I Want That Heart!!!

  ח Khet
 ⁵⁷ The LORD is my portion;
I have promised to keep Your words.
⁵⁸ I have sought Your favor  with all my heart;
be gracious to me  according to Your promise.
⁵⁹ I thought about my ways
and turned my steps back to Your decrees.
⁶⁰ I hurried, not hesitating
to keep Your commands.
⁶¹ Though the ropes of the wicked
were wrapped around me,
I did not forget Your instruction.
⁶² I rise at midnight to thank You
for Your righteous judgments.
⁶³ I am a friend to all who fear You,
to those who keep Your precepts.
⁶⁴ LORD, the earth is filled with Your faithful love;
teach me Your statutes.

As with most of the sections in Psalms 119, my response to God’s commands, instructions, precepts, statutes, judgments, and words are the focus. Each day as I meditate on these Psalms I am challenged to act on God’s commandments. The verse that keeps running through my mind is 1^st John 2:3-5

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.  But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

The writer of these Psalms does not convey an attitude of dutiful obedience, given begrudgingly. His heart is one of joyful, willing obedience, longing to please the Father.  I want that heart! 

I promised

I sought

I thought

I hurried

I remembered

I rise to thank

I am a friend