March 18, 2011 (Various Psalms)

I've been really horrible about blogging lately. Going to bed too late and getting up with only time to read and not blog. But last night was an early night, and so, I'm up earlier than usual. I will try to continue that pattern.

As I read these verses I realized this is where I am right now:

^{Psalm 139:23} Search me, O God, and know my heart;
      test me and know my anxious thoughts.
 ²⁴ Point out anything in me that offends you,
      and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

And He is showing me the things that offend Him. And I am working on them. And I fear that once I see some progress in this area, He'll reveal to me another. The only way we can't be offensive to Him, in my opinion, is to walk in fellowship with the Holy Spirit. And what does that mean? Well, let me go to Galatians to contrast the flesh and the Spirit. I read this section very, very slowly, thinking of each of the things mentioned and how they apply to my life:

^5:16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. ¹⁷ The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. ¹⁸ But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

 ¹⁹ When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

 ²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

 ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. ²⁵Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

This seems impossible to me, but I know it is not. If God commands us to walk in the Spirit, then it's not impossible. He wouldn't command us to do something that is impossible. I will continue to seek Him and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit to produce in me that which I cannot produce in myself.

Psalm 145 was in my reading today also. As I read this verse:

^{Psalm 145:5} I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor
      and your wonderful miracles.

I thought of that one aspect being a lot of my problem. How much do I really meditate upon God - REALLY meditate. Then I did a search in Bible Gateway for that word:

1. Joshua 1:8
   Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
   
2. Psalm 48:9
   O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple.
   
3. Psalm 119:23
   Even princes sit and speak against me,but I will meditate on your decrees.
   
4. Psalm 119:27
   Help me understand the meaning of your commandments, and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.
   
5. Psalm 119:48
   I honor and love your commands.I meditate on your decrees.
   
6. Psalm 119:52
   I meditate on your age-old regulations; O Lord, they comfort me.
   
7. Psalm 119:117
   Sustain me, and I will be rescued; then I will meditate continually on your decrees.
8. Psalm 145:5 I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles.

As I saw Joshua 1:8, I again remembered that meditation is key. So important, in fact, that God says that's the only way we will be successful. God help me to really believe what You say and to show my belief by obeying and doing.