Psalm 95:10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:

Yesterday I set before you a series of verses in which the term “I will” appeared. For the most part those verses did not indicate any specific action that was done but rather a condition of the heart. A willing heart lays at the bottom of command performance.

In our opening devotional in this series we saw the apostles sent out by Jesus under His authority. Jesus commanded and their performance was put into question in the one case set before us. If we were to examine the text and see that the apostles had not properly prepared themselves for those terms of service, to do the Master’s bidding, then it could be said they did not know His ways.

These men had spent nearly three years with Jesus and observed all that He did yet did not “know my ways”. The failing, if we are to believe Psalm 95, was one of the heart. All the knowledge and training in the world cannot duplicate the command performance of a prepared heart.

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

May I offer that a contrite heart, one that is crushed, cares not for things of this world. If we are to be men and women after God’s own heart, then those things which weigh heavily on God’s heart, will crush ours. This is not worldly care, human compassion, human interests, or human emotions, it is Godly sorrows too much for us to bear alone.

Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

We hid as it were our faces from Him for the pain was too much to bear. To do His will we need to meet Him face to face and not turn away from His will for us.

Sounds impossible doesn’t it. But He has not given us the spirit of fear…..

Psalm 2:7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Psalm 3:6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

Psalm 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psalm 5:2-3 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Psalm 5:7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

Psalm 7:17 I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.

Psalm 9:1-2 I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

Psalm 16:7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.

Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Psalm 18:1-3 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Do you see yourself in any of these passages? Do any of these words ring true in your heart?

What verse did you find?