How many of you truly
desire to be a stronger Christian? What strategy are you using to bring
this about? Are you really willing to take the necessary steps to strengthening
your commitment to God? One of the smartest things we can do is to pattern
ourselves after those who have a strong walk with the Lord. So come with
me as we inspect David's relationship with the Lord in light of Psalm
101 and find out what his secret is....
Vs. 1, "I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O Lord will I sing."
David says he WILL sing. Of what? Of mercy and judgment - he is willing
to take the sweet with the bitter and sing of both, the pleasantries of
life as well as the hardships. How can he do this? Because he rests in
knowing the Lord is in control of both, and this allows him to sing to
his God! David expresses his trust in the Lord and lifts his voice in
song because his heart is right. What a great example for us all, amen?
And what a great beginning to a strong walk with God...
Ladies, how often have you and I not been able to sing simply because
of those hidden areas in our life where we are not trusting in the Lord?
Songs come from the heart and David was resolved inwardly to rest in the
character of God. Have you resolved to do the same? It's the beginning
of a stronger walk with Him...
Isaiah 12:2, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid:
for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my
salvation."
Not only did David resolve to always trust in the Lord no matter what,
he also resolved to live right outwardly as well. Let's look at some of
the specific areas that he aspires to staying strong. Those of us who
aspire to have a strong walk with the Lord must also focus on these areas
as well...
Vs. 2 says, "I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt
thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart."
David was vowing to God that he would behave himself wisely - in a perfect
way. Our behavior is what others see, and those closest to us deserve
to see our godly behavior first.... And ladies, the wise way, the perfect
way, is GOD'S way - not the world's way! Are folks able to observe your
behavior as that which would be pleasing to the Lord? David knew it was
up to him to see to it that he did right, nobody else could make that
choice for him. He soberly realized that there was a part he had to play
in securing a godly future for himself. Hence, if you and I want to secure
a strong walk with the Lord we are also going to have to understand that
it is up to US to put God's Word into action in our lives! Have YOU ever
vowed to God that you would always behave yourself wisely? If not, why
not? Aren't you ready to quit drifting along through life and get serious
about your Christianity yet? Just what is the extent of your commitment
to God anyway? Consider today whether or not you are walking within your
house with a perfect heart. It is always easier to walk with a perfect
heart before the world than before our own families, but we must begin
at home with a strong walk! Ladies, if we can't behave properly at home,
there is no way we'll be able to behave properly outside of our home,
amen? Let's strive to first get our act together there, or else the world
will swallow us whole!
Verse 3 says, "I will set no wicked thing before my eyes: I hate the work
of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me."
David surely went to great lengths to have a strong walk with God as we
are quickly finding out, amen? He purposed in his heart not to put anything
wicked before his eyes. Why? Because our eyes are like two cameras, the
pictures they capture are recorded on our brains like photos on film.
They remain there forever in our mental photo album... David wanted his
brain to be imprinted with perfect things, even though he knew nothing
about cameras! You see, his focus was righteousness, not wickedness. Are
you ready to join him in that focus today, dear lady? What things do you
allow your eyes to focus in on on a daily basis that God would consider
wicked? Remember, HIS way is the perfect way - not ours! Do not measure
wickedness with your ruler, use God's! If God wouldn't have pleasure in
it, then neither should we! That certainly narrows things down a bit,
amen? You and I can't have a strong walk with God apart from turning our
eyes away from wicked things...
Proverbs 4:25-27, "Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids
look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy
ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove
thy foot from evil."
Notice that David also said in verse 3 of Psalm 101 that he despised and
rejected the work of them that turn aside. While he did not hate the people,
he did hate the work of them that turned away from God. This tells me
that David was not a compromiser! He did not get close with those that
wandered from God's commandments. When you know the truth, you naturally
hate every false way and want nothing to do with it, amen? What attitude
do you normally take toward those things that are false? Does it matter
at all to you, or do you look on with indifference? Do you stand up for
the truth, or just linger silently among the lies? If so, you are rubbing
elbows with sin! David said it would not cleave unto him! Those that have
a strong walk with God discern the difference and wisely expose that which
is false, making sure that it doesn't become a part of their lives in
any way at all. Do you speak up if and when your friends or family members
are involved in that which is wrong, or are you afraid to rock the boat?
Be careful not to let the sins of others rub off on you, amen? There is
only one way to prevent that from happening...
Psalm 119:104, "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I
hate every false way."
Verse 4 of our main text goes on to say, "A froward heart shall depart
from me: I will not know a wicked person."
Because truth is all important to David, he is careful who he allows in
his presence. Frowardness is defined as perverseness, having a reluctancy
to yield or comply. As a strong Christian, David is careful about his
associations and is determined to separate himself if necessary from those
who stubbornly refuse to live righteously in accordance with the will
of God - and that may, at times, include another fellow Christian! He
will not build lasting relationships with those that have no interest
in living for God. In making this vow, David was wisely guarding himself
against the influence of the ungodly. This protection preserved his strong
walk with the Lord. What type of person do you usually allow to frequent
your presence? Anybody and everybody?? Be careful that it is the type
of person that will enhance your relationship with the Lord and not subtract
from it.... Take caution with your televisions and your computers too!
Do not foolishly spend all of your time with those who are corrupt in
character and crooked in heart, amen? And take care that your children
do not as well, for your relationships with the Lord are at stake!
Psalm 119:63, "I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them
that keep thy precepts."
Proverbs 13:20, "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion
of fools shall be destroyed."
So ladies, are you beginning to get a glimpse of what it is going to cost
you to have a strong walk with the Lord yet? How are you doing so far
in your life? Are there some activities and relationships that need to
be tossed in your quest for a deeper walk with God? Has this Psalm challenged
you to make a difference in the company you keep? Yes, your choice of
friends will affect the way you live for God... I hope you have not turned
away thinking the price is too high!
Verse 5 goes on to say, "Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will
I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer."
Ladies, when you and I have a proper relationship with the Lord first,
then we can know how to wisely handle those around us who are not living
right without the threat of falling prey to their wickedness. God does
not desire that we become hermits, but that we draw nigh to Him first
and foremost, and then go out to minister to a lost and dying world. Only
with the proper relationship with our heavenly Father we can see others
through his eyes and just what our role ought to be toward the wicked
and wickedness in general. Scripture teaches us that we are not to give
ear to slander, gossip or that which is not edifying. Are you strong enough
to cut off the one who is using his tongue in a damaging way? Or are you
being pulled into the situation?? David had a list of those who he would
be careful not to spend time with and at the top of his list was the slanderer!
That is wisdom, amen? Such a one portrays an unfaithful and untrustworthy
manner due to a reprobate heart, and that is not anything David wanted
to become entangled with or a part of! I hope you feel the same way, for
it will definitely hinder your walk with God if you give ear to garbage...
At this point you might be thinking, "Who, then, will David hang out with??"
Let's look at verse 6 next which says:
"Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell
with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me."
David reasoned that men who were faithful to God were men that were likely
to be faithful to other men. That certainly makes good sense to me, amen?
He chose to spend most of his time with those that loved God and loved
God's Word and walked in a perfect way - God's way. That was his choice
for friends, his choice for examples to pattern himself after. May it
be our choosing as well! What steps could you take to strengthen your
relationships with the people who would have a godly influence upon your
life? Peer pressure is powerful, better choose the right influences for
yourself (and your children!) so that your walk with God can increase,
not decrease. Are you ready and willing today to make the necessary changes
to reduce the negative influence of people in your life? If so, you are
ready for a stronger walk with God... Whoever has helped you mature in
your Christian walk is the best influence you could have, amen?
Verse 7-8, "He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he
that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. I will early destroy all
the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city
of God."
In closing, as we look above at verses 7 and 8, David again reiterates
the type of people he will not tolerate. The liar is now mentioned here.
"He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house." Ladies, what
things in your house are working deceit? What have you allowed in? Do
you have any books lying around that are filled with half-truths?? Perversions
of the Bible, maybe? Do you subscribe to any worldly magazines filled
with worldly philosophies that deceive your heart little by little as
your eyes scan the pages ever so casually? Do you listen to worldly music
that subtly slips lies into your heart through the avenue of it's appealing
sound and slowly steals your heart and mind from God? Many of the philosphies
of the songs are contrary to scripture, let alone the beat! Do you watch
any television programs - even though they are only "thirty, little, harmless
minutes long" - that would also uproot truth from your heart and mind??
How about those religious television programs that you know are promoting
false doctrine?? Do you view them as a harmless form of so-called Christian
entertainment that you "only watch once in awhile" and think you can handle??
Don't let that garbage in your living room, ladies! It will hinder you
from a closer, stronger walk with the Lord. "He that telleth lies shall
not tarry in my sight", said David. Why don't you join him in making this
vow today? Cut off all the wicked doers early - don't put it off a moment
longer! Or perhaps you think such behavior a bit too drastic, even fanatic...
Are you sure then that you're really serious about wanting to become a
stronger Christian?? It's time to clean our houses of ALL forms of deceit
dwelling within our four walls, amen? Even spiritual clutter does not
draw us closer to God, it gets in the way... Get serious about your Christianity!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 1999 Pamela A. Iannello
