Discovering the right attitude to bring to the worship of God
By Dean Collins
We have a lot of different ways we talk about our hearts. And many of them have little to do with the actual condition of our physical hearts. When I first moved from Tampa to Atlanta at age 18, I was quite confused by the phrase “Well, bless your heart!” I didn’t remember having my heart blessed before and wondered why I needed it blessed now! I soon learned that the sweet Southerner at the cash register might be expressing sympathy, contempt, or sarcasm when the phrase “Bless your heart” dripped off their tongue!
We sometimes talk about “getting to the heart of the matter,” being “half-hearted,” or having a “broken heart.” Without much thought, we could probably reel off 10-15 more “heart” phrases. As we read Scripture, we also find verses that talk about the condition of our hearts but do not have anything to do with our pulse, blood pressure, or whether we have a-fib.
Proper posture
One example is from the psalm we’re reading today. As the pilgrims got closer to Jerusalem to celebrate their feasts, they would recite another psalm of ascent that opened this way: “O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high.” In the first psalm of ascent the spiritual pilgrims are encouraged to lift up their eyes to the hills of Jerusalem and to remember where their help comes from. But now, as the pilgrim nears the temple and prepares to encounter the presence of God, Psalm 131 describes the proper posture the ancient Jews brought to God in worship. We can learn from their example.
In the presence of God, we quickly realize our weaknesses, our limitations, and our sins. Our leadership roles in work and life seem to demand self-assurance as we are called to solve problems, lead family, run businesses, and on and on. But here in the presence of God, we see that what we have and what we know is minuscule in contrast to the greatness of the Almighty.
Childlike need
God may not require us to make frequent trips to Jerusalem, but we do well to make daily trips to the throne of God. There we discover “mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
A childlike posture that realizes that what our Heavenly Father offers us through Christ calms and quiets the noise of the world, reduces our need for constant achievement and recognition, and satisfies our deepest needs. Psalm 131 ends with the reminder that the proper posture before our father leads to the awareness that in the Lord we have hope forevermore.
Father, today we bow before you not with hearts lifted up or eyes focused on self. We surrender our occupation with things of this world and ask forgiveness for moments where we acted with selfishness or pride. Calm our minds, fill us with your Holy Spirit, satisfy our deepest needs for a pure relationship with you so we might be vessels of hope to those we encounter today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Psalm 131:1-3 ; Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV
Photo by cottonbro studio at pexels.com
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