"Jonathan Edwards said, 'God's purpose for my life was that I have a passion for God's glory and that I have a passion for my joy in that glory, and that these two are one passion.' That's why Job could lose everything but stay true. That's why Job could lose his own health and stay true and say, "Blessed be the Name of the LORD." Humble submission is not 'necessarily understanding' it all, it's obedience because you trust in a God Who does."
In Psalm 61, David says in verse 8: "SO, I will sing praise to Your name forever." How do we do this? David continues, "that I may say my vows day by day." Forever starts today and progresses day by day. The privilege of a God-centered lifestyle is played out in a day to day living and loving God with all my heart. Can we ever pay Him back? NO, but our lives must be a constant display of His work in us or we need to doubt that work ever began. A young convert recently said, before he was saved and changed, he never desired to read God's word or think about spiritual things. But now, he is hungry for it and can't seem to get enough. That's what it means to hunger and thirst for righteousness. David had made that commitment, that "vow" to God. David had holy fear of God which resulted in a confident abiding and promised inheritance. (v. 5)
Listen to the foundation-based confidence of this great king's prayer in Psalm 61, put in my own words: "God hear me as I cry, and listen! Wherever I am, when my heart is breaking, give me power to rest on Your promise that is greater than my pain. Because God, You have shown me time and again Your Divine protection against the enemy. I know You hear and You are in control of the length of my life and my heritage. I will live with You forever and until then You will ordain my preservation with Your lovingkindness and truth. As a result, I will sing praise to You forever."
If you have not been singing praise to God day by day, forever can start today. Remember, as I quoted my pastor in a recent sermon, "not getting it all [understanding it] but obedience because of our trust in the God Who does." That is cause for "eternal praise"!
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