Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; 

and give me life in your ways. 

Psalm 119:37 (ESV)

Oh Lord, we yearn for life.  The pursuit of you and your ways will give us this life, but something stands in the way: worthless things.  Not pure evil, not wretchedness.  Nothing utterly sinful––though these things can and do stand in our way.  

But most often that which keeps us from experiencing the spiritual life of active union with God is the worthless.  The distraction.  The tweet, update, or post.  The photo, clip, or meme.  These things are of little worth.  Their utility in the future kingdom is nonexistent.  They are temporary.  They wither away down the timeline and are eventually forgotten.  

These worthless things keep us up at night and keep us distracted throughout the day.  Why do we fill our attention with these things?  Often so that we can ignore greater problems, responsibilities, or the pain in our lives.  So we can escape.

Christian, go to God and run from these worthless things.  Their appeal is deception, their substance of nothing.  For we can feast and feast and feast again on media and still be famished.  

But the Lord satisfies.  Even one draught of his love brightens the eyes, encourages the heart, and focuses the mind.  You can go forth into your trial with life.  

God, turn our eyes from looking at worthless things, and give us life in your ways!

With my whole heart I seek you;

let me not wander from your commandments!

Psalm 119:10

Lord, this is our desire.  To seek you with our whole hearts.  To be undivided.  We want no part of our inner lives to be against you.  We want the inner-shalom, the wholeness and peace arising from an uncorrupted mind.  To be wholly for God.  To be seeking him in all places and times, in every work and season.  And indeed, to find him too.

We proclaim it, we believe it––and yet we know our capacity to falter is ever around us.  So the second line is a prayer.  As quickly as intent is declared, reality is feared:  “Let me not wander!”  

Christian, God will sustain you.  Be dependent. Not too proud to ignore that even our boldest proclamations waver without the presence of God which can buttress a shaky foundation.  We need his guiding hand, his sustaining Spirit, his life-giving presence.  

God and Vinedresser to this limp branch, give me a heart to seek you, and let me not wander!