3/19/22 Saturday
Journal Ps 44-47 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: “My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
I address my verses to the King;
My tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.” Ps 45:1
Observation: What is my heart like? Does it overflow to the King?
Analysis: I am trying to think about the above and have been for the last few days. What am like? Where does my heart go when I am not thinking about Him? Do I get distracted easily?
Answer is? Yeah, I do. Call it “Chronic Gospel Distraction Syndrome.” (Remember the Gospel is the only thing that allows anybody to draw near to the King.)
I wish I could gain again the patience and desire to sit still and let my heart overflow with verse to Jesus? It is different than just prayer and praise. How do I express the same intensity of emotion that I find in Song, the same intimacy of love and adoration to Jesus without taking the time to “be still and know (he) is God?”
I don’t want to pound on what I don’t do because that list is miles long. It seems like I write about that a lot, and I don’t want to be like the folks at Laodicea that were testified as being lukewarm.
Am I cultivating a heart that overflows in particular focus to Jesus? Is my pen ready to record what He speaks to me? When I am speaking back, is it only “bless this and bless that” and not asking “why is (it) like that” or “I am noticing the dawn this morning and my heart is swelling in gratitude that You care so very much!!” I am basically not speaking in conversation with Jesus.
I have known people who have notebooks full of verse, poetry, just to Jesus. Shucks, my wife wrote a poem early in our marriage about Election that I treasure.
Let me encourage setting aside time just to treasure Jesus and may your pen be ready to write. I remember that Jesus puts more emphasis in knowing us intimately than He does concerning ministry.
Prayer: Father, help me to plow deep in my heart to bring a crop of love towards you that pleases your socks off!!
Amen
Ricky Two Shoes