Prone To Wander
"O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above."
Robert Robinson, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
Like countless others over the generations, this is one of my favourite verses of any hymn I know.
Why?
Largely due to its uncanny insight into my heart condition before God, and likely, yours as well. Though mostly because it sings of grace.
No matter how drawn I am to my Saviour's great love and salvation, it seems my heart's predisposition is to short-term memory and distraction. Yet, though my eyes flick to the line that states, "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it / Prone to leave the God I love", I need to force myself to back-track to the opening lines.
2020 has been like no other year I’ve faced. These words have become my overarching theme:
"O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!"
2020 has been another year where the anthem of my life has continually echoed the refrain of 'grace upon grace'. Not because of the blessings I've received, though they are many, but because of the unmerited favour of my God shown toward me in Christ. My failings and stumbling have been many and great, but the grace of God is greater still.
Now, as I prepare to see the year out, more aware then ever of the uncertainty of our days, my new prayer is uttered in the shadow of Psalm 86:8-13
There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
I love David's prayer here:
"Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name."
Unite my heart.
The days ahead hold many distractions, many enticing pathways, many alluring agendas, and my heart is prone to wander. You and I are in desperate need for the grace of God to bind us to His own purpose and plan for our lives.
Will you join me in this prayer? Pray for your own heart. Pray for mine. Pray it for your church community. Pray it for your spouse or your family.
May 2020 be a year where we walk together in the truth of God, despite the strain of social isolation and scattered church, and experience again His steadfast love.
