God’s Word: Searching for Joy through Righteous Regulations

Matthew Pearce
Jan 5
2 min read

Psalms 119:2

"Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.

As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should!"

Happy New Year, 2026! This year, let your commitment and desire reflect God’s will and purpose toward us. How can we know the will and purposes of God, you may ask? It’s in God’s righteous decrees that we should live the way He has purposed us to live.

In the longest book in the Bible and in the longest chapter, we see the life, joy, and peace God desires all His children to experience. The psalmist shares the extent and the method by which he keeps God’s commandments:

Psalms 119:11 NLT

"I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."

The wealth of scripture found in these passages reminds me of a king in the Old Testament whose reign comes long after King David and after the kings in Israel lost their need for God’s decrees and His ways. He was the youngest king in those days, becoming king at eight years old, and for eighteen years, God’s covenant had not been put into practice the way God intended for His people and for kings to rule by.

I’ve used this passage before in the foreword to my wife’s book, Purpose in Marriage: Prayer and Passion. It reads:

“During King Josiah’s eighteenth year of reigning, the high priest found the Book of the Covenant in the house of the Lord. Somehow this book was lost (he blew the dust off the book! Ha!), because generations prior to Josiah had forgotten God and the Lord. When he found out the truth about God’s covenant, Josiah became the king to continue the work of covenant and immediately began to walk in it.”

Psalms 119:18, 35–39 NLT

"Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money! Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.

Reassure me of your promise, made to those who fear you. Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good."

Points to Take Into 2026

1. Tuck the best scriptures.

Whichever verses stand out about your identity, purpose, and mission in Christ—tuck those. Commit to daily reading and highlight balanced verses that not only encourage you but also help guard your heart.

2. Start now.

Don’t wait on other people’s approval to start doing God’s will for your life. Like Josiah, immediately begin walking in God’s covenant.

3. You can do all things through Christ.