When You KNOW You Don’t Measure Up

Friday is for Discipleship

Prayer Random thoughts on Psalm 119

Psalm 119:18
“Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.”

Does this word not imply that my eyes are closed and blind to the beauty and wonder of His word? What can closed eyes see? NOTHING! They can distinguish nothing, not even the outline of the material world outside. The closed membrane of their eyelids obscures all that might guide their heart to Him.

And that’s why I need to pray this prayer every day.

Psalm 119:136
“My eyes shed streams of tears,
because people do not keep your law.”

No, they don’t. I rarely grieve this deeply over the sin around me. I see people ignoring the words, commands, standards of God every day and it rarely leads me to tears. Two conclusions:

One, I must not care about God’s will enough.
Two, I must not care for people enough.

Which means that I’m failing to love God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength and my neighbor as myself. Which further means that I am so thankful to have a Savior who paid the debt I owe.

It also means that I will know that I am becoming what God wants me to be when my “eyes shed streams of tears” because of people’s need to know the Savior whose law they disdain.

“Lord, thank You for answering my prayer and showing me these things in Your word. Now Lord, change me. Make me a man who loves you and people more tomorrow than today, and more every day after. And help Your Church in rich, comfortable, and complacent America, learn to love You and people more than their comfort. Start with me Lord.”

Comment below.

5 thoughts on “When You KNOW You Don’t Measure Up”

Great post! I have another thought for consideration—do you think there are times when we do not shed tears as a defense mechanism? Because sin is so prevalent, I wonder if we act like a doctor—clinically looking at sin like another disease for which we know the treatment, but also know most people don’t want to take it. People in first responder jobs harden to things that make most of us weep because they see so much of it.

LikeLiked by 1 person

chosenrebel says:

July 15, 2017 at 2:11 pm

I get what you are saying Elihu. I think there is some real truth to it. But I wonder, if sometimes we don’t rush to get relief before the greater truth has done its greater work in our hearts—driving us to repent and seek His face.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Elihu says:
  
  July 15, 2017 at 2:57 pm
  
  I think, like any change God wants us to make, it demands an honest look into one’s heart. And I agree with you, it is the greater truth and the harder effort.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply