Mind Meld of A Different Kind

PSALM 27
A psalm of David.
The Lord is my light and my salvation—

so why should I be afraid?

The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,

so why should I tremble?

When evil people come to devour me,

when my enemies and foes attack me,

they will stumble and fall.

Though a mighty army surrounds me,

my heart will not be afraid.

Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.

The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most—

is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

delighting in the Lord’s perfections

and meditating in his Temple.

For he will conceal me there when troubles come;

he will hide me in his sanctuary.

He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

Then I will hold my head high

above my enemies who surround me.

At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,

singing and praising the Lord with music…

Teach me how to live, O Lord.

Lead me along the right path,

for my enemies are waiting for me…

Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness

while I am here in the land of the living.

Wait patiently for the Lord.

Be brave and courageous.

Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Single minded but many sins
I don’t think David had enjoying time with God on his mind that spring evening on the rooftop. He had Bathsheba’s gorgeous wet body strumming his desires. I don’t think he had enjoying God’s perfections on his mind when he received news that one of his sons raped one of his daughters. He had his head in the sand of denial. David was a mixed bag of issues – just like the rest of us, just like me.

But I think if we were to strip back the layers of desires and flaws, failures and sins, we’d find a single driving, defining search fueling his life; the search to know and love God. This man genuinely enjoyed spending time with God. Speaking and singing, worshiping quietly and dancing wildly, here was one who felt passionately about his relationship with God.

I think it was this single minded passion, despite his sad and egregious sins, that made David a man after God’s own heart.

I don’t have David’s personality. My highs don’t soar like his do. Nor do my lows descend to the same depths. But I want David’s passion for God expressed through the personality God gave me. I want a single mind for God that drives my life.

Confidence is one of the many benefits this kind of relationship with God offers. Life may grow threatening – a plunging housing market when I need to sell my house, skyrocketing gas prices and a much lower income, family stresses due to living at a greater distance from one another – still this God I have come to know and love is my rock. There is less chance of him abandoning me that my parents turning their backs!

So I will wait patiently – and confidently – for the Lord!

I'm all yours, Lord God. All else may fail and the world around me grow trying and stressful. But if I have you, I have all I need. So, with your help, I will be brave and courageous. - Mike Leamon