The Heart's Cry: Psalm 143

Psalm 143

First off, do you find it as interesting as I do the amount of enemies that David had? It really makes me question why anyone would desire to be a leader of a country, a king, a president, a prime minister. But, that's not what we're here to talk about today. No, verse 10 is what we are here to talk about.

Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
    on a level path.

I think this verse is packed with good stuff, first off the need to do God's will and secondly the hope of a level path.

Did you know that you're ultimate goal in life is to do God's will? If not, now you do. Jesus shows us this goal when he taught us how to pray, asking that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven. You see, our ultimate goal is to bring little pockets of heaven to earth, which can only be accomplished through our partnership in God's will. Each good thing we do, from giving a cup of cold water to someone who is thirsty, to opening our ear to someone who needs to talk, to lifting each other up when we can't stand anymore brings moments of heaven to earth. Each smile, each moment of empathy, each feeling of love and grace and forgiveness ripples through the universe like a drop in water. Each moment of negativity, anger, and violence does the same, bringing pockets of hell to earth, which is why we must be diligent in pursuing God's will in the here and now.

The simplest way to pursue God's will in the here and now is by walking a level path. Now, its possible, even likely, that all David meant by a level path was a level path, in other words a path that was not steep, one that was easy to traverse. While he may have meant that, I do not. A level path is one in which we find ourselves being level in a out of wack world.

This existence can go from extreme highs to extreme lows in a matter of moments, just watch the news or peruse Facebook if you haven't noticed. In turn when the world goes from extreme to extreme we can find ourselves going along for the ride, up one moment, down the next, flipping upside down and screaming our heads off sooner or later. Instead we must ask God to help us to stay level, allowing joy its place, allowing pain its place, but existing on a level path. It requires God's help to do that. It requires God's peace that passes all understanding. It requires God's compassion, God's kindness, God's love, God's grace. By living in but being able to look past the moment we can better live level, which will help us to bring pockets of heaven to earth by doing God's will in the here and now.

+ How have you found it best to stay level from day to day?

+ What steps can you take in order to accomplish God's will more?