WALKING IN GOD'S LOVE
Andando en el Amor del Señor
by
Mary Hunt Webb
Posted Saturday, April 29, 2017
Like our son, some children seem to run before they learn to slow down and walk. [Photographer: Greekfood-Tamystika. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.]
When our son, Merrill, was eleven years old, I took him to a new doctor where I had to fill out a form regarding his physical and medical history. One of the questions was, "At what age did your child begin to walk?"
Since it had been a particularly exhausting day with our hyperactive son, I wrote, "Ten years old."
When the doctor saw us, he calmly read the form until he came to that question. Then he gasped, "What? He didn't start walking until he was ten?"
"That's right!" I said. "He took two steps at eleven months old and ran for the next several years. It took us nine years to teach him to slow down and walk!"
The doctor chuckled with relief, marked a correction on the form, and asked Merrill, "Are you still running?"
Merrill nodded, "Yes, I'm on a track team now!"
I'm happy to say that in the years since, Merrill has learned to direct his energy. Becoming a father caused him to slow down to adjust his steps to those of his growing son.
Slowing down to walk, taking deep breaths, acknowledging God's truth and taking time to pray are skills that definitely take time. In Psalm 86:11, the psalmist, David, says: "Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name." (New King James Version) It helps to note that it says, "walk" rather than "run" or "rush". Savoring and appreciating God's blessings can't be done in a hurry. Doing so is more heartfelt when we take time to recognize and appreciate His love and faithfulness. Slowing down enables us to appreciate His blessings and to thank Him.
Most English versions of Psalm 86:11 say, "Unite my heart to fear Your name". In his Commentary on the Whole Bible, Matthew Henry interprets this phrase to be a request to be focused on God rather than divided between Him and people. I like the Spanish version, which translates to mean, "strengthen my heart". In modern parlance, we might say, "Don't let me be wishy-washy, but let me be single-minded for You, Lord."
Focusing on Him requires time, effort, and a determination not to be distracted by people or electronics or other attempts that the devil might make to deter us from being single-minded in our devotion to God. When we have problems, we want His attention, and we want it NOW! We are more likely to get what we need when we have given Him attention and time as well. In verse 16 of Psalm 86, David affirms this when he says, "Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength in behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you just as my mother did." (New International Version) He could also have said, "because I serve you just as my grandmother did," or "just as my great-grandmother did." It takes determination to follow positive examples of those around us and of those that went before us.
It is far too easy to imitate those that do wrong because there are so many of them! But, we can make the choice to follow the example of those that followed God's teachings and then stuck by their decision. In doing so, we become positive examples for others. In verse 17 of Psalm 86, David states this intention by saying, "Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me."
From the tone of Psalm 86, it is clear that David was knocking on the doors of heaven in a time of trouble, and that is what we must do when the world seems too much for us. We must not let troubles and difficulties overwhelm us. We must seek Him and keep on seeking Him. Doing so takes time but in the process, we develop a relationship with Him rather than just "religion" because "religion" is merely a habit of doing things. A "relationship", on the other hand, is a caring interaction between two beings. All relationships require time, and the one with God is no exception. When we make time to spend with Him, He will take the time to respond to our needs.
BIBLE VERSES FOR THIS POSTING
Psalm 86:11 — Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. (New King James Version)
Salmos 86:11 — Enséñame, oh Jehová, tu camino; caminaré yo en tu verdad; Afirma mi corazón para que tema tu nombre. (Reina-Valera 1960)
Psalm 86:16-17 — 16) Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength in behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you just as my mother did. 17) Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. (New International Version)
Salmos 86:16-17 — 16) Mírame, y ten misericordia de mí; Da tu poder a tu siervo, Y guarda al hijo de tu sierva. 17) Haz conmigo señal para bien, Y véanla los que me aborrecen, y sean avergonzados; Porque tú, Jehová, me ayudaste y me consolaste.
Relationships require time and patience, and the one with God is no exception. [Photographer: Olichel Adamovich. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.]
