This was written by my wife Bessie.
“My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed.” (Psalm 57:7)
Sometimes when I hear or read a great truth from the Scriptures, my first reaction is “Oh, I want that to be true in my life!” The second reaction is, “But how?” I will deal here with this second reaction.
The quotation above is from the King James Version but is rendered my heart is steadfast both in the RSV and NIV. I like the strength of the KJV because “fixed” suggests a locked-in position, a trusting regardless of circumstances. We read in the caption that David had written this psalm when he fled from Saul into the cave.
A “fixed heart” assumes a confidence in the Lord. It assumes a mind that disregards the circumstances. The impossibility of the situation only drove David to reliance on the Lord to the extent that he said, “I will sing and make music” (Psalm 57:7b).
In Psalm 25:15, David expressed this in different words: “My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.”
It is one thing to declare that our heart is fixed but another to demonstrate it by a restful mind when thoughts distract and emotions run wild over the situation with which we are faced. To maintain a fixed heart, we need to bring our minds to a spiritual conclusion. By that I mean we reason with ourselves; we conduct a conversation that may run like this:
“Is this situation beyond my capability?”
“It certainly is.”
“Do I see any human solution by my effort or some other person’s effort?”
“No, I don’t!”
“Has the Lord allowed this situation to occur?”
“Obviously.”
In some cases, at this point we need to confess that some sin or neglect on our part brought the situation to pass.
“Does He love me?”
“Oh yes, I know He does.”
When the waves are high, you may be tempted to doubt His love. Remember Peter walked on the water until when distracted by the wind, he began to sink. He had forgotten that Jesus had said, “Come” (Matt. 14:30). Peter was not “locked in” to the word of the Master.
“Is He faithful?”
At this point the mind recollects the many deliverances of the past.
“Oh yes, He is faithful.”
“Am I ready now to turn in faith to Him, trusting the situation to Him, and with a glad heart waiting to see Him act on my behalf?”
“I am ready.”
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast [fixed] because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)
“My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed.” (Psalm 57:7)
Sometimes when I hear or read a great truth from the Scriptures, my first reaction is “Oh, I want that to be true in my life!” The second reaction is, “But how?” I will deal here with this second reaction.
The quotation above is from the King James Version but is rendered my heart is steadfast both in the RSV and NIV. I like the strength of the KJV because “fixed” suggests a locked-in position, a trusting regardless of circumstances. We read in the caption that David had written this psalm when he fled from Saul into the cave.
A “fixed heart” assumes a confidence in the Lord. It assumes a mind that disregards the circumstances. The impossibility of the situation only drove David to reliance on the Lord to the extent that he said, “I will sing and make music” (Psalm 57:7b).
In Psalm 25:15, David expressed this in different words: “My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.”
It is one thing to declare that our heart is fixed but another to demonstrate it by a restful mind when thoughts distract and emotions run wild over the situation with which we are faced. To maintain a fixed heart, we need to bring our minds to a spiritual conclusion. By that I mean we reason with ourselves; we conduct a conversation that may run like this:
“Is this situation beyond my capability?”
“It certainly is.”
“Do I see any human solution by my effort or some other person’s effort?”
“No, I don’t!”
“Has the Lord allowed this situation to occur?”
“Obviously.”
In some cases, at this point we need to confess that some sin or neglect on our part brought the situation to pass.
“Does He love me?”
“Oh yes, I know He does.”
When the waves are high, you may be tempted to doubt His love. Remember Peter walked on the water until when distracted by the wind, he began to sink. He had forgotten that Jesus had said, “Come” (Matt. 14:30). Peter was not “locked in” to the word of the Master.
“Is He faithful?”
At this point the mind recollects the many deliverances of the past.
“Oh yes, He is faithful.”
“Am I ready now to turn in faith to Him, trusting the situation to Him, and with a glad heart waiting to see Him act on my behalf?”
“I am ready.”
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast [fixed] because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)
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