Psalm 119:37 | “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.”

The psalmist pleads for God to turn his eyes away from what is empty and without value. The Hebrew word translated “worthless things” refers to what is vain, fleeting, morally corrupt, or anything that draws the heart away from God. He understands that even a glance can lead to temptation, for what the eyes linger on, the heart soon loves. Matthew Henry observes, “The eye, when fastened on these, infects the heart with the love of them, and so it is alienated from God and divine things; and therefore, as we ought to make a covenant with our eyes, and lay a charge upon them, that they shall not wander after, much less fix upon, that which is dangerous (Job 31:1).” Instead of being captivated by what is worthless, the psalmist asks God to renew his life through obedience to his ways. What might God call worthless in your own life today? Ask him to turn your eyes from what is empty and fix them on what pleases him. In his ways we find life.