Have you ever just gotten stuck on a passage of Scripture….for like your whole life? A couple weeks ago if you asked me that question, I would have said no. And then our Bible study group came upon Psalm 15. And there it was, the passage of Scripture that won’t leave me alone.
Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart;
He who does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
In whose eyes a vile person is despised,
But he honors those who fear the Lord;
He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
He who does not put out his money at usury,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.He who does these things shall never be moved.
Psalm 15
I can remember pondering this year as a young adult, and as a new parent. Even now, as an…old parent (would that be right) this chapter of Scripture pierces me through the heart. Usually with a new dagger each time. Last week it was verse 2, “He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart.” Insert dagger here….
Speaks the truth in his heart, well let’s make it personal, in her heart… in my heart.
Do I speak the truth in my heart? Sometimes. But other times I entertain thoughts that wouldn’t fall under the category of truth. They would fall under more of the “I can’t say this out loud, but boy let me tell you exactly what I think of you in my mind.” Or maybe it would fall under the “I am SO unattractive…I wonder if my husband still….” Often in my heart is the anthem “You are not good enough! What do you have to offer that person? Nothing!”
Our hearts are a battle ground between the flesh, the enemy, and the Spirit. We’ve chatted about that before. But I must continue to remind myself of this important truth, the heart is where sin begins. The Lord has been so gracious and kind to us to reveal that truth to us several times in His word.
James 1:14-15 says But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Did you see it? We are tempted when we are drawn away by our OWN desires. Where do these desires begin? In our heart! How easy it is to overlook what is going on in our hearts and minds, yet this is where it all begins. I believe that this is one reason why the Lord had given us the exercises we need to strengthen our mind against attack.
Philippians 4:8 says Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Imagine if our hearts and minds were simply stuck on non-truths…stuck on lies! How despondent our souls would be without the truth in our hearts!
This week, each time I realize my heart is not full of truth or kindness, I am praying over myself Psalm 19:14…
I want to redirect my thoughts each time they wander into dangerous territory. This verse is so powerful! You see we can’t win the battle in our mind in our own strength, but only by His strength. He is the guard of our mind, and will help us to become more and more like Christ in our heart, so that the meditation of our heart will be acceptable and we may dwell on His holy hill.