Psalm 119: Focus On God's Word Pt. 117 Turning Our Hearts So That We Can Enjoy God.

Psalm 119:36  Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. 

So far, we are learning what the Psalmist mean when he asked Jehovah to incline or turn his heart toward the word of God. He also prayed that God would turn his heart away from our natural tendency of being covetous. 

We are always to be on guard against this sin because it is so easy for us to fall into covetousness. Left to our own devices, we will become self centered and self absorbed. Thus, we need God to intervene and help us. 

God must incline our hearts so that we seek the things of God. 

1 Kings 8:57,58  The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us: 58) That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. 

King Solomon prayed that Jehovah would incline the hearts of the nation Israel to Him. Why? So that the nation could collectively walk in His holy ways, keeping His holy commands in all respects. 

Our flesh offers no help. Our old man fights against God. 

Romans 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 

Paul helps us understand why we need God to incline our hearts toward His word. There is nothing good in our flesh.

Galatians 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 

The apostle put this into more vivid terms for us to grasp. Believers in Christ are in the middle of spiritual warfare. Our own flesh seeks to betray our faith and follow sinful lusts. Our old man remains a rebel against God.

Praise God, that our new man in Christ wants to do what is right and the indwelling Spirit of God does daily battle with our flesh and old man. 

However, the reality is that often we are caught up in these opposing realities and cannot love and serve our wonderful God in the way that we want to. 

Let the reality of salvation by faith in Christ settle in. 

Romans 8:1,2  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2)  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 

Victory comes when we allow the truth of our salvation to sink into our hearts. Since I was regenerated by the Spirit of God, there is no condemnation of God resting upon me. I am free from the curse of sin and the law that demands death for sin. 

Romans 8:5,6  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. :6)  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

We must ask God to strengthen us and help us be spiritually minded people who seek first the kingdom of God. 

Galatians 5:22-25  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24)  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25)  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

This is what it looks like when the Spirit of God has His way in us and we have a heart inclined toward the scriptures of God. All of this beautiful spiritual fruit will be evident in our lives. This is what it means to be spiritually minded rather than carnally minded people. 

Praying for Jehovah to shine His face upon us again. 

Psalm 80:19  Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

Asaph was one of the worship leaders and three times he made this petition in this Psalm. He, like the Psalmist we are studying, recognized his need for Jehovah to turn his heart in the right direction. 

We all need our gaze turned upward and away from self and the world. This takes help from God and He promises to give the aid that we need.

When we come to God for His grace, His good-will towards us and His good work in us, we should pray earnestly. We must continue instant in prayer, and pray more earnestly and persistently.

This is the idea that Jehovah will let us remember that He is reconciled to us. We can once more enjoy His lovingkindness. 

Asking God to shine His face upon us is like asking Him to smile upon His poor rebels, who are weary of their sins, and seeking His mercy.

We bask again in the glory of God as we recall that He has saved us from the power, oppression, guilt and condemnation of our sins. He saved us from His wrath and everlasting displeasure.  

Thoughts to Ponder....

We need the great work of God in us so that He inclines our hearts toward His word.

We also need His mighty power to turn us away from being selfish and covetous.

May we pray about these things and sincerely seek these benefits from our Lord.

May we praise Him in all that we think, say and do.

Bob