Free from Frostbite - All Our Daily Bread Daily Devotionals for 2026

Our Daily Bread - Saturday, January 26, 2019
by RBC Ministries

Details

Free from Frostbite

Read: Psalm 119:33-48 | Bible in a Year: Exodus 14-15; Matthew 17

Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
Psalm 119:35

On a winter day, my children begged to go sledding. The temperature hovered near zero degrees Fahrenheit. Snowflakes raced by our windows. I thought it over and said yes, but asked them to bundle up, stay together, and come inside after fifteen minutes.

Out of love, I created those rules so my children could play freely without suffering frostbite. I think the author of Psalm 119 recognized the same good intent in God as he penned two consecutive verses that might seem contradictory: "I will always obey your law" and "I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts" (vv. 44-45). How is it that the psalmist associated freedom with a spiritually law-abiding life?

Following God's wise instruction allows us to escape the consequences that come from choices we later wish we could undo. Without the weight of guilt or pain we are freer to enjoy our lives. God doesn't want to control us with dos and don'ts; rather, His guidelines show that He loves us.

While my kids were sledding, I watched them blast down the hill. I smiled at the sound of their laughter and the sight of their pink cheeks. They were free within the boundaries I'd given them. This compelling paradox is present in our relationship with Godâ€”it leads us to say with the psalmist, "Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight" (v. 35).

Dear God, give me a love for Your ways like the psalmist had. I want to worship You with the choices I make every day.

Obedience flows freely from a heart of love.

By Jennifer Benson Schuldt

More From Our Daily Devotional Archives

Open Heavens
for Friday, December 6, 2013
by Pastor E.A Adeboye

CONDESCEND!

After seeing their plight, hearing their cries and feeling their pains, God came down to rescue the Israelites from Egypt. Our God is a mobile God. He comes down to deliver His own. As high as God is and even though He has His throne in Heaven, yet He condescends to meet the needs of His children on earth (Isaiah...More

Open Heavens
for Monday, February 17, 2014
by Pastor E.A Adeboye

DIVINE CHAMPION 2

Yesterday we discovered that our Lord Jesus Christ is the number one champion and that He makes His people champions. We also saw that a divine champion is a person raised up and supported by God.

One attribute of a champion is strength. The divine champion is one who receives divine strengthening....More

Open Heavens
for Sunday, January 25, 2015
by Pastor E.A Adeboye

EX-CHAMPION?

Although it is an unpleasant experience to be a defeated contender, becoming an ex-champion is a much more grievous experience. When you are not yet a champion, only a few people pay attention to you. But by the time you become a champion, you will be on the radar of many people, including your enemies. A champion has...More