The Cry of a Heart // Psalm 101
“I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music. I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.
Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure.
I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.
No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.
Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the Lord.”
What kind of person are you when no one is looking?
When kings were often prone to self-indulgence and corruption in their hearts, David stepped into the role with a fierce determination to walk in integrity and purity. He penned Psalm 101 to declare his intentions to walk in such a manner.
Are you as convicted as I am by the question: "what kind of person are you when no one is looking?" It's easy to put on a show for others and to play the part of a good person. But...
Who are you at home?
Who are you with your spouse, kids, parents, siblings, etc?
Who are you when everyone's in bed, darkness covers the land, and you're all alone with the tv remote?
Who are you when the accounts are getting double checked at work and the buck stops with you?
What kind of person are you when no one is looking?
Today, it's time to take a self-examination in integrity and purity. It's time to stop leaving hidden sin in the shadows and to expose it in the light. It's time to stop operating out of an act and start being the real deal. How do you do that? Psalm 101 gives us a pretty good idea.
Be pure in your own home.
Put away the things that waste your time and lead into temptation.
Stay away from those whose sins and impurity could rub off on you.
Flee from what is evil.
Do not slander those around you.
Do not walk in pride or arrogance.
Be around those who do have integrity.
DO not lie or deceive.
I know this sounds like a laundry list impossible to accomplish. But I hope you'll see it more as a mirror into your own heart. Do you struggle with one or a few of these? Take one and start there. Focus on your greatest struggle.
One step in the right direction is always the right move.
