Psalm 57:7-8 - June 21, 2009

Ps 57:7-8 "My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. 8 Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn." NIV

Is your heart steadfast? One of the great characteristics of a heart transformed by the Spirit of God is steadfastness of heart. David had learned a lesson that is one that each one of us needs to lay a hold of. David found strength in God to live with a heart that did not faint. Though David lived a life that for many years was one of constant struggle and tension he developed strength of heart that could not be overcome by circumstantial pressures. Yes he had heart ache. Yes there were times when he wrestled with his soul for a place of victory but at the end of the day he lived in that victory!
His heart was steadfast.
Many people are easily shaken from their confidence in God by the fiery trials that come against them. Often we are tempted to accuse God of not being faithful to the principles that He has set forth in His word. One of the common responses to God in the midst of trial is to doubt and even to accuse Him of being the cause of our troubles. Heart after heart cannot bear the trial of circumstantial difficulty and the lack of maturity in our faith is exposed by the troubles that we face. God is not the author of our trials but He encourages us to endure them as discipline like a good soldier embracing the difficult training that will later save his life in battle. God in His goodness allows us to walk through trials knowing that if we will let our heart be strengthened by the process the end result will be a life that is unshakable. This is one of the greatest forms of Christian witness; a life that cannot be shaken from its peace and composure by the trials of this life.
As we consider this high standard of an unshakable heart of faith the question comes to mind, “What was David’s secret? What was the source of His confidence in God?” At least a portion of the answer we are seeking for can be found in Psalm 57:7-8 as we have been considering David’s journey. He presents three habits in these verses that seem to regularly appear in David’s writings. David presents an example of a lifestyle of worship that has developed within him an intimate companionship with God. Secondly, he displays a habit of confronting the soulish nature within himself and exhorting it to be refocused on the Spirit of God instead of the difficulties of his situation. He cries out to himself, “Awake my soul!” He refuses to allow himself to fall into a state of spiritual slumber or apathy that is the beginning stage of yielding to the dominion of soulish responses such as depression and anger. David chooses to stir himself up and live empowered by his life of worship. The third quality that David exemplifies in this passage is spiritual discipline. Many people when things get difficult seek refuge in the comforts of their flesh yet David reflects a decision to wake himself early and place himself in the presence of the Lord where he can find strength for the day! What a cry from the mouth of David, “I will awaken the dawn!” The troubles of the day look different when that day was begun with prayer and praise. When the heat is on press in to God harder rather than withdrawing into self-indulgent comforts and you will find the Spirit of God filling you power to overcome with joy!