How can we "incline our hearts" to follow God's statutes consistently today? The Heart’s Compass Psalm 119:112: “My heart is set on keeping Your statutes, to the very end.” The psalmist models a deliberate, lifelong resolve. “Set” translates a verb meaning “incline, bend toward.” A heart naturally drifts; it must be steered. Recognizing the Need to Incline – Our default is deviation (Jeremiah 17:9). – God’s statutes are righteous, unchanging, and good (Psalm 19:7‒9). – Consistency arises when the will, affections, and habits lean in the same direction. Practical Ways to Incline Our Hearts 1. Daily Saturation in Scripture • Read, meditate, and memorize (Psalm 119:11; Joshua 1:8). • Let the Word recalibrate thinking; it “thoroughly equips for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 2. Prayer for Divine Enablement • Ask God to “teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes” (Psalm 119:33). • Trust that “it is God who works in you to will and to act” (Philippians 2:13). 3. Obedience in the Small Things • “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). • Faithfulness in immediate, concrete choices strengthens the heart’s inclination. 4. Guarding Inputs and Influences • “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23). • Evaluate media, friendships, and environments that either bend the heart toward or away from God’s ways. 5. Fellowship and Accountability • “Let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Consistent gathering with believers reinforces shared commitment to God’s statutes. 6. Gospel Motivation • Love fuels obedience: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). • Christ’s finished work removes condemnation, freeing the heart to pursue holiness with joy (Romans 8:1-4). 7. Persevering to the End • Psalm 119:112 includes the phrase “to the very end.” Steadfastness is part of true inclination. • “The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter” (Psalm 37:31). Conclusion: A Leaning Life Inclining the heart is both decisive and continual: a moment-by-moment bending toward God, empowered by His Spirit, shaped by His Word, surrounded by His people, and energized by grateful love for the Savior. |
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