Psalms 119:35-37: “Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. And turn my eyes away from beholding vanity, and in your way give me life.” (The last portion is NAS translation.)
I mentioned in our last devotion that we would start with the “heart of prayer.” It is better stated, “heart for prayer.” For prayer starts with the heart’s acknowledgement of our need for God. If we believe that we can keep our “world” together, then it is doubtful that prayer will be of interest. Yet for King David who wrote the Psalms, he found prayer to be critical, despite his affluence and busy schedule. In fact, because of his affluence, he prayed to keep his heart from covetousness or vanity–that he not be trapped by them but that his “life” would receive only from the Lord.
And as it was true then, it is true now; there are many things that call out to us. These enticements “promise” us happiness, fulfillment, security, etc., beckoning us to go down yet another “rabbit trail” that could prove to have a “wolf ” at the end. We waste precious time and limited life resources in these pursuits. Our souls can only take so much abuse before cynicism or bitterness begins to take hold, or we just accept less from life, settling for status quo when God has so much more.
So what is the psalmist asking from The Lord in these verses? First, “Make me to go in the path…” This is acknowledging our need for help as mentioned. I can’t do it; I need you to channel my life, limit my choices, and let me see your way above the rest. These are all phrases that seek the same end: “Therein do I delight.” Hopefully, you have experienced the joy of spending time alone with God, both in prayer and in the scriptures. If not, then these words may not resonate with you, but it is wonderful and a very necessary practice for faith to grow. Scripture teaches that faith comes by hearing (internally or audibly) the Word of God. It may seem awkward at first reading the Bible or praying. There can be many mental distractions and interruptions, etc., and you may walk away frustrated; but the harder it is, the more important it is to do. The more resistance we have, the more assured we are that this practice is critical to our well-being. Remember, the last thing the enemy of our soul wants is for us to draw close to God (reference John 10:10).
When reading the Bible, especially initially, it is most meaningful when you can read verses that pertain to where you are. If you are having relationship struggles, hassles with your kids, personal struggles with temptation, etc., reading verses that address these concerns makes the Bible most relevant. In the Bible bookstores, there are help books, usually titled “Bible Promises,” where the table of contents lists many of the concerns we struggle with and where to turn in the Bible to find counsel and help. You will be surprised to learn how “real to life” the Bible is.
Covetousness and vanity have been plagues of man since time began and especially in a society that provides and promotes them at the fingertip of an iPad or laptop. But they would not have power over us if we were not such empty vessels. Filled with the life of the Holy Spirit, we will still be tempted by these things because of our human nature, but as we grow in our faith, we find that God completely satisfies. In reality, this is the missing part that these other vanities promise to fulfill but do so only temporarily. Wisdom would say my Creator knows best, and as I seek Him in prayer and study, I will learn of His answers and gain His resources.
So the heart for prayer first starts with an earnestness—an earnestness to find out what God says about your circumstances. Then, take the verses and pray them back to Him, “Father God, you say I am to love you with all of my heart, soul, and strength, so please purify my heart so that becomes true. Thank you and Amen.” Now that is a good prayer. Be ready for God to answer by giving you choices to say no to yourself and yes to Him. Continue to pray His words back to Him, and as you do, you will find faith beginning to grow. Most of us can find fifteen to thirty minutes by turning off the television sooner, having lunch alone, or getting up fifteen minutes earlier. I can guarantee you that if our boss told us we would receive a dollar-an-hour raise if we arrived thirty minutes earlier each day, we would make the time, and that is for something temporal. A walk with God is eternal. Nothing is greater in importance. Make the time; it is only for your life and the lives of those for whom you care.
Father God,
I am in agreement with your teaching of making prayer and study a priority in my life. Please change me so I value this and make time for it. Show me my need of you and the things I currently do that are interfering with my relationship with you or taking your place. Thank you and Amen.
Dios lo Bendiga – Arthur