How do you find a sure confidence in God, so that you can praise Him every day?
Can your heart be elevated above the daily distractions of each day; the tiresome “more-of-the-same”; the “blah” of boredom with your status quo or the reality of another day of troubles? Can one move from a “fainting heart” to an “elevated heart?”
David sings in Psalm 61:2 “From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint…”
I understand that concept of a heart that grows faint: you feel down, upset, sad, battle-weary, just not as positive as you normally are. You are normally upbeat, but right now, you are just not joyful. I understand that David cries out to the Lord in prayer in the rest of verse 2 and 3 and says:
“…lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you are my refuge and strong tower against the foe.”
Translated for me, that is: “Lift my spirit Lord, help me to feel more positive. Lead me to a place in my heart and spirit that is higher than I am now.” The Lord is the answer: He is the Rock, the refuge, the strong tower. When we feel so low, do we turn into Him to find shelter?
David makes a choice to enter into the presence of the Lord, his secret place, he says:
“I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah”
Selah, means to pause and think on this. David enters into the presence of the Lord, focuses on the Lord, takes shelter in His wings and waits in the secret place of His presence.
He pauses.
Then he says: “ For you heard me…and have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.” (verse 5)
Our heritage is His love, hope, peace and joy.
Choosing to live with an elevated heart is practicing the choice to hide in His wings so that He can ultimately guide you to the rock that is higher.
For me it is:
- Choosing to spend time in His presence as I rise and as I settle down for the night.
- It is practicing a thankful heart as I reflect on my life.
- It is speaking out my praise: there is power in my words of praise, not just in glorifying the Lord, but establishing faith in my own heart. Somehow, when I say it, I speak to my own heart and my own belief.
- I purposefully focus on an aspect of His person until my mind settles on Him.
- Finally, it is what I call “looking for the beautiful” – finding His messages of love to me in the world around me. I look for His reminders that He loves me in the beauty of nature, in the actions of people around me and in the help I find in the week. By finding “something beautiful” I see that His heart is beautiful and He is the lover of my soul. It is a reminder that “He makes all things beautiful in His time.” (Ecc 3:11)
Finding that my Lord is beautiful, refocusing my heart on Him, helps me to find reason for my joy and then I can, like David declare with an elevated heart in verse 8:
“Then I will ever sing in praise of your name
and fulfil my vows day after day.”
Oh my Lord, it is good for my spirit to spend time in your presence to reflect on Who the lover of my soul is, the One who walks with me through everything. Thank you for preparing my path each day and leaving messages of your love in that path. I have reason to find joy in my relationship with You because I can hide myself in Your wings at any time. You lead me to a rock that is higher than I because you are my refuge and my strong tower.
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Thank you for your encouragement! It’s easy to get caught up in our trials and battles in this life. But God us here always willing to refresh our spiritual through His word. “Then I will ever sing in praise of your name
and fulfil my vows day after day.” Love your devotions! Keep on keeping on!