Journey

Before us lies a path not often traveled. As a result you won't meet many people on it. The other path has many travelers, but very few would you actually meet (their much too busy doing nothing) The path for you is hard. It's been quite long since anyone has traveled it, so it probably won't even look like a path anymore. It's a long path, through uncharted lands. Many times you'll be tempted to leave it, and you will have many opportunities to do so. But if you stay true, your reward wil be greater than you can imagine.

You must be willing to walk alone.

You will meet many people crossing this path, but few will remain.

(You must be willing to walk alone)

You may meet other dedicated to traveling this path.

(But you must be willing to walk alone)

They may even travel with you.

(But you must be willing to walk alone)

If fate decides to give you a companions then they will be sweeter than anything you've known

(But you must be willing to walk alone)

Remember to be good to those you meet, remember to stay on the path, remember to run with endurance, remember to run with joy, remember to not lose heart, remember to carry your banner with pride, and I could tell you many other things to remember. But above all, never forget that you must always be willing to walk alone.

P.S. (You will never be alone)

Psalm 118:7 (pondering)

I will praise You with a sincere heart when I learn Your righteous judgments- Psalm 118:7

This verse makes me think. Often times in my prayer I'll find myself saying things that I know to be true, or asking for things that I really want (or at least I think I do) And then I'll stop, and pray for God to help me really mean what I say, to be sincere. Even though I believe what I say as much as I know how, and still I feel as though I'm insincere. I praise God, but still I pray that I would be sincere (does this make you sincere?)

I think of great thinkers such as Aristotle (I think) C.S. Lewis, John Piper, and others who affirm the idea that everything that we do as humans is in pursuit of pleasure for ourselves, and for our happiness. Does this remain true for Christians? I think it does, at least most of the time. If so, does it interfere with true sincerity?

This verse says ""I will praise You...... when I learn your judgments" As if to say that we can't really be sincere until we "learn His righteous judgments" This must mean more than just "being saved" or having head knowledge of God, for certainly the author had these.

If indeed it's true that as of yet my praise is not truly sincere, then does this mean that God doesn't accept it? I can't fathom this to be true. If Go brings me to the point where I delight to praise Him, for whatever reason then I believe He will be glorified by it.

There does seem to be times when I'll talk to God and say words without even the desire to be sincere. These times I must fight against, But I don't think the verse refers to these times.

It may be that we cannot, due to our sinful nature praise God sincerely until we are glorified, but of all things that I don't know or am unsure of, I know this. My duty is to praise God with whatever sincerity (or lack of) He has given me. What else can I do?

What a joy to be able to praise God from a sincere heart! Apart from any selfish desire. Simply because it's right, and good.

Glory be to God.