LIVING WITH A MADE-UP MIND –

The young believer writing this psalm now pauses in his story, as he begins to reassess his situation after he realized how hard his opponents were trying to get him to change his mind. He wants God to know that he’s very aware of the consequences of following or not following His will. He also wants to report that he’s doing everything in his power to comply with God’s purpose and plan for his life. In so doing this young pilgrim proves himself to be a wise and able sojourner, by never feeling embarrassed or afraid to ask God for directions, especially when not sure which way to turn at an intersection, or get around detours or blockades. His burning desire is to finish the journey at any cost.

“I really don’t like people who compromise easily, that’s why I love Your principles for living so much. Your advice is what I wait for, because You make me feel safe and secure. I simply push people like that away from me; so I can be more committed to the commandments given by the One True God. Oh give me the strength You promised, so I can remain steadfast in my commitment; I don’t want to end up looking like a fool because of my faith. Please hold on to me as I hold on to Your principles for living; this will guarantee my going all the way. You have little time for those people who pretend to follow Your principles for living; all this going through the motions is meaningless. In the end You will throw people like that away as trash, that’s why I take Your instructions so seriously. I get goose bumps because of my reverence for You, as I stand in awe of all the directives You’ve given us.”

“So I’ve dedicated myself to doing what’s just and honest; I’m depending on You not to abandon me to those who can’t wait to torment me. You’ve given Your guarantee that living right will be rewarded; so don’t let these arrogant know-it-all’s take advantage of my situation. Every day I hope and pray that deliverance is on its way; that when You promise something You mean it. So I’m asking that Your grace be applied to my life, and will help me learn Your instructions even better. I’m proud to be Your servant, so give me discernment to better comprehend Your instructions for my life. That’s why I’m looking for my LORD Eternal to do something, the need to know it’s wrong to go against Your Teachings. Your commandments that I love are worth their weight in gold; they are truly priceless. That’s why I treat guidelines like the treasure they are, and throwaway all the false notions that I deplore.” Psalm 119:113-128

Reflection: Former President Ronald Reagan told the story about his aunt who took him to a shoemaker for a pair of new shoes. The cobbler asked young Reagan if he wanted shoes with square toes or round ones. Unable to decide on the spur of the moment, Ronnie asked the shoemaker to give him a few days to think it over. Several days later the cobbler saw young Ronald on the street and asked him again what kind of toes he wanted on his new shoes. Reagan still couldn’t decide, so the shoemaker told him to drop by the store in a couple of days and pick them up. When the future president finely got around to getting his shoes, he discovered that one shoe had a round toe and the other one was square. “This should teach you never to let people make decisions for you,” the cobbler told young Reagan. “I learned right there and then,” Reagan said, “If you don’t make your own decisions, someone else will.” It’s clear that the psalmist came to the same conclusion. His opponents no doubt challenged him over and over again to be sure about his commitment; they wanted to know if he really understood the consequences of depending solely on God for instructions and guidance. In the end he made up his mind and decided to stick with God’s plan no matter what. Both the psalmist and the late President teach us a valuable lesson on the effect of double-mindedness. Ask yourself, if someone suddenly confronted you, forcing you to choose between what you know to be right, moral and ethical, and those things that do not conform to God’s word, would you hesitate in making a decision? If you do, someone else will end up deciding your future for you. And as far as we know, there is no heavenly reward for that.