Sometimes its just a choice

Where are you right now? More pointedly, where is your heart today? Are you anxious about an upcoming event or change? Are you hurting and sad? Are you discontent with your circumstances? Are you impatient or confused?

Sometimes, as David knew well, life is hard. Sometimes its hard because the Lord allows it and wants to use it to grow you and other times its hard because of our own sin. Either way the Lord will use it. But, sometimes, life is hard and it hurts. Your head may know something to be true but that doesn't necessarily mean your heart will gladly join along.

Psalm 103:1-5
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagles."

Why does David have to tell his soul, not once but twice, to bless the Lord? Why does David have to tell his soul not to forget all the amazing things the Lord has done in his life? Why does David have to remind himself how good the Lord is and who the Lord is? He does all this because sometimes its just a choice. Truth may not always come naturally flowing out of your head and heart. Some days, like today perhaps, we just have to choose to remember. Choose to cling to truth. Choose to bless the Lord and remember how good he is. I wish we didn't have to choose. I wish it just came so naturally that every second of the day, regardless of what was going on around me, I would bless the Lord, revel in his goodness, fear him in all his glory. But the fall of man did occur. And we are fallen sinful people in need of a gracious God who does forgive us and heal us and redeem us. And, thankfully, that is who our God is.

The Lord is worthy of our blessing. He is worthy of all of our devotion. And He is loving and merciful.

Wherever your heart is this morning, make the choice to believe. Believe God is who he says he is and that he is merciful and gracious. Choose to cling to truth. Choose to cling to joy. Choose to remember God's blessings today that you may be content right now. Choose to remember God's perfect timing that you may wait on his blessings patiently. Choose to remember that God satisfies you with good and renews your youth. Choose to remember that God will give you grace and strength in whatever change you are about to face.

For me, today, I choose to remember that God is good, that God loves me, and that he crowns me, a wretched sinner, with steadfast love and mercy.

Lets all make the choice today, lets learn from David, the man after God's own heart.