January 20: Psalm 119:36 Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain.

Left to our own devices and desires, “selfish gain” wins out most all of the time! It seems to be our human nature at its purest to most always seek what benefits me and mine. The psalmist desires more than that kind of life, and in fact he asks directly for the tools he needs to leave that self-serving life behind—the decrees of the LORD. Turn our hearts in that new direction, we pray to you O Lord.