Ponder and Turn

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings. 

(Eric Hoffer)

Lord, you are mine! I promise to obey your words! With all my heart I want your blessings.
Be merciful as you promised. I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. (Psalm 119:57-59)

Perhaps one of the most difficult lessons to learn is that we don't 'earn' God's blessings. The more we spend time with Jesus, the more we will realize his blessings are vast and unlimited. The blessings of God are not linked to what we 'do' in this relationship, but their very presence within our lives might just prompt us toward obedience more and more each day. We aren't 'obedient' to obtain the blessings - the obedience actually flows from our lives because we realize how great grace is!

Ponder the direction of your life every so often - it isn't always going the right direction. We need to take time to allow God to point out to us where our focus has shifted even a little bit. The smallest 'misdirected' focus can mean a huge deviation in practice over the course of time. God isn't 'withholding' his blessings as much as we are not in alignment with his direction for our lives. When our heart yearns for the giver of the blessings more than it does the blessings themselves, we are in a good place indeed.

We make all kinds of promises to God - especially when the times are hard. Our life is all topsy-turvy and we 'recommit' our lives to him. We make a determined effort to get into his word. We spend time in prayer. We pour out our hearts to him over and over again. When the circumstances seem to be easing up a bit, are we as 'committed' to this life of obedience as we were when things were all askew with us? The blessings of God were there all along - the circumstances may have just kept us from seeing them as clearly.

Ponder and turn - these are two very specific actions. We ponder the condition of our heart - the focus of our mind. We recognize any deviation in course. Then we correct that course. The life of a soldier of Christ is always one of listening, taking direction, then moving in the direction we are pointed by our Commander and Chief - Jesus. Just sayin!