Psalm 15 - Righteous Manners
v.2 "He who walks blamelessly ... and speaks truth in his heart..."
v.4 "in whose eyes a vile person is despised..."
v.5 "...He who does these things shall never be moved."
A short psalm that speaks truth into what it takes to dwell on God's Holy Hill - or as I have put it - a psalm that speaks to righteous manners. This was a short list of Does and Does Nots, and then ends with a factual saying the one who acts in these ways won't be moved from that holy place.
It was both a good refresher to read and fairly hard to digest because I don't pass the standards that I want to be passing. I know I don't walk blamelessly, and as much as I can put a check-mark on many of the other aspects, I am not satisfied - and I will not be satisfied/complacent - with not realizing a full and fruitful lifestyle. It's been easier for me to be okay with certain actions and thought processes because I am yoked by people who do not fear God. How I yearn to be kept afloat and to be surrounded by at least 1 or 2 others who also fear God - that I may be reminded, reprimanded, and may be a reinforcement.
Verse 4 to me is important for us because it speaks to the reality of the situation of our lives. A vile person does not just refer to a thief and ilk. A vile person is one who pursues the "does nots" of this list. I want to be able to practice and re-learn how to despise those who do not love and fear God. Not as an act of bigotry or active/outward 'hate'; rather, this despise is like having a deep repugnance for them, to be disgusted or repulsed by that which is vile. Basically, a repobrate - someone who raejects the Lord. As I said before, I have been surrounded by these people who are my friends, community, and I feel myself becoming more and more yoked to this. Now, it isn't bad to have these friends or to immerse myself in a secular community; but it is bad when it is all I feel I have and because I can feel myself becoming more like them.
May I be reminded that God is the goal, in and with everything, and that to be in this community means I must be stalwart as an Ambassador for Christ.
-Confession/Cry for Help-
I can feel my sins and the Devil tempting me with what I am lacking and with my failures.
Whether its for girls and for lust, or for slothfulness and hiding from the difficulty of the future, I can feel sin being harbored and the Devil taking root in these crevices. As much as I have begun building filters and connections to help me stay afloat, I feel that my strength is lacking in my personal motivation and self-starting strength.
Nonetheless, God has made it clear that He is with me and that I can at all times turn to Him. I just.. don't want to be turning anymore and want to be walking forward into God's path and embrace.
*Late post from Wednesday, 8/22
v.2 "He who walks blamelessly ... and speaks truth in his heart..."
v.4 "in whose eyes a vile person is despised..."
v.5 "...He who does these things shall never be moved."
A short psalm that speaks truth into what it takes to dwell on God's Holy Hill - or as I have put it - a psalm that speaks to righteous manners. This was a short list of Does and Does Nots, and then ends with a factual saying the one who acts in these ways won't be moved from that holy place.
It was both a good refresher to read and fairly hard to digest because I don't pass the standards that I want to be passing. I know I don't walk blamelessly, and as much as I can put a check-mark on many of the other aspects, I am not satisfied - and I will not be satisfied/complacent - with not realizing a full and fruitful lifestyle. It's been easier for me to be okay with certain actions and thought processes because I am yoked by people who do not fear God. How I yearn to be kept afloat and to be surrounded by at least 1 or 2 others who also fear God - that I may be reminded, reprimanded, and may be a reinforcement.
Verse 4 to me is important for us because it speaks to the reality of the situation of our lives. A vile person does not just refer to a thief and ilk. A vile person is one who pursues the "does nots" of this list. I want to be able to practice and re-learn how to despise those who do not love and fear God. Not as an act of bigotry or active/outward 'hate'; rather, this despise is like having a deep repugnance for them, to be disgusted or repulsed by that which is vile. Basically, a repobrate - someone who raejects the Lord. As I said before, I have been surrounded by these people who are my friends, community, and I feel myself becoming more and more yoked to this. Now, it isn't bad to have these friends or to immerse myself in a secular community; but it is bad when it is all I feel I have and because I can feel myself becoming more like them.
May I be reminded that God is the goal, in and with everything, and that to be in this community means I must be stalwart as an Ambassador for Christ.
-Confession/Cry for Help-
I can feel my sins and the Devil tempting me with what I am lacking and with my failures.
Whether its for girls and for lust, or for slothfulness and hiding from the difficulty of the future, I can feel sin being harbored and the Devil taking root in these crevices. As much as I have begun building filters and connections to help me stay afloat, I feel that my strength is lacking in my personal motivation and self-starting strength.
Nonetheless, God has made it clear that He is with me and that I can at all times turn to Him. I just.. don't want to be turning anymore and want to be walking forward into God's path and embrace.
*Late post from Wednesday, 8/22
Thanks for sharing that Shane. As I read this, I feel the Lord saying "Trust the process." It's good that you are trying everyday, and relying on God's strength everyday, and He sees you and He's there. These processes take time, and we are always seeking for a quick or fast result. But trust that every step, every failure, and every victory is necessary for you to get where God wants you to be. God is with you :).
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