about Psalm 119, verse 45, which says, I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. Unbelievers sometimes complain that the Christian life is restrictive. You aren't supposed to party and get drunk every weekend, and you have to wait until you're married to have sex. You are commanded to give to God's work with your money. You're supposed to worship on Sunday instead of going to the beach, and so on. The psalmist here in Psalm 119, verse 45, thought that God's commands were just the opposite of restrictive. He wrote, again from the NIV, I will walk about in freedom. And what kind of freedom did he have in mind? Verse 46 supplied the answer. Again from the NIV it says, I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame. That describes the ability to speak truth, knowing that you won't be refuted because God's word is truth. Other freedoms that following God's word gives you would be the freedom from a nagging guilty conscience, freedom from the pain and consequences of sin, and freedom from the fear of death. I'm sure there are others, but this is, to me, an attractive list of benefits that we receive for obedience to God's word. April is almost over. If you've been reading these scriptures daily and following along with these devotionals daily, you've had almost four months of regular, direct exposure to God's Word. I hope you're thinking differently in some ways and finding some of the freedoms that are promised in scripture for those who believe and obey God's Word. But keep it up. One day of healthy eating doesn't make you a healthy person. One week of daily exercise doesn't make you fit. Growing in Christ through God's Word is similar. It takes daily practice to unlock the growth benefits, but they will come to you if you are consistent. And so if you want spiritual freedom, if you want the ability to live a life unburdened by guilt and fear, keep Read in God's word, but most importantly, be obedient to it. And I'll see you next time. May God bless you. Hope you have a great day today.