“Forever, O LORD,
 Thy word is settled in heaven.”  Psalm 119:89

God’s word endures, forever settled!

This verse, I think, is a beacon that draws a heart to meditate on the word.
The Psalmist’s meditation in Psalm 119 rejoices in God’s word and he prays for greater understanding.  His desire is that God will deal with him that he may know and live by God’s law.  He prays,
“Oh that my ways may be established, 
 To keep Your statutes.”  Vs. 5

“Deal bountifully with Your servant,
 That I may live and keep Your word.”  Vs. 17

“Make me understand the way of Your precepts,
 So shall I meditate on Your wondrous works.”  Vs. 27

“Establish Your word to Your servant,
 Who is devoted to fearing (reverencing) You.”  Vs. 38

“Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
 For I believe Your commandments.”  Vs. 66

These are but a few desires of the Psalmist’s heart.  (Read and meditate on the whole Psalm and see how the Holy Spirit opens it up to you.)

What is the desire of each of our hearts?  We can read the words in the Bible, but are they reality to us?  We can know about a thing by reading or hearing, but to experience something is to make it real.  Therefore, can we say as the Psalmist says,
“Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word.”?

For us, the “Word has become flesh and has dwelt among us…”  John 1:14 
And, Jesus said in John 15:15.
“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

Believers, do we have that insatiable desire to know the living Word, Christ Jesus?  I’m sure it is a resounding yes!  Our good and faithful God desires that we know Him experientially not just reading or hearing about Him.  How does this take place?  Through trials, discipline and circumstances.  Through the dealings we are thankful and rejoice knowing that it is God working so that we may know His faithfulness, His goodness, His power, His steadfast love, His righteousness, His Sovereignty.

Concerning discipline,  Hebrews 12:4-11 gives a clear understanding of why. I will just mention a few verses here:
“And have you forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as sons;
‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the LORD,
Nor faint when you are reproved by Him;
For those whom the LORD loves He disciplines…’”  Vs. 5-6
“He disciplines for our good, that we may share His holiness.”  Vs. 10
“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who are being trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”  Vs. 11

As to rejoicing and being thankful, Scripture says,
“Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!”  Philippians 4:4
“Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with   thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  Vs. 6
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  Vs. 7
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

James tells us,
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”  
James 1:2-4  The New Living Translation.

To know Christ is life!  And we have the indwelling Holy Spirit who is the one who leads us into all Truth.  We are a blessed people!  We are God’s very own possession and it is He who desires that we KNOW Him!!! 
How gracious and loving is our God!!!  
 Amen