Your Relationship Status?

All sections of the Evaluation of Desperate Dependency have now been posted. As you have been considering Psalm 119 and evaluating each personalization statement, what are you noticing about your status as an individual who is desperately dependent on God?

Count all your marks. If you have completed all sections you have a possibility of 176 marks.

"I marked _____ of 176 verses."

Prayerfully consider which category authentically describes you currently and consistently. Of course, these are not hard and concrete determinations, because we are humans who are prone to error and deception that may cause us to evaluate ourselves either better or worse than God sees us. But the following continuum can offer a basic understanding of the status of your relationship with God and the direction you are heading.


Independent of God

• I am resistant to God working in my life. I want to be the captain of my own ship and determine my own direction. I am actually a very dependent person, but not dependent on God.

Searching for God

• I recognize I have a need for God in my life. I’m not doing so well at making it on my own. I am looking for solutions in my life and think God may be the answer. But I choose people, positions, and possessions to fill the God place in my life.

Desiring God

• I want to have a relationship with God, so I am attempting to satisfy that yearning. I think I know what God wants, and I want what God wants, so I pray and ask for mercy and deliverance, but return to my sins soon after. I find myself desperate, but not desperately dependent on God. I want to be dependent, but I’m just not there. I’m set on doing it my way.

Connecting with God

• I have a union with God that offers me fellowship. But I also have trust issues that result in fear and make me wonder, “If I turn everything over, what will happen?” I still have a long way to go, but I think I am on the right track. I am easily distracted from God’s purpose, but I am learning that He is faithful and continuously pulling me back to Him. I am learning to depend on Him only.

Desperately dependent on God

• I am not perfect, but I have an unwavering trust that He is the best and only option for navigating this life. He knows what is necessary for me, so I rely on His divine enablement for my personal empowerment as I pursue my greatest goal of glorifying Him. (If you believe you fall in this category, prayerfully consider if you actually completed the exercise honestly, or if you were merely choosing what you want to be true of you.)

If you are really brave and want to know more about yourself, you might consider asking someone close to you to complete the Evaluation of Desperate Dependency with you in mind. God does place people in our lives to assist us in our growth process. But if you are resistant to another’s assessment and feedback, there is the potential that your relationship will be scarred as a result. However, if someone completes the exercise on your behalf, your relationship may be strengthened because of the authentication of their commitment to your maturity.

1. So, what's your status?
2. What do you want your status to be?
3. What are you going to do to be Desperately Dependent on God?

Evaluation of Desperate Dependency - Taw

As you read through this Psalm, mark the verses that currently and consistently (more often than not) describe you. We have also created a personalization of each verse so that you can more easily determine an accurate assessment. Since Psalm 119 (NLT) is composed of 176 verses we will post this review in stages-one section each week. Take your time, and allow God to use this exercise to draw you closer to Himself.

Taw
169O LORD, listen to my cry; / give me the discerning mind you promised.

I ask the LORD to listen to my cry and give me the discerning mind that He promised.

170Listen to my prayer; / rescue me as you promised.

I ask the LORD to listen to my prayer and rescue me as He promised.

171Let praise flow from my lips, / for you have taught me your decrees.

Praise flows from my lips because the LORD has taught me His decrees.

172Let my tongue sing about your word, / for all your commands are right.

I sing about the word of the LORD because all His commands are right.

173Give me a helping hand, / for I have chosen to follow your commandments.

I ask the LORD for a helping hand because I have chosen to follow His commandments.

174O LORD, I have longed for your rescue, / and your instructions are my delight.

I long for the rescue of the LORD because His instructions are my delight.

175Let me live so I can praise you, / and may your regulations help me.

I ask the LORD to let me live so I can praise Him, and for His regulations to help me.

176I have wandered away like a lost sheep; / come and find me, / for I have not forgotten your commands.

Even though I have wandered away like a lost sheep I ask the LORD to come find me because I have not forgotten His commands.

How did you do? Count all your marks.

1. What has God shown you about yourself through this evaluation?

2. What has God revealed about Himself through this assessment?

3. How will you respond to the insight you have gained?

Evaluation of Desperate Dependency - Shin

As you read through this Psalm, mark the verses that currently and consistently (more often than not) describe you. We have also created a personalization of each verse so that you can more easily determine an accurate assessment. Since Psalm 119 (NLT) is composed of 176 verses we will post this review in stages-one section each week. Take your time, and allow God to use this exercise to draw you closer to Himself.

Shin
161Powerful people harass me without cause, / but my heart trembles only at your word.

Powerful people may harass me without cause, but my heart trembles only at the word of the LORD.

162I rejoice in your word / like one who discovers a great treasure.

I rejoice in the word of the LORD like one who discovers a great treasure.

163I hate and abhor all falsehood, / but I love your instructions.

I hate and abhor all falsehood, but I love the instructions of the LORD.

164I will praise you seven times a day / because all your regulations are just.

I will praise the LORD seven times a day because all His regulations are just.

165Those who love your instructions have great peace / and do not stumble.

I have great peace and do not stumble because I love the instructions of the LORD.

166I long for your rescue, LORD, / so I have obeyed your commands.

I long for the LORD’s rescue so I have obeyed His commands.

167I have obeyed your laws, / for I love them very much.

I obey the laws of the LORD because I love them very much.

168Yes, I obey your commandments and laws / because you know everything I do.

I obey the commandments and laws of the LORD because He knows everything I do.

How did you do? Count all your marks.

1. What has God shown you about yourself through this evaluation?

2. What has God revealed about Himself through this assessment?

3. How will you respond to the insight you have gained?

Evaluation of Desperate Dependency - Resh

As you read through this Psalm, mark the verses that currently and consistently (more often than not) describe you. We have also created a personalization of each verse so that you can more easily determine an accurate assessment. Since Psalm 119 (NLT) is composed of 176 verses we will post this review in stages-one section each week. Take your time, and allow God to use this exercise to draw you closer to Himself.

Resh
153Look upon my suffering and rescue me, / for I have not forgotten your instructions.

I do not forget the instructions of the LORD even when I am suffering and I ask Him to rescue me.

154Argue my case; take my side! / Protect my life as you promised.

I ask the LORD to argue my case, take my side and to protect my life as He promised.

155The wicked are far from rescue, / for they do not bother with your decrees.

I believe the wicked cannot be rescued because they do not bother with the decrees of the LORD.

156LORD, how great is your mercy; / let me be revived by following your regulations.

I praise the LORD for His great mercy and I ask Him to let me be revived by following His regulations.

157Many persecute and trouble me, / yet I have not swerved from your laws.

I do not swerve from the laws of the LORD even though many people persecute and trouble me.

158Seeing these traitors makes me sick at heart, / because they care nothing for your word.

I am sick at heart when I see traitors because they do not care for the word of the LORD.

159See how I love your commandments, LORD. / Give back my life because of your unfailing love.

I ask the LORD to give back my life because of His unfailing love and because it is evident how much I love His commandments.

160The very essence of your words is truth; / all your just regulations will stand forever.

I believe the very essence of the LORD’s words is truth and that all His just regulations will stand forever.

How did you do? Count all your marks.

1. What has God shown you about yourself through this evaluation?

2. What has God revealed about Himself through this assessment?

3. How will you respond to the insight you have gained?

Evaluation of Desperate Dependency - Qoph

As you read through this Psalm, mark the verses that currently and consistently (more often than not) describe you. We have also created a personalization of each verse so that you can more easily determine an accurate assessment. Since Psalm 119 (NLT) is composed of 176 verses we will post this review in stages-one section each week. Take your time, and allow God to use this exercise to draw you closer to Himself.

Qoph
145I pray with all my heart; answer me, LORD! / I will obey your decrees.

I pray with all my heart for the LORD to answer me. I will obey His decrees.

146I cry out to you; rescue me, / that I may obey your laws.

I cry out to the LORD to rescue me so that I may obey His laws.

147I rise early, before the sun is up; / I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.

I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in the words of the LORD.

148I stay awake through the night, / thinking about your promise.

I stay awake through the night thinking about the LORD’s promise.

149In your faithful love, O LORD, hear my cry; / let me be revived by following your regulations.

I ask the LORD in His faithful love to hear my cry and let me be revived by following His regulations.

150Lawless people are coming to attack me; / they live far from your instructions.

I trust the LORD even when lawless people are coming to attack me because they live far from the LORD’s instructions.

151But you are near, O LORD, / and all your commands are true.

I believe the LORD is near and all His commands are true.

152I have known from my earliest days / that your laws will last forever.

I have known from my earliest days that the laws of the LORD will last forever.

How did you do? Count all your marks.

1. What has God shown you about yourself through this evaluation?

2. What has God revealed about Himself through this assessment?

3. How will you respond to the insight you have gained?

Evaluation of Desperate Dependency - Tsadhe

As you read through this Psalm, mark the verses that currently and consistently (more often than not) describe you. We have also created a personalization of each verse so that you can more easily determine an accurate assessment. Since Psalm 119 (NLT) is composed of 176 verses we will post this review in stages-one section each week. Take your time, and allow God to use this exercise to draw you closer to Himself.

Tsadhe
137O LORD, you are righteous, / and your regulations are fair.

I believe the LORD is righteous and all His regulations are fair.

138Your laws are perfect / and completely trustworthy.

I believe the laws of the LORD are perfect and completely trustworthy.

139I am overwhelmed with indignation, / for my enemies have disregarded your words.

I am overwhelmed with anger because my enemies have disregarded the words of the LORD.

140Your promises have been thoroughly tested; / that is why I love them so much.

I love the promises of the LORD because I know they are valid.

141I am insignificant and despised, / but I don’t forget your commandments.

Even when I feel insignificant and despised I do not forget the commandments of the LORD.

142Your justice is eternal, / and your instructions are perfectly true.

I believe the justice of the LORD is eternal and His instructions are perfectly true.

143As pressure and stress bear down on me, / I find joy in your commands.

As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in the commands of the LORD.

144Your laws are always right; / help me to understand them so I may live.

I know the LORD’s laws are always right. I ask the LORD to help me understand His laws so I may live.

How did you do? Count all your marks.

1. What has God shown you about yourself through this evaluation?

2. What has God revealed about Himself through this assessment?

3. How will you respond to the insight you have gained?

Evaluation of Desperate Dependency - Pe

As you read through this Psalm, mark the verses that currently and consistently (more often than not) describe you. We have also created a personalization of each verse so that you can more easily determine an accurate assessment. Since Psalm 119 (NLT) is composed of 176 verses we will post this review in stages-one section each week. Take your time, and allow God to use this exercise to draw you closer to Himself.

Pe
129Your laws are wonderful. / No wonder I obey them!

I obey the LORD’s laws because they are wonderful.

130The teaching of your word gives light, / so even the simple can understand.

The teaching of the LORD’s word gives light so even I can understand.

131I pant with expectation, / longing for your commands.

I pant with expectation, longing for the commands of the LORD.

132Come and show me your mercy, / as you do for all who love your name.

I ask the LORD to come and show me His mercy, as He does for all who love His name.

133Guide my steps by your word, / so I will not be overcome by evil.

I ask the LORD to guide my steps by His word, so I will not be overcome by evil.

134Ransom me from the oppression of evil people; / then I can obey your commandments.

I ask the LORD to ransom me from the oppression of evil people so that I can obey His commandments.

135Look upon me with love; / teach me your decrees.

I ask the LORD to look upon me with love and teach me His decrees.

136Rivers of tears gush from my eyes / because people disobey your instructions.

Rivers of tears gush from my eyes because people disobey the instructions of the LORD.

How did you do? Count all your marks.

1. What has God shown you about yourself through this evaluation?

2. What has God revealed about Himself through this assessment?

3. How will you respond to the insight you have gained?