Day 66 - Decision
Scripture focus: Praise the Lord, O my soul, all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Psalm 103:1
As long as our heart's desires rest solely in the "seen world" - we don't wrestle with the topic of today's devotional. We pursue our cravings, and reap the rewards of a good catch and bemoan our loss when our reach doesn't extend far enough to capture the prize. Success stirs us and failure requires a tweaking of the master plan.
If, however, we've made the decision to enter into the fray of a spiritual pilgrimage - eventually we're going to bump up against some tough truths and confusing dilemmas. How do we reconcile our cravings with our spiritual convictions? Lord, we want all our inmost being to praise your name! We do! But sometimes our inmost being is distracted with serious cravings for chocolate and peanut butter, shinier big boy and girl toys, a more prestigious job, more, more more. . . of all that stuff in the "seen world" that we perceive we lack. That's the truth of it.
For those who desire to have heart in an OFTEN heartless world, we must move beyond the obvious. Big hearted people have something that the heart stunted lack. What is it? Are they more spiritually passionate? I don't think so. Are they more sincere? Nope - not the ones I know. Do they have some kind of special spiritual ability that the rest of us lack? Nah, that can't be it. So what is it?
I've observed two characteristics that all the big hearted people I know share. The first involves decision. Years ago I assumed that the Psalmist cried out in delight, "Praise the Lord, O my soul, all my inmost being, praise his holy name." I pictured a person who thrilled to praise choruses and FELT the joy of salvation from the top of their heads to the tip of their toes. On some days, I'm sure that's absolutely true. Those are the times when we know that we know that we know that we are God's kid; the world is warm and sunny and wonderful; we not only feel God's pleasure, but delight in it. Life is good and we're loving life. Listen. Days like this do not require a big heart.
It's those other days where decision-making skills are required. The silence of God is deafening. The world is a dark, cold and lonely place. We FEEL the absence of God acutely; and shun the comfort of good companions (or feel shunned by them). These are the days when we need strong spiritual muscles. Unlike my earlier, immature perspective (spiritual people are perpetually perky and never struggle) - darkness, loneliness, and a perceived separation from the God who saves are not conditions of the heart reserved for those who believe poorly or doubt daily.
The Psalmist may indeed have sung out the first verse in this Psalm with vim, vigor and vitality - on a good day. But here's a thought: what if he whispered it through clinched teeth? What if there were days when he had to force those words out in protest against a heart grown faint? What if this cry is not just a song of praise reserved for the spiritually fired up but is also a cry for rescue from a desperate man - making a decision to believe IN SPITE of the contrary emotions, thoughts, beliefs, cravings, lusts, desires and passions that course through his veins? Big hearted believers aren't the persistently passionate so much as they are the desperately decided.
Recommended reading: Numbers 5 and 6; Psalm 49 in the evening
No comments:
Post a Comment