We have all made mistakes at some stages of our lives by wrong choices. The person who declares never having made one is only demonstrating their biggest mistake of never moving!……stagnating through lack of choice. Scripture challenges at some stage: “How long will you halt between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him, but if Baal, follow him……” 1 Kings 18:21.
Psalm 137 depicts the children of Israel in exile in Babylon, lamenting over their captivity and weeping. Their captors challenged them to entertain them by singing one of the songs of Zion. They were so consumed in their grief over their situation, they had “hung their harps on the willows”, (verse 2), and declared: “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” (verse 4). Sound familiar? Have you ever been overwhelmed by circumstances and listened to your unruly heart declaring, “How can I see God in this? How can I “sing the Lord’s song in this strange land?” We can always make a choice to follow the biblical examples of David, Peter, Paul and Silas in prison and most importantly, the persecution suffered by our Lord Jesus Christ. Our right choices define who we are in Christ. As I humble to God before man declaring: “True and righteous are all your ways, Lord”, the enabling, equipping life of Christ flows unhindered through me, and yes, I find the Lord’s song, His song, welling up from the life source of the well of salvation in me, even in a strange land…… all glory to Jesus!
Our choices define us. I can refuse change, stay where I am to please me, resulting in a hard heart. On the other hand, if I choose to walk in the spirit in humility, I choose what God requires to please Him and bless others.
The last two verses of the psalm depict the depths of where an unruly heart can take a person right into the devil’s ground, and should serve as a warning not to wallow in self pity. The only guest that shows up at a pity party is the devil! Raise your hallelujah and put him to flight! An unruly heart has strongholds of wrong believing taking up valuable ground where the Word of God should be. The Holy Spirit will show me these places if I ask Him to search my heart. As I surrender to His correction I see that the only stronghold I should have is faith, and trust, in the Lord Jesus Christ, remembering “God’s mercy endures forever”, Psalm 136: 26.
We may not be as far on, as mature, as we think we are. What defines a mistake? If I do what I do to the Lord, is it a mistake? God sees the motive of my heart. If, in retrospect, I can see I made a wrong choice, God will not be displeased with me for misunderstanding His will, but will teach me through the experience and it will be a learning curve with the Holy Spirit as my teacher. What lesson did I learn through it? As I go through it, I can grow through it and make a better choice next time. As we travel our spiritual journey on earth, it is often necessary to make “course alterations” to ensure we stay in line with God’s will and avoid disaster.
Has your heart ever discouraged you over unfulfilled promises of God, as yet? Be encouraged, discouragement is not of God! Consider Hebrews 11. Here is a record of faith in the old patriarchs, who were great learning examples for us. Hebrews 11: 39 declares of them: “All these, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise”. For all the unfulfilled promises of God…..as yet…..let us “raise our Ebenezer (1 Samuel 7:12) and maintain “a good report through faith” in who God is, and believing His Word. Remember….attitude determines altitude. Choice! We can dabble like ducks in farmyard muck, or soar above our circumstances like eagles, seated with Christ in heavenly places. Here the air is clean and our vision and perspective is seen through God’s eyes.
Proverbs 10:22 “The blessing of the Lord maketh rich and addeth no sorrow”.
