Meditations of the Heart

 

 














Psalm 19:7,14 “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul…May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you. O Lord my rock and my redeemer.”

 

If my lord were to look on the meditations of my heart would they be pleasing to him? Or would they be festering with hurt and distraction, and selfish ambition? Would they be words that would please him or words that would bring him pain? 


Likely a concoction of the fore mentioned. When I look at the world or myself for affirmation instead of the Lord, I’m missing information and instructions. But most of all I’m missing the beat of his heart. I leave myself no opportunity to revitalize my soul because I’m only looking to things and people which already draw up empty. So much hurt and suffering are from letting someone else speak into instructions that were never meant to be revealed to them. The lord has specific instructions for each of us. If we are not careful, we begin listening to someone else’s instructions.  In a world of comparison and competition, let us turn the other way, consult with the Lord, and see what he has laid out for us. 


In 2 Samuel 5:17-25 David asks the Lord for instructions of what to do with yet another battle against the Philistines and if he should even show up to the battle? The lord hands him very specific instructions to go. David asks again when he feels uncertain in his circumstances, and the Lord provides very specific instructions of how to handle the movement of his army, what sound to look for from the Lord, so that David knew the lord would go before him and place him on the right side of victory! 

 “But after awhile the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim. And AGAIN David asked the Lord what to do. “Do not attack them straight on.” The Lord replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on alert! That will be the signal that the lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army. So David did what the Lord commanded, and he struck down the philistines all the way from Gibson to Gezer.”


The lord goes before us. Have we asked him to participate in our plans or even if the plans we have in mind should be carried out? Have we risked the shame we could feel at the price of a humble heart and victory to change plans for the Lord’s instructions? If we care to invite him in, we might even have a chance to hear the sound of his movement go before us, above the poplar trees. We just have to look up and listen. 

 

As a mom of three, wife, and friend, my mind is not void of worry, what ifs, and what to do's.  


Psalm 19:7 also says 

“The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul.”


Have I let him revive me? Have I let him take hold of the meditations of my heart? Have I held his instructions above my own wisdom? 


Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you. O lord my rock and my redeemer. 

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