Send to Kindleby Robin McKinley,
Narrated by Artificial Intelligence, Eric,
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God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right. Psalm 7:10
When I read that previous verse, a question immediately jumped out at me. If God delights in a heart that is true and right, how do we get it there?
I love the phrase, “God is my shield,” because it directly speaks about one of the ways God protects us. Psalm 91 also records how God protects his people.
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. Psalm 91:1-2
He shelters us to give us rest, and we can find safety in Him. So, we know God’s credentials but in today’s Psalm, the Psalmist made our hearts the issue.
God saves those with a true and right heart. The Bible comes right out and says that our hearts aren’t true and right. Isaiah made this clear when he wrote the following.
We are constant sinners; how can people like us be saved? We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Isaiah 64:5-6
The Apostle Paul concurred with Isaiah when writing to the Roman Church. He referred to the verse the prophet wrote, and then, when talking about sin, he included everyone.
As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” Romans 3:10-12
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 3:23
How God Delights In A Heart
So far, this is anything but encouraging. But don’t stop reading; things will turn much better. The Psalmist went on to say a change in heart begins with repentance.
If a person does not repent, God will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. He will prepare his deadly weapons and shoot his flaming arrows. Psalm 7:12-13
The Apostle Paul also went in the same direction. Upon our repentance and acceptance of Jesus, God offers us His grace to free us from the penalty of sin.
Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. Romans 3:24-25
That is the key to having a true and righteous heart. When we accept God’s grace, we are made right with Him. Then, we can enter into His presence and worship Him.
Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Psalm 15:1-2
Now, we can go throughout our days knowing we can be true and right in the Lord. We can have a song in our hearts and praise on our lips just like the Psalmist did.
I will thank the Lord because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High. Psalm 7:17
Lord, we admit that we fall short in every way of trying to maintain a relationship with you. Thank you for bridging the gap through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
About the Author:
Robin, with his wife Cindy, became children’s evangelists early in their ministry. They ministered to children full time for 8 years. During that time they developed several children’s stories which were told with visuals and puppets.
Robin recently turned two of those stories into children’s books. One is called “The Contest,” a book about the Fruit of the Spirit, and the other is called “Twas the Night of Christmas”. He has also authored 5 volumes of devotional books called, 3 Minutes Alone with God. Each entry is a product of his personal biblical Journaling.
These and his other writings are available on his website called Christian Perspectives at www.ramckinley.com. When you visit this site, you can sign-up for newly written devotions as they come out which will be emailed to you.
Presently Robin is the pastor of Calvary Christian Center in Pottstown, PA. He is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God. He and his wife make their home in Birdsboro, Pa. He also serves as the president of the local ministerium. He and Cindy have two married sons and four grandchildren.
