Attitudes of the heart

When I wake, my first awareness is usually spiritual. A prayer or a certain scripture frequently emerges at the surface of my mind. Two that have appeared lately are one from Hebrews and another from Proverbs.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23

Or when I feel sad and generally low...

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.

Proverbs 43:5

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9

And NOW to sum ALL THIS UP (but truly I could recount and reflect forever) my friend Kelli reminded me a little while ago about the longest Psalm in the Bible--Psalm 119. For 176 verses, the Psalmist communicates his desire and love in/for obeying the wisdom of God. Many times, the word obedience carries a negative connotation. It implies a lack of choice, a forced submission---against the will. Recently, in my readings for class, I came across a different view of authority. One, I feel expresses the sentiments of the Psalmist perfectly.

...authority cannot actually be bestowed, but is acquired and must be acquired, if someone is to lay claim to it. It rests on recognition and hence on an act of reason itself which, aware of its own limitations, accepts that others have better understanding. Authority in this sense, properly understood, has nothing to do with blind obedience to a command. Indeed, authority has nothing to do with obedience, but rather with knowledge. Hans-Georg Gadamer

⁴⁷ for I delight in your commands
because I love them.

(for the rest of Psalm 119 go here)