A/G General Superintendent George Wood has called for a week of prayer to start off the new year. To this end, he has written a booklet to guide our meditations and prayers during the week. You will be receiving these booklets during our morning service. To this end I would also like to follow our leader’s example by offering a meditation on the 24th Psalm. I memorized this Psalm when I was about 12 years old and often say it during private devotions.
The part of this Psalm that appeals to me is the Psalmist’s question: “Who shall ascend unto the hill of the Lord and who shall stand in His Holy Place?” There is a four-fold answer to this question: 1. Our deeds must be exemplary and our behavior beyond reproach. 2. Our hearts including our motives must be pure. 3. We are not to dedicate ourselves to empty or vain pursuits. And (4), we are to be always truthful which includes never misrepresenting or betraying anyone.
The one that stands out for me is number 3, although the others are extremely important too. But, I think our generation of Christians in America is bombarded with many distractions and diversions that can draw us away from our fundamental relationship with a Holy God who admonishes us not to have any other gods before him. Some things that we need to examine ourselves about are excessive T.V. viewing, computer mania, over preoccupation with sports, sports programs, hobbies, shopping beyond our means, mounting credit card debt; and then the more devastating pursuits like pornography which has reached epidemic levels even among Christians and then the equally destructive over-consumption of food that ruins our health and our appearance. The preceding also have a tendency to dull our sensitivity to God’s inner prompting and cool our enthusiasm for fellowship with our Maker. Let us take stock of what the Holy Spirit is saying to us this week and pray for spiritual renewal.
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