I WILL Wednesday-8/26/20

It’s I WILL Wednesday!  

Teach me Your way, O Lord; I WILL walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. Psalm 86:11

Today’s passage of scripture comes from Psalms 86, where we find David continuing in prayer.  David is known as “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22) and this scripture exemplifies just that.  

David starts by asking God to teach him His ways.  In other words show, direct, and prepare him to be able to understand and follow God’s will and purposes.  David understood the importance of knowing, understanding, and walking in God’s ways.  But in order to do this, he had to be able to spend time with God.  It is one thing to read about or see someone from a distance and try to imitate what they will or won’t do, but it is another thing when you have spent time with them, then you can understand their character. You can see the contrast between your lifestyle and His. You want to be like Him because you know His ways are higher than yours.

Prior to the pandemic, when I was teaching my second grade students, I was able to spend time with them and get to know who they were as individuals. I got to know them and they got to know me. It gets to a point where I can say a phrase and before I finish talking they are able to complete it.  I know when they are hurt or sad, and they know what my expectations are for them.  We were a close knit group that gathered together for a purpose, teaching and learning.

This is what David desired from the Lord.  To know Him intimately and to be able to walk in His truth. To be brought to His side for teaching and learning.

David didn’t just want to know the Father to gain knowledge or to get blessed. He submitted to the Lord’s teaching so that he could live in the light of God’s truth, daily being transformed to the image of Christ. When we live like this, the Father will reveal His heart to us.

The second part of the scripture is essential for the believer. David says, “UNITE my heart to fear your name.”  That word unite means to be joined, as if in marriage, the most intimate relationship two people can have.  David strived for this, to allow his heart and God’s heart to be joined together so David would have full understanding of how God wanted him to walk, talk, live, interact, and simply be.  In order for this to happen, David had to spend time with God.  In the bonds of this relationship, God could teach David, David could know God. When God spoke, David understood completely.

Don’t we all desire this?  A close, intimate, and seamless relationship with God.  A relationship that is so close that even when we don’t hear Him, our steps are still in cadence with His heart! David was a man after God’s own heart, let us too be people after God’s own heart, to truly understand and follow His way.  So like David, let’s all say to the Lord today, “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I WILL walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.”