A DESIRE, A PROMISE

One of the most terrible things happened in the garden of Eden when Adam chose his way over God’s way. He only found out after he had made the choice that his way was a “dead” end. His way led him to nowhere but trouble, loss, and, in the end, death. He lost God’s presence, His peace, his oneness with Eve, the garden with its bounty and, probably the worst of all, his direction in life. He was left to his own devises with no security in the present, no knowledge or hope for the future, and no experience of life to help him make good choices. Life had become, for him, a game of chance, a hit-and-miss nightmare, a daily grind with no end in sight…and all because of one foolish decision!

How often our lives echo Adam’s life… one foolish decision, one wrong turn, one split-second action on the spur of the moment and everything changes for the worse. We think our way is better than God’s way, only to wake up when it’s too late. What a tragedy!

There is a better, wiser way to navigate a treacherous, dangerous world. David took this course and, despite one or two deviations which cost him dearly, he emerged a winner in the end, by God’s grace and with His help.

To Saul, the first king of Israel, who chose his own way and failed to obey Him, God said…

1 Samuel 13:14 NIV
[14] “But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

…and of David, He said…

Acts 13:22 NIV
[22]” After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ ”

What a testimony from God’s own mouth!

What did David do to merit this affirmation from God?

He prayed…

Psalms 86:11 NIV
[11] “Teach me your way, Lord… give me an undivided heart…”

…and he promised…

“… that I may (rely on your faithfulness) walk in your truth;
… that I may fear your name.”

God’s way over his! A single-minded purpose to honour God above himself! A simple solution but a huge undertaking!

You see, we were all born with a powerful pull towards independence, like Frank Sinatra, who sang,” I did it my way!” That’s our biggest downfall. That’s the roadblock to real life. It takes God’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s power to get us over the hump of self-will and into a life of humble submission to the will of God.

When we have finally made that once-for all decision to dump our own stubborn foolishness for God’s
perfect will, our lives begin to take shape in a miraculous way, and our hope and future beckon with a bright golden glow that makes our present liveable right now.

So, I take David’s prayer seriously. I share his desire, and I ask God for that revelation of Himself that unveils His secrets, and keeps me living in harmony with His character and His purposes. I want, above all else, to fear His name because He is of infinite worth to me.

Psalms 86:11 NIV
[11] “Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”