“The loftiest if not the most powerful position that I will obtain in this world as a Godfearer is on my knees.” -A.E. Thornton-
The following is from my personal devotion and Biblical study and reflections on Psalm 51:17
Psalms 51:17
The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.
Evil Shall Not Prevail
Life in and of itself will humble those of us who are very honest with ourselves, for we all must learn how to endure and overcome life’s many challenges. None of us delight in the reality that living in a fallen world leaves many good people in very bad situations. Never before have I witness so many people who are:
- Brokenhearted [Psalm 147:3]
- Destitute [Psalm 102:17]
- Poor and held captive in uncertainty if not darkness [Isaiah 61:1]
- Those who are crushed in their spirit [Psalm 34:18]
This very short list of human conditions speaks for those who fail to acknowledge God and those who know Him and have a personal relationship with Him throughout every area of their lives. For those who are followers of Messiah, I encourage each of you to maintain your healthy spiritual life during these trying times.
It is during these “seemingly” difficult times in our lives that we learn to lean upon our spiritual disciplines as opposed to our limited human abilities in order to regain our awareness in just how to navigate through the valley and shallows of death!
The following is a list of some of the obtained spiritual takeaways that I obtained in my personal study and reflection of Psalm 51:17. I pray that somehow, this list will assist you in your spiritual walk:
- God will not respond to any soul that attempts to approach Him with a proud, arrogant and unrepentant heart. Our most important moment by moment acts of dedication to our Heavenly Father is possible by each of us having a renovated spirit and humbled heart.
- Learning to yield ourselves to God, His plan and Will for each of us is an on-going personal quest that daily presents many challenges for the believer in an ever, growing dark and evil generation.
- The present evil and increased sins throughout the world will not prevail against God’s eternal plan of redemption. [see John 16:11]
- In this current state of God’s plan of redemption, He is directing His miracles to the inner-lives of those who have encountered His presence in their lives. God desires to free each human soul of the impact of sin, its power, and the eternal negative consequences associated with its purpose. In a word, God wishes to destroy, crush the hearts and spirits of human-beings by exposing all of the evil sins which lie within our hearts. [see Matt. 15:18-19; Jer. 17:9]
True love and personal freedom are actualized when a soul learns that each time that they sin, they initially sin against a Loving God; they then offend others, and then lastly, they sin against themselves. Without God’s love and His pardoning grace that is applied to the lives of each soul, there is no redemption. Without redemption, one will face an impossible task at approaching a Holy God seeking to please Him or asking favors from Him.
Prayer of The Destitute
In an effort to have God respond to us, we must acknowledge that we are spiritually and morally impoverished without His crisis intervention in our soul care. On today, those who are hurting, please find your place of prayer to God while asking Him to forgive you of your sins. Ask Him to restore your soul and provide you with the daily desire to seek out for yourself, His plan and purpose for you.
I truly asked God to give you a renewed hunger for The Holy Scriptures and the means of understanding the Word of God by the power of The Holy Spirit. God said that He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their plea. [Psalm 102:17]
God boldly proclaimed these words of encouragement: Has not my hand made all these things and so they came into being? declares The Lord. These are the One I look on with favor: Those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at My Word. [Isaiah 66:2]
May God bless you and keep you.
Grace and Peace
Alonzo E. Thornton