2018 Resolutions for the Heart: Psalm 26
“Vindicate me, Lord, for I have walked in my integrity,
And I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.”
What if it could be said about us that we are people of integrity? What if those we know or encounter walk away with a shake of their heads and a simple, “Now, he is a person who trusts the Lord,” or, “She is a woman of unwavering faith in God”?
“Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
Test my heart and my mind.”
What if we did not fear the trials and hardships of this life because we were so resolutely grounded in the Lord, we trusted Him to guard and strengthen us, no matter what came? What if, like Job, the Lord knew in confidence He could test us, and we would remain faithful until the end?
“For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
And I walk in Your faithfulness.”
What if, instead of the cares of this world, we set our eyes on the steadfast love of the Father? What if we walked not in the self-centered fickleness of our culture, but in the tried-and-true faithfulness of God, instead?
“I do not sit with men of falsehood,
Nor do I consort with hypocrites.
I hate the assembly of evildoers,
And I will not sit with the wicked.”
What if we talked less and listened more, always assessing our surroundings and considering our company? What if we were more careful over whom we allowed access to our hearts and minds?
“I wash my hands in innocence
And go around your altar, O Lord,
Proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
And telling all your wondrous deeds.”
What if our consciences were clean because we lived by the integrity of the gospel? What if we could approach God’s throne with overflowing thanksgiving for His grace, rather than lingering guilt from continued sinful choices?
“O Lord, I love the habitation of your house
And the place where your glory dwells.”
What if our joy was found in the presence of God and intimacy with Him, and not in the pursuits of the flesh? What if we spent more time in our days quietly seeking the Lord, and less time aimlessly wasting our moments on mindless or fruitless activities?
“Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
Nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
In whose hands are evil devices,
And whose right hands are full of bribes.”
What if it really mattered to us with whom we were associated? What if we took time to truly understood the power of influence?
“But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
Redeem me, and be gracious to me.
What if all of our choices, whether big or small, were passed through the filter of godly integrity? What if redemption and grace were of the utmost priority in our days, influencing our hearts, souls, and minds?
“My foot stands on level ground;
In the great assembly I will bless the Lord.”
What if we knew our feet stood on solid ground, that though the world gives way and the mountains may crumble, we are held fast in the mighty power of God? What if our lips blessed the Lord always, testifying in the company we keep of His unending faithfulness?
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Lord, may 2018 be a year we prioritize the condition of our hearts over the condition of our careers, our health, our bank accounts, and our social standing. Help us to realize the quality of every area of our lives first begins and flows from the state of our hearts: we either pump life, or we pump death, through our veins. May we guard and nourish our hearts, and may our consciences be clean before you. Let this be the year of integrity. Amen.
