Running and Enlarging

Ps. 119:32

I will run in the way of Your commandments when You enlarge my heart.

 

How does this heart enlargement work? What does it look like practically? This strophe (v. 25-32) offers insight into this process. Verse 25 says ...Give me life according to Your Word. To me this speaks of a vital connection, a life-giving connection to the Word of God. It is in His Word, the Logos, that my life is transformed and that my heart is changed in nature from old to new and transformed in quality, from infancy to maturity. It is this growth process that gives an enlarged heart.

 

Verse 26 says ...You answered me, teach me Your ways. To me this speaks of prayer. I petition and He answers and teaches. When I pray, I am expressing my heart's desire, a desire to know His ways that I might have an enlarged heart. All the study in the world comes to nothing if it is done in the flesh, but when the Spirit teaches, guides, enlightens, convicts, etc. a transformed life results.

 

Verse 27 says Make me understand the way of Your precepts, and I will meditate on Your wondrous ways. Here is another request, a prayer for understanding His word so that I might meditate on it. Meditation is mulling over it for long periods of time. It is in my mind all the while as I am living life and doing the necessary tasks of life. Certainly, it is much more than just reading. Reading can happen without understanding and with my mind and heart on auto pilot. But for understanding and meditation I must be fully engaged, committed to having my heart enlarged.

 

Verse 28 says ...Strengthen me according to Your Word. I need His strength to endure until the end. Life comes replete with sorrow, grief, suffering, and of course, good times. For whatever comes my way, I need His strength to be perfected in my weakness! Where do I find this strength? It is freely given in His Word and at the throne of grace.

 

Verse 29 says Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me Your law! How can I grow or mature when I am blind to the false ways that are taking me down a wrong path? I must ask God for discernment, for my spirit to be one with His Spirit so that I may live holy as He is holy. I must live a life that reflects His ways, and nowhere in His ways, are false ways.

 

Verse 30 says I have chosen the ways of faithfulness...My choice is Him, His ways, and His faithfulness. I am throwing over false ways and the world's enticements and choosing Him. If I make this choice, He will give me the grace and strength to live the way of faithfulness, faithful to Him, His ways, and His words!

 

Verse 31 says I cling to Your testimonies, let me not be put to shame. Clinging to the Word must be my modus operandi. I can't function without it. If I try, shame will result. Since my life has been changed by Jesus, I  have  resident within me is the Holy Spirit who is the consumate Teacher. The image that this clinging brings to my mind is desperation. I am so desperate to be rid of the world and my old nature, that I am clinging with everything I have to stay in His word. If I let my grip relax even for a minute, I will fall into sin and worldliness.

 

Verse 32 says I will run in the way of Your commandments when You enlarge my heart. God doesn't need my help in figuring out what to do or how I should serve Him. He doesn't want my sufficiency; instead He wants me to have His sufficiency. When my being and existence are so vitally connected to Him that my desires are His desires, then I can run. Then my heart will be enlarged! But when I am focusing on myself, my heart shrivels and becomes hard resisting His Spirit and the growth that He would bring. I am resisting the very thing that I want most of all!

 

Father,

This is my desire! I do want to run. I do want my heart enlarged to do only and always Your will. Grow my heart and my desires so that I can run faithfully where You would have be go.

In Jesus name,

Amen